New Recreational Fishing Arrangements

Modified arrangements announced in September 2009

Minister for Fisheries, the Hon Normal Moore MLC, announced modified arrangements for recreational fishing management in Western Australia in September 2009. Information about the new provisions and regulations and how they might affect you can be found on this website.

Below are some key elements of the new package but for further details please read the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) fact sheet attached as a PDF on this page:

Possession of a “release weight” will be required when fishing from a boat in the West Coast Bioregion;
A two-month seasonal closure on the take of “high risk” demersal scalefish by recreational fishers in the West Coast Bioregion will apply from 15 October to 15 December inclusive;
A boat limit of two dhufish will apply in the West Coast Bioregion (six for charter boats);
A state-wide Recreational Fishing from Boat Licence (RFBL) is expected to be introduced in March 2010 with an annual fee of $30. Fishing from kayaks or other boats that are not required to be registered under the WA Marine Act 1982, will not need a licence;
Any fisher not holding a RFBL will be allowed to fish from a boat in the company of a licensed boat fisher within the bag limit;
Charter boat passengers not holding a RFBL will be required to purchase a per-trip $15 Charter Boat Fishing Licence;
The recreational ‘umbrella' licence will be replaced with individual licences to allow more comprehensive monitoring of recreational fishing activities and fisheries in WA;
Fees for existing recreational fishing licences will be made uniform at $40 with a 10 per cent discount when more than one licence is purchased at the same time; and
No West Coast Demersal Scalefish Licence will be introduced.

All funds raised from the sale of recreational fishing licences will be placed in the Recreational Fishing Trust Account and spent on the management of recreational fishing.


Modified Recreational Fishing Rules at a Glance (Oct 2009)	pdf	[195 k]
Recreational Fishing Guide - West Coast Region (Oct 2009)	pdf	[1.94M]
Frequently Asked Questions - New Recreational Fishing Arrangements (Oct 7th - 2009)	pdf	[204 k]
WEST COAST BIOREGION – Changes to bag limits (Sept 16th - 2009)	pdf	[90 k]
Link to ministerial announcement (Sept 16th 2009)

Map of the Bioregions

Click the image below to view a larger version.

The Species

The species concerned are long-lived, slow growing and relatively sedentary, making them vulnerable to high levels of fishing.


Fisheries Fact Sheet No. 3 – West Australian dhufish (Sept 2007)	pdf	[383k]
Fisheries Fact Sheet No. 5 – Pink snapper (Sept 2007)	pdf	[518k]
Fisheries Fact Sheet No. 6 – Baldchin groper (Sept 2007)	pdf	[324k]
Fisheries Brief No. 1 – West Coast Demersal Scalefish (Sept 2007)	pdf	[1.44M]

Research Publications


Fisheries Occasional Publications 65 - A Review of Management Arrangements for the Recreational Fishery for Demersal Scalefish in the West Coast Bioregion. (June 2009)	pdf	[222 k]

Fisheries Occasional Publications 66 - Scientific review of the West Coast Demersal Scalefish Fishery, Western Australia. (June 2009)	pdf	[414 k]

Fisheries Occasional Publications 67 - Review of Fisheries Research Report (177). (June 2009)	pdf	[204 k]

For further enquiries
Contact the Department of Fisheries on 1800 726 586

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