❓ Hon. Rod Caddies questions the Minister for Fisheries regarding the demersal fishing ban and its impact on nannygai stocks in the South West. The Minister acknowledges adequate nannygai levels but defends the blanket ban due to fishing gear limitations and barotrauma.
AnsweredQoN 1293Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
Demersal fishing ban—Nannygai stocks1293.Hon Rod Caddiesto
theMinister for Fisheries:I refer to the
recent decision by the WA Labor government to prohibit commercial demersal
fishing in the west coast bioregion.(1)
Can the minister advise whether nannygai stocks in the South West region of
Western Australia are depleted, overfished or at risk?(2)
If the minister maintains that nannygai stocks are in danger, will she table
the most recent scientific assessments and data that justify including nannygai
in the blanket closure?(3)
Will the minister consider introducing a targeted exemption allowing a limited
number of licensed commercial fishers in the South West region to harvest
nannygai at sustainable levels, specifically to supply fresh local fish to
Western Australian consumers and businesses?(4)
If the answer to (3) is no, why is the minister unwilling to adopt a more
nuanced species-by-species management approach for demersal fisheries, given
the markedly different stock status and recovery rates of individual species
such as nannygai compared with more vulnerable indicator species?
theMinister for Fisheries:I refer to the
recent decision by the WA Labor government to prohibit commercial demersal
fishing in the west coast bioregion.(1)
Can the minister advise whether nannygai stocks in the South West region of
Western Australia are depleted, overfished or at risk?(2)
If the minister maintains that nannygai stocks are in danger, will she table
the most recent scientific assessments and data that justify including nannygai
in the blanket closure?(3)
Will the minister consider introducing a targeted exemption allowing a limited
number of licensed commercial fishers in the South West region to harvest
nannygai at sustainable levels, specifically to supply fresh local fish to
Western Australian consumers and businesses?(4)
If the answer to (3) is no, why is the minister unwilling to adopt a more
nuanced species-by-species management approach for demersal fisheries, given
the markedly different stock status and recovery rates of individual species
such as nannygai compared with more vulnerable indicator species?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
11 December 2025
Response time
0 days
Hon Jackie Jarvis replied:I thank the
honourable member for some notice of the question. It is clear that no-one has
read the science that has been tabled because it is all contained in there—but
I will proceed with my answer:(1)–(4)
The most recent stock assessment indicates that the demersal species bight
redfish—nannygai—in the South West area are at adequate levels.
However, with the fishing gear used, and high mortality rates due to
barotrauma, commercial fishers cannot effectively target individual demersal
species without impacting other at-risk demersal species.
Demersal fishing ban—Nannygai stocks
honourable member for some notice of the question. It is clear that no-one has
read the science that has been tabled because it is all contained in there—but
I will proceed with my answer:(1)–(4)
The most recent stock assessment indicates that the demersal species bight
redfish—nannygai—in the South West area are at adequate levels.
However, with the fishing gear used, and high mortality rates due to
barotrauma, commercial fishers cannot effectively target individual demersal
species without impacting other at-risk demersal species.
Demersal fishing ban—Nannygai stocks
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