West Australian lobster fishers say large cargo ships are regularly destroying thousands of dollars worth of fishing gear, and they are calling for better understanding and respect from large ocean vessels for their $500 million industry. 

Lobster fisher Jay Barret works the ocean at Ledge Point, 120 kilometres north of Perth, in a highly trafficable area for cargo ships sailing to and from the Port of Fremantle. 

Mr Barret has fished in this water for 25 years but said this season he had lost more fishing gear than ever due to it being "run over" by cargo ships.  

"Myself in a two-week period, lost over $3,500 worth of gear plus associated catch that goes with it, so it is a big problem for us," he said. 

Mr Barret said all the boats in the fishing fleet had lost between six and 10 pots each in the past six weeks. 

"Everyone's losing a little bit of gear and I say if it's six pots and that's 10 boats, that's 60 pots gone," he said. 

"That's $20,000 worth of gear plus catch gone."

Shared space needs mutual respect

Fishers and cargo ships are permitted to use the ocean along the West Australian coast. 

However, Mr Barret said he would like to see all ocean users respect each other. 

The peak industry body representing the lobster fishery, the Western Rock Lobster Council, said interaction with cargo ships was an ongoing issue for fishers along the coast from Kalbarri to Perth.