Small businesses in Kalbarri are concerned they may not survive Western Australia's ban on demersal fishing, with many reporting cancelled bookings and lost trade. The state government says the ban is essential to rebuild depleted fish stocks, but fishers say they were blindsided and financially strained.
Veteran commercial fisherman Phil de Grauw has hardly left the harbour in two months after it became illegal to catch demersal species in the West Coast fishery zone. He said the ban has created a domino effect in town, affecting restaurants, bait and ice suppliers, and freight companies.
Steve Eley, who took ownership of a local tackle shop just hours before the ban was announced, said the lack of communication from the government has been a major source of frustration. 'To have that just ripped out from underneath you … it sinks us,' he said.
Murchison Boat Hire reported losing thousands of dollars in cancelled bookings and is not eligible for government compensation. Some businesses had only recently recovered from damage caused by a destructive cyclone in 2021.
A petition calling for a parliamentary inquiry into the ban has gathered 34,000 signatures. Fisheries minister Jackie Jarvis said she is open to an inquiry but does not support pausing the ban.
