The Hon. Roger Cook, Premier of Western Australia; The Hon. Jackie Jarvis, Minister for Fisheries (WA), Joint Media Release, 3 December 2025
The Western Australian Government has announced important reforms across WA’s coastline to protect demersal fish like pink snapper, red emperor and dhufish from extinction and to help stocks recover for future generations.
The latest scientific stock assessments for WA’s prized demersal fish have shown several species including dhufish, which are only found in WA, are under severe threat.
After reviewing the science and undertaking extensive stakeholder consultation, including holding a Fishing Future Forum last month, the State Government today announced new targeted actions to be implemented along the WA coast.
Under the reforms, the West Coast fishing region from Kalbarri to Augusta will not reopen on 16 December 2025 and will become an exclusive recreational fishing zone, following a 21-month recovery closure for boat-based demersal recreational fishing.
During this recovery closure, a policy on spatial and further temporary closures to protect spawning fish will be finalised, before the fishery reopens in September 2027 for spring season. A species-level management approach that recognises the differing rates of recovery between demersals will also be considered during this time.
The West Coast Zone will be permanently closed to commercial fishing for demersals from 1 January 2026, with a compulsory buyback of commercial fishing licences.
Recreational fishing for demersals will remain open in all other regions with additional State-wide management measures introduced.
These include real-time reporting of demersal catches and revised catch and bag limits starting in later in 2026, allowing everyone to play their part in the recovery of these highly valued species.
Charter fishing in the Perth metropolitan area will be closed from 16 December 2025, however, charter fishing for demersals under the tag system will continue in the remainder of the West Coast Zone under a reduced annual catch limit of 25 tonnes.
To support the reforms, the State Government will invest $29.2 million to help stocks recover to sustainable levels so there are fish for the future.
The Fisheries Support Package will support commercial and recreational fishers adapt to the incoming State-wide reforms needed to help rebuild severely depleted demersal fish stocks.
The package includes:
- $20 million Compulsory Fisheries Adjustment Scheme ‘buy out’ of the commercial line and gillnet fisheries in the West Coast Region;
- $1.9 million to support alternative recreational fishing experiences and encourage fishers to target other species; and
- $3.3 million for tackle shop rebates for recreational boat owners facilitated by ServiceWA.
In other regions across the State, the following reforms will be introduced for commercial demersal fishing:
- a two-year recovery closure will be put in place for commercial fishing for demersal species in the Kalbarri area before transitioning to quota management within the recovering Gascoyne fishery;
- due to the success of recovery efforts in the Gascoyne region, there will be no further reforms to commercial fishing arrangements;
- the Kimberley, Pilbara and South Coast regions will have a 50 per cent commercial catch reduction from 1 January 2026, and transition to new quota management arrangements; and
- trawling for demersal fish by commercial operators will be permanently closed in the Pilbara, the only zone in WA where it occurs.
A new advisory council reporting to the Fisheries Minister will also be established and include members from industry, science and the recreational fishing sector.
These new measures are part of the Cook Government’s commitment to protecting and restoring our environment so future generations can enjoy fishing.
For more details on the reforms search fishing futures WA or go to www.dpird.wa.gov.au/demersal.
Comments attributed to Premier Roger Cook:
“These are difficult decisions to make, but they are the right thing to do. We want our kids and grandkids to be able to enjoy fishing in our beautiful State into the future.
“Our iconic demersal fish species like dhufish and snapper are on the verge of extinction in some parts of WA, so we need to take urgent action to save them for the future generations of fishers.
“That’s why we are implementing these strong measures along WA’s coastline and asking everyone who has an interest in these fish stocks to play their part.
“We know that these reforms will have a large impact on the fishing industry and sectors, and we have been working with them closely throughout this decision-making process.
“We will be providing a $29.2 million Fisheries Support Package to help them to adapt to the incoming reforms and establishing an advisory council to provide guidance as the reforms are implemented.”
Comments attributed to Fisheries Minister Jackie Jarvis:
“The entire fishing community has an important role to play in contributing to this serious recovery effort.
“Fisheries management reforms will be implemented in all zones across the State for all fishers to protect our iconic demersal fish.
“I know these new recovery measures and impending recovery closure of the West Coast Zone will be strongly felt across the board by fishers and industry, as well as businesses, coastal communities and consumers.
“Sustainability is of paramount importance, and after carefully considering the feedback from stakeholders and all the available management options, these tough measures are the only way to give our fish the best chance of recovery.”
