Three fishermen have been charged after allegedly dumping 200kg of shark heads and fish remains outside a minister’s office to protest a sweeping fishing ban in Western Australia.
Overalls with “To Jackie from all fishers” written on them were also hung up outside Labor MP and Fisheries Minister Jackie Jarvis’s office in Margaret River just before 7am on Monday.
The demersal fishing ban affects commercial and recreational anglers along a 900km stretch of coastline, and the state government says the blanket ban is necessary to protect species such as pink snapper, red emperor and WA dhufish “to ensure healthy fish stocks for the future”,
But some locals have warned the ban will destroy their livelihoods, and one of the men who has been charged, Mason Jones, told ABC News the protest was to “to let [Ms Jarvis] know how she ended the many careers of fisherman and small businesses”.
“She’s dodged our phone calls and she’s dodged any answers that we want to get,” he said.
“The government has to come to the plate because we are uniting and people are realising what you are doing and we’re not going to stand for it. We know our oceans and we know what we’re doing.”
WA Police said three men aged 34, 36 and 37 had been charged with “depositing litter and trespass”, while the two younger men were charged with cannabis possession, the 36-year-old was charged with cultivating a prohibited plant, and the 34-yearolrd was charged with unlawfully possessing a firearm or major firearm part. All three will face Bunbury Magistrates Court on January 22.
A spokesman for Ms Jarvis called the alleged incident an “act of vandalism”, and said the “reforms follow extensive, respectful and inclusive consultation with industry and the community”.
“The State Government is also providing a $29.2 million Fisheries Support Package to assist the commercial and recreational sectors across the State to adapt to the reforms and is establishing an advisory council to provide guidance as the reforms are implemented,” he said.
“The Government will continue to work closely with industry and the community to ensure fishing can continue long into the future.”
Opposition fisheries spokeswoman Kirrilee Warr that ban would have massive negative economic and social effects.
“The decision … has blindsided the commercial fishing industry, they are absolutely devastated,” she said.
“Tourism, small businesses, charter operators, local accommodation, entire local economies built around fishing are now facing severe disruption.
“These are towns where fishing is not just an activity, it is part of the identity, the culture, and the social fabric.”
Header image: Left, right, the shark heads and the overalls outside the office (Facebook – That Fishing Shop in Waroona)
