How are commercial fishers affected?
Since 1 January 2023, fishing hours in the West Coast Demersal Scalefish Interim Managed Fishery were reduced to achieve a 50% cut in total allowable catch.
The following changes began on 1 February 2023:
- Size limits were removed for WA dhufish, baldchin groper and breaksea cod to reduce barotrauma.
- The timing of the Cockburn and Warnbro Sounds pink snapper spawning closure was extended to be 1 August to 31 January (inclusive).
- The timing of the Abrolhos Islands baldchin groper spawning closure was shifted to be 1 October to 31 December (inclusive).
- Commercial fishing for demersal scalefish remains closed along the Perth metropolitan coast, from Lancelin to south of Mandurah.
Voluntary Fisheries Adjustment Scheme
A $2.5 million Voluntary Fisheries Adjustment Scheme was established for commercial fishers who hold a current West Coast Demersal Scalefish Interim Managed Fishery permit.
Commercial fishers were able to voluntarily surrender units of entitlement (available fishing hours) and their associated Fishing Boat Licence in return for payment of agreed compensation.
Units voluntarily surrendered to the scheme were used to reallocate up to 18.5 t of their 218.5 t total catch limit to other commercial fisheries that access the West Coast demersal scalefish resource but primarily target other resources (i.e. shark).
The scheme ensures the continued supply of WA seafood to local markets, particularly in regional communities.