Hon Rob Horstman questions the Minister for Fisheries regarding the DPIRD's advice leading to the demersal fishing ban in the West Coast bioregion, focusing on the recommendation, duration, and supporting data. The Minister confirms DPIRD advised a 100% fishing closure to recover stocks by 2040, citing specific resource assessment and management papers.

AnsweredQoN 1247Legislative Council
Asked
9 December 2025
Portfolio
Fisheries

QuestionView source ↗

Demersal fishing ban
1247. Hon Rob Horstman to
the Minister for Fisheries:
I refer to the
advice provided by the Department of Primary Industries and Regional
Development (DPIRD) to the minister ahead of the announcement of the demersal
fishing ban in the West Coast bioregion.
(1) What recommendation did DPIRD provide the
minister about demersal fishing?
(2) For how long is the closure recommended by
DPIRD?
(3) What key data underpins this advice?

AnswerView source ↗

I thank the
honourable member for some notice of the question.
(1)–(2) DPIRD provided advice based on the
most recent scientific assessments and relevant harvest strategy for the West
Coast demersal scalefish resource. The assessments indicated that a 100%
reduction to recovery benchmark—fishing closure—was required to
recover stocks and target levels by 2040.
(3) It is Resource Assessment
Report No. 2: West Coast Demersal Scalefish Resource, 2025 Assessment and Fisheries Management Paper No. 305: West Coast
Demersal Scalefish Resource Harvest Strategy 2021–2025 .

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