West Coast Demersal Scalefish Resource consultation - phase 2, includes separate Statewide Recreational survey

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Pink snapper

This consultation is closed

Thank you to all who provided feedback to the West Coast Demersal Scalefish Resource consultation and the Statewide Recreational survey which ran from 18 August to 30 September 2022.

The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) and the Minister for Fisheries considered all feedback and the final packages were announced on 6 December 2022.

For more information about the consultation read the information below.


In February 2022, the Western Australian State Government approved a 50 per cent reduction in the West Coast Demersal Scalefish Resource (WCDSR) total catch limit from 750 tonnes to 375t, to meet the 2030 recovery target for the resource.

Consultation process - two phases

Phase 1: The focus of phase 1 consultation was the development of recommendations on the preferred primary and supporting measures to achieve the reduced total catch limit. Phase 1 of the consultation was led by Recfishwest, the WA Fishing Industry Council and Marine Tourism WA and included a Recfishwest survey.

Information provided from phase 1 has informed the development of proposed management packages to achieve the new total catch limit for the recreational (including charter) sector and commercial sector.

Phase 2: DPIRD is now leading phase 2 of the consultation on the proposed management packages to meet the new total catch limit.

This consultation includes the Statewide recreational fishing survey to gauge recreational fishers' thoughts on current and future management of finfish species across all regions.

The proposed management packages include options for primary and supporting measures to achieve the reduced total catch limits necessary to see the recovery of demersal stocks by 2030.

Please read the consultation papers below and the frequently asked questions on this page, before completing the surveys.

Have your say

To have your say, please complete the survey relating to each management package below:

NOTE: At the end of each survey, there is an open text box where you can make further comments, after completing the rest of the survey questions.

In order to complete the surveys, first register using the Register button on this page.

The consultation will run from 18 August and closes at 5pm on 30 September.

Next steps

DPIRD will consider the outcomes of the phase 2 consultation and finalise management packages for the recreational, charter and commercial sectors in consultation with Recfishwest, Marine Tourism WA and WAFIC.

Final management packages will then be provided to the Minister for Fisheries for consideration and approval.

The outcomes will be communicated to key stakeholders, survey participants and on this page.

Legislation to give effect to the approved management package is expected to be implemented over the summer of 2022/23.

More information

If you have any questions regarding the consultation process, please ask a question below or email wcdemersal@dpird.wa.gov.au

This consultation is closed

Thank you to all who provided feedback to the West Coast Demersal Scalefish Resource consultation and the Statewide Recreational survey which ran from 18 August to 30 September 2022.

The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) and the Minister for Fisheries considered all feedback and the final packages were announced on 6 December 2022.

For more information about the consultation read the information below.


In February 2022, the Western Australian State Government approved a 50 per cent reduction in the West Coast Demersal Scalefish Resource (WCDSR) total catch limit from 750 tonnes to 375t, to meet the 2030 recovery target for the resource.

Consultation process - two phases

Phase 1: The focus of phase 1 consultation was the development of recommendations on the preferred primary and supporting measures to achieve the reduced total catch limit. Phase 1 of the consultation was led by Recfishwest, the WA Fishing Industry Council and Marine Tourism WA and included a Recfishwest survey.

Information provided from phase 1 has informed the development of proposed management packages to achieve the new total catch limit for the recreational (including charter) sector and commercial sector.

Phase 2: DPIRD is now leading phase 2 of the consultation on the proposed management packages to meet the new total catch limit.

This consultation includes the Statewide recreational fishing survey to gauge recreational fishers' thoughts on current and future management of finfish species across all regions.

The proposed management packages include options for primary and supporting measures to achieve the reduced total catch limits necessary to see the recovery of demersal stocks by 2030.

Please read the consultation papers below and the frequently asked questions on this page, before completing the surveys.

Have your say

To have your say, please complete the survey relating to each management package below:

NOTE: At the end of each survey, there is an open text box where you can make further comments, after completing the rest of the survey questions.

In order to complete the surveys, first register using the Register button on this page.

The consultation will run from 18 August and closes at 5pm on 30 September.

Next steps

DPIRD will consider the outcomes of the phase 2 consultation and finalise management packages for the recreational, charter and commercial sectors in consultation with Recfishwest, Marine Tourism WA and WAFIC.

Final management packages will then be provided to the Minister for Fisheries for consideration and approval.

The outcomes will be communicated to key stakeholders, survey participants and on this page.

Legislation to give effect to the approved management package is expected to be implemented over the summer of 2022/23.

More information

If you have any questions regarding the consultation process, please ask a question below or email wcdemersal@dpird.wa.gov.au

CLOSED: This discussion has concluded.

If you have any questions about the West Coast Demersal Scalefish Resource consultation - phase 2, please ask them here and a DPIRD consultation team member will respond to you. Note that you will need to register on the YourSay site in order to ask a question.

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    In the status reports of the fisheries and aquatic resources 2019-20 (page 16, https://www.fish.wa.gov.au/Documents/sofar/status_reports_of_the_fisheries_and_aquatic_resources_2019-20.pdf - line 5 of Table) it is mentioned that the recreational catch (South Coast and West Coast Demersal Finfish) was 59-77t (95% Confidence Interval, boat only in 17/18). In the next years report ( https://www.fish.wa.gov.au/Documents/sofar/status_reports_of_the_fisheries_and_aquatic_resources_2020-21.pdf - page 12, Table line 3) the same activity is given for recreational fishing 210t-253t (95% Confidence Interval, private boats in 17/18). Now, the data sources quoted seem identical, and I would please like to ask what is different in the processes followed that resulted in such a difference in catch estimates? Also, are the data used in the creation of the full report ( frr316) available for reproducing the results of the survey? Kind Regards, Dr. Foivos I. Diakogiannis

    FoivosD asked over 1 year ago

    Hi Dr. Diakogiannis

    Thank you for your message. Please note that the estimated recreational catch that you have referenced from p12 of the 2020/21 State of the Fisheries Report relates to the West Coast Bioregion, whereas the figure you have referenced on p16 of the 2019/20 State of the Fisheries reports relates to the South Coast Bioregion (as shown in the table). The corresponding recreational catch estimate for the West Coast Bioregion can be found on p12 of the 2019/20 report. The recreational catch estimates from both the 2019/20 and 202/21 State of the Fisheries reports are derived from the State-wide survey of boat-based recreational boat fishing in Western Australia 2017/18.

    Kind regards

    West Coast Demersal team   

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    Currently what is the annual catch in tonnes of demersal fish only allocated to commercial fishermen & what is the annual catch in tonnes of demersal fish only allocated to recreational fishermen ?

    Vince12 asked over 1 year ago

    Thank you for your message. Information on the revised recovery benchmarks for the West Coast Demersal Scalefish Resource can be found in the consultation papers for the recreational (including charter) sector and commercial sector at https://yoursay.dpird.wa.gov.au/wcdemersal. The consultation paper also includes additional information on proposed primary and supporting measures being considered.

    Kind Regards

    West Coast Demersal team

    annual catch
    annual catch
Page last updated: 08 Mar 2023, 02:00 PM