The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development’s (DPIRD’s) latest ‘health check’ on Western Australian salmon stocks shows the large pelagic finfish continues to be at sustainable levels, thanks to the management measures in place.
This new scientific stock assessment shows there is a high level of adult fish that annually undertake their westward migration to spawn here in WA.
The stock level ensures future generations of the species are produced annually before the Leeuwin Current disperses their eggs and larvae into protected coastal nurseries.
Swirling schools of salmon come close to shore during the salmon run
WA salmon are relatively long-living, have been known to grow to one metre in length and weigh more than nine kilograms, but the average salmon caught would generally be five kilograms or less.
Fishing for salmon from our beaches provides great family fun because fishers can keep the sand between their toes, which is a much safer option than the slippery rocks along our South and South West coastlines.
Salmon is also an important resource for commercial fishing operations on the South Coast and each salmon run is keenly anticipated by recreational fishers and surveys indicate that boat fishers release a large portion of their catch. WA salmon are a favoured sport species and their aerobatic and fast swimming behaviour make them a thrill to catch.
If you’ve not fished for them before, salmon may be a great chance to ‘Switch your Fish” and give demersal finfish a break. Targeting this iconic sportfish provides a fantastic alternative fishing experience and reduces the pressure on our demersal stocks.
For most of the year, along our coast, the species is found in cooler southern waters but during the spawning run, they can be common in waters of the Perth metropolitan area.
DPIRD Senior Fisheries Scientist Rodney Duffy said the latest stock assessment,
which is available online, had indicated a low risk to the sustainability of WA salmon.
“The salmon run along the West Coast can vary from year to year,” he said.
“How far north they get in autumn always depends on the strengths of the Leeuwin Current and the Capes Current and subsequent water temperatures.
“From our stock assessment, the current risk level for the species has been rated as low on the overall weight of evidence, which indicates the current management settings are maintaining risk at an acceptable level.
“The health of the stock means that, even if there is a moderate increase in catch, the species would still maintain a risk level of medium or less.”
Lab work was also undertaken for the salmon stock assessment
The next WA salmon assessment will be carried out in four years, using catch returns from commercial fishers, recreational fishing data, plus size and age structure of the stock over two consecutive years, to help our scientists assess the impact of fishing on the species.