Local charter operators left without demersal fishing tags as new allocation model hurts small business

STANDFIRST: Eighty per cent of the fishing charter industry face the grim prospect of going under after July 1 thanks to a new allocation model the State Government is bringing in. Geraldton’s Steve Smith is one of the unlucky majority. A local charter boat operator claims his licence is about to become worthless and his business put in peril, along with 75 others, after they were left out of a new demersal fishing tag allocation regime. Steve Smith is passionate about offering a well-rounded tour experience, but has been told he won’t be able to offer demersal fishing experiences under the new tagging model. He is one of 76 operators left in the lurch, after only 21 operators out of the 97 who hold a fishing tour operator licence in the West Coast bioregion were allocated tags. Mr Smith took a leap of faith seven years ago, taking out a loan to buy a 8.5m boat and licence to pursue his dream career as a charter operator, branding himself as Batavia Sea Safaris. But from July 1, only 21 tour operators will be able to offer demersal catch experiences in a region spanning from Augusta to Kalbarri after Fisheries Minister Don Punch approved the new allocation model bumping up the number of demersal catches required to receive quota tags. In December, Mr Punch announced the demersal tagging system as part of their plan to allow demersal fish stocks in the West Coast bioregion to recover by 50 per cent. Charter operators who aren’t in possession of tags cannot fish for, or be in possession of, any demersal scalefish in the West Coast bioregion. Stakeholders were given two proposed allocation models, one that would give 81 licence holders a share of 14-300 tags provided they recorded one demersal fish catch over the past five years. The second proposed model would give 45 licence holders between seven and 420 tags, as long as they recorded 20 demersal catches every year for three years. Under the new model, 6000 tags will be allocated to 21 licence holders who recorded an average retained catch of 355 demersal fish each year for three years. In a letter sent to licence holders, the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development said the new allocation decision recognised operators with an ongoing and recent reliance on demersal-based fishing and aimed to ensure a viable charter fishing industry could be maintained. Although Batavia Sea Safaris offers a diverse range of tour activities, Mr Smith said 90 per cent of his clientele wanted to experience catching a demersal fish, like dhu fish or pink snapper. He said despite his records of a genuine catch history and having very little impact to demersal fish stocks, small operators like his were going to suffer. “They’re not getting genuine input from genuine guys, they’re just listening to the big players who have a stake in the industry,” he said. Mr Smith said allocating tags to larger companies in other districts, including the metropolitan area, would take business away from the Mid West region. “It’s unfair that somebody like myself, who has the genuine desire to provide good customer service and show people all that we’ve got to offer here in the Mid West, I’m unable to do that anymore,” he said. “I love taking people out to catch their first good prize fish that they’re wrapped with. It’s the look on their faces when they light up that’s what gives me joy.” Port Denison’s Ocean Addiction Charters charter operators Dan and Kate Ritchie didn’t receive tags despite meeting Australian Tourism Accreditation Standards. “Our business has sustainable tourism accreditation, however, we are not being given the opportunity to demonstrate how sustainable we are, even though we are the only fishing charter in the area,” Mr Ritchie said. Another untagged operator is Kristin McCarthy, owner of Seaester Charters, who is the only female charter owner in the West Coast zone and operates at the Abrolhos Islands. “Our fishing represents the majority of our income and we are booked out to 2026, with clients that have already paid. The cash flow crisis this causes will be the end. One would think that in trying to achieve fish stock recovery those that offer different experiences and sustainable fishing models would be of the up most importance and should have got some allowance,” she said. A State Government spokesperson said the decision was based on advice of WA’s world-class marine scientists and jointly agreed to by all peak sector bodies and aimed to ensure a viable charter industry was maintained while stocks were in recovery. “Charter licensees that did not meet the criteria for tags, such as some part time operators or businesses that run tours in other parts of the state, can continue to operate in the West Coast Zone providing tourism experiences and fishing for non-demersal species such as rock lobster and large pelagic finfish fishing like mackerel and mahi mahi,” they said. According to Recfishwest, 72,000 members of the WA community go on charter fishing trips each year, helping the sector employ 831 people while generating $110 million in economic activity. Recfishwest CEO Dr Andrew Rowland said the system was broken and urged the minister to give the charter sector a fair go. “While the Government has told charter businesses to diversify, it is not realistic or reasonable to expect charter operations to completely change their business model in just four weeks,” he said. A group of charter operators have banded together to come up with solutions in hope the minister would reassess his decision.