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Description
The Status Reports of the Fisheries and Aquatic Resources of Western Australia (SRFAR) provides an annual update on the state of the fish stocks and other aquatic resources of Western Australia (WA). These reports outline the most recent assessments of the cumulative risk status for each of the aquatic resources (assets) within WA’s six bioregions using an Ecosystem Based Fisheries Management (EBFM) approach. The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Dveelopment’s (DPIRD) risk based EBFM framework is the WA Government’s basis for management of all of WA’s aquatic resources.
Assets examined in each bioregion include the meso-scale ecosystems and aquatic resources, along with the associated fisheries. A summary at the start of each chapter displays the stock and fishery performance levels, along with the current performance and risk levels for each of the other EBFM outcomes (bycatch, listed species interactions, habitat, ecosystem, social, economics, and governance). Summary resource level statistics are also provided after the fishery performance levels. Major external drivers, such as climate change and coastal development are examined to determine their impact on WA’s aquatic resources.
The 2024-25 financial year saw a continuation of the outstanding results achieved in fisheries management to ensure the continued sustainability of WA’s aquatic resources. These results outline how WA’s fishing sectors and aquaculture industries make a unique contribution to the primary industries of WA.
This year, 89% of our fish stocks were assessed as not being at risk or vulnerable through exploitation (fishing); this includes those classified as sustainable – adequate.
This indicates that there are challenges for some fisheries. Two resources were classified as sustainable – recovering, indicating that management actions taken to date have resulted in these resources recovering at acceptable rates. These include the dusky and sandbar shark stocks that support the Temperate Demersal Gillnet and Demersal Longline Fishery, and the Gascoyne Demersal Scalefish Managed Fishery.
Sandy sprat (whitebait), Perth herring, and Southern garfish (Perth metropolitan zone) from the West Coast Nearshore and Estuarine Scalefish Resource are environmentally limited with highly restricted management arrangements.
Greenlip Abalone of the Abalone Managed Fishery and fish resources supporting the West Coast Demersal Scalefish Managed Fishery, the South Coast Demersal Scalefish, the Northern Demersal Fishery and the Pilbara Demersal Scalefish Fisheries are considered inadequate as a result of exploitation, with management actions either implemented or being progressed to assist stock recovery.
A number of fisheries have undertaken independent third-party certification to demonstrate sustainable fishing and management. These include the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) certified fisheries of Western Rock Lobster, West Coast Deep Sea Crab, West and South Coast Abalone (Roe’s abalone), Shark Bay Prawn, Exmouth Gulf Prawn, Pearl Oyster (silverlip pearl oyster), Octopus, Abrolhos Islands Scallop, enhanced Greenlip Abalone, and Sea Cucumber (Pilbara deep-water redfish and Kimberley sandfish). These fisheries all contribute significant economic and social value to WA.
Many staff at DPIRD have contributed to the production of this report, along with stakeholders who contribute to managing WA’s aquatic resources. The ongoing involvement of our Aboriginal, commercial, recreational, and aquaculture stakeholders in specific research projects and monitoring programs remains critical. Logbook data, voluntary participation in recreational fishing surveys, the provision of biological samples, access to vessels and sharing of information are integral to aquatic resource management in WA. The input from other science groups located within WA, plus those from other parts of Australia and internationally is also acknowledged.
This volume provides the public, fishers, and other stakeholders with a starting reference source for information regarding the aquatic resources of WA. It meets the reporting requirements of DPIRD, including the need to report on Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) to Parliament in 2025 (see Overview).
The status of key species can also be found in the Status of Australian Fish Stocks (SAFS) reports at http://www.fish.gov.au. This year's Status Reports of the Fisheries and Aquatic Resources of Western Australia 2024/25 is directly accessible on DPIRD's Digital Library https://library.dpird.wa.gov.au/an_sofar, where users are encouraged to download relevant sections for personal use. If quoting from the document, please give appropriate acknowledgment using the citation format provided at the front of the report.
ISSN
ISSN 2200-7849 (Print) ISSN 2200-7857 (Online)
Publication Date
9-2026
Publisher
Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, Western Australia
City
Perth
Keywords
aquatic science, fisheries, fish stocks, western australia, dpird
Disciplines
Aquaculture and Fisheries | Environmental Sciences
Recommended Citation
Newman, S J,
Denham, A,
Selemela, L,
and
Moore, J.
(2026), State of the fisheries: Status reports of the fisheries and aquatic resources of Western Australia 2024/25. Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, Western Australia, Perth. Book.
https://library.dpird.wa.gov.au/an_sofar/52
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Comments
Suggested citation format - Individual status report:
Strain, L., Brown, J. and Nolan, D. 2025. West Coast Roe’s Abalone Resource Status Report. pp. 53-59. In: Newman, S.J. Denham, A.M. Selemela, L. and Moore, J. (eds). 2025. Status Reports of the Fisheries and Aquatic Resources of Western Australia 2024/25: The State of the Fisheries. Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, Western Australia.