West Coast Demersal Scalefish Resource Harvest Strategy Development
A working group comprising representatives from the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, Recfishwest, WAFIC, and the charter fishing industry, as well as commercial and recreational fishers, has been established to commence the development of a harvest strategy for the West Coast Demersal Scalefish Resource.
Including iconic species such as WA dhufish, pink snapper and baldchin groper in waters from just north of Kalbarri to Black Point, east of Augusta, the resource supports one of the state’s most popular recreational and charter fisheries. It’s also an important commercial fishery which supplies the local domestic market with fresh wild caught seafood.
The resource is currently halfway through a 20-year recovery plan, and while there are some early signs of recovery, there is still a long way to go until stocks have fully rebuilt.
The harvest strategy will set out clear recovery objectives and milestones to ensure the resource continues to recover within acceptable timeframes. The draft harvest strategy will be released for public comment later this year. Should the harvest strategy identify a need to alter catches to meet recovery objectives, an appropriate management response will be developed in consultation with relevant stakeholders.
Terms of Reference for the group are available, as well as notes from the working group's meetings: