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1Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches2Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors3Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteFlorence Fishing Co’s family operators were preparing to sell their final catch when a commercial demersal fishing closure in Western Australia’s West Coast bioregion was due to begin on 1 January 2026. In a PerthNow report published on 19 December 2025, the Mankelow family said they had expected another reduction in fishing but not a total commercial ban. The report did not establish whether the business later ceased trading, changed fisheries or received support payments.
What happened to the Geraldton fishing family?
Florence Fishing Co was operated by brothers Jed and Zac Mankelow with their father, Russell. In the week before the ban took effect, the family said goodbye to customers at Fisherman’s Wharf in Geraldton and the brothers sold fish directly from an esky, according to PerthNow’s 19 December 2025 report.
Jasmine Mankelow, Zac’s wife, said the family had anticipated another reduction in fishing access but not a complete commercial prohibition. “The reality hasn’t sunken in just yet,” she told PerthNow. She described fishing as central to the brothers’ working lives and identity: “The boys are the second generation. It’s their whole life. They’ve been fishing all their lives . . . it’s everything, our livelihood, their identity, it’s who they are.”
The headline’s “shut down” wording should not be read as confirmation of the company’s later legal or operating status. The article reported the last-catch sale and the family’s uncertainty about licence renewal and payment; it did not confirm whether Florence Fishing Co permanently stopped trading, moved into another fishery, sold or retained its vessel, or received compensation.
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What did the demersal fishing ban change?
The WA Government announced a permanent closure of commercial demersal fishing in the West Coast bioregion from 1 January 2026. The region stretches from Kalbarri to Augusta. The stated purpose was to protect depleted demersal species. Fisheries Minister Jackie Jarvis said dhufish and snapper were “on the verge of extinction in some parts of WA” and that urgent action was needed for future generations of fishers.
The government said the measures would affect at least 170 commercial fishing businesses across Western Australia and reduce local fish supply to the WA and domestic market by about 2,500 tonnes a year. Those statewide estimates were published by the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) in 2025; they are not counts or impacts specific to Florence Fishing Co.
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For context, DPIRD reported that around 37,000 boat-based recreational fishers targeted West Coast demersal scalefish in 2023–24. That figure describes recreational fishing activity, not the number of commercial operators affected.
Does the closure apply to every kind of fishing in WA?
No. Rules differ by fishing sector, location and effective date. “The ban” is not a single statewide prohibition on all demersal fishing.
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| Sector or area | Rule described by government sources | Timing or qualification |
|---|---|---|
| Commercial, West Coast bioregion | Demersal fishing permanently closed | From 1 January 2026; the bioregion runs from Kalbarri to Augusta. |
| Boat-based recreational, West Coast | The planned reopening did not proceed; reopening was announced for Spring 2027 as an exclusively recreational zone. | As of the WA Government page last updated 15 May 2026, reopening arrangements were still under consideration. |
| West Coast demersal charter, Perth metropolitan area | Closed | From 16 December 2025. |
| West Coast demersal charter, outside the Perth metropolitan area | Charter fishing continued under a tag system, subject to a reduced annual limit. | DPIRD’s reform summary describes the regional arrangement. |
| Commercial, Kimberley, Pilbara and South Coast | DPIRD’s current reform summary describes 50% catch reductions. | These are separate from the permanent West Coast closure. |
| Commercial demersal trawling, Pilbara | Permanent demersal trawl closure. | A separate Pilbara measure. |
| Recreational, North, Gascoyne and South Coast | Further recreational rule changes were introduced. | From 1 June 2026. |
The regional measures and sector distinctions are set out in the WA Government’s reform announcement, DPIRD’s Fishing Futures WA summary and the government’s later update. The latter page was last updated on 15 May 2026 and said West Coast recreational reopening arrangements remained under consideration ahead of the announced Spring 2027 reopening period.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What support was announced for affected commercial operators?
DPIRD’s December 2025 FAQ described a $20 million buyout for commercial line and gillnet entitlements in areas permanently closed to commercial demersal fishing. That was a scheme-level amount, not a payment to Florence Fishing Co. The PerthNow report said the family was uncertain about licence renewal and payment, and the available government information does not establish the family’s eligibility, whether it applied, or whether it received money.
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WAFIC chief executive Melissa Haslam said the change carried financial and emotional costs beyond fishers, naming fishmongers, retailers, processors, transport operators, ice plants, chandlery, ship repair and tourism operators who rely on the industry. Her comments underline why a change in fishing access can affect a wider local supply chain, though they do not quantify the impact on this particular business.
DPIRD’s general information on impacts and the support framework is in its December 2025 West Coast demersal reforms FAQ.
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What is known about Florence Fishing Co after the ban?
The cited December 2025 reporting captures the family’s position before the commercial closure took effect. It documents a final-catch customer sale and the family’s concern about a sudden end to commercial access, but it does not verify what happened to the business afterward. The available official policy information describes reforms and a general buyout framework; it does not confirm a company-specific outcome.
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