WA men charged over smelly protest at fishing minister’s office

Three men have been charged after allegedly dumping shark heads and fish remains outside the Margaret River electoral office of Fisheries Minister Jackie Jarvis, in a protest against recent widespread fishing bans. 

Bunbury detectives allege the men dumped the bloody fish on the doorstep of the Bussell Highway office at about 7am on Monday, before driving away.

A note scrawled on fishing clothes read: “To Jackie, from all fishers”.

A Bunbury man, 36, and a Carey Park man, 34, were arrested later that day at separate houses and charged with a string of offences, including possessing cannabis, trespassing and depositing litter without consent.

An East Bunbury man, 37, was charged on Tuesday morning with depositing litter without consent and trespass.

Two firearms were seized from the younger man’s home, which were allegedly held under expired gun licenses.

The men are due to appear before Bunbury Magistrates Court on January 22.

Speaking to 9 News Perth, fisherman Mason Jones claimed responsibility for the dumping, saying a note left at the scene read: “To Jackie, from all fishers.”

“She’s put a real stink into a lot of people’s lives so that’s a bit of a message to her – a stink for her in her office,” Jones said.

“From what I heard, Margaret River can definitely smell it.”

Jones said he drove more than an hour with the shark heads and was not concerned about being prosecuted.

“(Police) can do what they want to me. I am going to fight for my kids. I’m going to fight for the future of our fishermen,” he said.

It is not yet confirmed if Jones is one of the men charged over the incident.

9 News reported the protest was linked to anger among some fishers over recent state government fishing restrictions, including bans on certain species.

“Three men have been charged over the incident, and this matter is now before the courts.”

Tourism Minister Reece Whitby told a press conference on Tuesday morning that the ban was a tough, but necessary decision.

“I understand people are upset. But this was not an easy decision. We made the decision because it’s the right thing to do, because we need to have a sustainable fishery,” he said.

“We want to have those demersal species there in the future so that my grandkids and great-grandchildren can have those fish to put a line in and to have commercial industries still sustainable in the future.”

Advocacy group Fish For All met with government representatives on Monday, while Nationals leader Shane Love said he wanted the government to reassess the measures.

“Fishers across Western Australia have been blindsided by decisions made without genuine consultation, andmany feel their voices have been ignored,” he said.

Love has organised a fishing forum in Lancelin later this month to connect fishers and stakeholders concerned with the bans.

“(It will be) about listening directly to the people who are being affected — the commercial operators, recreational fishers, small businesses and families who rely on fishing for their livelihoods and their communities,” he said.

Jackie Jarvis’ office has been contacted for comment.

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