Management
A partnership approach between industry and government has made Western Australia a world leader in fisheries management.
The foundation of good management is decision making based on scientific research.
Professional fishermen, whose livelihood depends on the
sustainability of the fishery, assist the Department of Fisheries in
collecting detailed data and the WA industry makes one of the largest
contribution of any Australian state to the Fisheries Research and Development Corporation (FRDC).
Commercial fisheries are therefore assessed on an ongoing basis from monthly catch returns and research projects. Any declines in fish stocks are detected early with management actions coming into place where necessary. Unlike the recreational sector new restrictions in the commercial sector are not widely publicised, so the wider community is often unaware of the restrictions introduced in commercial fisheries management.