Jackie Jarvis says price-hike fears are ‘over-egged’ as demersal fishing ban triggers boat sales Jessica PageThe West AustralianTue, 6 January 2026 3:23PMCommentsCommentsEmail Jessica Page
Fisheries Minister Jackie Jarvis says she took “no joy” from the decision to ban commercial angling of WA snapper and dhufish and has promised compensation will start flowing within weeks.
The Acting Premier won’t be swayed from her conviction that the tough call was the right one, despite a growing backlash that has included a pile of shark heads being dumped on her office doorstep.
Ms Jarvis also revealed her husband Matt’s business had been targeted online.
“It’s been probably the most divisive decision I’ve ever made,” she said.
“I understand people are upset. I really do get it. And it’s not a nice position to be in. But every minister makes decisions, and we deal with with the fallout of it, and it’s part of the job, unfortunately.”
Anger is building as fishers post photos online of boats for sale, and seafood companies mount a legal challenge.
Augusta deckhand Clinton Blight posted his own emotional message to the wa Government on Facebook.
“What they’ve done is criminal . . . I have to pay rent next week,” he said.
“I don’t have a f****** ability to use the computer, unless it’s a fish finer or navigation device. I put my life on the line daily to bring seafood home.”
During a 30-minute interview in her West Perth office, where a 2014 Rural Woman of the Year award has pride of place, Ms Jarvis said she the only alternative for the commercial industry was a slower death with no compensation.
“There will still be fish available. There will still be people going into tackle shops,” Ms Jarvis said.
“I accept that this is a shock but of those 41 boats, I think two thirds of them have licenses to fish elsewhere.
“If I had just suspended fishing for commercials for two years, three years, 10 years, as recommended, those commercial fishers told me they couldn’t survive. They told me they couldn’t survive for a two or three year lockout.
“So by shutting that 900 kilometre zone to commercial fishers it actually triggers a legal mechanism, a legislative mechanism, for me to offer them a compulsory buyout.”
She said the decision was driven by data and rejected calls for a new study of fish stock levels.
“Year after year, as we would cut the hours they were allowed to fish, they were catching more fish,” Ms Jarvis said.
“They’re saying that’s evidence that there’s more fish out there. I suspect that’s evidence that they’re just fishing harder.
“We held the fishing forum in October where we had everyone in the room . . . no one questioned the science.
“The question has (been raised) after I made the decision.”
The West Coast bioregion has been permanently closed to commercial fishing, while other changes ban boat-based recreational fishing for demersals from Kalbarri to Augusta until Spring 2027.
Critics have pointed to a $185 million Queensland support package, when gillnet fishing was phased out to protect the Great Barrier Reef, as proof WA’s $36 million package is inadequate.
Shadow Fisheries Minister Kirrilee Warr said $20 million for a commercial buyout doesn’t “scratch the surface” of what’s needed.
Ms Jarvis said the funding is based on their profits.
“We’re offering you three to four times your gross annual take,” she said.
“The total for the whole west coast region is only about $5 million gross value . . . and obviously they still keep their fishing boat and their gear, and a lot of them are fishing in other zones already”.
She said the money should start flowing by the end of January.
“Under the legislative process it is a bit clunky, the compulsory buyout has to be advertised,” she said.
“I asked the agency to actually trigger some early payments, and we’re just working through some letters of offer to actually say so they’ll get about a quarter of what they’re due in in January.”
And she doesn’t believe it will push the price of fish higher long-term.
“It’s been a little bit over egged as to the impact,” Ms Jarvis said.
“Fish prices go up over Christmas, as lots of things do. In six months time, I don’t think we’ll see these huge shortages that people, people are talking about.
“Most of the the demersal fish stock comes out of the Kimberley and the Pilbara, and there’s still fishing going in there.”
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