Western Australia is in the process of compiling a new Fisheries Act to replace the Fisheries Resources Management Act of 1994. It gives the State the opportunity to examine a suite of management plans for fisheries, with a view to simplifying and improving them. Other jurisdictions are making similar changes, but none are looking at a comprehensive ‘blank page’ approach. This has never before been attempted in Australia (indeed, it has never been tried anywhere to our knowledge) but is the logical conclusion in a move to emulate the Food Standards Code and OH&S Code and move to minimum effective regulation. The outcome will be to move to a risk-based management system, replacing the traditional management systems.