City of Busselton Council has moved to advise the Minister for Fisheries of its support for a ban on shark fishing with a wire trace at the Busselton Jetty.
After receiving 1,695 responses during the consultation period, with 1,277 (75.3 percent) in support of a ban at the Busselton Jetty location, Council made the decision to write to the Minister indicating its support.
The City said main concerns raised by the community related to the conflict of uses at the jetty, "with large numbers of locals and tourists swimming, snorkelling and diving in the area each year".
While other areas within the City were submitted for consideration by some respondents, the decision only relates to the waters around the Busselton Jetty.
Mayor Phill Cronin said the City had already engaged with Minister Don Punch MLA to discuss the possibility of a ban at the Jetty.
"Following a State Government ban on shark fishing with a wire trace at various beaches in the Perth metro area, the Minister indicated he was prepared to consider a ban in other locations around the State," Mayor Cronin said.
"Our consultation process has helped us better understand issues and concerns within our local community and ascertain if there was support for such a ban at the Busselton Jetty and surrounds."
He said the next step was to provide written confirmation of the City's support of the ban, and to make a formal request for the Minister to include Busselton Jetty and surrounds in the State Government's Prohibition on Fishing (Wire Trace) Order 2022
"The proposed exclusion area supported by Council extends 800m east of the Jetty and approximately 2000m west of the Jetty, up to the eastern edge of the Vasse Diversion Drain," Mayor Cronin said.
Should the Minister agree to a ban at the Jetty, monitoring and compliance would be the responsibility of the State Government through the Department of Fisheries.
