Improving the Recreational Marron Fishery Through Stock Enhancement

Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) in conjunction with Recfishwest, will be investigating the benefits of stocking juvenile Marron into recreational dams in Western Australia.

Staff at the Pemberton Freshwater Research Centre (PFRC) have begun a new captured Marron breeding program.  This program is based on recent advice provided from a Marron research project conducted by Ecotone and funded by the Commonwealth Government through the Fisheries Research and Development Corporation (FRDC) that looked at ways to improve the sustainability of WA’s iconic Marron fishery.

If the captured Marron breeding program is successful, a trial stocking program is planned which will see thousands of tiny “craylings” (juvenile Marron) released into Harvey Dam, a popular recreational Marron fishing location, only one and half hours South of Perth.

FACT FILE:
• Number of recreational Marron licenses 2016 season was 11,366.
• Wellington Dam and Harvey Dam are the most popular fishing locations.
• The estimated 20,000 individual days of marroning in regional locations provide a significant economic boost to regional towns in the South-West.
• In 2015 fishers caught an estimated 70,000 Marron despite research showing more than 100,000 Marron could have been sustainably harvested during this period.
• Research and development is focussed on improving the resilience of the fishery whilst enhancing the experience of the States many marroners.

If you’re passionate about Marron, do yourself a favour and follow Marron Matters on Facebook.

Conservation Marron Stocking- Full Media Release

Picture: Marron eggs (left), once hatched they turn into ‘Craylings’ (middle & right)

Continue Reading

October 21, 2026

Recfishwest AGM reflects on a pivotal year for fishing in Western Australia

Recfishwest’s 2026 Annual General Meeting at Fremantle Sailing Club gave members the opportunity to hear Board Chair Liam Surridge and CEO Dr Andrew Rowland reflect on a pivotal year for fishing in Western Australia…

Read More

October 20, 2026

King of the Reef delivers another year of fantastic fishing and surprising species

Four months of fantastic fishing, friendly competition and valuable citizen science have wrapped up in Exmouth, with the third annual King of the Reef competition once again showcasing the impressive variety of fish…

Read More

October 16, 2026

Recfishwest on the road! A big weekend celebrating fishing across WA

From the Pilbara to the South-West, Recfishwest was out and about over the school holidays, getting amongst three fantastic community fishing events. Our team clocked up hundreds of kilometres and helped make plenty…

Read More

October 09, 2026

Waroona Troutfest celebrates 10 years with biggest event yet

Hundreds of mums, dads, kids and grandies flocked to Drakesbrook Weir for the Shire of Waroona’s annual Troutfest, celebrating 10 years of the community-backed event with its biggest turnout yet! The memorable…

Read More

October 02, 2026

Another round, another grinner! Crew Bell’s gummy shark grin takes the win!

A fantastic gummy shark and an even bigger smile have earned Crew Bell the winner’s title in the second round of Recfishwest’s inaugural Grins and Fins kids photo competition! As part of Ocean Reef Angling Club’…

Read More

October 02, 2026

Dream come true’ as Australia’s largest purpose-built fishing reef takes shape off Port Hedland

A long-held dream of Port Hedland’s fishing community is becoming reality, with the first concrete poured for Australia’s largest purpose-built fishing reef! Funded by BHP and delivered with Recfishwest and Pilbara…

Read More