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A salmon school near Albany.

Fishing safety Fishers urged to stay off rocks during annual salmon season

Recreational fishers are being urged to stay off the rocks and “keep the sand between their toes” as the annual salmon season begins along WA’s south coast this month. 

Amy Towers

Fisheries Minister Jackie Jarvis and City of Albany mayor Greg Stocks.

Artificial ReefPremiumTender out for $1.4m artificial fishing reef off Ledge Beach

Recreational fishers in Albany are set to gain a major new offshore attraction, with the State Government investing millions into an artificial reef designed to boost fishing opportunities.

Amy Towers

More than two fishers a week have been caught out under WA’s demersal fishing ban since it was put into place late last year.

Courts & JusticeVideoPremiumCourt told demersal ban ‘driven by politics, not science’

A legal challenge to the Cook Government’s controversial new fishing ban has labelled it unreasonable, disproportionate and politically-motivated.

Rebecca Le May

More than two fishers a week have been caught out under WA’s demersal fishing ban since it was put into place late last year. Fisheries Minister Jackie Jarvis, left, has repeatedly said the decision was hard, but necessary.

The West Australian exclusive
The West Australian exclusive
State PoliticsCommentsPremium
The West Australian exclusive
Fishers cop $4.4k in fines for demersal fishing during ban

More than 30 fishers have been hit with penalties, including two who were commercial fishers.

Oliver Lane

A suspected illegal haul detected by DPIRD Fisheries officers.

Fishing floutPremiumThree Great Southern men caught flouting fishing rules

Three Great Southern fishermen have been stung for allegedly taking undersized fish and exceeding legal bag limits after being apprehended by fisheries and marine officers on March 9.

Amy Towers

There have previously been rock-fishing-related deaths at Salmon Holes.

Mobile coverageNew mobile base a ‘step in right direction’: Recfishwest

Recfishwest have backed improved mobile coverage in Torndirrup National Park following the completion of a new Telstra mobile base station, but said other popular hotspots require a reception boost too.

Amy Towers

Dave Daniell survived a terrifying encounter with a suspected great white shark off the coast of Exmouth this week. Pictured is a bite mark on his foil board.

The West Australian exclusive
The West Australian exclusive
SharksCommentsPremium
The West Australian exclusive
WA man’s ‘miracle’ survival after great white bites board

SEE THE PICTURES: A WA sparkie says it’s a ‘miracle’ he’s alive after a shark attacked his foil board before he was thrown into the murky depths beside the ocean predator.

Caleb Runciman

Recreational fishers are encouraged to take part in the public consultation process to simplify rules for catching blue swimmer crabs in the West Coast bioregion.

HAVE YOUR SAY!Major change to blue swimmer crab rules proposed for WA

WA crabbers are being asked to have their say on proposed changes to blue swimmer crab fishing rules.

Craig Duncan

Liberal Leader Basil Zempilas confirmed that he would back a disallowance motion to overturn the sweeping changes when Parliament resumes next week.

State PoliticsCommentsPremiumZempilas takes aim at fishing ban as MP gets death threats

A Labor MP says he has received ‘death threats’, as the Opposition vows to reverse WA’s new demersal fishing ban.

Jessica Page and Yousuf Shameel

The logic and behind the Cook government’s ‘devastating’ demersal fishing ban does not add up, says Dan Hunt. Premier Roger Cook pictured with WA Minister for Agrictulture Jackie Jarvis.

opinion
opinion
OpinionCommentsPremium
opinion
Fishing ban defies science and logic

The logic and behind the Cook Government’s ‘devastating’ demersal fishing ban does not add up, says Dan Hunt.

Dan Hunt

The demersal fishing ban will reduce commercial catch by 50 per cent.

FISHING BAN Premium‘Justifiably angry’: Albany fishing ban forum sparks debate

Albany fishermen packed a Nationals WA-organised forum on Thursday, voicing their concerns and calling for an inquiry over the Government’s demersal fishing bans.

Amy Towers

Nationals MLC and shadow minister for Fisheries Kirrilee Warr at Geraldton Fisherman's Wharf.

State PoliticsCommentsPremiumFishing community fury as inquiry petition smashes record

The WA fishing community are making their anger known as a petition to hold an inquiry into WA’s fisheries has become the most signed e-petition in the history of WA’s Legislative Council.

Oliver Lane

Mason Jones (right) arrives to his hearing in a shark costume.

Offal ProtestPremium‘No regrets’: Fish dumping protester fronts court in costume

One of the men accused of dumping 200kg of fish heads and offal outside Jackie Jarvis’ office has turned up to court dressed as a shark.

Will Corbett

Premier Roger Cook said he understood their was concern and anxiety in the community.

WA NEWSCommentsPremium‘Nothing to hide’: Cook forced to defend science behind ban

Roger Cook insists his Government has nothing to hide on the science behind the sweeping demersal fish ban ahead of his meeting with the industry this week.

Oliver Lane

Roger Cook has agreed to meet with the WA Fishing Industry Council next week

The West Australian exclusive
The West Australian exclusive
State PoliticsCommentsPremium
The West Australian exclusive
Angry fishers force Cook into meeting over ‘nonsense’ ban

WA’s fish fight is getting bitter and it now has the ear of the Premier, The West Australian can reveal.

Jessica Page

Shadow minister for agriculture and food Lachlan Hunter and Albany MLA Scott Leary with local fishing stakeholders Adam and George Soumelidis.

Albany AdvertiserCommentsPremiumHAVE YOUR SAY: Locals urged to attend fishing ban forum

The Nationals WA will host a community forum in Albany on the demersal fishing ban imposed by the State Government, with Albany MLA Scott Leary urging people impacted to attend. 

Jacki Elezovich

‘Labor did learn a lesson out of the election. It learnt that it can ride-out this fish ban backlash.  But the Government’s not off the hook,’ writes Jessica Page.

opinion
opinion
Jessica PageCommentsPremium
opinion
Roger Cook’s Made in WA plan did not include frozen fish

Labor did learn a lesson out of the election. It learnt that it can ride out this fish ban backlash. But the Government’s not off the hook.

Jessica Page

Jessica Page

Premier Roger Cook has publicly defended the demersal fishing ban for the first time since it began.

State PoliticsCommentsPremiumPremier defends demersal fish ban as industry still seethes

Roger Cook has publicly defended the demersal fishing ban for the first time since it began as anger remains white hot within the industry and questions remain over compensation payments.

Oliver Lane and Sally Davies

That Fishing Shop in Waroona team of Glen Field, Michelle Field, Joe Haynes,  Kera Muir, Mick Jackson and Jayden Racco with two redfins.

Hook, line and sinkerPremiumRedfin challenge returns to make a splash

Waroona Redfin Challenge is returning early this year to make a splash

Craig Duncan

The 2026 session of the Western Zone abalone fishing season has begun in Perth.

FishingGreedy fishers fined for trying to bag excess abalone

Dozens of greedy fishers were fined during the second session of the abalone fishing season on Saturday. 

Hannah Cross

News. Fisheries Minister (and acting premier) Jackie Jarvis in her Dumas House Office. Jackson Flindell

state politics CommentsPremiumMinister reveals when fishing ban compensation will start

Jackie Jarvis says she took ‘no joy’ from the decision to ban commercial fishing of WA snapper and dhufish and has promised compensation will start flowing within weeks.

Jessica Page

WA Agriculture and Food Minister Jackie Jarvis’ Margaret River office has been targeted by protesters against the State’s demersal fishing ban.

Offal ProtestPremiumJackie Jarvis targeted in offal protest against fishing ban

The State’s food and agriculture minister has been targeted in Margaret River with an offal attack over the State Government’s new fishing bans. 

Craig Duncan

Albany Seafoods' Tony Westerberg.

Fishing BanPremiumFishing reforms spark concern for Great Southern fishermen

Albany’s fishing community is voicing concern over the new fishing ban, with local business owners saying the changes could harm the Great Southern’s fishing industry. 

Amy Towers

Shadow minister for agriculture and food Lachlan Hunter and Albany MLA Scott Leary meeting with local fishing stakeholders Adam and George Soumelidis.

Fishing ban PremiumNationals rail against fishing ban as ‘anti-regional’

Albany MLA Scott Leary has criticised the upcoming fishing ban, saying it threatens Albany’s fishing industry and overlooks regional communities. 

Amy Towers