Publication Date

1-2026

Series Number

No. 359

Publisher

State of Western Australia (Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development)

City

Perth

ISBN

978-1-925415-34-6

ISSN

2202-5758

Abstract

Ongoing monitoring of recreational fisheries in the Perth Metropolitan zone is essential to ensure the sustainable use of fisheries resources. Surveys of shore- and boatbased recreational fishers within the Metropolitan zone of the West Coast bioregion provide information on human dimensions and catch-per-fisher as well as mean length and weight of key recreationally caught species. For shore-based fishers, estimates of fishing effort, catch and harvest are also presented for key nearshore species. This information is used to support ongoing assessments for key nearshore species and the development and evaluation of harvest strategies and other management actions, such as for Australian Herring and Southern Garfish.

A roving creel survey was used to collect data from shore-based fishers between Ocean Reef and Point Peron (30% of coastline within the Metropolitan zone) from December 2024 to June 2025. The temporal scope of the survey was expanded by two months (December January) from previous survey years (February June). Comparisons of fishing effort and catch should be interpreted with consideration of this expanded temporal coverage. An access point (boat ramp) survey was used to collect data from boat-based fishers at key boat ramps between Two Rocks and Mandurah from December 2024 to July 2025. These data are considered to be representative of the Metropolitan zone.

The highest proportions of shore- and boat-based fishers were aged between 30 44 (33%) and 45 59 (31%) years. Shore- and boat-based fishers predominantly fished more than 20 days in the previous 12 months (47% for both platforms). Most shore- (80%) and boat-based (70%) fishers resided in the Perth Metropolitan area and fished within the Metropolitan zone.

Australian Herring (30%), Western Butterfish (9%) and School Whiting (9%) were the most frequently kept species by shore-based fishers. Pink Snapper were the most frequently released species by shore-based fishers as the most frequent reason for release. Squid (10%), West Australian Dhufish (10%), and School Whiting (9%) were the most frequently kept species by boat-based fishers, while Toadfishes, Striped Grunters, Wrasses, and West Australian Dhufish were the most frequently released species by boat-based fishers. Shore-based recreational fishing effort in the Metropolitan zone was 284,031 fisher hours (95% CI 250,668 317,374) in 2025, which was higher than effort in 2023, and 2024 (expanded temporal scope). The annual kept catch (all species) for shore-based fishers was 253,158 fish (95% CI 193,837 312,479) in 2025, with an additional released catch of 330,332 fish (259,666 400,997). Annual kept catch was higher than in 2024, although this was not significantly different.

The shore-based harvest of Australian Herring was 18.3 t (95% CI 12.8 23.9 t) in 2025, which was steady compared with previous survey years. The shore-based harvest of School Whiting (1.7 t; 0.8 2.7), Squid (1.5 t; 0.2 2.9), Pink Snapper (3.5 t; 1 6), Tailor (3.6 t; 1.3 5.9), and Silver Trevally (1.1 t; 0.3 1.8) was consistent with the previous three survey years.

Number of Pages

61

Keywords

Recreational Fisheries, Fisheries Resources, Sustainability, West Coast Bioregion, Western Australian Metropolitan Zone, Effort Catch and Harvest Data, Australian Herring, Southern Garfish

Disciplines

Aquaculture and Fisheries | Marine Biology | Population Biology

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