The Hon. Jackie Jarvis, Minister for Fisheries (WA), Media Release, 17 February 2026

A new advisory committee has been established to support the reopening of boat-based recreational demersal fishing from Kalbarri to Augusta in Spring 2027.

The West Coast Demersal Ministerial Advisory Committee will provide recommendations to the State Government on the future management of recreational fishing to balance a return to boat-based fishing with continued protection for fish stocks to support recovery.

The advisory committee is made up of recreational fishing representatives Matt Gillett, Ashley Ramm, Jamie Chester, David Hilton, and Emma George, charter operators Michelle Howard and Cherie Abbott, and science and conservation experts Tim Langlois and Adrian Meder. It will be chaired by Matt Gillett.

In December 2025, the Cook Government announced important reforms across Western Australia’s coastline to protect demersal fish like pink snapper, red emperor, and dhufish, and to help stocks recover for future generations.

The committee, who will meet for the first time in the last week of February, has been appointed to provide recommendations to the State Government on:

• additional spawning closures to provide protection for key species including pink snapper and WA dhufish;
• locations to establish demersal recovery zones to ensure the long-term sustainability of stocks; and
• changes to recreational fishing rules, such as boat and bag limits, to support the ongoing recovery of fish stocks when boat-based fishing reopens.

Final recommendations are due to the State Government by June 2027 for consideration, ahead of the West Coast Bioregion reopening in Spring 2027.

The State Government is also continuing to work on additional State-wide changes to boat and bag limits outside of the West Coast Bioregion, which will be announced by the end of the month.

Comments attributed to Fisheries Minister Jackie Jarvis:

“The establishment of the West Coast Demersal Ministerial Advisory Committee is an important step towards the reopening of boat-based demersal fishing in the West Coast Bioregion next year.

“It is vital we get this right. The long-term sustainability of WA’s demersal fish stocks remains a high priority to ensure we have plenty of fish for future generations to enjoy.

“The advisory committee brings together expertise from across the recreational, charter, science, and conservation sectors to work with government to help shape the future sustainable management of recreational fishing in the West Coast Bioregion.”

See: Demersal ban.