The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development’s (DPIRD) 2021 stock assessment showed stocks had recovered following a period of decline and rebuilding between 2013 and 2021.
The latest interim ‘check in completed at the end of last year showed stocks are in a healthy sustainable state, further demonstrating the current management strategies continue to be effective.
To support the ongoing sustainability of herring stocks and deliver benefits to the WA community, DPIRD, in consultation with Recfishwest and the Western Australian Fishing Industry Council (WAFIC), has developed a set of guiding principles to support the ongoing management of Australian herring in Western Australia.
DPIRD Senior fisheries management officer Bianca Brooks said the aim of the guiding principles was to balance recreational fishing opportunities with support for commercial fishing focussed on supplying seafood to our community.
“Herring is an important bread and butter fish in WA and is the life blood for shore-based recreational fishers on the lower west and south coast.
“New commercial markets for human consumption are also being explored by the commercial sector,” Ms Brooks said.
“It is important for DPIRD to work closely with WA's recreational and commercial fishing sectors to ensure the long-term sustainability of this important species.
“The guiding principles set out a clear way forward for future management of the resource to ensure ongoing benefits to both recreational and commercial fishers and the broader WA community.
“We will achieve this by ensuring that the stock remains at target levels, and by providing priority access to recreational operators in the West Coast Bioregion and opportunities for commercial development on the South Coast.”
Australian herring are a shared resource with South Australia and Victoria, mainly found inshore from Shark Bay to Albany and along the south coast as far east as Victoria.
Ms Brooks said DPIRD was already working on the next full stock assessment, due in 2026.
“This will be a comprehensive check-in on the stock and the data collected will also be used to inform development of a nearshore finfish harvest strategy for herring and other important species.”
More information on the guiding principles is available on the DPIRD website https://library.dpird.wa.gov.au/fish_factsheets/1/
