"If those people that fish in between Kalbarri and Augusta can't fish there now, they're still going to go fishing," Mr Hoult said.The West Coast Demersal zone is closed for recreational fishing six months of the year, broken into sections to remain open during school holidays.
Mr Hoult does not target demersal fish in his fishing operation, however he said increased boat traffic frightened the schools of fish, which he catches using a jet boat and nets.Shark Bay Shire president Cheryl Cowell wrote to WA fisheries minister Don Punch late last year, urging him to put measures in place to protect her shire from a transfer of recreational fishing pressure north to Shark Bay.
"Shark Bay has always been a really attractive place for people to go on holiday and fish, and getting the balance right between the pressure on the fishing stock, and people's experience of relaxing and enjoying Shark Bay is a big challenge," Mr Punch said. "They have an ethos of they're here for a good time and to just get as many fish as they can fill up the freezer," she said."We don't want to discourage people coming, we want people to come.
Ms Cowell said there had also been a reduction in the number of fisheries compliance officers active in the shire.