WA’s fishing ban plan political and unscientific, court told
Aaron Demet
The controversial ban which deprived Western Australian fish eaters of their favorite fillet was politically motivated, unreasonable and not based on science, a court has heard.
Catch limits for valuable demersal species including pink snapper, red emperor and daphnia have been cut by a permanent commercial ban across much of Western Australia’s extensive coastline.
Trawling companies have been challenging High Court restrictions banning their commercial activities off the Pilbara since January 1.
They argue WA Fisheries Minister Jackie Jarvis’ decision was not based on departmental advice and was made without consultation other than existing legislation on fisheries management.
“The secretary’s order was an unreasonable and disproportionate use of force,” Eric Heenan, the companies’ attorney, said in his opening statement Wednesday.
“Emir cannot stand it.
“The evidence will show that the minister acted without any scientific assessment of Pilbara fisheries.”
The court was told Jarvis acted rashly while under pressure from conservationists over the stock status of demersal species in a major recreational fishing area adjacent to Perth.
Heenan argued that the minister was “obsessed” with the biological capture of dolphins through trawling and that the ban was “influenced by political considerations”.
“It doesn’t make any sense economically,” he told the court.
“They don’t seem to know what they’re doing.
“There was almost no consultation”
In the Pilbara, demersal scalefish, including red emperor and golden bander, are being targeted.
Fisheries provided approximately 43 per cent of Western Australia’s demersal fish.
“He was a major supplier of fish to the state and everyone else,” Heenan said.
Before the ban was implemented, some areas were closed to commercial fishing under the existing fisheries management plan.
The measures have drawn a wave of criticism from frustrated businesses, while retailers are reporting a sudden drop in supplies of fresh fish from local waters.
The ban is designed to address WA’s depleted demersal fish stocks.
When announced in December, the government said the latest scientific assessment of commercial fish stocks showed that many species, particularly daphnia and pink snapper, were seriously threatened and urgent action was needed.
The legal action against the government’s reforms was brought by Sea Harvest Pty Ltd, an Australian subsidiary of South African global fishing and food company Sea Harvest Group, together with WA seafood company Seafresh Holdings Pty Ltd.
The trial continues.
AAP
