Western Australian Fishing Industry Council

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Western Australian Fishing Industry Council Connecting WA’s seafood industry from ocean to plate. 🐟

Representing commercial fishers and pearlers since 1968.

We champion a strong, sustainable seafood industry and the people, communities and marine resources that make it possible. We welcome you and your comments to the page for WAFIC. This site intends to inform and engage with the members, friends, family members, and other businesses, entities, or interested persons of WAFIC. You are encouraged to submit comments, questions, and concerns, but please note this is a moderated online discussion site and not a public forum. Once posted, WAFIC reserves the right to delete submissions that contain vulgar language; personal attacks of any kind, or comments we deem to be offensive or disparaging. Further, WAFIC also reserves the right to delete comments that:
• Contain spam, advertising, solicitations or include links to other sites;
• Are clearly off topic or disruptive;
• Are obscene, vulgar, or sexually explicit. This includes masked words (***), acronyms, and abbreviations;
• Are chain letters, pyramid schemes, or fraudulent or deceptive messages;
• Promote particular services, products, or political organizations or campaigns;
• Infringe on copyrights or trademarks;
• Advocate illegal activity;
• Violate any policies of WAFIC

Please note that the comments expressed on this site do not reflect the opinions and official position of WAFIC.

Want to help shape the future of WA’s seafood industry? We’re inviting nominations for six positions on the WAFIC Board,...
01/10/2026

Want to help shape the future of WA’s seafood industry? We’re inviting nominations for six positions on the WAFIC Board, including the Independent Chair.

The Board guides WAFIC’s strategic direction and advocacy for WA’s professional fishing, pearling, processing and export sectors. It’s an opportunity to bring your experience to the table and help guide our work on the issues that matter to industry.

We’re looking for people with governance, leadership and commercial experience. Experience in fishing, fisheries science, supply chain, finance, law and risk is all valued. The Independent Chair must be independent of commercial fishing interests.

Board members will be elected at our AGM on Wednesday 18 November 2026.

🔹 Nominations close: 5:00pm, Wednesday 7 October 2026
🔹 Full details and nomination forms: https://www.wafic.org.au/news/2026-wafic-board-nominations-now-open/

If this sounds like you, we’d welcome your nomination. If you know someone with the right experience, please share this with them.

Last week we brought members together to draw on the broad experience and knowledge within our membership and to better ...
29/09/2026

Last week we brought members together to draw on the broad experience and knowledge within our membership and to better understand how they see WAFIC’s role, priorities and operating model.

With shifts in government policy and more voices in fisheries debates, it’s time to look at where we can make the greatest difference.

Thank you to everyone who took part and contributed to a thoughtful discussion.

21/09/2026

Thousands of local businesses depend on Fuel Tax Credits. It keeps operational costs manageable, and it keeps our cost-of-living affordable - including your next fish n chips meal.

Australia can't afford to cap Fuel Tax Credits.

Sign the Petition. Hands Off Our Fuel. https://handsoffourfuel.com.au/

Everyone goes through tough patches. Sometimes it helps to have someone to talk to.Through the Stay Afloat Program, WA c...
09/09/2026

Everyone goes through tough patches. Sometimes it helps to have someone to talk to.

Through the Stay Afloat Program, WA commercial fishers, their partners and dependent children can access free, confidential counselling with qualified counsellors from BSS Psychology.

Whether it’s stress at work or home, relationship or family challenges, anxiety, depression, alcohol or drug concerns, conflict, or just something that’s been weighing on your mind, it may help to have a professional to talk to.

🔹 Confidential and voluntary
🔹 Free of charge
🔹 After-hours appointments available
🔹 Available to fishers, partners and dependent children

You don’t have to wait until things get really tough before reaching out. If you’re not sure whether counselling is right for you, you can call first for a chat and find out what support is available.

📞 Call 1800 30 30 90 and quote the Stay Afloat Program to access free counselling.

Public consultation is open on the future management of 44 Australian Marine Parks, including parks in the South-west an...
08/09/2026

Public consultation is open on the future management of 44 Australian Marine Parks, including parks in the South-west and North-west networks that are relevant to Western Australian commercial fisheries.

These processes can be challenging. WAFIC will be doing what we can to push for WA fisheries to be properly heard. The more information we have from fishers on the water, the stronger our submission will be. If your fishery operates within or near Commonwealth marine parks in these networks, please get in touch.

To feed into the WAFIC submission, we're asking fishers to share:
🔹 where you currently fish in or near the marine parks
🔹 whether existing zoning already affects your operations
🔹 areas you cannot afford to lose access to
🔹 the likely impact of any further closures
🔹 displacement, additional steaming or fuel costs, or impacts on catch and business viability
🔹 any evidence or examples that help demonstrate the impact

Please send your feedback to [email protected] by Friday 18 September so it can be included in our submission.

Seafood Industry Australia (SIA) has been appointed to coordinate the national industry response, and WAFIC will work closely with SIA to ensure the specific interests and impacts of WA commercial fisheries are represented.

The public comment period with the Australian Government closes at 4pm AEST on 30 September 2026. Industry members can also make their own submissions directly.

Full details on our website: https://www.wafic.org.au/news/federal-government-to-review-44-australian-marine-parks/

WAFIC held industry-only meetings with licence holders from the Gascoyne, Kalbarri, Kimberley and South Coast, following...
04/09/2026

WAFIC held industry-only meetings with licence holders from the Gascoyne, Kalbarri, Kimberley and South Coast, following a series of DPIRD-led workshops on demersal quota reform. This is the first phase in a consultation process expected to wrap up by 2028.

Despite the challenging process, WAFIC will continue to work with industry to make sure their concerns are reflected in the consultation, and to advocate for a process that is informed by robust science and gives industry the information needed to make sound decisions.

03/09/2026

Nine months without income. Still waiting for compensation.

WAFIC Interim CEO Manue Daniels spoke with ABC Country Hour about the ongoing impact of the West Coast demersal fishing closure and the urgent need for the compensation process to move forward.

“We can’t afford any more delays.” As Manue explains, the impact goes well beyond the financial pressure. Fishers are dealing with the loss of their businesses, their livelihoods and, for many, a part of their identity.

Listen to Manue’s full interview below.

Looking for a delicious way to enjoy local Aussie Mullet?This fisherman’s classic 'Crazy Water Peel Mullet' is a simple,...
27/08/2026

Looking for a delicious way to enjoy local Aussie Mullet?

This fisherman’s classic 'Crazy Water Peel Mullet' is a simple, flavour-packed dish that brings together some of the best produce WA has to offer.

Ready in less than 20 minutes, it’s a hearty dish the whole family can enjoy.

Inspired by the Italian *acqua pazza*, or “crazy water”, this recipe was originally created by fishermen who poached their fresh catch with water, tomatoes, garlic and w**e, using whatever they had on hand.

This WA twist is proudly brought to you by WA Seafood Ambassador Don Hancey

Meet one of WA’s most underrated local catches, the Australian Mullet.You’ll find mullet in our estuaries and coastal w...
25/08/2026

Meet one of WA’s most underrated local catches, the Australian Mullet.

You’ll find mullet in our estuaries and coastal waters, and while it might not always get the same attention as other seafood, it’s well worth adding to your plate. It’s nutritious, versatile and delicious grilled, smoked or pan-fried.

Sea Mullet makes up most of WA’s catch, with Yelloweye Mullet also found throughout our southern estuaries.

Swipe through to learn more about this delicious local fish.

Last week, WAFIC’s Research and Policy Officer Rob was in Geraldton for a range of meetings with industry.A common theme...
20/08/2026

Last week, WAFIC’s Research and Policy Officer Rob was in Geraldton for a range of meetings with industry.

A common theme from fishers across the sessions was the need for fisheries science to be more timely and collaborative, particularly when it comes to supporting adaptive management.

WAFIC is pushing for fisheries management to better connect the science with what commercial fishers are seeing on the water, helping address the growing gap between the two.

Address

Unit 5A, 161 Stirling Highway
Nedlands, WA
6009

Telephone

+61894327777

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