What’s the new ban about?
The government of Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) in Western Australia has announced a major ban on demersal fishing — affecting both commercial and recreational fishers — across the West Coast region (Kalbarri to Augusta, including the Perth metropolitan coast).
From 1 January 2026, the West Coast region will be permanently closed to commercial fishing for demersal species like WA dhufish, pink snapper, red emperor and baldchin groper.
Recreational boat-based fishing for demersal species in that region is also being halted: there will be a 21-month ban starting 16 December 2025. After that, the fishery is planned to reopen — but only for recreational fishing, from September 2027.
Why the drastic move?
Latest scientific assessments show that several iconic demersal fish stocks — especially WA dhufish — have fallen to dangerously low levels. For instance, spawning biomass off Perth’s coast dropped to as low as 7%, far below the sustainable threshold of 20%.
The government says these species are "at severe risk of collapse," and continuing business-as-usual fishing would likely lead to collapse or extinction of these stocks.
As such, authorities consider immediate and strong protections necessary to give the populations a chance to recover.
What are the rules — who can fish and when
Commercial fishing
From 1 January 2026: Permanent ban on commercial demersal fishing along West Coast region (Kalbarri → Augusta).
Commercial fishing licences for this region will be bought back under a compulsory buyback scheme.
