WCFC Takes Region 6 & 7 Cultural Fishing and Access Concerns to the Minister
- industryvoice5
- 4 days ago
- 3 min read
On 1 May 2026, the Wild Caught Fishers Coalition met with commercial fishers from Regions 6 and 7 at the Ulladulla Civic Centre, together with the Hon. Mark Banasiak MLC.
The meeting was called in response to growing concerns from South Coast commercial fishers about the interaction between commercial fishing restrictions, cultural fishing, Native Title rights and access to fisheries resources.
A central concern raised by members was the situation where licensed commercial fishers remain excluded from waters including Recreational Fishing Havens and other restricted areas, while fishing under cultural or Native Title arrangements may continue in some of those same locations.
Fishers also raised concerns about the apparent movement of some seafood taken under these arrangements into commercial supply chains.
The discussion included questions around:
whether seafood taken for cultural or Native Title purposes is subsequently being sold;
how product entering co-operatives and markets can be traced back to its fishing authority and location of capture;
whether all fishing effort and catch is being adequately recorded;
how unreported harvest may affect TAC and TAE decision-making;
differences in weekend, spatial and gear restrictions between endorsed commercial fishers and other fishing arrangements; and
the fairness of maintaining commercial exclusions where other forms of harvesting continue.
WCFC takes the concerns to the Minister
Following the Ulladulla meeting, WCFC wrote to Minister for Agriculture Tara Moriarty MLC on 21 May 2026.
The correspondence outlined the concerns raised by Region 6 and 7 fishers and highlighted the cumulative effect of access loss, fisheries reform and increasing regulatory restrictions on the remaining commercial fleet.
WCFC specifically raised concerns about commercial fishers being excluded from waters where other harvesting continues, questions around seafood entering commercial markets, and the different regulatory obligations applying across fishing arrangements.
WCFC asked the Government to engage with affected fishers and consider practical reforms including fairer access, review of Recreational Fishing Haven restrictions, weekend closures and net and gear regulations.
Minister responds
WCFC has now received a response from Minister Moriarty.
The Minister made an important distinction between Aboriginal cultural fishing, Native Title fishing and commercial fishing.
Her response states that Aboriginal cultural fishing under the Fisheries Management Act is for personal, domestic, communal, educational, ceremonial or traditional purposes and is not authorised for a commercial purpose.
The Minister similarly advised that Native Title fishing rights applying without certain State fishing licences relate to fishing for personal, domestic or non-commercial communal needs.
She further confirmed that:
commercial fishing may only be undertaken by appropriately licensed commercial fishers.
The Minister advised that where there is evidence of unlawful commercial fishing activity, DPIRD will investigate and take appropriate compliance action, and encouraged specific evidence of unlawful seafood sales to be reported to Fisheries.
The access question remains
The Minister's response provides useful clarification about what cultural and Native Title fishing rights do — and do not — authorise.
But it does not resolve the broader issue raised by Region 6 and 7 fishers:
If licensed commercial fishers are excluded from particular fisheries resources in the interests of resource sharing, how should Government respond where harvesting by another sector continues within those same waters?
That question goes directly to fairness, access, fisheries reporting and the future viability of the remaining commercial fleet.
WCFC will continue working with affected Region 6 and 7 fishers and DPIRD to pursue answers to these issues.
Regional concerns need more than acknowledgement. They need to be documented, taken to decision-makers and followed through.
That is WCFC in action.
Comments