A senior marine scientist says the WA govt's plan to rebuild demersal fish stocks will not work, arguing marine parks are the best way to address ecological and industry concerns.
Senior Recfishwest staffer Matt Gillett will lead a panel tasked with reopening recreational demersal fishing, while a petition to launch an inquiry has garnered a strong response.
An artificial reef designed by Recfishwest and funded by Woodside has been installed off the Dampier Archipelago, aiming to enhance marine biodiversity and support local anglers.
The state's commercial fishing lobby says affordable fish and chips could be a thing of the past due to reductions to demersal catches along most of Western Australia's coast.
High interest from commercial anglers in being paid to relinquish their quotas has given the state government the ability to double the length of a recreational demersal fishing window.
The state government has eased the controversial demersal fishing ban for charter businesses operating in the West Coast region, but only if they eat their catches on-board.
The state government continued the rollout of its coronavirus recovery plan over the weekend, announcing funding packages for the tourism and recreational fishing sectors.
UPDATED: A three-year trial to boost rock lobster availability in Western Australia is expected to increase visitor expenditure and grow jobs in marine tourism, though the lobster industry has expressed concern over the changes.
A new artificial reef sunk in the Exmouth Gulf this week is expected to add significant value to marine research and recreational fishing opportunities in the waterway.
German company K+S Group is planning to evaluate development of a $350 million salt project south-west of Onslow, six years after another salt project in the area was scrapped after facing widespread opposition.
