❓ This parliamentary question and answer concern the Compulsory Fisheries Adjustment Scheme 2026 in Western Australia, focusing on consultation outcomes, licence buyback history, and compensation for fishers' assets.
AnsweredQoN 2309Legislative Assembly
Asked
6 May 2026
Member
Portfolio
Agriculture and Food; Fisheries; Forestry; Small Business; Mid West
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to the Compulsory Fisheries Adjustment Scheme 2026 and submissions made as part of the consultation process, and I ask:(a) How many submissions were received during the consultation period;(b) What were the findings of the consultation;(c) What were the requests from the submissions;(d) How many of these requests were considered;(e) Has the State Government enacted compulsory buybacks of fishing licences in the last 9 years? If so, what licences where acquired;(f) Has the State Government enacted voluntary buybacks of fishing licences in the last 9 years? If so, what licences were acquired;(g) How was the market unit value determined; and(h) Is there any state government compensation for fishers stranded assets such as boats, nets, on board camera systems? If so, what budget will be provided for this?
I refer to the Compulsory Fisheries Adjustment Scheme 2026 and submissions made as part of the consultation process, and I ask:
(a) How many submissions were received during the consultation period;
(b) What were the findings of the consultation;
(c) What were the requests from the submissions;
(d) How many of these requests were considered;
(e) Has the State Government enacted compulsory buybacks of fishing licences in the last 9 years? If so, what licences where acquired;
(f) Has the State Government enacted voluntary buybacks of fishing licences in the last 9 years? If so, what licences were acquired;
(g) How was the market unit value determined; and
(h) Is there any state government compensation for fishers stranded assets such as boats, nets, on board camera systems? If so, what budget will be provided for this?
I refer to the Compulsory Fisheries Adjustment Scheme 2026 and submissions made as part of the consultation process, and I ask:
(a) How many submissions were received during the consultation period;
(b) What were the findings of the consultation;
(c) What were the requests from the submissions;
(d) How many of these requests were considered;
(e) Has the State Government enacted compulsory buybacks of fishing licences in the last 9 years? If so, what licences where acquired;
(f) Has the State Government enacted voluntary buybacks of fishing licences in the last 9 years? If so, what licences were acquired;
(g) How was the market unit value determined; and
(h) Is there any state government compensation for fishers stranded assets such as boats, nets, on board camera systems? If so, what budget will be provided for this?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
9 June 2026
Responded by
Minister representing the Minister for Agriculture and Food; Fisheries; Forestry; Small Business; Mid West
Response time
8 days
a) 138.
(b-c) Consultation identified a range of matters including:
· Compensation methodology and valuation processes
· Economic and social impacts
· Science, data transparency and survey methods
· Governance and procedural fairness
· Impacts on local seafood supply
· Alternative fisheries management arrangements.
· Implementation of a voluntary rather than compulsory fisheries adjustment process.
· General opposition to the scheme
(d) All submissions received during the consultation period were considered in respect of establishment of the Scheme, in accordance with the Fisheries Adjustment Schemes Act 1987 .
(e) No.
(f) Yes. State Government-funded voluntary fisheries adjustment schemes implemented in the last 9 years include licence buy backs from the following fisheries:
· West Coast Demersal Scalefish Interim Managed Fishery (2023)
· Abalone Managed Fishery Area 7 (2020)
· Cockburn Sound Crab Managed Fishery and Warnbro Sound Crab Managed Fishery (2020)
· West Coast Estuarine Managed Fishery (2018).
(g) Market values for units of entitlement in the Compulsory Fisheries Adjustment Scheme 2026 has been determined based on evidence of revenue from the sale and purchase of units of entitlement and/or authorisations. Where such evidence is limited or absent, the market value has been based on the Gross Value of Production in the relevant fishery and an appropriate multiplier.
Compensation for loss beyond the market value of the units of entitlement or cancelled authorisations will be considered where an affected person can demonstrate a tangible and quantifiable loss, supported by appropriate evidence.
(b-c) Consultation identified a range of matters including:
· Compensation methodology and valuation processes
· Economic and social impacts
· Science, data transparency and survey methods
· Governance and procedural fairness
· Impacts on local seafood supply
· Alternative fisheries management arrangements.
· Implementation of a voluntary rather than compulsory fisheries adjustment process.
· General opposition to the scheme
(d) All submissions received during the consultation period were considered in respect of establishment of the Scheme, in accordance with the Fisheries Adjustment Schemes Act 1987 .
(e) No.
(f) Yes. State Government-funded voluntary fisheries adjustment schemes implemented in the last 9 years include licence buy backs from the following fisheries:
· West Coast Demersal Scalefish Interim Managed Fishery (2023)
· Abalone Managed Fishery Area 7 (2020)
· Cockburn Sound Crab Managed Fishery and Warnbro Sound Crab Managed Fishery (2020)
· West Coast Estuarine Managed Fishery (2018).
(g) Market values for units of entitlement in the Compulsory Fisheries Adjustment Scheme 2026 has been determined based on evidence of revenue from the sale and purchase of units of entitlement and/or authorisations. Where such evidence is limited or absent, the market value has been based on the Gross Value of Production in the relevant fishery and an appropriate multiplier.
Compensation for loss beyond the market value of the units of entitlement or cancelled authorisations will be considered where an affected person can demonstrate a tangible and quantifiable loss, supported by appropriate evidence.
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