WFS Admin

Restrictions haven’t revived stocks of dhufish, snapper and baldchin, the ABC reports.

WFS Admin

Public input wanted, details here.

WFS Admin

Western Australian fishing news briefs for 2025 … 

1. New 2025 Recreational Fishing Guide

A new statewide guide was released in March 2025, detailing updated bag and size limits, licence rules, and best-practice guidance, including protocols for dealing with sharks, and catch care. Recent rule changes included year-round sea urchin fishing (20 per fisher, no licence), ability to hold lobster tails on boats for consumption, use of two rods for freshwater fish such as trout and barramundi, and spearfishing allowed for barramundi in oceanic waters (good luck with the crocodiles!)

2. Mandatory Catch Reporting Debate

In February-March 2025, the state government proposed requiring recreational fishers to report catches. Recfishwest supported data collection.

3. New Fish Aggregating Devices (FADs)

In April 2025, durable FADs were deployed off Dampier and Broome, hopefully enhancing year-round pelagic game fishing for species such as tuna, marlin, mahi mahi, tripletail, mackerel, trevally and sailfish.

4. Infrastructure & Reef Investments

Licence revenue was proposed to be used for trials of kingfish and dhufish restocking.

5. Sewage in Swan River

In June-July 2025, sewage spills in Perth’s Swan River prompted health warnings against fishing and eating fish/crabs.

6. Focus on Demersal Fish Recovery

Ongoing recovery initiatives in WA have been aimed at supporting stocks of prized “reefies” dhufish, pink snapper and baldchin groper, especially in the hard-fished West Coast bioregion, which has seen a decline in fish stocks.