Fish and chips could become more expensive if supplies of affected demersal fish tighten, but the available reporting does not quantify any future takeaway price rise. The $90-a-kilogram figure cited in the debate was Fisheries Minister Jackie Jarvis’s statement about dhufish fillets—not a fish-and-chip serving or a current survey of shop prices.
Will fish and chips cost more in Perth and regional WA?
WA Fisheries Minister Jackie Jarvis said reduced market availability of affected demersal fish could push prices up for a number of years. In a PerthNow report published on 4 December 2025, she said: “There will be less of these fish in the market for a number of years.” The report did not give a forecast for how much a takeaway meal might cost, nor compare menu prices in Perth with those in regional WA. PerthNow’s report presents a possible supply-driven price pressure, not a measured menu-price increase.
Jarvis also said in that report: “The reality is dhufish fillets are already $90 a kilo.” That was her statement about fillets on 4 December 2025, not a verified current retail quote, a representative market price or the cost of a serving at a takeaway shop. The report did not establish which species individual shops use or how much any restriction has contributed to their costs. Other business expenses may also affect menu prices, and the available evidence does not show that every shop will raise its prices.
Which fish and fisheries are affected?
The restrictions concern specified demersal fisheries, species, locations and fishing sectors. They are not a statewide ban on all fishing, and they do not prohibit all fish from being sold or served. The rules differ across WA’s bioregions and between recreational, charter and commercial fishing.
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| Region | Recreational fishing | Charter fishing | Commercial fishing |
|---|---|---|---|
| West Coast | Boat-based demersal fishing closed until Spring 2027. | Metro-area charter demersal fishing closed from 16 December 2025. Under a tag system, fishing continues in the remainder of the bioregion with a reduced annual catch limit of 25 tonnes. | Commercial demersal fishing closed from 1 January 2026. The government also describes permanent closure of gillnet fisheries and commercial line fishing south of Kalbarri, supported by a compulsory licence buyback. |
| Pilbara | Demersal fishing remains open. | Demersal fishing remains open. | Commercial catch reduced by 50% from 1 January 2026; demersal trawling permanently closed. |
| Kimberley | Demersal fishing remains open. | Demersal fishing remains open. | Commercial catch reduced by 50%. |
| Gascoyne | Demersal fishing remains open. | Demersal fishing remains open. | Demersal fishing remains open. |
| South Coast | Demersal fishing remains open. | Demersal fishing remains open. | Commercial catch reduced by 50%. |
The rules in the table are drawn from the WA Government’s reform announcement and DPIRD’s current demersal fishing rules and reforms. The government’s announcement was first published on 3 December 2025 and updated on 11 February 2026; DPIRD’s page was accessed on 8 October 2026. Check DPIRD for current rules, as policy details can change.
When does the West Coast closure end?
The dates depend on the sector. Commercial demersal fishing in the West Coast bioregion closed from 1 January 2026. Boat-based recreational demersal fishing remains closed until a planned reopening in Spring 2027. Metro-area charter demersal fishing closed from 16 December 2025, while a tag-system allowance continues for charter operators elsewhere in the West Coast bioregion under the 25-tonne reduced annual catch limit.
The government describes the West Coast bioregion as extending from Kalbarri to Augusta. A PerthNow report on 4 December 2025 described the restricted stretch as roughly 900 kilometres and called it a 21-month restriction. Those broad descriptions do not replace the sector-specific effective and reopening dates in the official policy information.
Can people still fish for other species?
Yes. DPIRD lists other fishing opportunities in the West Coast during the demersal closure, including mahi-mahi, whiting, yellowtail kingfish and silver trevally. Rock lobster is also an option where the fisher holds a current licence. These alternatives may allow different fish to be caught and sold, but the available sources do not quantify whether substitution will offset supply changes or affect takeaway prices.
What does “inconvenient” mean in the debate?
Premier Roger Cook defended the measures in the PerthNow report, saying: “Of course, we understand that this is impactful. We understand that it will be disappointing and inconvenient for some. It will be devastating for others.” Central Wheatbelt MP Lachlan Hunter challenged that wording, saying: “Inconvenient? People are losing their livelihoods,” according to the same 4 December 2025 report. These are attributed political statements; they do not establish the restrictions’ economic effect on individual businesses or consumers.
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