Two people have been arrested following a graphic demonstration outside a government office in Western Australia's South West region. The protest, which involved the display of fish heads, took aim at the state's commercial fishing practices.
Confrontation at the Fisheries Office
The incident occurred on a Tuesday morning outside the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) office on Tunbridge Street in Margaret River. Activists from the group Direct Action Margaret River gathered to voice their opposition to commercial fishing activities sanctioned by the state.
During the protest, participants scattered fish heads across the pavement and footpath in front of the government building. They also displayed banners with messages condemning the commercial fishing industry. The demonstration was intended to symbolise the perceived waste and ecological impact of these fishing operations.
Police Intervention and Charges
Local police were called to the scene to manage the situation. Officers engaged with the protesters, requesting they clear the obstruction from the footpath. When two individuals, a 52-year-old woman and a 59-year-old man, reportedly refused to comply with police directions, they were taken into custody.
Both were charged with obstructing a public officer and are scheduled to appear in the Margaret River Magistrates Court at a later date. A police spokesperson confirmed the arrests were a direct result of the individuals' failure to follow lawful instructions given by officers at the protest site.
Broader Context of the Dispute
This protest is not an isolated event but part of an ongoing campaign by local environmental and community activists. The group Direct Action Margaret River has been actively challenging the state government's management of marine resources, with a particular focus on the practice of commercial purse seine fishing in the South West.
Activists argue that this method of fishing is unsustainable and depletes local fish stocks, negatively impacting the broader marine ecosystem and recreational fishing opportunities. The use of fish heads in the protest was a deliberate tactic to draw visceral attention to what they see as the consequences of these policies.
While the protest resulted in arrests, it has succeeded in reigniting a public conversation about fishing quotas, marine conservation, and the balance between commercial interests and environmental sustainability in Western Australia. The case continues to develop as the court dates for the charged activists approach.
