This weekend, the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development is proud to be taking part in an exciting festival that showcases Western Australia’s vibrant commercial fishing industry and our important recreational fishing sector.
The Fremantle Boat and Seafood Festival gets underway tomorrow and runs through the weekend at the Esplanade and Fishing Boat Harbour, celebrating WA seafood and the best in boating. And there’s no better place to hold the festival than the vibrant city of Fremantle that’s long been linked with WA’s seafaring and maritime history and is the major hub of our state’s fisheries.
DPIRD’s fisheries management supports a thriving recreational fishing sector, regional tourism and a commercial industry that’s a world leader in sustainability certification through the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC).
The commercial and recreational sectors are vital social and economic contributors. The latest National Recreational Fishing Survey has recently confirmed recreational fishing is a key pastime with health and wellbeing benefits for Australians of all ages and backgrounds. WA’s commercial fishers are also acknowledged for their commitment to MSC’s sustainability certification for more than 10 years. WA now has 12 fisheries holding the world’s gold standard in sustainability.
Our unique western rock lobster fishery, certified sustainable since 2000, will be one of the big stars this weekend. Not only does it support a valuable commercial industry, DPIRD research has also revealed it’s also the most-caught species for WA recreational fishers.
DPIRD’s Community Education Coordinator Joshua Brown said people attending the festival could visit the Fishing Zone marquee to learn more about sustainable management of WA’s fisheries and the importance of catch care and fishing rules in recreational fishing.
“We will be on hand to talk about the ‘switch your fish’ campaign to help the recovery of demersal scalefish stocks from Kalbarri to Augusta,” Mr Brown said. “There will also be information about the West Coast demersal fishing rules for recreational fishing, charter fishers and commercial fishers.
“WA’s Fishing Industry Council (WAFIC) and the MSC will share a display adjacent to the main seafood stage, encouraging visitors to drop in and ask questions about the sustainability of our state’s high quality seafoods, MSC’s gold standard sustainability certification and food security, as well as the commercial fisheries role in providing seafood for everybody.
“At the joint WAFIC and MSC display, you can also learn more about some of Western Australia’s super delicious, yet lesser-known seafood species. They will also have some giveaways, including some sensational WA seafood recipes.”