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New rules for recreational fishers were revised on 14 February 2024.

• An additional 10 tonnes will be made available to the recreational fishery while in recovery, to provide recfishers with more time on the water during the Spring fishing period.
• Fishing for, being in possession on a boat or landing demersal scalefish in the West Coast bioregion is now prohibited from:
  • 1 February to 31 March (inclusive)
  • 1 August to 15 September (inclusive)
  • 15 October to 15 December (inclusive).

*Note this does not apply to land based recreational line fishers who can fish all year round.

Supporting measures: boat, bag and possession limits

For information on the supporting measures, including boat, bag and possession limits etc, visit the .

It is important to understand the  when recreational fishing for demersal scalefish in the West Coast bioregion

Fish Aggregating Devices (FADs)

As part of the support package for the recovery of the West Coast Demersal Scalefish Resource, the State ºÚÁÏÕýÄÜÁ¿ is investing $1.5 million over the next 3 years to expand the FADs program, which will be managed by DPIRD. 

For more information on the program and locations, please visit .

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Recfishers are able to directly contribute to the science and support the sustainability of our iconic demersal scalefish stocks in the West Coast bioregion, using the ¹ó¾±²õ³ó°ä²¹³Ù³¦³ó°Â´¡â„¢ tool on the ServiceWA app. Find out more on .

From 1 January 2023, fishing hours in the West Coast Demersal Scalefish Interim Managed Fishery were reduced to achieve a 50% cut in total allowable catch.

From 1 January 2024, a 22% reduction in units in the West Coast Demersal Scalefish Interim Managed Fishery following the outcomes of the VFAS. 

The following changes began on 1 February 2023:

• Removal of size limits for WA dhufish, baldchin groper and breaksea cod to reduce barotrauma.
• Extending the timing of the Cockburn and Warnbro Sounds pink snapper spawning closure to be 1 August to 31 January (inclusive).
• Shifting the timing of the Abrolhos Islands baldchin groper spawning closure to be 1 October to 31 December (inclusive).
• Commercial fishing for demersal scalefish remains closed along the Perth metro coast, from Lancelin to south of Mandurah.

Voluntary Fisheries Adjustment Scheme

A $4.1 million for commercial fishers who hold a current West Coast Demersal Scalefish Interim Managed Fishery permit has concluded. A total of 12 offers were accepted by commercial operators, surrendering 22 per cent of units across the WCDSIMF, equating to approximately 38.5 tonnes of demersal scalefish. 

The charter fishery is subject to the same supporting measures as the recreational sector from 1 February 2023, except the demersal scalefish closure and boat limit.

New measures for charter operators were revised on 14 February 2024:

• An additional 10 tonnes will be made available to the charter fishery to expand the number of charter operators eligible for tags from 21 to 33.
• A demersal scalefish tag system for the charter fishery (one tag = one fish).
• Charter fishery open 12 months of the year (not including spawning closures).

Charter catch quota system

Under the updated 2023-24 catch quota system, 7,500 tags will be allocated to 33 operators in the West Coast region based on their catch history over the past 5 years. The allocation decision recognises those Fishing Tour Operator Licence (FTOL) holders with an ongoing and recent reliance on demersal-based fishing activities and aims to ensure that a viable charter fishing industry can be maintained on the West Coast.

An extension of a ‘catch to cook’ option to all charter operators in the West Coast region means all charter operators will still be able to catch demersal fish without being in possession of tags, including pink snapper and WA dhufish, as long as all fish are consumed on board the boat prior to returning to shore.

The catch quota system commenced on 1 July 2023.  For more information about access criteria and how the catch quota was allocated, view the .

Charter Diversification Grants Scheme

To support the implementation of the catch quota system, eligible charter operators are able to apply for funding to diversify their business into other tourism experiences e.g. non-demersal scalefish aquatic tours. The scheme opened 1 June 2023 and will close 30 June 2024.

Find out more information on the .