The Boatshed

29/08/2026

19/08/2026

Without a doubt one of the biggest positives from our campaign to push back on the WA government & DPIRD’s controversial fishing bans has been the support and in particular the donations.

The support has helped mentally and the donations have helped financially which has been very important in a situation that comes towards its 9th month.

Even still this week not only in our shop but even walking the streets or shopping around town the well wishes continue and the financial donations which even though have slowed to a trickle continue to come in.

The public sentiment has been evident from the beginning particularly in our local community and continues to be relevant and noticeable despite many hoping it would have died down long ago.

Still to this day no compensation, no visits from anyone who brought our business to its knees and not even an apology. A true “dog act” if you google the definition.

We were only working within the rules we were provided with and have paid a heavy price for years of mismanagement from the “scientists” and “professionals.” Many of whom should have lost their jobs long ago.

We know in our hearts, our minds and with our many years of experience on the ocean on the west coast of WA that the decisions made by the WA fisheries minister weren’t right and that it was a big mistake particularly in terms of closing the shark fishery.

We made a pledge from the beginning that no matter the financial cost we would put everything into saying enough is enough and sticking it to the mob of dodgy and corrupt bastards. (Proof to come)

We aren’t scared to be left with nothing but the clothes we wear in a gamble that has no worse consequences than being stripped of 3/4 of your business without warning 3 weeks before Christmas. Something you had put blood, sweat and tears into since 1979.

Those commercial fishing licences that got stolen by the government were there and put in place to provide fresh local fish and seafood from the waters off our coastline for those in the community who need or rely on commercial fishermen to land it. Under the current arrangements those licences and that option will be gone forever.

We now enter a stage where all donations have been swallowed by legal fees and we start chewing through every cent we have ourselves which in the future could include selling assets so any further donations would be greatly appreciated as this fight is far from over.

In a year so far which has included extra fishing licence lease on the South Coast to keep fishing, extra diesel at higher prices due to further travel, still paying bank loans on licences that got cancelled by the government on 1/1/26 and other general increased operating costs we are certainly feeling the pinch but remain defiant and strong willed in our plans going forward.

Despite all odds we have kept continuity of supply up to our local community somehow and thank you all for your continued and unwavering support with visiting our place.

What Labor keep doing is setting a precedent and we believe no industry, person or organisation is safe in the future and that’s why someone simply has to put their foot down.

“It’s not the size of the dog in the fight but the size of the fight in the dog.”

Always remember that saying.

We won’t bow down and we still have many levers to pull despite too much time dragging on since the initial “shock” announcement on 3/12/25.

In the meantime please anyone in the Secret Harbour area don’t vote Labor.

A small win there could be the start of change and the start of small steps back to getting this state back to where it needs to be.

It’s the worst times we have ever witnessed to own a small business, buy or rent a home, get timely medical care, buy fuel, purchase affordable local seafood and we won’t even go into the general cost of living. Something needs to change starting with this arrogant and out of touch government.

We have never been political but come into our space and steal our fishing licences from us and it’s fair game. We will attempt to steal your popularity amongst the community with our modest social media platform.

The future will be rocky and uncertain but we are seasoned for the fight, it’s not our first rodeo.

Thankyou all once again, it means the world!

Any future donations greatly appreciated.

https://www.gofundme.com/f/wa-commercial-fishermen-fighting-fund

18/08/2026

Until sold! Get in quick

29/07/2026

We have some beautiful Yellow Fin Tuna fresh in today so have done a grill special for something different. Get in while it lasts.

25/07/2026

COMMERCIAL FISHING BAN FOREVER

Good afternoon customer's, friends and fisherman.

Today I am going to touch on compensation, catches after the closure for ever and the legal battle .

Seven point five months in to a complete forever ban on commercial fishing from Kalbarri to Chatham Island and not one of the fishermen have been compensated in full for their licences equipment or any ongoing income loss.

Although some fishers took the “Act of grace” payment which was a determined part payment of their licences to be deducted upon final determined licence valuations.

Now any person in today’s climate can tell you about the expenses associated with the cost of living.

These 41 displaced fishers are human, outside of their business expenses which have been mentioned already, they have mortgages on houses and cars, utilities, children at school and university's food and fuel. Not to mention commuting to look for work or going to a new job.

Every house and car has insurance along with medical and personal insurances to pay.

Every house has maintenance and electrical goods that fail.

Every household likes to have a few dollars spare to have a beer, a smoke, a punt, go to the footy or sports with the kids and buy a meal out to relieve Mums for a day in the week.

Could someone tell me if I am wrong?

I know I’m not wrong, I know Iam not human, I am a machine that has had to answer to every let down and darkest day ever set down in my 50 years of fishing.

Cook and Jarvis, shame on you for stripping us of our right to fish, no income, no self esteem, no explanation to the bank and financial institutions from government or the fishermen.

Fishers, humans, left in the cold with nothing, except bills mortgages, equipment rendered useless, begging banks and other parts of their families and friends to borrow them money to survive.

I will add this line in to the haters of commercial fishers.
95% of these guys where in it for the life style, nothing in the bank, living from cheque to cheque.

When will these high profiled people pay these guys the correct amounts owed, or let them fish?
Get it in ya guts no fishing no money, just a whole productive family brought to their knees.

The axing of fishing is a political vote gathering stunt.

Let's face it what do you really no about the fish stocks?

We fishermen are the stock assessment gurus!

Next story, legally we are challenging on both fronts, compensation plus the reopening.

So far all dollars have been welcomed as it's taken huge dollars just to ask for freedom of info stuff, formulas used to arrive at offered compensation and Jackie's 3000 page book of sciences that can't be found.

Keep you posted, as usual funds donated already gobbled up like sand in the desert.

Any further donations would certainly help and be appreciated.

Finally in the zone closed to commercial and Recs, mega catches of pink snapper and sharks off all beaches.

Commercial Cray fishermen reporting mega schools of sharks following the boats up and down the coast.

Please explain?

Fish lost forever?

Anyway can all you normal people out there be safe and we will keep updates coming.

For the haters, go get a bird flu up you…

The real captains call.

Regards all.

https://www.gofundme.com/f/wa-commercial-fishermen-fighting-fund

22/07/2026

Prawn rolls today until sold out 🦐

02/07/2026

Annndddd side 2 done! Looks pretty i think

12/05/2026

……..and they are back. More yummy lobster rolls today. $20 each.

Get in quick they don’t last long.