Fears of Kimberley seafood shortage downplayed

Key figures in the Broome seafood industry have moved to dispel comments that the town's supply of fresh fish could be under threat after the State Government's recent purchase of commercial fishing licences in Roebuck Bay.

Two commercial gillnetting licences for Broome waters were put up for sale in November, with the Government purchasing them to further recreational fishing activity in the Kimberley town.

However, as a result, the WA Fishing Industry Council and Kimberley Professional Fisherman's Association have said Broome could suffer shortages of threadfin salmon and barramundi in the near future.

"With these licences now gone, eating WA wild-caught threadfin and barramundi may soon become a thing of the past," WAFIC chief executive John Harrison said.

KPFA president Alan Fraser echoed the concerns.

"The removal of the commercial gillnet operation in Roebuck Bay will have a serious impact on the availability of fresh fish in Broome," he said.

"The decision has left Broome out on a limb - local retailers are set to find it next to impossible to source local fresh fish."

However, Gary Williams, who recently bought Kimberley Seafood in the Boulevard Shopping Centre from Todd Morris, said he had agreements in place to ensure fresh local produce of all seafood products.

"There is no problem with fresh fish supply," he said.

"The barramundi and threadfin season is closed at the moment, but from February 1, 2014, we will have a new supply of both that is locally sourced."

Local fishing expert Jeff Cooper, who has worked in Broome aquaculture for 14 years, rubbished the claims that supply could be under threat.

"People seem to forget that there has always been a seasonal closure to the commercial gill- net fishery in Roebuck Bay at this time of year and that the market has always been able to get a supply of fresh fish," he said.

"We now have an opportunity to get high-quality, wild-caught products like goldband snapper, red emperor and others from a magnificent trap fishery located offshore from Broome.

"These products typically haven't made their way to the Broome market because of the local monopoly on supply."

Mr Cooper said any shortage in barramundi could be remedied by aqua-cultured fish from the likes of Cone Bay Barramundi Farm in the Buccaneer Archipelago, which is located 220km north of Broome.

"Furthermore, there is opportunity for premium aqua-cultured barramundi product to come in from the pristine waters of Cone Bay," he said.

Justin Clarke, managing director of Marine Produce Australia which owns the Cone Bay Barramundi Farm, said any potential void would have "various avenues" of being filled and said he had no concerns over the supply of fresh fish to Broome retailers.

Recfishwest chief executive Andrew Rowland said the government's purchase of the licences would have no impact on local fish supply.