Prized fish off menu

The annual demersal fishing closure came into effect on Tuesday, prohibiting recreational fishers from taking or landing demersal finfish in the West Coast Bioregion.

Under the ban any demersal scalefish that are caught until December 15 must be returned to the water as soon as possible.

The closure is one of a number of measures introduced through a 20-year recovery plan aimed at managing annual recreational and charter catches at levels which will allow WA dhufish, pink snapper, baldchin groper and other demersal scalefish species to recover by 2030.

Fisheries officers from the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development have warned they will be monitoring various locations around WA and won’t hesitate to take the necessary action.

The department’s fisheries management officer Shane Walters said it was important for recreational and charter fishers continue to play their part to ensure these important species recover.

“During this closure, there are other sustainable fishing options for fishers to try out, such as rock lobster fishing or fishing for nearshore species such as squid, whiting, mulloway and tailor,” Mr Walters said.

A full list of the species covered under the ban are available at www.fish.wa.gov.au