BEN SMALL MP
MEMBER FOR FORREST
SENATOR MATT O’SULLIVAN
SHADOW ASSISTANT MINISTER FOR FISHERIES & FORESTRY
SHADOW ASSISTANT MINISTER FOR INFRASTRUCTURE
SENATOR FOR WESTERN AUSTRALIA
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JUMPING THE SHARK: FEDERAL FISHERIES MINISTER NEEDS TO PULL WA INTO LINE OVER DEMERSAL BAN
Ben Small MP, Federal Member for Forrest, today said “the WA Labor Government has
literally jumped the shark with its snap decision to cancel the Demersal Gillnet
Licenses of commercial fishermen who target shark for local consumption, with their
own Departmental Scientific Advisers telling a recent Ministerial roundtable that just
0.4% of the total catch of species such as Dhufish was related to the shark fishing by
catch.”
Mr Small continued that “it is truly astonishing that the Commonwealth Government
just re-certified the Western Australian Demersal Gillnet Fisheries under the EPBC Act
on October 31, 2025 – and then 33 days later, with less than a month’s notice, these
hardworking commercial shark fishermen have been left high and dry with a snap
cancellation of their licenses by an incompetent and ignorant Fisheries Minister.”
“I have met with the local shark fishermen in Bunbury who are deeply concerned about
what impacts the loss of 300 tonnes of annual shark meat means for their businesses,
local WA seafood consumers and of course the ecological balance – with all of those
sharks previously caught for food becoming much bigger predators into the future,
potentially pushing apex predators like Tiger Sharks or Great White Sharks closer to the
coast – and swimmers or surfers – than is currently the case.”
“If the WA Minister is so out of touch with her brief that she can’t recognise the
unintended consequences of a snap decision that hasn’t been appropriately consulted,
the Federal Fisheries Minister needs to intervene under the OAshore Constitutional
Settlement and sort this mess out – before Christmas, because the license
cancellations are due on 1 January.”
Mr Small concluded by saying “if both the State and Labor Fisheries Ministers are
leaving our commercial fishermen marooned, and are happy to force WA consumers to
pay more for imported seafood of a lower standard, then they should pony up with an
acceptable jointly-funded compensation package akin to that provided to Queensland
in 2024, which included three years loss of income and transitional support
arrangements for the impacted fishermen.”
Shadow Assistant Minister for Fisheries and Forestry and Senator for Western Australia,
Matt O’Sullivan, echoed Mr Small’s calls, saying that “the evidence supports a
managed fishery, not WA Labor’s blunt approach.”
“This rushed political decision ignores the science and leaves small and family-run
businesses, including commercial shark fishers, fish and chip shops, restaurants and
seafood retailers, to deal with the fallout, despite the State’s own advice recognising
the minimal impact of shark fishing on demersal stocks.”
“The Federal Minister must now intervene to protect a fishery that has already been
certified as sustainable.”