Tourism Council WA has welcomed reforms to fishing regulations which will facilitate a growth in catch-and-cook tourism in Western Australia.
The changes mean holidaymakers can have their recreationally caught fish cooked by a chef in their accommodation's restaurant or kitchen, which was not previously possible.
Tourism Council WA CEO Evan Hall said the small reform was expected to increase visitation to coastal Western Australia by visitors seeking a genuine catch-and-cook experience.
"These red tape reforms to fishing regulations are expected to increase visitation to coastal Western Australia as tourism operators can now provide a catch-and-cook experience, which is highly sought after by many visitors," Mr Hall said.
Tourism Council WA has been working closely with tourism operators to ensure the reforms were meeting the requirements of businesses and guests.
"These red tape reforms to fishing regulations will allow tourism operators to create highly sought-after experiences where guests can catch and eat their own fish, when they may not have the facilities to cook it themselves because they are on holiday," Mr Hall said.
"For example, somewhere like Mackerel Islands has great accommodation operators which will now be able to cook the fresh fish caught by visitors who have been out on a recreational fishing trip, creating a truly extraordinary experience."
