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There are more than 20 designated finfish fisheries, including four shark fisheries. The largest finfish fisheries are in the north of the State. Snapper is caught in Shark Bay, Spanish mackerel north of Geraldton and a mix of tropical species including, blue spot emperor, mullet, threadfin bream, goldband snapper, Spanish flag, red emperor, rankin cod, WA dhufish, barramundi, Lake Argyle catfish and shark are caught in the Pilbara and the Kimberley.
The largest finfish fishery in the south is based on sardines (pilchards), which are caught in waters around Fremantle and from Albany to Esperance. Other species caught in the southern fisheries include Australian salmon, herring, shark, whiting, cobbler, black bream, flathead, mullet, red snapper and deep-sea crabs.
Traditionally caught for bait, Sardines, through improved seafood handling techniques and value adding, have emerged as regulars on menus and in fresh fish shops. Similar effort is being put into Australian Salmon.
The key shark species caught commercially in WA waters are dusky whaler, gummy and whiskery. Wetline fishermen froze the number of licences able to operate in the fishery in 1985 and introduced an industry-funded scheme to buy back more than 150 commercial licences. Industry is working with the Department of Fisheries on introducing management plans for the Wetline Fisheries, the outcome of which should bring certainty to the licence holders in these fisheries, maintain supplies of fresh seafood to the local market and ensure the State’s finfish resource continues to be managed at sustainable levels.
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Abalone
Aquaculture
Crabs
Fin Fish
Lobsters
Patagonian Toothfish
Pearls
Prawns
Pilchards
Scallops
Sharks
Snapper
Swordfish and Tuna
