The Nationals WA: Community Fishing Forum to Address Impacts of State Government Fishing Ban

Member for Albany Scott Leary is encouraging fishers, families and local businesses to attend a community fishing forum at Retravision Stadium on Thursday 29 January at 5:30 pm to have their say and help shape solutions in response to the WA Government’s recent ban on commercial demersal fishing and restrictions on recreational fishing along the West Coast.

The Government’s decision permanently removes commercial demersal fishing from Kalbarri to Augusta from 1 January 2026 and imposes a lengthy ban on boat based recreational demersal fishing across the same region, changes that are already having flow-on effects for the South Coast.

Mr Leary said while protecting fish stocks is important, the Government has failed to properly plan for the consequences of these policies, particularly the displacement of fishing effort into regional areas like Albany and the wider South Coast.

With fishing effectively shut down for many along the West Coast, fishers are travelling significant distances to access South Coast waters for single-day trips. This sudden influx is placing increasing pressure on local fish stocks in areas that do not have the same level of regulation, monitoring or infrastructure capacity.

“The reality is our coastline is long, exposed and difficult to police and without proper planning this redistribution of fishing effort risks doing serious damage to local stocks before the ban even fully comes into effect,” Mr Leary said.

“We are already seeing boat ramps, parking areas and facilities under strain and our infrastructure is simply not designed to cope with the volumes now being experienced. This is not just a fishing issue, it is a community safety and infrastructure issue.”

Mr Leary said the permanent removal of commercial fishers from the West Coast has also pushed economic and social impacts into regional communities, with local businesses, tourism operators and recreational fishing services now facing uncertainty.

He said many commercial operators believe the compensation offered does not reflect the true value of their businesses or the years invested in building sustainable operations, while recreational fishers are being left with fewer options and little clarity.

“The forum on Thursday is about more than frustration,” Mr Leary said. “It is about coming together as a community to put forward practical, constructive solutions that protect our marine environment without sacrificing regional livelihoods or overwhelming local infrastructure. Decisions of this scale should not be made in Perth boardrooms without genuine regional consultation.”

Mr Leary said he will continue advocating for balanced, science-based fisheries management that includes proper planning for regional impacts, investment in South Coast infrastructure and meaningful engagement with the people most affected by these changes.

He encouraged anyone concerned about fishing access, sustainability or the future of the South Coast to attend the forum and be part of the conversation.