- Changes to recreational fishing rules from today (11 December)
- Cook Government delivering more opportunities for recreational fishers
The Cook Government has announced a number of fishing rule changes to simplify and improve recreational fishing experiences across Western Australia.
As of today, recfishers will now be able to fish for sea urchins all year round without a licence under a daily bag limit of 20 sea urchins per person per day.
Changes have also been made to allow recreational fishers and charter fishers to be in possession of lobster tails while on a boat, provided they will be eaten on board and not landed.
Freshwater anglers targeting barramundi, trout, freshwater cobbler, and redfin are now able to fish using two rods instead of one, making it more consistent with other recreational fishing rules.
The prohibition on spearfishing for barramundi in marine waters has also been removed, bringing it in line with spearfishing for all other fish species.
To help protect our fisheries from pest and disease risk, new penalties have been introduced for bringing live abalone into WA without approval. The noxious species list has also been expanded to include crustacean species known to carry crayfish plague that could potentially threaten WA species.
These changes add to other recreational fishing opportunities delivered by the Cook Government this year, including reopening the southern garfish fishery along the Perth coast, between Lancelin and Myalup in March, and this month's reopening of the Cockburn Sound blue swimmer crab fishery.
Abalone season kicks off this weekend in the West Coast Zone with fishing allowed again in the area between Moore River and Greenough River Mouth this summer.
More information on the fishing rules is available from: WA recreational fishing rules .
Comments can be attributed to Fisheries Minister Don Punch:
"Balancing enhanced fishing opportunities for recreational fishers with the ongoing sustainable management of the State's valuable fisheries is an ongoing priority for the Cook Government.
"This year we have delivered a number of excellent outcomes for the recreational sector including the resumption of metro waters fishing for southern garfish and crabbing in Cockburn Sound.
"We have also provided more opportunities to fish for abalone and the continuation of stocking programs for trout and yellowtail kingfish.
"The changes being introduced today help to further simplify and align fishing rules, which will provide even more opportunities for recreational fishers to get out on the water across WA."
