Fisheries Minister Don Punch has welcomed the findings of a Recreational Fishing Initiatives Fund research report into the Western Australia charter fishing sector, which highlight the important contributions made by the sector to the State’s economy and the ongoing sustainability of WA’s fisheries resources.
The charter fishing sector generates $110.9 million in direct and indirect expenditure annually, creating more than 800 jobs for Western Australians.
With almost 8,000 trips recorded annually, charter fishing provides the opportunity for people who love to fish safe access to some of the State’s best boat fishing experiences along the State’s 13,000km coastline.
From chasing a barramundi in the tropical waters of the north to red snapper from the cool ocean waters off Albany, the range of charter fishing experiences available across the State is distinctly varied, providing highly valued experiences for locals and tourists.
The broader net value of each fish caught and kept on a charter trip in terms of aggregate expenditure on charter and gearing up has been valued at $488.
The charter sector is also strongly committed to ensuring the sustainability of the resource for future generations, providing catch data to fisheries scientists each month which is then analysed as part of ongoing ‘health checks’ of the State’s fisheries.
Western Australians enjoy nearly 72,000 nights on charter fishing trips each year, providing a welcome boost to regional tourism with many fishers planning holidays around a charter fishing trip.
As stated by Fisheries Minister Don Punch:
“The charter fishing sector is doing a great job providing world-renowned fishing experiences, with 90 per cent of fishers rating their charter fishing experience 7 out of 10 or above.
“The WA charter fishing sector not only provides some of the world’s best fishing experience – it also contributes over $110 million to the State’s economy and supports 831 jobs every year, many of which are in the regions.
“Charter operators also play an important role in educating fishers on the rules and bag limits to protect the long-term sustainability of our fish resources.”
