Hon Rod Caddies questions the Minister for Fisheries about the link between population growth and declining demersal fish stocks. The Minister denies any evidence of such a link, citing stable recreational fishing license numbers.

AnsweredQoN 1182Legislative Council
Asked
3 December 2025
Portfolio
Fisheries

QuestionView source ↗

Demersal fishing
1182. Hon Rod Caddies to
the Minister for Fisheries:
I refer to the
announced changes to demersal fishing rules in Western Australia. Will the
minister confirm that increased population numbers have contributed to the decline
in demersal fish stocks in Western Australia?

AnswerView source ↗

I thank the member
for some notice of the question.
There is no evidence
that the decline in demersal fish stocks is linked to increased population
numbers. Approximately 130,000 people take out a recreational fishing from a boat
licence each year and this figure has remained relatively static over the last
decade.

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