Fishing for species like Samson fish, skippy and squid from Esperance Jetty is likely to go to the next level with the potential installation of multiple artificial reef modules around the popular structure next year.
The Shire of Esperance is partnering with Recfishwest to explore the delivery of an artificial reef system, which will be the first large-scale artificial reef in WA that is accessible to land-based anglers and everyone in the community.
Recfishwest Programs Manager James Florisson told the ABC, “It could comprise of between 50-200 scientifically designed, purpose-built reef modules, which will increase the amount and diversity of habitat for marine organisms, in turn creating more fish and even better and more accessible fishing.
“It will be important and iconic, because there’s not a large amount of land-based fishing access like this around town for kids on bikes or anyone with two-wheel drive cars and you won’t need a boat or specialised gear to fish it.”
James speaks from experience having grown up in Esperance cutting his angling teeth as a “jetty rat” fishing on the old Esperance Tanker Jetty and having provided input into the design of the fishing features on the new jetty.
He also helped install Esperance’s existing artificial reef “Cooper Reef” in 2019, which comprises of 128 modules, 5km south-east of Bandy Creek in 30m of water which has helped enhance fishing for species such as nannygai, queen snapper and skippy. To see some of the great fish species now thriving around Cooper Reef, click here.
The next step in the jetty artificial reef project will require attaining Commonwealth environmental approvals, which will take roughly 12 months to complete – the expectation is that installation of the reefs will take place following community and stakeholder consultation in late 2025.
James and Recfishwest applauds the Shire of Esperance for their appreciation of the importance of fishing to the local community and their investment in it.
