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Square MetresPremiumSQM: Cray-zy plan excludes depot in Lancelin

Lancelin is the haven for western rock lobsters, but new plans have turfed the town’s only cray depot from the beachfront.

Kim Macdonald

FishingPremiumKununurra Apex Barra Bash reels in record number of anglers

The 2024 Kimberley Coastal Camp Apex Kununurra Barra Bash has once again shattered records, attracting nearly 1500 eager anglers from across the region. 

Katya Minns

KimberleyPremiumMultiple foreign fishing vessels intercepted off WA coast

Border protection authorities have intercepted three suspected illegal fishing boats off WA’s Kimberley coast last week, seizing hundreds of kilograms of sea cucumbers in the operation.

Lauren Price

Reel ‘em inVideoCommentsHook in your kids for this activity before it’s BANNED again

The school holidays are almost here — and there’s one thing you’ll be able to do with your kids over the two-week period before it closes.

Troy de Ruyter

Moby FishCommentsMonster goldfish pulled from Harvey River by local fisherman

A Harvey fisherman has pulled an absolute monster out of the Harvey River, hooking a goldfish which had grown to be over 30cm long and over a kilo in weight.

Craig Duncan

OYSTER LICENCESPremiumAlbany shellfish zone to become one of Australia’s biggest

Albany will soon be home to one of the biggest shellfish production zones in Australia with the State Government granting aquaculture sublicenses to Harvest Road Oceans for stage two of the project.

Melissa Sheil

The West Australian exclusive
The West Australian exclusive
CrimeVideoCommentsPremium
The West Australian exclusive
Shocking video emerges of teens fishing at Perth aquarium

Two teenagers have been let off with a warning after they brazenly filmed themselves fishing at Perth’s largest aquarium.

Caleb Runciman

Crab FestCommentsCrab Fest draws huge crowd for fun in the sun

Thousands of people keen to crack into some crab attended the first day of the Channel 7 Mandurah Crab Fest on Saturday. 

Kasey Gratton

Season wash outCommentsPremiumLifesavers rescue almost 80 fishers in final abalone hour

WA’s latest abalone session has marked its most danger this season, with almost 80 rescues across the West Coast Zone amid ‘challenging’ conditions. 

Caitlyn Rintoul

Catching Crabbing CriminalsCommentsFisheries agents prowling WA crabbing hotspots

The long weekend brought many to the Peel-Harvey Estuary to enjoy the nice weather and fishing spots, but amongst the crowd fisheries agents watched on to ensure there were no crabbing criminals.

Craig Duncan

Serious punishmentCommentsPremiumWA abalone fishers slapped with slew of fines

Fisheries officers were out in force during Saturday morning’s abalone hour admonishing greedy shellfish lovers — issuing almost double the official bag limit warnings than the last session.

Hannah Cross

Window doubledCommentsPremiumFishers get extra two weeks to cast line for demersal catch

Higher fish stocks than expected being relinquished from the commercial sector mean recreational fishers will get an extra two weeks to cast a line for demersal species.

Jake Dietsch

Fishing finePremiumWA man fined $9000 over illegal abalone haul

A man has been fined thousands of dollars after using a screw driver and a spanner to take more than 50 abalone and sea urchins from a prohibited abalone fishing area.

Jessica Moroney

Dangerous conditionsCommentsAbalone fishing session cancelled due to risky weather

Saturday’s scheduled abalone fishing session has been cancelled ahead of windy weather and choppy conditions, likely to put fishers in danger.

Harriet Flinn

Blue economyCommentsOcean energy tech could land green salmon on the menu

Floating salmon farms could use onboard electricity generated from the ocean instead of diesel by harnessing an energy trap developed by an Aussie innovator.

Marion Rae

Tragedy PremiumMan dead after pulled from water at popular fishing spot

A crabber has died after being found unresponsive in the water of a popular estuary in WA’s south west. 

Sarah Makse

Going fishingCommentsPremiumMy deep dive into WA’s abalone fishing madness

There are only four hours each summer over four days when abalone can be ‘fished’ and I was part of the mayhem at Mettams Pool on Saturday along with hundreds of abalone hunters — Caleb Runciman reports.

Caleb Runciman

Ocean escapadeVideoCommentsNo rescue for overboard crayfisher who swam to shore

The wife of a crayfisherman who was thrown from his boat recounted how the skipper went into ‘survival mode’ after authorities descended on Rockingham Harbour trying to find him. 

Caleb Runciman and Harriet Flinn

Multi-agency operationCommentsPremiumHuge new bid to tackle illegal foreign fishing off WA coast

A new operation has been set up off the WA coast to help authorities tackle the higher-than-usual number of illegal foreign fishing boats detected in the region.

Kimberley Caines

The West Australian exclusive
The West Australian exclusive
Major risks CommentsPremium
The West Australian exclusive
Large coastlines make illegal acts ‘hard’ to track, experts

Australia cannot keep track of the rise in illegal fishing and increased risk of smuggling of drugs and asylum seekers because of the sheer size of its northern coastlines, experts have warned.

Kimberley Caines

Major missionCommentsPremiumSurf Lifesaving rescue 20 people after risky fishing trip

Surf lifesavers rescued someone every three minutes during the first abalone fishing session on Saturday morning. 

Dylan Caporn

opinion
opinion
Libby MettamCommentsPremium
opinion
Ignore fishers at your peril

There’s another storm brewing for the Cook Labor Government and once again, it’s being fueled by an apparent unwillingness to listen or consult in good faith.

Libby Mettam

‘Consumer awareness’ CommentsPremiumNew rules for Aussie menus to have seafood origin labels

Australians will soon know when they are eating WA’s lobster with the origin of seafood from across the country and the world to be labelled on menus in restaurants, cafes and clubs.

Kimberley Caines

Fresh opportunitiesCommentsPremiumHow WA’s octopus industry could rival lucrative rock lobster

WA’s nascent octopus industry has the potential to expand and grow in a way not seen since the early days of the State’s lucrative western rock lobsters, according to two seafood industry advocates.

Cheyanne Enciso