CEO Message – Recognising the value of WA’s seafood industry
While fishing doesn’t operate on the scale of mining, it is still an important billion-dollar industry and a key economic driver for the regions. It’s a renewable and sustainable industry and an important pillar in feeding the people within our state.’
Here are some facts about the fishing industry, you should know:
- Australia’s fishing industry plays an integral role in the supply of seafood domestically and internationally, providing 1.5 billion meals of nutritious seafood on tables each year (Seafood Industry Australia, 2023).
- The WA commercial fishing industry contributes around one billion dollars to WA’s economy each year and provides direct employment for more than 5,000 people, plus many more in associated flow on effects in regional communities.
- Seafood is one of the healthiest, sustainable protein sources in the world, and one which plays a significant role in food cultures nationally and worldwide.
- The fishing industry is also a vital component of the transition to net zero, as seafood has the lowest carbon footprint amongst all available protein sources.
- The cumulative impact facing the commercial fishing industry and seafood security needs to be appropriately considered, or the seafood we eat in WA will be replaced by imported seafood.
- Despite having more coastline than any other state in Australia, WA already imports around 70 per cent of its seafood. There is plenty of room for seafood to grow as an industry if we are given the opportunity!
Offshore wind farms have been featuring heavily in the media, and WAFIC recently provided formal submissions on the proposed Offshore Wind Area off Bunbury and the Offshore Electricity Regulations, to ensure the fishing industry’s position is known and best protected.
Thank you to all the industry members who also provided guidance and input into to those processes.
For the Bunbury proposal, WAFIC made 16 recommendations to government, and we urge them to consider the damaging implications to productive and commercially valuable fisheries which will exist if left unchanged in the current draft zone.
Major changes are required and it is critical that government listens to ensure the final declared area does not have negative impacts on the operations and long-term sustainability of the commercial fishing industry, nor upon seafood supply to the WA community.
I met with Minister Bowen a little while ago and he’s given me his absolute assurance that our views will be properly considered in the development of the offshore renewable energy sector.
I’ve dealt with him in a different portfolio in the past and found that he is a man of his word. So, we therefore trust that he carefully considers the valuable information provided by WAFIC, which is based on local knowledge, science and international best practice, to deliver the best possible outcome for our industry.
On another topic, we just celebrated a fabulous seafood awards dinner which saw around 400 people turn up to honour and recognise the amazing people and achievements within our industry.
It was such a fantastic night to see our people come together with government to celebrate why the commercial fishing industry is so great in WA. Which is also of course why we unapologetically fight so hard to protect it.
Congratulations to all the winners and for those businesses that submitted applications. It’s always a tough challenge for the judges to make a final call.
In closing, I would like to give a special shout-out to the winner of the Michael and Patricia Kailis Leadership Award, Angus Callander.
Angus is well known across all sectors of the fishing industry and has made a huge contribution throughout his long career. He is a very worthy ambassador who continues to help protect and shape the future of our industry every day through his valuable work on the Industry Consultation Unit. Our respect and hearty congratulations to Angus.