Few decisions in fisheries management land harder than those that close a fishery. And for many WA fishers, the disappointment and frustration of the recent closure to demersal fishing on the west coast are real.
We have been contacted by many frustrated fishers who feel confused and frustrated by the uncertainty that hangs over the fishery at this time.
Since the Minister’s announcement back in December, progress has been made towards providing fishers a clearer picture of what fishing for demersals will look like once the fishery reopens. The framework for the reopening of the west coast demersal fishery in September 2027 is starting to come into clearer focus.
The formation of a West Coast Demersal Ministerial Advisory Committee – made up predominantly of recreational fishers and chaired by Recfishwest Operations Lead Matt Gillett – is a significant step in that direction.
With nearly two decades of fisheries management experience, Matt will help guide expert advice on reopening settings and, critically, how the fishery stays on track beyond 2027.
The goal is simple: get fishers back on the water in September 2027 with a management regime that avoid the sustainability “merry-go-round” that has defined west coast demersal management for more than 20 years.
Demersal reset – at a glance
• Fishery to reopen September 2027
• West Coast Bioregion to become an exclusive recreational demersal zone
• 800+ tonnes of fish left in the water during closure
• Advisory committee providing advice on reopening settings
• Demersal fishing continues outside the West Coast Bioregion
The committee includes representatives from fishing clubs, charter operators, fishing media, the tackle trade and marine science and conservation sectors. Its task is to help design settings that rebuild stocks and deliver long-term certainty.
Measures under consideration include targeted spawning protections for dhufish and pink snapper, demersal recovery zones in highly productive feeding, breeding and recruitment areas and appropriate bag and boat limits when the fishery reopens.
Read the Minister media release on the advisory committee here.
These are consistent with Recfishwest’s four-point demersal recovery plan, which has consistently emphasised protecting fish during peak spawning periods and key breeding locations to accelerate recovery and strengthen the fishery for the long haul.
A fundamental shift
The 20-month closure is expected to leave more than 800 tonnes of demersal fish in the water. When the fishery reopens, the West Coast Bioregion will become an exclusive recreational fishing zone for demersal species – a fundamental structural shift, and an explicit policy shift that recognises the value of recreational fishing in this region.
Importantly, the change applies only to demersal species within the West Coast Bioregion. Commercial and recreational demersal fishing continues elsewhere in WA.
Describing the reform as a “fundamental structural change” in an article in The West Australian, Recfishwest CEO Dr Andrew said the new management set-up is designed to provide greater long-term certainty in the State’s most populated region.
“This reform is designed to leave more fish in the water, protect spawning fish and allow demersal fishing to resume from a stronger position, rather than limping from one review to the next with ever-increasing restrictions,” he said.
Read Andrew’s full opinion piece in The West here.
Click here to listen to what happened at the rest of the Forum after the show went off air.
The reform also reflects broader realities. While around 90 per cent of WA’s population lives along the west coast – just seven per cent of the State’s coastline – northern regions such as the Pilbara and Kimberley account for most of the demersal productivity and are better suited to supporting larger-scale commercial supply.
Restructuring the west coast fishery recognises both northern productivity and the social, wellbeing and tourism value of recreational fishing in the State’s most populated region.
Short-term pain, long-term gain
That does not diminish the impact. As Andrew acknowledged, businesses and livelihoods are affected and that must be recognised. For many west coast boat fishers, this closure means lost time in a fishery they care deeply about.
Their frustration is understandable. Recfishwest advocated strongly for stock recovery while also arguing for proportional settings that minimised unnecessary impact.
Recfishwest didn’t ask for pain. But we won’t pretend it isn’t sometimes required to secure a future worth fishing for.
