Commercial fishing, pearling, and aquaculture contributes around one billion dollars to WA’s economy each year, providing direct employment for around 5,000 people, plus many more in associated industries. Based primarily on small family businesses, 85% of WA’s commercial fishing activity is conducted in remote coastal communities.
WA's major commercial fisheries are low-volume, high-value fisheries, many based in inshore and estuarine areas. The following fisheries account for roughly 80% of the market by value, with the remaining 20% from numerous smaller commercial fisheries:
- West Coast Rock Lobster Managed Fishery
- Pearl Oyster Fishery
- Shark Bay Prawn Managed Fishery
- Northern Demersal Scalefish Managed Fishery
- Pilbara Fish Trawl Interim Managed Fishery
- Exmouth Gulf Prawn Managed Fishery.
Contact us
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WA Fisheries and Marine Research Laboratories39 Northside Drive, Hillarys WA 6025, Australia