Hon Philip Scott asks the Minister for Fisheries about relaxing restrictions on commercial shark fishing due to perceived population increases. The Minister refers to existing scientific assessment and management frameworks, indicating a review is underway.

AnsweredQoN 224Legislative Assembly
Asked
22 May 2025
Portfolio
Fisheries

QuestionView source ↗

Shark fishing
224. Hon Philip Scott to the Minister for Fisheries:
(1) Will the Cook Labor government consider
relaxing restrictions on commercial fishing of non-endangered species of sharks
given the significant increase in numbers?
(2) When can we expect action on this matter?

AnswerView source ↗

I thank the
honourable member for some notice of the question. I acknowledge that this is
Hon Philip Scott's first question in this place.
(1)–(2) The Department of Primary
Industries and Regional Development provides an annual update on the state of
fish stocks and other aquatic resources of Western Australia in the publication Status reports of the fisheries and aquatic resources
of Western Australia (SRFAR). These annual updates use the ecosystem-based
fisheries management framework, which recognises the social, economic and
ecological values at a regional level to assess and ensure the sustainable
management of all aquatic resources into the future. The SRFAR contains the
latest assessment of breeding stock levels. Management of commercial fisheries
is based upon the latest science, with management controls set out in the relevant
management plans. Management plans are reviewed and updated periodically, with the
latest data relating to sharks anticipated by the department in the second half
of this year.

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