What WAFIC has been doing
When you are working flat out, it’s sometimes hard to find extra time to inform on what you have been doing.
We are finding that from time to time at WAFIC lately, but we also know we need to bring our members along on this challenging journey.
WAFIC’s #1 priority is to encourage the Premier and Fisheries Minister back to the negotiating table to explore proven options to assist the recovery of demersal species while supporting impacted industry members and regional communities.
There are proven ways for fishers and government fisheries managers to work together to recovery fisheries. It’s been done before and can be done again and again. The model works, but we need the Minister to approve an operating environment that will support adaptive fisheries management.
With the doors currently shut, WAFIC has run two full page adverts in the West recently – an Open Letter to the Premier and a warning about Christmas seafood in the future, calling on the Premier to meet. This is our first priority – to use a pause on fishing to revisit options that allows for sustainable commercial fishing. But we need to government to come to the negotiating table.
It’s important that the government hears how these unilateral decisions are impacting real people, so we are producing a number of stories on individual fishing families and fishing businesses, which will be shared across social media platforms and other channels. You can check them out here. Please contact us if you can assist or would like to tell your story.
To keep members up to date with the facts, we have developed a demersal microsite that can be accessed directly, or through a link on the WAFIC website. This site has information and updates specific to the demersal decisions.
It’s important that your local Members of Parliament also know how you feel, so visit the demersal microsite, which has everything you need to know, including template letters to fill in and write to your local MP. It’s important that they hear first-hand, so please fill them in and send.
The rapid timeline for changes has plunged many fishers and those in associated industries that rely on local fishing into financial crisis. As such, we have asked the government to provide immediate Act of Grace payments to impacted fishers. These letters should be received in early January. We’ll keep you updated.
Obviously, there’s also legal options to explore, so WAFIC will obtain legal advice so fishers understand what legal options may exist and make informed decisions.
This is a dynamic issue that keeps evolving, so please keep in touch with your WAFIC representative and we’ll keep you updated as the campaign moves forward.