Western Australia’s iconic marron fishery has received a welcome boost, with the State Government following through on its election commitment to invest in marron habitat enhancement in the South-West.
Marron habitat enhancement is something Recfishwest asked all political parties to commit to ahead of the State election in March and we are pleased to see the Government has listened and recognised the health, social and wellbeing benefits of marroning to the community.
Announced as part of the 2025-26 State Budget, the $3 million initiative will fund the installation of habitat structures in Harvey, Logue Brook and Wellington dams — key locations for the annual four-week marron season.
The project is due to get underway later this year.
Recfishwest CEO Dr Andrew Rowland said the investment was great news for the 10,000-plus licensed marron fishers who take part in the unique freshwater fishery each year.
“These habitat enhancements will support marron breeding and recruitment, helping secure the future of the fishery and improving the experience for thousands of fishers who head out during the short, but special summer marron season,” he said.
“Marroning isn’t just about what you catch. It’s about family and mates, the camping, the stillness of the bush, the thrill of the hunt, and the connection to our waterways that we all share. It’s a uniquely WA experience and it deserves to be protected and improved for future generations.
“Enhancing marron habitats in these dams will help future-proof this celebrated fishery and potentially pave the way for a longer marron season – something Recfishwest is very keen to see given the value of this fantastic fishery to the community.”
See all the Government’s fishing election commitments here
The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD), in collaboration with Recfishwest and Water Corp, will oversee the design, installation and monitoring of the new habitats. These will provide vital shelter and improved breeding conditions for marron, supporting sustainability and fishery resilience.
Recfishwest has long championed habitat enhancement as a tool to improve fishing experiences and outcomes for fishers and communities alike.
Importantly, this investment is a smart response to a changing climate. With changing rainfall patterns, our dams are going to play an increasingly vital role in supporting marron fishing opportunities.
“Many of these dams are currently habitat-limited – so it’s great to see the Government recognise that enhancing in-dam habitat is key to maintaining healthy marron populations and great fishing,” said Andrew
“By providing more places for marron to live, breed, and shelter from predators, habitat enhancement directly improves resilience and fishing outcomes.
“Understanding how a changing climate will affect key fish stocks, and acting early to protect our experiences – is good policy and a positive signal of long-term thinking that deserves acknowledgment.
“This announcement also gives us confidence the Government intends to follow through on its broader fishing-related election commitments. We’ll be keeping the pressure on to ensure every commitment is delivered and that fishing stays front and centre in how our State’s natural assets are managed. Thanks for being part of the cast of thousands. Together, we’re making fishing better in WA.”
Want to help make our fishing even better? Join us as a member or make a donation to Recfishwest today.
