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Prawning is Western Australian’s third most valuable export fishery, generating around $50 million annually.
Two major fisheries at Exmouth and Shark Bay collect most of the 4000 tonnes of prawns harvested each year. King and tiger prawns are the most important species caught, followed by endeavour and banana prawns.
Management of the fishery is based on limited entry, crew limitations, gear restriction covering net lengths, mesh sizes and boat sizes, season and area openings and closures, the creation of nursery areas closed to trawling, moon phase closures and daily fishing time controls. The opening and closures during the fishing season are aimed at harvesting prawns at their largest and most marketable size and protecting the juvenile stock.
Vessels are now fitted with bycatch reduction devices (BRD’s). The Department’s Satellite Vessel Monitory System supervises the fishery.
The larger tiger and king prawns are exported whole or headless to Japan, Europe and South East Asia, while the smaller prawns are consumed primarily by the local market.
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Abalone
Aquaculture
Crabs
Fin Fish
Lobsters
Patagonian Toothfish
Pearls
Prawns
Pilchards
Scallops
Sharks
Snapper
Swordfish and Tuna
