What it is
The Aquatic Resources Management Act 2016 (ARMA) was new fisheries legislation designed to replace the Fish Resource Management Act 1994 (FRMA) that had governed fisheries management for the last 30 years.
In 2024, the Minister for Fisheries announced the Cook Government would not proceed with implementation of the ARMA, instead building on existing legislation to ensure the future sustainable management of Western Australia’s fisheries.
Why it matters
ARMA was intended to revolutionize fisheries management by addressing environmental challenges, shifting values, and growing demands on aquatic resources. It promised transparency, flexibility, and balanced access rights but failed to deliver. Instead, its implementation would effectively privatize WA’s fish stocks, offering no benefits to recreational fishers, the wider community, or the environment, while the public would still bear the management costs.
Recfishwest initially supported ARMA for improving recreational fishing rights and management flexibility, but it proved more rigid than current laws. In the face of climate change, shifting values, and other uncertainties, it’s crucial we avoid locking into inflexible management frameworks.
Despite efforts to make ARMA work, its focus on commercial access rights undermined flexibility, equity, and optimal use of fish stocks.
What Recfishwest is doing
In July 2023 Recfishwest advised the Minister for Fisheries that we did not support the present form of the Aquatic Resources Management Act (ARMA) and our preference was to maintain the existing Fish Resources Management Act 1994 (FRMA).
In June 2024, the Minister for Fisheries announced the FRMA was to be retained and the ARMA scrapped.
Fortunately, the FRMA already ensures sustainable fish stock management and, with minor adjustments, can continue benefiting all Western Australians socially, economically, and environmentally.
Recfishwest will continue to work with the Minister, the State Government and other key stakeholders towards effective reform of the FRMA ensuring it will effectively keep up with modern demands and challenges in the fisheries management space.
Click here to listen to Recfishwest CEO Dr Andrew Rowland’s ABC radio chat on the scrapping of ARMA.
What you can do
- On behalf of the cast of 700,000 WA fishers, it was critical the recreational fishing voice was heard in this process. Had it been ignored, we could have ended up with the key fisheries management legislation in this State working against the interests of recreational fishers and the WA community as a whole. Our power to represent our fishing community’s rights and interests is strengthened by the more members we have – so consider joining Recfishwest as a member if you aren’t already and encourage your family and friends to do the same. You can join us as a member here.