The new reforms include a permanent ban on demersal trawling in the Pilbara, the only zone in WA where the practice takes place.<\/p>\n
Demersal fish, also known as ground fish, live and feed on or near the bottom of the ocean and include popular species like dhufish, pink snapper and red emperor.<\/p>\n
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The measures are aimed at protecting demersal fish stocks like pink snapper. (ABC Midwest & Wheatbelt: Joanna Prendergast)<\/p>\n
The legal action against the government’s reforms was launched by Sea Harvest Pty Ltd, an Australian subsidiary of South African global fishing and food company, Sea Harvest Group, alongside West Australian seafood company, Seafresh Holdings Pty Ltd, which trades as Westmore Seafoods.<\/p>\n
Both companies are involved in trawling in the Pilbara, where about 40 per cent of all demersal fish in the state are caught by three trawling licence holders.<\/p>\n
‘Unexpected decision’<\/p>\n
In a statement, the two companies said the legal action was “\u2026 not about resisting sustainability measures but about ensuring fisheries management decisions are evidence-based, consultative and proportionate, and do not casually devastate regional jobs, local food supply and long-standing commercial investment”.<\/p>\n
Shock demersal fishing ban impact<\/a><\/p>\n New fishing rules come into effect in Western Australia next month, significantly reducing the amount of local fish available in the state.\u00a0<\/p>\n “The unexpected decision by the minister [Jackie Jarvis], despite proactive engagement with her and offering practical solutions, came as a complete surprise,” Sea Harvest Australia chief executive Danie du Toit said in the statement.<\/p>\n “The decision effectively means that a legitimate and approved foreign direct investment has been expropriated without consultation or compensation, which raises some serious concerns regarding sovereign risk, protection of property rights and Australia as an investment destination for global companies.<\/p>\n “Banning a fishing method that’s globally recognised and certified as most efficient and sustainable in the context of food security considerations simply makes no sense.”<\/p>\n Seafood supply chain risk<\/p>\n Sea Harvest Marine executive director Richard Duncan said the government’s decision would affect “far more than fishing vessels”.<\/p>\n Fishing industry ‘drowning’ amid ban<\/a><\/p>\n Concerns are being raised over the emotional toll of some commercial fishing licences being revoked.<\/p>\n “It has significant flow-on impacts across the seafood supply chain \u2014 including fish processors, wholesalers, retailers, transport and logistics operators, refrigeration and cold-storage businesses \u2014 and ultimately the many Western Australians who rely on locally caught seafood,” he said.<\/p>\n Mr Duncan said it also undermined an active demersal recovery plan for the region introduced in 2024, designed to stabilise and, over the medium term, regenerate stocks while allowing businesses to continue operating.<\/p>\n “The plan was less than 15 months old and still in phase one,” Mr Duncan said.<\/p>\n “Yet a permanent closure has been imposed without any public assessment of whether the agreed recovery measures are working.”<\/p>\n Trawling ‘no longer acceptable’<\/p>\n Trawling is a commercial fishing method where a large net is dragged along the sea floor to catch fish.<\/p>\n