- MMA Offshore Pty Ltd awarded contract to fabricate and install Carnarvon artificial reef
- Cook Government investing $1.4 million to provide more recreational fishing opportunities in the Gascoyne region
MMA Offshore has been awarded the tender to fabricate and install a new artificial reef off the Carnarvon coast to boost recreational fishing opportunities in the Gascoyne region.
The Cook Government has invested $1.4 million into the project which will increase fishing activity in the Carnarvon region as well as provide direct benefits to local businesses with the potential to create jobs and tourism opportunities in the future.
The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development has worked closely with the Gascoyne Development Commission, the Shire of Carnarvon and Recfishwest on the project and the reef is expected to be in the water by the end of the year.
The reef will be located off the Carnarvon coast, approximately 7 kilometres south-west of Pelican Point and spanning a nine-hectare area.
It will be constructed from purpose-built modules made of steel-reinforced concrete providing a unique underwater habitat designed to attract commonly targeted fish species including cobia, mulloway, tailor and trevally.
Artificial reefs are funded through the Recreational Fishing Initiatives Fund which sees recreational fishing licence fees invested back into projects which support recreational fishing in Western Australia.
The Carnarvon reef will be the eighth purpose-built artificial reef for recreational fishers to go in the water along the Western Australian coastline since 2012.
Other reefs are located off Ocean Reef, Dunsborough, Bunbury, Mandurah, south of Rottnest Island, Esperance and in Exmouth Gulf.
As stated by Fisheries Minister Don Punch:
"It is exciting for the Gascoyne region that the new artificial reef off the Carnarvon coast is one step closer today with the tender for the project awarded to MMA Offshore.
"Congratulations to Recfishwest, the Carnarvon Chamber of Commerce and the Shire of Carnarvon for your collaboration on this important project for the region.
"Artificial reefs provide unique, safe and accessible recreational fishing experiences, as well as broader benefits to regional communities with an increase in visitors and the potential to create new tourism opportunities, boosting jobs and the local economy.
"The Cook Government is committed to investing recreational licence fees back into projects which provide great recreational fishing experiences and complement the State's sustainable fisheries management to ensure fish stocks remain sustainable in the future."
