Fish species thrive on SW artificial reef

The number of fish species at Bunbury's artificial reef has more than quadrupled in two years, according to the Department of Fisheries.

Artificial reefs were installed in Bunbury and Dunsborough in 2013 as part of a pilot project that was designed to provide new habitats for fish.

A Department of Fisheries spokeswoman said 53 finfish species had been recorded at the Bunbury reef and 51 at the Dunsborough reef.

"That was up from just a dozen fish species being detected when the South West reefs were deployed in 2013," she said.

Fisheries Minister Ken Baston said the positive results provided confidence for the success of similar reefs to be located elsewhere off the WA coast.