Future-proofing the South West’s marron stocks

Marron fishing is a uniquely West Aussie experience that takes place in our beautiful South West.

More than 10,000 fishers purchase a licence each year and head down south with friends and family to enjoy this fishing experience.

We will see you when you’re legal size, baby marron!

Recently, Recfishwest staff and volunteers were busy assisting with a local project that has trialled the stocking of marron into Harvey Dam.

The team were knee deep in mud removing thousands of marron from ponds at DPIRD’s Pemberton Hatchery in early January, where the marron were cleaned, packed and transported to Harvey Dam for release.

Recfishwest is pleased to report more than 5,500 juvenile marron were released into the dam on Friday, January 4, with the help of the local Harvey community.

This stocking is part of a project which has been investigating new and innovative ways of future-proofing our important marron stocks.

It’s important that we begin to investigate different opportunities in this space, given that a drying climate will almost certainly place increased pressure on marron stocks going forward. Stocking is one way that we believe can relieve some of this pressure in the long-term.

It’s critical that we continue to investigate strategies that will ensure the long term sustainability of this activity. While this stocking effort was a trial, stocking marron on a larger scale in the future is something that we are currently working towards as we strive to protect, maintain and enhance our quality fishing experiences.

Imagine a future where you and your family could go marroning every weekend!

Recfishwest would like to take this opportunity to thank the project lead Andrew Matthews from Ecotone Consulting, as well as the volunteers who made this stocking possible.

This is one of the more than 5,000 marron which were released!

Continue Reading

September 21, 2023

Recfishwest at the 2023 Perth Boat Show – the views, the issues and the most colourful lure designs you’ll ever see!

Recfishwest got the chance to catch up with hundreds of mad keen recfishers on the weekend (15-17 September) at the Perth Boat Show.  Our stand at the heart of the show’s fishing section was a hive of…

Read More

September 14, 2023

Greenlip abalone closure – necessary, but disappointing and avoidable

DPIRD has advised that from 1 October 2023, fishing will not be permitted for greenlip abalone between Busselton Jetty and Shoal Cape in the Stokes National Park, west of Esperance. In addition: These changes are…

Read More

September 07, 2023

Anglers donate big mack sample haul at Onslow Mack10k!

With 78 boats brimming with 266 competitors all hoping to catch the biggest Spanish mackerel at the recent MACK10K competition in Onslow – our Fishing for Science table was jam-packed with macks!   The annual…

Read More

September 07, 2023

Prepare to go into bat for our most valuable fishing spots on the north metro and south coasts

Recfishwest understands plans for both the new South Coast Marine Park and the extension to Marmion Marine Park are to be released for public comment as early as October.    And it’s going to be crucial for the…

Read More

September 07, 2023

Recfishwest condemns proposals to ban beach driving at popular fishing spots near to Lancelin, Ledge and Seabird

Recfishwest has written to the Shire of Gingin strongly objecting to its proposals to heavily restrict four-wheel-drive access to some of the best fishing beaches around Lancelin, Ledge and Seabird over the next…

Read More

September 01, 2023

Healthier, bigger and more abundant fish – salmon management gets it right

Recfishwest is celebrating the official news that West Aussie salmon are bigger, more abundant and resistant to environmental changes than they have been in decades, following the latest release of DPIRD’s latest…

Read More