Media Release | 22 May 2026
Kirrilee Warr MLA
Shadow Minister for Fisheries
Shadow Minister for Fisheries, Kirrilee Warr MLA, has questioned how the Cook Labor Government can continue claiming its sweeping demersal fishing bans are based on “robust science”, after this week’s Budget Estimates hearings revealed no stock assessments will be undertaken in 2026.
Ms Warr said the revelation raised serious concerns about the Government’s justification for imposing some of the harshest fishing restrictions in Western Australia’s history while failing to continue collecting up-to-date scientific data.
“For months the Minister has repeatedly defended these devastating fishing bans by claiming they are backed by ‘robust science’,” Ms Warr said.
“But now we learn there will be no simple stock assessments undertaken in 2026.
“How can the Government continue making decisions that are crippling recreational and commercial fishers when it is not even conducting the scientific assessments needed to measure current stock levels?”
Ms Warr said the contradiction undermined confidence in the Government’s handling of fisheries management, and raised more questions about transparency within the Department.
“You cannot tell fishers these bans are based on robust science while stepping away from the very stock assessments needed to support those claims,” she said.
“If the science is so robust, why has the Government stopped doing the work needed to maintain confidence in that science?” she said.
“These decisions are having enormous impacts on regional communities, tourism operators, small businesses and commercial fishing families who deserve transparency and evidence-based decision making.”
Ms Warr said the Opposition has also consistently called for greater transparency around the scientific advice underpinning the demersal fishing restrictions, including through ongoing Freedom of Information requests.
“Captain Jarvis still refuses to disclose key details around when her office was informed of the 2024 stock assessment, and our FOI requests continue to face delays,” she said.
“At the same time, fishers are being asked to accept life-changing restrictions while the Government fails to carry out updated assessments in 2026.
“That simply does not pass the pub test.”
ENDS
