Marine protected areas (MPAs)

Western Australia (WA) has 6 Fish Habitat Protection Areas (FHPAs), the largest of which surrounds the Houtman Abrolhos Islands, off the coast of Geraldton.

The Houtman Abrolhos Islands are an archipelago of 210 islands, islets and rocks off the coast of Western Australia.

The department is the lead agency for aquatic resource management in Western Australia (WA), which includes all fishing and aquaculture within state marine reserves.

There are restrictions that apply to some or all fishing activities within marine protected areas (MPAs) in Western Australia (WA).