- Fish Aggregating Devices have proved popular with recreational fishers
- Cook Government's $1.5 million program now moves fishing options north
- FADs shelter bait fish that attract large and sustainable pelagic species
Recreational fishers from the Kimberley to south coasts have been enjoying new open ocean fishing opportunities, thanks to Western Australia's network of Fish Aggregating Devices (FADs).
Across the year, the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development operates up to 42 FADs State-wide in line with seasonal conditions.
This month the 30 southern FADs between Steep Point near Shark Bay and Albany are being retrieved ahead of the winter storms. These FADs will be serviced and redeployed across October and November in time for summer.
On WA's northern coast, a dozen FADs have recently been deployed off Exmouth, the Dampier/Point Samson area and along the Broome coastline. They will be retrieved in November, ahead of the cyclone season.
Recfishwest and stakeholder fishing clubs, with support from BHP, have also installed a further five FADs off Port Hedland that can withstand big tides and swell and don't need to be taken out of the water during the cyclone season.
Fish Aggregation Device locations around the WA coast can be found on theDPIRD website and on the Recfishwest app and website along with information on how to fish them.
As stated by Fisheries Minister Don Punch:
"This has been an exciting year with the expansion of our FADs network to provide more fishing opportunities for recreational fishers and game fishing clubs along the WA coast.
"FADs attract large pelagic fish that would otherwise be difficult for fishers to locate making prized pelagic species more accessible than ever.
"This is helping people diversify their fishing experience and creating new opportunities in regional areas supporting local communities and regional jobs.
"Recfishwest has been a willing and active partner in ensuring Western Australia's FADs program delivers fishers around the State greater access to sportfish like Spanish mackerel, mahi mahi, trevally, sailfish, wahoo, southern bluefin and yellowfin tuna and marlin.
"Fish Aggregation Devices are truly enhancing WA's popular fishing and outdoor lifestyle."
