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State Of The Fisheries: Status Reports Of The Fisheries And Aquatic Resources Of Western Australia 2024/25, Stephen J. Newman, Ainslie Denham, Lebo Selemela, Jenny Moore

Status Reports of the Fisheries and Aquatic Resources

The Status Reports of the Fisheries and Aquatic Resources of Western Australia (SRFAR) provides an annual update on the state of the fish stocks and other aquatic resources of Western Australia (WA). These reports outline the most recent assessments of the cumulative risk status for each of the aquatic resources (assets) within WA’s six bioregions using an Ecosystem Based Fisheries Management (EBFM) approach. The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Dveelopment’s (DPIRD) risk based EBFM framework is the WA Government’s basis for management of all of WA’s aquatic resources.

Assets examined in each bioregion include the meso-scale ecosystems and aquatic …

Fisheries Research Report No. 365: Recreational Fishing For Marron In South-West Western Australia In 2026, Claire B. Smallwood, Karina L. Ryan, Eva Lai

Fisheries Research Reports

The smooth marron (Cherax cainii) (‘marron’) is endemic to freshwater dams and rivers of south-west Western Australia. Marron are managed as a single stock within the South-West Recreational Freshwater Resource and are highly vulnerable to overexploitation due to the biological characteristics of the species (e.g., low fecundity, localised populations) as well as environmental (e.g., habitat loss, reduction in rainfall) and human (e.g., fishing, land clearing) pressures on freshwater ecosystems.

Due to this vulnerability, this species has been the focus of research, monitoring and management since the 1970’s. Since 2000, annual phone-recall (2000 – 2021) and online-recall (2022 – 2026) surveys …

Resource Assessment Report 9: South Coast Crustacean Resource 2045-25 Assessment, Emma-Jade Tuffley, Simon De Lestang

Resource Assessment Reports

The South Coast Crustacean Resource (SCCR) comprises southern rock lobster (Jasus edwardsii), western rock lobster (Panulirus cygnus), crystal crab (Chaceon albus), giant crab (Pseudocarcinus gigas), and champagne crab (Hypothalassia acerba). The resource is accessed primarily by the South Coast Crustacean Managed Fishery (SCCMF), which operates between Augusta in the west and the South Australian border in the east. Since the 2022–23 season, the SCCMF has been managed under an Individual Transferable Quota (ITQ) system with Total Allowable Commercial Catches (TACs) set for four quota zones. Recreational fishing retains a small quantity of rock lobster only.

During the 2024–25 fishing season, …

Recreational Fishing Identification Guide, Department Of Primary Industries And Regional Development, Western Australia

Fisheries Occasional Publications

Please note: this updated version (9th edition) published in June 2026 replaces the version published in 2023.

This guide has been developed to help you identify the more common species in Western Australia that you may encounter. The purpose of this guide is to enhance consistent and accurate species identification.

If you are unsure about a particular species (or if it is not in this guide), please discuss it with a representative of the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, Western Australia. You can access additional information from dpird.wa.gov.au

Throughout this guide you will see all or some of …

Recreational Fishing Location Guide, Department Of Primary Industries And Regional Development, Western Australia

Fisheries Occasional Publications

Please note: this version (6th edition) published in 2026 replaces the version published in 2023.

This guide has been developed to help you identify the fishing locations that you may visit. The purpose of this guide is to enhance consistent and accurate identification of fishing locations and block numbers within each Bioregion. If you are unsure about a particular location, please discuss it with a representative of the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, Western Australia.

Resource Assessment Report No. 8: Pilbara Prawn Resource - 2024 Assessment, Inigo Koefoed, Rachel Marks, Scott Evans, Sharon Wilkin, Jason How

Resource Assessment Reports

The Pilbara Prawn Resource (Resource) is accessed by three managed commercial fisheries; the Exmouth Gulf Prawn Managed Fishery (EGPMF), the Onslow Prawn Managed Fishery (OPMF) and the Nickol Bay Prawn Managed Fishery (NBPMF). All three fisheries are managed under effort controls, with the EGPMF and OPMF targeting brown tiger prawns (BTP; Penaeus esculentus), western king prawns (WKP; Penaeus latisulcatus), blue endeavour prawns (BEP; Metapenaeus endeavouri), and lesser quantities of banana prawns (Penaeus merguiensis). The NBPMF primarily targets banana prawns while also catching BTP, WKP, and BEP in lower numbers. These fisheries are situated adjacent to one another along the Pilbara …

Resource Assessment Report No. 7: Shark Bay Invertebrate Resource - 2024 Assessment, Jason How, Inigo Koefoed, Rachel Marks, Scott E. Evans, Sharon Wilkin

Resource Assessment Reports

The Shark Bay Invertebrate Resource (Resource) is accessed by three managed commercial fisheries; the Shark Bay Prawn Managed Fishery (SBPMF), the Shark Bay Scallop Managed Fishery (SBSMF) and the Shark Bay Blue Swimmer Crab Managed Fishery (SBCMF). Additionally, blue swimmer crabs are taken by recreational fishers through a variety of methods, though the overall level of boat-based catch is relatively low (~ 7.8 t). The SBSMF and SBCMF fisheries are quota managed and primarily retain their target species of scallops and crabs, respectively. The SBPMF is an effort-managed fishery that targets brown tiger prawns (BTP; Penaeus esculentus) and western king …

Fisheries Management Paper No. 313: Western Australian Statewide Small Pelagic Scalefish Resource Harvest Strategy, Department Of Primary Industries And Regional Development, Western Australia

Fisheries Management Papers

Harvest strategies for Western Australia’s (WA) aquatic resources are formal documents developed by the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD, the Department) to support decision-making processes that ensure the outcomes are consistent with the principles of Ecologically Sustainable Development (ESD; Fletcher 2002a) and Ecosystem Based Fisheries Management (EBFM; Fletcher et al. 2012).

Harvest strategies are a key component of all contemporary fishery management systems and a requirement for certification under the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC; Marine Stewardship Council 2018). The objectives of ESD are reflected in the objects of the Fish Resources Management Act 1994 (FRMA).

This Statewide …

Developing An Independent Shallow-Water Survey For The Western Rock Lobster Fishery: Tracking Pre-Recruitment Abundance And Habitat Change, Lucy Rudd, Simon De Lestang, Owen Young, Benjamin Hebiton

Fisheries Research Reports

Background

Puerulus settlement has proven to be a good forecaster of legal recruitment of Western Rock Lobster entering into the commercial and recreational fisheries. However, in 2011, this relationship broke down, with average puerulus settlement levels not being reflected in commercial catch rates four years later. Some northern areas showed unexpectedly low catch rates, while other southern areas showed unexpectedly high catch rates. Since this change followed the 2011 marine heatwave, it was assumed that this event changed some component(s) which were important to the growth and survival of juvenile lobsters. It was determined that a better understanding of this …

Fisheries Management Paper No.312: Discussion Paper On Management And Licensing Options For The Charter Industry - Statewide Strategic Review Of Western Australia’S Charter Fishing Sector, Department Of Primary Industries And Regional Development, Western Australia

Fisheries Management Papers

This consultation paper has been prepared to support the statewide strategic review of Western Australia’s (WA) charter fishing sector, which was initiated as a government commitment.

The paper details issues and proposals relating to the management and licensing framework, development opportunities and representation model for the charter fishing industry. The proposals have been developed in consultation with the Charter Review Working Group. The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) now seeks comment from relevant stakeholders on the issues and proposals outlined within this paper.

Comments provided will assist in providing advice and recommendations to the Minister for Fisheries …

Fisheries Research Report No. 358 - Recreational Fishing For Blue Swimmer Crab In Cockburn Sound: Estimates Of Effort And Catch In 2024/25, Alissa C. Tate, Claire B. Smallwood, Eva K M Lai

Fisheries Research Reports

The Cockburn Sound Blue Swimmer Crab (Portunus armatus) fishery was reopened to recreational fishing in December 2024 following a 10-year closure. Monitoring was essential to assess fishing effort and catch for this species.

A boat ramp (bus route) survey at four key access points (Leeuwin, Woodman Point, Palm Beach, and Point Peron) and shore-based roving creel survey (Fremantle South Mole to Point Peron) were used to collect data from December 2024 to May 2025. These surveys provide estimates of fishing effort, total catch (kept and released), harvest and catch rates for Blue Swimmer Crab in Cockburn Sound.

A total of …

Fisheries Occasional Publication No. 151 - Response To 2025 External Review Of Integrated Stock Assessments For Key Wa Demersal Indicator Stocks, Brett Crisafulli, Emily A. Fisher, Matias Braccini, Rubie Evans-Powell, Fabian I. Trinnie, Ainslie Denham, S. A. Hesp

Fisheries Occasional Publications

Consistent with national trends, the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) is transitioning to the globally recognised Stock Synthesis (SS) platform to support more robust, transparent, and internationally aligned assessments. To ensure this transition remains scientifically sound, DPIRD commissioned an independent expert review in 2025, following a previous review in 2024. The 2025 review was conducted by Professor André Punt and focused on integrated models for three key WA fish stocks: red emperor in the Kimberley, WA dhufish in the southern West Coast Bioregion, and sandbar shark at the statewide level. This publication summarises the findings and recommendations …

Improvements To Fisheries Compensation Processes And Valuation Methodologies In Western Australia, Department Of Primary Industries And Regional Development, Western Australia

Fisheries Published Reports

This report has been prepared by the Compensation Working Group (WG) to provide advice to the Minister for Fisheries on improving Western Australia’s (WA) fisheries compensation processes under two key legislative frameworks:

• Fisheries adjustment schemes, under the Fisheries Adjustment Scheme Act 1987
• (FAS Act), and 
• Statutory compensation under Fishing and Related Industries Compensation (Marine Reserves) Act 1997 (FRICMA).

This work has been undertaken as a precursor to the larger scale adjustment and compensation processes that will be required as part of the implementation of several marine parks throughout the Kimberley and South Coast of WA.

Fisheries Occasional Publication No. 150 - Response To 2024 External Review Of Integrated Stock Assessments For Key Wa Demersal Indicator Stocks, Rubie Evans-Powell, S. A. Hesp, Ainslie Denham, Emily A. Fisher, Rachel Marks, Fabian I. Trinnie, Brett Crisafulli

Fisheries Occasional Publications

In Western Australia (WA), stock assessments for key demersal species, including snapper and red emperor, have traditionally used bespoke integrated models developed in-house by the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD). In line with other Australian jurisdictions, DPIRD is transitioning to Stock Synthesis (SS) as its primary platform for integrated stock assessments of WA finfish. To support this transition, DPIRD commissioned an independent expert review of recent integrated models applied to three demersal stocks. This publication responds to recommendations from Professor André Punt (University of Washington and CSIRO) in his 2024 review, which examined assessments for Pilbara red …

Fisheries Management Paper No. 311: West Coast Deep Sea Crustacean Resource Harvest Strategy, Department Of Primary Industries And Regional Development, Western Australia

Fisheries Management Papers

Harvest strategies for Western Australia’s (WA) aquatic resources are formal documents developed by the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD, the Department) to support decision-making processes that ensure the outcomes are consistent with the principles of Ecologically Sustainable Development (ESD; Fletcher 2002a) and Ecosystem Based Fisheries Management (EBFM; Fletcher et al. 2012). Harvest strategies are a key component of all contemporary fishery management systems and a requirement for certification under the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC). The objectives of ESD are reflected in the objectives of the Fish Resources Management Act 1994 (FRMA).

This West Coast Deep Sea Crustacean …

Anthelmintic Efficacy Of Rosemary Oil And Its Nanoemulsion Against The Monogenean Parasite, Zeuxapta Seriolae, In Yellowtail Kingfish (Seriola Lalandi), Md Reaz Chaklader, Lindsey Woolley, Hosna Gholipour-Kanani, Masashi Maita, Gavin Partridge

Fisheries Research Articles

This study evaluated the anthelmintic efficacy of rosemary oil delivered as a nanoemulsion compared with regular rosemary oil against the monogenean parasite Zeuxapta seriolae in yellowtail kingfish (YTK; Seriola lalandi). A 20-day feeding trial tested three dietary treatments: two levels of regular rosemary oil (providing 0.85 and 1.7 g cineole·kg−1 feed) and a rosemary-oil nanoemulsion (providing 0.85 g cineole·kg−1 feed), against a control diet without rosemary oil. Juvenile fish (293 ± 5 g) were pre-exposed to Z. seriolae oncomiracidia before the trial, resulting in an initial mean parasite abundance of 97 ± 4 per fish. At trial completion, plasma …

Greenhouse Gas Report For Western Australian Wild-Catch Fisheries And Aquaculture 2004-2025, Christophe D'Abbadie, Johnny Machon, Dipesh Maharjan, Mark Goninon, Pia Dobson, Jason How, Rodney Duffy Dr., Ainslie Denham, Shaye Carman, Trina Anderson

Climate Science Published Reports

This report provides a comprehensive analysis of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from Western Australian wild-catch fisheries and aquaculture for the fiscal years (FY) 2004/05 to 2024/25. These industries represent important components of the Western Australian primary production sector, with distinct emissions profiles and trends.

Key Findings:

Emissions from wild-catch fisheries have declined significantly over time, from approximately 0.341 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (Mt CO₂e) in FY 2004/05 to 0.136 Mt CO₂e in FY 2024/25, a reduction of approximately 60%.

Emissions from aquaculture in FY 2024/25 were approximately 0.350 Mt CO₂e, reflecting substantial industry growth from near-negligible levels in …

Fisheries Research Report No. 359: Metropolitan Monitoring Program 2025, Alissa Tate, Claire B. Smallwood, Karina L. Ryan, Troy Matthews

Fisheries Research Reports

Ongoing monitoring of recreational fisheries in the Perth Metropolitan zone is essential to ensure the sustainable use of fisheries resources. Surveys of shore- and boatbased recreational fishers within the Metropolitan zone of the West Coast bioregion provide information on human dimensions and catch-per-fisher as well as mean length and weight of key recreationally caught species. For shore-based fishers, estimates of fishing effort, catch and harvest are also presented for key nearshore species. This information is used to support ongoing assessments for key nearshore species and the development and evaluation of harvest strategies and other management actions, such as for Australian …

Role Of Recreational Fisher Information In Fisheries Management, Rebecca M. Krogman, Stephen M. Taylor, Aaron J. Adams, Ross E. Boucek, Steven M. Lombardo, Chelsey A. Crandall, Susan F. Steffen, Alejandro Acosta, Eduardo Bone Moron, Sepp Haukebo, Kieran Hyder, Zachary M. Radford, Warren M. Potts

Books & book chapters

Fisheries managers work with the three components of fisheries—biota, environment, and people - to achieve recreational, stewardship, and socioeconomic goals. Although manipulation of biota and the aquatic environment remains popular (e.g. harvest regulation, protecting or enhancing habitats, and guarding water quality), the human dimension of fisheries must also be considered throughout the fisheries management process. Managers can and should engage fishers in a myriad of ways, from identification of problems to guidance on alternatives, and from measurement of change to evaluation of success. In this chapter, we review common fisheries management goals and objectives; detail information needs stemming from those …

Fisheries Research Report No. 362: Characterising Essential Benthic Habitats And Environmental Drivers Of Fishery Recruitment In The Exmouth Gulf Prawn Managed Fishery, Scott Evans, Nick Konzewitsch, Rachel Marks, Renae Hovey, Gary A. Kendrick, Lynda M. Bellchambers

Fisheries Research Reports

Fisheries management relies on the development and evolution of effective assessment and monitoring techniques that are applicable in a range of fishery contexts (Fletcher et al., 2016; L. M. Robinson et al., 2021). The assessment of fish habitats and environmental drivers that influence recruitment is central to sustainable fisheries management (de Lestang et al., 2010; Galindo-Cortes et al., 2010; Gao & Wang, 2021). Western Australia conducts robust fishery-specific monitoring and assessment programs to ensure the sustainable use of its aquatic resources (Newman et al., 2023). However, few long-term datasets exist that directly monitor critical fish habitats and environmental conditions that …

Fisheries Research Report No. 363 : South-West Freshwater Angling: Estimates Of Participation, Effort And Catch For 2024/25, Claire B. Smallwood, Karina L. Ryan, Eva Lai

Fisheries Research Reports

South-West Freshwater Angling (SWFA) in Western Australia is a licensed fishery primarily targeting the Brown Trout (Salmo trutta) and Rainbow Trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss), which are stocked in selected dams and rivers, as well as the introduced Redfin Perch (Perca fluviatilis) and the native Freshwater Cobbler (Tandanus bostocki). Since 2000/01, annual phone-recall surveys have been undertaken using the SWFA licence database as the sampling frame. This monitoring provides information to understand the fishery and support future management decisions. For the first time, data are reported by basin for different waterbody types (public dams, rivers) as well as for specific key fishing …

Fisheries Science Update - Western Australian Shark Resource: 2024 Stock Assessment Outcomes, Department Of Primary Industries And Regional Development, Western Australia

Fisheries Science Updates

The Western Australian (WA) shark resource includes more than 100 species of sharks and rays.

Key shark species are sustainably harvested in two commercial shark fisheries that provide fresh, local, affordable seafood to the WA community.

The WA shark resource has been in recovery since the 1990s–2000s when stocks were found to be at risk.

The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) tracks stock status by undertaking periodic weight of evidence stock assessments of indicator species.

Gummy, whiskery, dusky whaler, and sandbar sharks, are the indicator species for the WA shark resource, and make up ~80% of the …

Fisheries Research Report No. 360: Best Practice And Policy In Australian Abalone Stock Enhancement, Frdc Project No. 2019/110, Lachlan W. Strain, Anthony M. Hart

Fisheries Research Reports

This report provides the most comprehensive evaluation of abalone stock enhancement in Australia to date. The review demonstrates the significant advancements in abalone stock enhancement and concludes that the knowledge and expertise to undertake large-scale (commercial) abalone stock enhancement is present within Australia. The development of policy/guidelines on marine stock enhancement has occurred across all jurisdictions but is still limited in abalone specific policy that could facilitate commercial enhancement programs effectively. Unfortunately, there is a high degree of variability between jurisdictions in both capacity and policy, which was reflected in the jurisdictional scoring against current “best practice” on marine stock …

Fisheries Research Report No. 357: Recreational Fishing For Marron In South-West Western Australia In 2025 - Estimates Of Participation, Effort And Catch, Claire B. Smallwood, Karina L. Ryan, Eva Lai

Fisheries Research Reports

The smooth marron (Cherax cainii) (‘marron’) is endemic to freshwater dams and rivers of south-west Western Australia. Marron are managed as a single stock within the South-West Recreational Freshwater Resource and are highly vulnerable to over-exploitation due to the biological characteristics of the species (e.g., low fecundity, localised populations) as well as environmental (e.g., habitat loss, reduction in rainfall) and human (e.g., fishing, land clearing) pressures on freshwater ecosystems.

Due to this vulnerability, this species has been the focus of research, monitoring and management since the 1970’s. Since 2000, annual phone-recall (2000 – 2021) and online-recall (2022 – 2025) surveys …

Fisheries Research Report No. 355: Recreational Fishing For Western Rock Lobster In 2024/25: Estimates Of Participation, Effort And Catch, Claire B. Smallwood, Karina L. Ryan, Alissa Tate

Fisheries Research Reports

The Western Rock Lobster (WRL) (Panulirus cygnus) is the most commonly caught Rock Lobster (RL) species in Australia. Catches from the commercial and recreational sectors are required to determine and monitor Total Allowable Commercial Catch (TACC), Total Allowable Recreational Catch (TARC) and the proportion of Allowable Harvest Level (AHL) achieved. The TARC is evaluated annually based on a 5-year average.

Data for the recreational sector are obtained using phone-recall surveys to provide annual estimates of participation, fishing effort and retained catch (by numbers) from recreational fishers who hold a RL licence. Average weight, obtained from boat ramp surveys, are used …

Fisheries Research Report No. 354: Recreational Fishing For Abalone In Western Australia In 2024/2025 - Estimates Of Participation, Effort And Catch, Claire B. Smallwood, Karina L. Ryan, Lachlan W. Strain

Fisheries Research Reports

The Western Australian Recreational Abalone Fishery (RAF) operates in shallow coastal waters as a hand collection fishery while wading or diving. Three species of abalone are allowed to be caught. Roe’s abalone (Haliotis roei) are generally collected while wading from the shore in accessible nearshore reef complexes along the West and South Coast Bioregions. Greenlip abalone (H. laevigata) and Brownlip abalone (H. conicopora) are collected while wading (including snorkelling and freediving) and diving (using compressed air) predominantly along the South Coast Bioregion.

Recreational fishing for the three abalone species is licensed and highly regulated, especially in the Western Zone (which …

West Coast Demersal Scalefish Resource Recovery Support Package: 2024-25 Report, Department Of Primary Industries And Regional Development, Western Australia

Fisheries Published Reports

The West Coast Demersal Scalefish Resource (WCDSR) includes over 100 species in inshore (20–250 m deep) and offshore ( > 250 m) demersal habitats of the West Coast Bioregion. These species are caught by charter, commercial and recreational fishers. The WCDSR is in recovery and managed under a 20-year recovery plan (2010–2030). DPIRD tracks recovery progress through scientific stock assessments of indicator species (snapper, WA dhufish, and baldchin groper) every 3 years. The 2021 WCDSR stock assessment showed limited recovery and additional management action was required. In December 2022, the Minister for Fisheries announced commercial and recreational (including charter) sector management …

Evaluation Of Dietary Additives On Yellowtail Kingfish (Seriola Lalandi) Gut And Skin Health And Disease Resistance Against Photobacterium Damselae Subsp. Damselae, Md Reaz Chaklader, Lindsey Woolley, Chelsea Woods, Frances Stephens, Richard Smullen, Gavin Partridge

Fisheries Research Articles

The present study evaluated the effectiveness of five dietary additives in improving growth performance, gut and skin health and disease resistance against Photobacterium damselae subsp. damselae (Pdd) in yellowtail kingfish (YTK) (Seriola lalandi). The additives were top-coated onto a commercial diet. The five additives evaluated were brewer’s yeast (BY), a yeast-based mannan oligosaccharide (MOS), a polyphenol product, a monoglyceride product and a combination of MOS and a superoxide dismutase (SOD) product. The monoglyceride and polyphenol products were trialled at both a low and high inclusion level. Diets were fed to YTK in triplicate tanks for 55 days. The …

Resource Assessment Report No. 5: West Coast Deep Sea Crustacean Resource 2024 Assessment, Emma-Jade Tuffley, Simon De Lestang

Resource Assessment Reports

The West Coast Deep Sea Crustacean resource consists of crystal crab (snow) (Chaceon albus), champagne crab (spiny) (Hypothalassia acerba) and giant crab (Pseudocarcinus gigas). The resource is mainly accessed by the commercial West Coast Deep Sea Crustacean Managed Fishery (WCDSCMF), which primarily targets crystal crabs. The West Coast Rock Lobster Managed Fishery (WCRLMF) also retains a small amount of champagne crabs as byproduct of deep-water rock lobster fishing. The WCDSCMF is a pot-based fishery using baited pots operated in a long-line formation in shelf edge waters ( > 150 m in depth) off the West …

Resource Assessment Report No. 3: Gascoyne Demersal Scalefish Resource 2024 Assessment, Emily A. Fisher, Rachel Marks, Sybrand A. Hesp, Ainslie Denham, Gary Jackson, David V. Fairclough

Resource Assessment Reports

The Gascoyne Demersal Scalefish Resource (GDSR) comprises over 80 species inhabiting inshore (20-250 m deep) and offshore ( > 250 m deep) waters in the Gascoyne Coast Bioregion (GCB; south of Onslow to north of Kalbarri). The GDSR is primarily targeted by commercial, charter and recreational boat-based line fishers. Snapper and Goldband Snapper are the indicator species selected for monitoring and assessing the status of the inshore suite of the GDSR, while Ruby Snapper and Greybanded Grouper are the indicators for the offshore suite.

Periodic assessments of GDSR indicator species demonstrated that historical fishing of Snapper led to stocks being below …