ILLEGAL NET FISHING INFORMATION

The  Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development says that the illegal practice of net fishing is hurting the future of sustainable fishing in the Pilbara. 

Michael Dunne is the Supervising Fisheries and Marine Officer from the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development. He says that education is key to stopping the practice of netting. 

 “We’re having a few issues with netting up the local creeks at the moment which is a really devastating method of fishing because anything that gets caught in the gillnet will die.”

He says that nets are being put up at local creeks overnight, catching different species like turtles, and swordfish which are under threat of being extinct.

“This is why the rules of no netting up creeks are in there, he said. The creeks are nursing areas where adult fish go to breed and if we’re devastating the stocks of barramundi and threatened salmon and swordfish through illegal netting then it really puts the sustainability for fish for everyone to enjoy, under threat.”

 Mr Dunne confirmed that everyone needs a license to fish except for  Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

 Ngarluma man, Mervyn Lockyer says that bag limits do not apply to Aboriginal people when funerals are on. 

“It all depends on the situation, he said. Especially at funerals. If you look at it - as the hosting party of the travellers that came through supplying food for these travellers is what we do. One of the resources is fish.”