Mark McGowan defends WA recreational fishing ban

Mark McGowan defends WA recreational fishing ban

Source: The West Australian

8/21/2022

Credit: Michael Wilson/The West Australian

Mark McGowan says a ban on recreational fishing for species such as pink snapper and dhufish for nine months each year for the rest of the decade is needed because without drastic change “there won’t be any fish”.

The Premier issued the warning — which he said was based on science — as the State Government faced an angry backlash after announcing new restrictions that aim to rebuild stocks of dermersal scalefish by 2030.

The recreational fishers who operate in the west coast bioregion, between Kalbarri and Augusta, have been given two options — a 94-day season in staged openings from December to May or a 123-day limit from April to October.

Recfishwest has argued both proposals would disproportionality impact the recreational sector and instead called for alternatives, including a compensation scheme to allow commercial fishers to transition out of the industry.