00:02A tackle shop seemed like a solid investment for the Eelies in Kalbarri, a year round hotspot
00:08for keen fishers, but this year has been different.
00:14What we are seeing is people bypassing Kalbarri who would normally stop in with all of their
00:21family.
00:22The family took over the business in December, mere hours before the government announced
00:28its demersal fishing ban, spanning from Augusta in the south to Kalbarri, north of Perth.
00:34To have that just ripped out from underneath you as a young fella, it sinks us, that's it,
00:40catch you later.
00:41Several accommodation providers say many people cancelled bookings immediately after the ban
00:46was announced, and a local boat hire company claims it's lost thousands of dollars.
00:52While the ban on boat-based recreational fishing is in place until spring next year, for commercial
00:58fishers it's permanent.
01:00The government says it's planning to rezone Kalbarri to the Gascoigne, where the ban doesn't
01:04apply, but that's unlikely to happen until 2028, leaving locals in limbo.
01:10We've had nearly two months with no fishing, and we can't wait that much longer.
01:20The government has promised almost 30 million dollars in support, including 20 million to
01:25buy out commercial fisheries, and around 3 million in rebates to tackle shops.
01:30If we kept going the way we were going, there would be no fish to fish.
01:35That would be devastating for regional communities, so we're taking some short-term pain for long-term
01:40gain.
01:41At the end of the day, you fork out all this money on a business, you don't just roll over,
01:45you just go.
01:46You just go and have a crack.
01:47A town looking for a silver lining, as debate over the government's demersal fishing ban continues.
01:54Let's see you in the next video.
Comments