WA’s fishing industry is a critical economic driver, supporting thousands of jobs and communities along the coast.

With 750,000 Western Australians participating each year, this recreational activity rivals other major sports.

For many families, however, this is more than just a pastime – it is a livelihood.

Yet, despite their impact on WA’s economy, Labor has continually left fishers to deal with more bureaucracy, failing to live up to previous promises.

WA Labor had promised to implement the Aquatic Resources Management Act 2016, they decided to walk away in 2024, leaving fishers without security around long-term licensing and quotas.

They had further committed to building on the existing Fish Resources Management Act, to secure the industry for generations to come.

Without these changes, fishers would continue to have to renew their rock lobster fishery licence every 12 months.

After failing to provide assurance to fishing families over the last eight years in government, it took until recent commitments from the WA Liberals to drop their bureaucracy and commit to supporting the crayfish industry.

The WA Liberals know that supporting fishing – commercial and recreational – is fundamental to what makes Western Australia the best place to live.

The Cook Labor Government has failed it at every turn.

WA deserves to access our WA’s pristine coastline — families, businesses, and tourism operators should be able to spend more time on the water, not fighting government red tape.

Only a WA Liberal Government will ensure it.

The WA Liberals believe in backing small businesses, supporting the regions, and making sure local families get a fair go.

For an industry that supports thousands of Western Australians and provides for a $400 million export industry, WA Labor has continually failed to provide assurances to families.

Western Australian fishers need more certainty, so that they can plan for their future without fear of changes to bureaucratic requirements.

A WA Liberal Government will commit to supporting the commercial fishing industry, especially cray fishers, by removing unnecessary red tape.

We will fix the number of units in Individual Transferable Quota fisheries, so that these units cannot be created or destroyed once a number is fixed.

This will work alongside an electronic register of unit entitlements that financial institutions can rely on, to assist with sovereign risk issues.

We will further extend the minimum term for a fishing licence to 5+5 years, in line with commercial agreements, enabling commercial fishers to provide financial assurances on loans and other legal agreements.

This is about standing up for fishers — ensuring they have the confidence to invest in their future.

This will work alongside our changes to recreational fishing licences and our review of marine park restrictions to remove unnecessary bureaucratic barriers that hinder both commercial and recreational fishing.

Western Australian fishers deserve a government that will support the fishing industry across our state, from occasional recreational fishers to generations of commercial fishers.

Only the WA Liberal Party is committed to supporting an industry that employs thousands of Western Australian locals and plays a vital role in our state’s economy.