Recreational fishing news

Future management direction for the Abrolhos

Draft management plans for the Abrolhos Reserve and the Abrolhos Fish Habitat Protection Area (FHPA) are now available for public comment.

The plans have been informed by the Government’s Houtman Abrolhos Islands Strategic Direction 2020-24, an independent stakeholder engagement process and a mooring review.

The plans seek to ensure a balance between conservation, sustainable nature-based tourism and economic development. Proposed management objectives and actions are set out under six strategic priority themes: nature conservation and protection; cultural heritage protection; tourism; sustainable fisheries and aquaculture; Abrolhos community; and governance.

The draft plans are available for review and comment from our consultation site and submissions can be made online until 5pm on 3 April 2022.

Finalising the collective management plans in 2022 is a key step towards protecting the important values of the Abrolhos and enabling exciting opportunities across its land and waters. For more information, visit our Abrolhos management page.

West Coast demersal recovery enters next phase

The 20-year recovery plan for West Coast demersals from Kalbarri to Augusta has shifted gears to ensure we have these iconic fish for the future.

It’s clear new measures are now needed on the back of the latest stock assessment which found the indicator species of dhufish and pink snapper weren’t recovering fast enough and there are not enough older fish in the stock to help boost recovery.

All fishers have got behind the recovery effort over the past decade, but we need to do more to meet the targets set under the agreed Harvest Strategy. This strategy outlines key milestones and harvest control rules to help recover the resource by 2030.

The State Government has announced it will move to reduce the total catch limits for demersal species by 50 per cent to meet the recovery targets, as recommended by a cross-sector reference group. This means the new total catch limit for commercial and recreational sectors will be 375 tonnes, reduced from 750 tonnes.

The new management options will be developed with all fishing sectors on how to achieve this 50 per cent reduction.  

All fishers will be encouraged to have their say on the proposed options and how we can sustainably manage our favourite demersals during the public consultation phase in April.

Recfishwest, Marine Tourism WA and the WA Fishing Industry Council are now talking to their members and will be providing feedback to DPIRD on potential management options to canvas for broader consultation.

To find out more about the science, read full report, our science summary and comprehensive FAQ.

Future for herring looking good

Good news for fishers and diners who love Australian herring. The latest fisheries research assessment shows the recovery of stock levels.

Almost 10 years ago, herring in WA were at the risk of depletion and the commercial and recreational sectors supported a 50% catch reduction to address this.

Now that we have the latest research, the next step is for WA’s fishing sectors, led by Recfishwest and WAFIC, to work together to map out a new approach, based on sharing the herring stock, while not posing a risk to its sustainability. This could be a win win for everyone.

Herring is a beach favourite, and quickly becoming a favourite on our dinner plates. This means there is an opening for higher value but lower volume herring catches, which provides a better economic outlook, and will protect stock sustainability. Catches will start to increase, but only gradually, to test the impact on stock levels.

So the future is looking good. Herring fishers can look forward to continued recreational fishing experiences, good eating and economic return for years to come.

New rules for Danngu Geikie Gorge

New legislation has been introduced to help protect customary fishing by prohibiting fishing from a boat in the area approximately 4km upstream from the boat ramp at Danngu Geikie Gorge (Bunuba Country) in Fitzroy Crossing, shown on the map image in red.  

The legislation was developed at the request of Traditional Owners as part of the proposed Fitzroy National Park, and engagement between stakeholders was facilitated by DPIRD and DBCA.  As a result of the early engagement, Recfishwest and Traditional Owners were instrumental in identifying the most appropriate mechanism to give effect to both customary fishing and recreational fishing needs.

Crab cleaning reminder

With the crabbing season in full swing in the Swan and Canning rivers, we remind fishers to remove the head, guts (mustard) and gills from blue swimmer crabs before freezing, cooking or eating them, due to potential for presence of the toxic algae Alexandrium.

Alexandrium can produce Paralytic Shellfish Toxins (PSTs) which can accumulate in crustacea and mussels. Eating affected crabs and mussels may be dangerous and, in extreme cases, fatal. If you become ill after consuming crabs or mussels seek medical attention promptly.

Cooking whole crabs does not destroy these PSTs as it could potentially spread the toxin from crab guts into the flesh or broth. Freezing whole crabs could result in PSTs spreading to the flesh during thawing.

River users should stay aware of algal blooms and look out for signs near the rivers or Alexandrium updates in the media and outdoor/fishing/tackle stores.

And remember - you still have to land and transport blue swimmers home as whole crabs, unless you plan to eat them immediately.

Information on how to clean blue swimmer crabs is available from our biosecurity alerts page or www.dbca.wa.gov.au/algal-bloom

New catch care guide out now!

Our new Catch care guide has just been released, with information on how to care for your catch and ensure we have fish for the table, and for the future.

Our aquatic resources are not unlimited, and it is important to maximise the chances of survival of fish being returned to the water, and to make the most of the catch that we keep.

Our guide outlines best practice of what you can do on your next fishing trip, including information about gear, handling, releasing and tips for storing and keeping your catch fresh.

Get more catch care tips at fish.wa.gov.au/catchcare

Shark tower update

To help keep beachgoers safe, three shark warning systems (towers) have been installed, two at Cottesloe, and one at Port Beach, Fremantle.

The towers are the first to be installed on metro beaches and have been repurposed from the SMART drumline trial in Gracetown.

Located north of the North Cottesloe Surf Life Saving Club near BEN sign CT10, Cove Surf Break (CT31) and near Port Beach car park (F30), the towers use lights, sirens and audio broadcasts to notify beach users of a shark in the area. The towers are automatically activated when a tagged shark is detected by an adjacent shark monitoring receiver and will operate between 5am to 7pm from October until the end of April, then from 6am to 6pm for the rest of the year. The towers are remotely activated by Council rangers, if there is a reported sighting within the area, using location activation guidelines.

Download the SharkSmart WA app free from the App Store or Google Play to see more world-class shark mitigation initiatives in WA

Have you seen either of these species of crayfish?

In the photo above is a redclaw crayfish. These are not a WA species, but they are known to be in the Kimberley and Pilbara. We need to prevent them from getting into the south west where they would compete with our iconic marron. Redclaw are tolerant of a wide variety of habitats and can spawn multiple times a year. Their population could become established quickly and if that happens, they will be virtually impossible to get rid of.

Redclaw can grow up to 25cm in length, their body is usually a mottled blue-green, with four raised longitudinal ridges on top of their heads and the males have a distinct bright red patch on the outer margin of their claws.

The photo below is a red swamp crayfish, a nationally declared noxious species. These are not permitted to be imported into Australia, however, a number have been found in the WA aquarium trade. Red swamp crayfish are not known to be in the WA environment. They can be highly invasive and are also known to be carriers and spreaders of the crayfish plague which thankfully so far, has not been introduced into Australia. We want to keep it that way - if the red swamp crayfish are infected with the crayfish plague it can decimate all our native freshwater crustacean populations.

Red swamp crayfish are usually 5 to 12cm long, if kept in aquaria they are bright red but in the wild will be dark red, they all have bright red bumps on the front and side of the first leg.

If you think you have seen either of these species, please let us know by calling FishWatch on 1800 815 507 or emailing Aquatic.Biosecurity@dpird.wa.gov.au. And if you catch any don’t return them to the water, euthanise them immediately and contact us.

Lifejackets at Salmon Holes

Lifejackets remain mandatory at Salmon Holes near Albany, after a three-year trial found that wearing lifejackets increased the safety of fishers at the popular rock fishing spot.

Salmon Holes is considered a notoriously deadly rock fishing location and the only current hotspot for rock fishing drownings in WA.

The trial reference group, comprising DPIRD, DBCA, DFES, City of Albany and Recfishwest, recommended the mandatory wearing of life jackets at Salmon Holes to continue.

Recfishwest, supported by DBCA and DPIRD will continue its fishing safety campaign to raise public awareness around the dangers of rock fishing and enhance the availability of safety equipment for the public. 

Recreational fish traps are prohibited in WA

Unattended fish traps can have a detrimental impact on aquatic life as they can continue to catch and kill aquatic life by self-baiting. Aquatic animals most at risk are those that that need to return to the surface to breathe, such as turtles. Luckily the turtle pictured was found and released safely.

It is an offence for a person to be in possession of traps in the ocean and any estuary, inlet, brook or stream as well as on land adjacent to those waters.

If you see something suspicious, make a note of what you’ve seen, where, when, the number of people involved, and any vehicle or vessel registrations and call FishWatch on 1800 815 507 to report what you’ve seen. The information is treated in the strictest confidence.

Nibbles

Seasonal notes

• Pink snapper fishing opened in Cockburn and Warnbro Sounds on 1 February
• Baldchin groper fishing opened at the Abrolhos Islands on 1 February
• Cockburn Sound is closed to fishing for blue swimmer crabs until further notice, as is fishing for Southern garfish in metropolitan waters.

In the courts – fishers are reminded to check their zones before fishing in or near marine parks. Five fishers received fines from the Exmouth Court late last year, related to fishing in closed waters of the Ningaloo Marine Park. Stick to the rules and be aware of waters where fishing is not allowed and help protect sustainability of our ocean resources.

Have a chat with our researchers – look out for our research staff, who will be conducting surveys along the Perth metro coastline over the next few months. They will be asking questions on fishing effort, catch and length measurements of nearshore species like herring, salmon and tailor.

This data will be compared to information collected over the last eight years, allowing us to detect trends and changes over time for these species and to ensure fish stocks are sustainably managed.

FishWatch - If you see something that looks a bit fishy, please report it so we can investigate. Anyone who has information on illegal fishing activities can call FishWatch on 1800 815 507.

Illegal fishing could include someone netting in the river, exceeding their bag or possession limits, taking undersize fish, fishing in a closed area, having more fishing gear in the water than they should, or selling or attempting to sell recreationally caught fish

Before you call, make a note of as much detail as possible, such as who, what, when, where and how, including registration numbers. All reports are confidential and many reports made to FishWatch result in successful apprehensions.

Rock fishing safety – Keep the sand between your toes and stay off the rocks – but if you do choose to fish from the rocks, fish with a buddy, always let people know where you are going, and make sure you wear a type 1 life jacket, rock boots and follow the rock fishing safety tips on @Recfishwest's fish and survive website.

Be SharkSmart – SLSWA helicopter patrols to help keep WA beachgoers safe have begun for the 2021-22 season. Help inform others by switching on your Sea Sense and reporting shark sightings to Water Police on 9442 8600, or download the SharkSmart WA app for near real time updates of the latest reported sightings.

Help keep our waterways pest free – You can help us protect WA’s aquatic environment by emailing Aquatic.Biosecurity@dpird.wa.gov.au, or calling FishWatch on 1800 815 507 if you see or catch any ornamental or unusual fish or pest species and please, do not return them to the water.

Find us on Facebook – We regularly share information about fishing rules, safety and aquatic biosecurity through our Facebook page, as well as information of interest to recfishers. Check us out at Fisheries WA and give us a ‘like’ to keep us in your news feed.

Important disclaimer 

The Chief Executive Officer of the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development and the State of Western Australia accept no liability whatsoever by reason of negligence or otherwise arising from the use or release of this information or any part of it.

Copyright © Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, 2022