THE WESTERN AUSTRALIAN COMMERCIAL FISHING INDUSTRY
Western Australia’s pristine coastline produces the world’s highest quality seafood, harvested from clean, carefully managed waters. Our commercial fishing industry drives over $1 billion annually into the State’s economy, serving as the economic backbone for coastal communities from Wyndham to Esperance. With 10,000 Western Australians employed across catching, processing, exporting and retail, commercial fishing isn’t just an industry- it’s essential to our state’s identity, prosperity, and future.
OUR MISSION
WAFIC seeks to achieve its Mission’s objectives in an atmosphere of cooperation, to ensure the value, security and sustainability of commercial fishing and pearling in Western Australia.
Mental Health
Commercial fishing has always been physically demanding, but today’s fishers are carrying far more than the weight of a long day at sea. Shrinking access to fishing grounds, rising operational costs, and rapid regulatory change are adding significant pressure to an already challenging way of life. If you or someone you know is feeling the strain, there is support available.
LATEST NEWS
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21 Jul 2026
Update on Demersal Reform Workshops
Read MoreAs part of the transition to new demersal fishery management arrangements, quota reform workshops were held in the Kimberley (23 June 2026), South Coast (25 June 2026), and Gascoyne/Kalbarri (16 June 2026) regions. The workshops sought industry input on operational arrangements for the proposed quota-managed fishery and helped inform the development of options for formal […]
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20 Jul 2026
Mental health and wellness update – Understanding nutrition
Read MoreWe all know that there is a mountain of information available about nutrition, diets and food. It would be impossible to cover all the necessary information in one article, so instead we’ll talk about finding what works for each of us as individuals. The problem these days is deciphering which information is accurate and perhaps […]
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20 Jul 2026
‘Salt in their veins’ book launch
Read MoreAfter three years of research and writing, well-known Fremantle fisher, Dr. James Paratore has published a new book capturing the history of Sicilian fishing families, their contribution to Fremantle and the development of the Western Australian fishing industry. The new book ‘Salt in their veins: From Capo d’Orlando to Fremantle’ tells the story of these […]
KEY ISSUES
Cumulative Threats
Marine Parks, Spatial Squeeze, Climate Change.
Food Security
Feeding WA, Fighting Illegal Fishing and Seafood Fraud.
Futureproofing
Research and development.
Sustainable Fisheries
Bycatch reduction, Sustainable Fisheries, Digital transformation.
Resource Access
Current EIAs, Fisheries Liaison and Impact Assessment.
Industry Advocation
Stakeholder engagement, regional engagement.
JOIN US
Together, we’re building a sustainable and profitable future for our ocean industries. With your support we can work to provide sustainable, clean, healthy and local seafood to our community.
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