Dramatic new restrictions aimed at rebuilding stocks of demersal scalefish has thrown WA’s $2.4 billion fishing industry in turmoil.

Potential changes outlined by Fisheries Minister Don Punch will see a 94-day recreational fishing season in staged openings from December to May, or a 123-day limit from April to October.

Punch told Gareth Parker on 6PR Breakfast the problem the industry had was deciding the division of limits for the recreational and commercial sectors.

LISTEN to Punch detail the difficulty dividing limits 👇

“I understand people are angry but… there are other fish out there to catch,” he said.

“If we took the entire catch off the commercial sector it would lead to a collapse of the commercial fishing sector, and nobody would want that.”

Recfishwest CEO Andrew Rowland earlier told Parker the proposed limits were unacceptable.

“They’re putting forward nine-month ban on fishing essentially, which is completely unnecessary,” he said.

“There’s much better ways of doing that and we’re really disappointed the ideas we put forward aren’t found in this public consultation document.”

LISTEN to Dr Rowland discuss the limits with Parker 👇