A Geraldton man who chained himself to the roof of a government building to protest the state’s controversial demersal fishing ban has been persuaded to come down by police.
Mr Higham says the government’s restrictions have effectively taken away his livelihood. (ABC Midwest & Wheatbelt: Chris Lewis)
Shark fisher John Higham took to the roof of the Midwest Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) building on Monday morning.
Fisheries officials are part of the department and operate from the building.
Mr Higham, who claimed to have swallowed the key to the lock, said earlier he had no intention of coming down until Fisheries Minister Jackie Jarvis reinstated his licence to fish for sharks.
“I swallowed them [the keys] so they aren’t coming out anytime soon … that’s how serious I am,” he said.
WA police said a specialist negotiator was called in to resolve the situation.
Mr Higham made his way down peacefully. (ABC Midwest & Wheatbelt: Chris Lewis)
At least three firefighting vehicles, eight firefighters, and multiple police officers — including the negotiator — attended.
Mr Higham, who was talking on the phone, was given bolt cutters that he used to free himself.
He has since come down from the roof.
Mr Higham said he came down once he believed he got his message across, though he indicated he may protest again in the future.
“Never say never. We’ll see what happens,” he said.
Mr Higham was given bolt cutters to free himself from the chain on his leg. (ABC Midwest & Wheatbelt: Chris Lewis)
A DPIRD spokesperson said they were aware of the incident at their Geraldton office, but made no further comment.
While Mr Higham does not fish for demersal species, he said they were a bycatch of shark fishing that meant he was no longer able to use his licence.
He said he had held the shark licence for about 14 months, but it was “enough” for him to get by, bringing in between $40,000 and $50,000 a year.
Geraldton Police are responding to Mr Higham’s rooftop protest. (ABC Midwest & Wheatbelt: Chris Lewis)
He said the protest came from a point of desperation.
“I’m going broke,” Mr Higham said.
“I’ve been living off savings and savings are starting to run out and now it’s starting to get really desperate.”
Tensions have been rising across the Midwest since the ban came into effect, with over 100 fishers recently gathering at a forum in Geraldton to voice their concerns.
Over a hundred fishers gathered at a forum in Geraldton this month to voice their concens about the ban. (ABC News: Pioper Duffy)
Those attending passed a motion calling for the reinstatement of demersal fishing in the Midwest.
Mr Higham, who was at the meeting, also staged a separate protest against Ms Jarvis in January by chaining his boat to a gate of the same DPIRD office.
Mr Higham removed his boat at the request of authorities and was not charged over the incident.
It is the second protest Mr Higham has made in about four weeks. (Supplied: Facebook)
He said the Department of Fisheries had not listened to his concerns since the shut down on January 1.
“They just hang up on me, they change the subject, they’re not interested,” Mr Higham said.
Shadow Minister for Fisheries Kirrlie Warr said the protest showed WA fishers were at “breaking point”.
“These decisions made by the state government are having an effect locally, and I’m concerned about the mental health of the community,” she said.
The Midwest’s fisheries officials are based out of the DPIRD building where Mr Higham is staging his protest. (ABC Midwest & Wheatbelt: Chris Lewis)
Ms Warr urged the Cook government to listen to those affected and make genuine changes to help them.
Fisheries Minister Jackie Jarvis said while some fishers were upset, the difficult decision to enforce the ban was necessary.
In a statement to the ABC, she said affected commercial fishers were offered an “act of grace” payment to provide immediate financial support.
“We want our kids and grandkids to be able to enjoy fishing in our beautiful state into the future,” Ms Jarvis said.
“I support lawful protest, and recognise every person’s right to share their views on government decisions.
“But acts of vandalism, criminal damage and threats cannot and will not be tolerated.”