Coastal hamlet bears brunt of WA's new fishing crackdown
By Rachel Boothman
WA's new ban on demersal fishing sees fishers flock to a coastal hamlet unaffected by the new rules, but locals say the crowds are unsustainable.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-01-07/wa-demersal-fishing-ban-crowds-at-windy-harbour/106206190
#FishingandAquacultureIndustry #RuralandRemoteCommunities #RecreationalFishing #RachelBoothman
WA commercial fishers face uncertain future as demersal fishing ban begins
By Rosemary Murphy, Madigan Landry, and Rachel Boothman
From today, commercial demersal fishing is banned along hundreds of kilometres of the WA coastline in an effort to recover fish species numbers.
#FishingandAquacultureIndustry #Fish #Environment #Sustainability #RosemaryMurphy #MadiganLandry # #RachelBoothman
South Coast WA towns brace for fishing surge ahead of demersal ban
By Rachel Boothman and Pip Waller
South Coast towns are calling for more funding to cope with a surge of recreational fishers as the region prepares to shut down recreational and commercial fishing.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-12-18/south-coast-angler-surge-ahead-of-fishery-closure/106152490
#FishingandAquacultureIndustry #RecreationalFishing #RuralandRemoteCommunities #LocalGovernment #RegionalCommunities #TravelandTourism #RachelBoothman #PipWaller
Fishing industry 'drowning' in emotional toll of state government ban
By Rachel Boothman and Madigan Landry
WA fishers are raising concerns about a lack of mental health support as the commercial industry comes to terms with a ban on demersal fishing.
#FishingandAquacultureIndustry #MentalHealth #RachelBoothman #MadiganLandry
Fishers say WA ban will bring an end to 'decent fish and chips'
By Joanna Prendergast, Piper Duffy, and Rachel Boothman
New fishing rules come into effect in Western Australia next month, significantly reducing the amount of local fish available in the state.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-12-05/demersal-fishing-ban-impacts-food-security/106100994
#FishingandAquacultureIndustry #RecreationalFishing #EnvironmentalPolicy #JoannaPrendergast #PiperDuffy # #RachelBoothman
Rabbit population boom blamed on lack of funding for biological control
By Joanna Prendergast, Kate Forrester, and Rachel Boothman
Landholders across Australia say rabbit numbers in some areas are at levels never seen before.
#Pests #PestsDiseasesandControlMethods #FederalGovernment #GrainGrowing #JoannaPrendergast #KateForrester # #RachelBoothman
Crops decimated by severe thunderstorms and hail in WA's south
By Anna Cox and Rachel Boothman
Farmers in southern WA say crops have been destroyed by hail and trees "snapped like matchsticks" during weekend thunderstorms.
#ExtremeWeatherEvents #AgriculturalCrops #Hail #Thunderstorms #AnnaCox #RachelBoothman
Artist turns drought into award-winning painting
By Rachel Boothman
When dams dried up and livestock struggled, farmer and artist Lori Pensini turned the season into an award-winning painting — revealing the toll of the drought and the strength of her rural community.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-11-22/wa-artist-captures-toll-drought-south-west/106017074
