THE seasonal two-month closure on catching demersal scale fish in WA’s West Coast zone took effect this week.
The restriction for anglers in the West Coast Bioregion will focus on dhufish, pink snapper and baldchin groper, until December 16.
Department of Fisheries South West Bioregions Manager Tim Nicholas said the closure allows the precious fish stocks to recover, ensuring sustainability of this fishery.
“Seasonal closures provide additional protection for fish species that are vulnerable during times when they aggregate (group together) to reproduce,” Mr Nicholas said.
“Large-scale seasonal closures are also used to reduce the total time spent fishing and therefore the total number of fish captured.”
In the West Coast Bioregion seasonal closures will apply to West Coast demersal finfish until December 15. This means the take or landing of demersal finfish is prohibited within the West Coast Bioregion during this period and any demersal finfish caught from a boat or from shore in this area during the closed season must be returned to the water as soon as possible.
There is also a closed season in place for the Cockburn and Warnbro Sounds from 1 October until January 31, inclusive.
“Cockburn Sound has the largest known aggregations of pink snapper in the West Coast Bioregion and is critical for sustaining adequate breeding stocks of these long-lived and slow-growing fish,” Mr Nicholas said.
“It is illegal to be in possession of pink snapper while fishing in the waters of Cockburn and Warnbro sounds during the closed season. However, pink snapper taken outside the sounds may be transported through, and immediately landed within, the area during the closed season.”
There is a closed season to begin shortly for baldchin groper at the Abrolhos Islands from November 1 until January 31, inclusive.
Taking, landing or possessing baldchin groper is prohibited within the Abrolhos Islands Fish Habitat Protection Area during the closed season. Baldchin groper is a species unique to WA and these fish aggregate in shallow waters in the Abrolhos area to spawn as the water temperature rises.
Detailed information on fishing in Western Australia, including season dates and rules to follow in the open section of the West Coast Zone, is available at www.fish.wa.gov.au.
