Casting your vote for the Cast of Thousands

Recreational fishing is a vital part of WA’s culture, lifestyle, and economy, with over 750,000 people fishing every year. It contributes more than $1.1 billion annually to the State’s GDP and supports over 9,600 full-time jobs.

Despite this, government investment has not kept pace with the significant social, economic, and well-being value fishing provides to our communities and regions.

At Recfishwest, we work tirelessly to ensure sustainable, accessible, and enjoyable fishing for everyone. That’s why, ahead of the 2025 State Election, we’re calling for investments to:

  • Improve aquatic environments.
  • Build abundant and resilient fish stocks.
  • Secure the future of WA’s great fishing experiences for generations to come.

Clear government policies that recognise and support the value of fishing are crucial to achieving these goals. We invite all parties to champion the fishing way of life and invest in its future.

We Fish. We Care. We Vote.

While Recfishwest has no political affiliations, we proudly advocate for WA fishing, representing hundreds of thousands of fishers who access WA’s community-owned fish resources.

We’re committed to keeping fishers informed about election commitments that may impact fishing experiences. We’ll report on each party’s pledges as they’re made and provide a detailed analysis in our February Broadcast newsletter, including their support for our fishing manifesto.

Not signed up? Don’t miss out—join Recfishwest today  to receive our monthly and members newsletters, as well as our weekly Statewide fishing report. More importantly by joining the Cast of Thousands of WA fishers as a Recfishwest member you will help increase our advocacy power enabling us to achieve even better outcomes for WA fishing.

When candidates come knocking, ask them:

  • How will you improve our fishing experiences?
  • Will you support Recfishwest’s manifesto in full?

Recfishwest’s 2025 election manifesto snapshot – supporting the environment and the future of fishing

Building resilient environments and abundant fish stocks

  • Install new purpose-built reefs
    • Including Bunbury offshore, Metro Fish Towers (North and South), Dongara Offshore, Bremer Bay, Jurien Bay, Shark Bay.
  • Establish a habitat enhancement program around jetties to boost productivity, biodiversity and fish abundance
  • Support marron through a habitat restoration program to boost dam productivity
  • Expand the current stocking of pink snapper, yellowtail kingfish, marron, barramundi and trout
  • Invest in a research program building capacity to breed and stock other important species such as dhufish, flathead, abalone and native alternatives for trout
  • Implement Recfishwest’s shark bite-off plan in full

Enhancing access and fishing opportunities

  • Build and enhance jetties and fishing platforms including:
    • Upgrade and extend Learmonth Jetty in Exmouth
    • Big Brook Dam all-ability floating jetty
    • North Metropolitan – New Jetty along North Metro coast, e.g. Mindarie
    • Geraldton – new fishing jetty on the doorstep of the city
    • Carnarvon – new replacement for one-mile jetty near existing old prawn jetty
    • Albany – Princess Royal Harbour (Albany Waterfront)
    • Disabled fishing access platforms at South Mole in Fremantle
    • Expand the current Hillarys fishing platform
  • In addition, establish a WA jetty fund to facilitate the delivery of jetties through co-investment
  • Open access to three more dams to create new fishing opportunities
  • Construct the Broome boat ramp
  • Double the statewide FAD program to 80 FADs
  • Implement a statewide stewardship program teaching kids the right way to fish
  • Establish a Fisheries Adjustment Scheme for fisheries impacted by climate change

Policy and funding to support fish, communities, and the environment

  • Create clear government policy recognising and protecting the rights of fishers and the things upon which our fishing relies
  • Ensure that all new coastal infrastructure and development activities consider fishing access and amenity
  • Identification of all public easements and protect the public’s right to access our waterways and coast
  • End the marine sand mining operations in Cockburn Sound
  • Phase out gillnets in all nearshore waters
  • Allocate at least 30 per cent of licence fees to the Recreational Fishing Initiatives Fund to progress fishing priorities
  • Support fishers by increasing funding to Recfishwest and Fishability
  • Triple the funding to the Recreational Boating Facilities Scheme to improve amenity at boat ramps
  • Take actions to reduce the cost of fishing including reforming licence and registration fees