Hundreds of kilos of shark heads dumped outside minister’s office over fishing ban
Three men have been charged for allegedly dumping 200kg of shark heads outside a minister’s office to protest against a commercial and recreational fishing ban in Western Australia.
Police allege the men from Bunbury in West Australia’s southwest travelled about 100km to Fisheries Minister Jackie Jarvis’ electoral office in Margaret River and dumped shark heads and fish remains out the front of the building.
The incident occurred about 6.55am on Monday, and the men aged 37, 36 and 34 were arrested and charged with littering and trespass.
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The 36-year-old was also charged with possessing cannabis and cultivating a plant, while the 34-year-old from Carey Park was charged with possessing cannabis and unlawfully possessing a firearm.
The WA government has been heavily criticised by the fishing industry for announcing a fishing ban on demersal species covering a large section of Western Australia’s coastline weeks before Christmas.
The government implemented an exclusive recreational fishing zone stretching about 880km from Kalbarri to Augusta for 21 months from December 16 to allow fish stocks to recover.
It also placed a ban on commercial fishing for demersal species that takes effect on New Year’s Day.
A recreational fisherman who was one of the men who organised the shark head protest told the ABC that the stunt was to let Ms Jarvis know that she had ended the careers of fishermen and small businesses.
“She left them quite dirty so she was left quite dirty,” Mason Jones said.
“We also left a set of overalls that were kindly donated from some commercial guys.
“On there we had written ‘to Jackie from all fishers’ and that’s just to let her know that we’re uniting.
“The government has to come to the plate because we are uniting and people are realising what you are doing and we’re not going to stand for it.
“We know our oceans and we know what we’re doing.”
Opposition fisheries spokeswoman Kirrilee Warr said Western Australia’s fishing industry was blindsided and devastated by the government’s decision to ban commercial demersal fishing and trawling operations in the Pilbara.
“The decision … has blindsided the commercial fishing industry, they are absolutely devastated,” she said.
“Tourism, small businesses, charter operators, local accommodation, entire local economies built around fishing are now facing severe disruption.
“These are towns where fishing is not just an activity; it is part of the identity, the culture, and the social fabric.”
Ms Jarvis has been contacted for comment but a spokesman told media the reforms followed extensive, respectful and inclusive consultation with industry and the community, including the Fishing Futures Forum.
“Everyone who has an interest in these fish stocks is being urged to play their part to save demersal fish for future generations,” the spokesman said.
“The state government is also providing a $29.2mn Fisheries Support Package to assist the commercial and recreational sectors across the state.
“The government will continue to work closely with industry and the community to ensure fishing can continue long into the future.”
Originally published as Hundreds of kilos of shark heads dumped outside minister’s office over fishing ban
