WA government flags tougher fishing rules, with dhufish and snapper at 'severe risk'

Prized fish species including dhufish, snapper and red emperor are at severe risk of population collapse along WA's coast, prompting the state government to flag even stricter measures to protect stocks.

Previous attempts to reduce catches did not adequately recover fish stocks, according to the Department of Fisheries.

"It's clear that there is a need for additional management action to be taken," the department's executive director Nathan Harrison said on Thursday.

The government has already implemented seasonal fishing bans and stricter catch limits to help population recovery, but data indicates the situation is worsening.

WA dhufish and snapper along the west coast from Kalbarri to Augusta are at "severe risk", according to the latest government report.

Red emperor populations are also at "severe risk" of collapse along the Pilbara and Kimberley coasts.

Fisheries Minister Jackie Jarvis said "everything was on the table" to address unsustainable fishing, which would result in "tough choices" being made about further restrictions.

"I don't want to end fishing, what I want to do however is make sure that our grandchildren can fish [for] dhufish," she said.

'There's a crisis'

Sustainable Seafood Australia chief executive Darryl Hockey said he believed it should be mandatory for recreational fishers to report their catches.

"We'd be better off closing the fishery for the next 10 years and allowing it to recover.

"Commercial fishers report their catches accurately every day, down to the nearest 0.1 per cent of a kilogram — it's important that recreational fishers do that too.

"It needs to be mandatory because at the moment we don't know how many fish are being caught by the recreational sector."

But WA's peak recreational fishing body, Recfishwest, said reporting mandates would not solve the problem.

"It's unworkable, it's unreliable and it's already been ruled out by the premier from a government policy perspective," Recfishwest chief executive Andrew Rowland said.

Science 'absolutely critical'

A confidential briefing note from Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD), sent to former fisheries minister Don Punch in February 2024, indicated the status of dhufish along the west coast had "escalated from high to severe risk".

The brief, obtained by Freedom of Information and seen by the ABC, also noted snapper populations were at "severe risk".

Ms Jarvis said the state government was "waiting for the recreational fishing surveys" before deciding on a course of action.

"Back in February we were referring to data from 2022 … every minister has made decisions based on the latest science at the time," she said.

Mr Harrison said any restrictions implemented would be done in consultation with the industry, recreational fishing groups, and the public.

Greens MLC Sophie McNeill claimed big industrial projects along WA's coast, such Westport and AUKUS, were more of a contributor to declining fish stocks than recreational fishing.

"So they're pointing to fishing, we say it's actually what you're doing to the Cockburn Sound that is having a huge impact for recreational fishers," she said. 

Industry 'nervous'

Kimberley-based commercial fisherman Grant Barker has fished in northern Australia for two decades.

He raised doubts about the government's dire assessment of red emperor stocks. 

"I think there are a few areas where there is localised depletion where we might have fished a couple of areas too hard and those areas may need to be closed spatially to give them a chance to recover," he said.

But in his view, it's a "long shot" that red emperor stocks are under threat.

Mr Barker said it was critical the industry is properly consulted prior to any changes.