Fishing for knowledge

Researchers from the University of WA interviewed 36 key knowledge holders in Western Australia’s professional fishing industry to discuss the knowledge fishers hold and their views on how it should be incorporated into management.

The knowledge of these fishers reflects experiences and observations made in 17 different fisheries across 3,500km of coastline across multi-decade careers as skippers of commercial fishing vessels. 

The interviews demonstrate that the knowledge accumulated within the professional fishing industry of WA is substantial and wide-ranging. Interviewed fishers held knowledge on a diverse range of topics, including: target species ecology, habitats, fishing grounds, rare and threatened species distributions, and technology changes over time. Fishers also expressed interest in sharing their knowledge and being involved in knowledge co-production to improve management of marine ecosystems.   

The interviews demonstrate the potential for respectful knowledge exchange between professional fishers of WA and scientists and managers involved in the management of marine ecosystems, including Parks Australia.