Tourism Council WA has welcomed the State Government's decision to protect the at-risk demersal scale fish, with marine tourism operators allowed to continue to offer fishing experiences across regional WA, albeit with a reduced catch.
Tourism Council WA CEO Evan Hall said catch and cook, eco fishing and other marine tours were the smallest, most sustainable and valuable catch of the prized demersal fish such as dhufish.
"Visitors into and around Western Australia who undertake a marine tour spend on average more than $5,000 in Western Australia," Mr Hall said.
"Marine tourism has the smallest catch but provides the highest value for Western Australian businesses, jobs and regions compared with recreational or commercial fishing."
Mr Hall said marine tourism operators provided the fishing experience for Western Australians who didn't have their own boat and wished to visit regional WA to undertake recreational fishing.
Tourism Council WA accepts the ban on recreational fishing and marine tourism in the Perth metropolitan area, however believes any operator who will have to refund bookings taken in good faith under the current fisheries management plan should be financially supported during this transition to greater sustainable recreational fishing.
"The restriction on recreational demersal fishing in the Perth metropolitan area will protect the fish but will also create tourism opportunities for marine tourism and regional towns along the coast of Western Australia," Mr Hall said.
