Artificial reef for Mandurah

Recreational fishers in WA are set to get their first artificial reef in the Peel region with the preferred location for a new reef off Mandurah now selected, Fisheries Minister Ken Baston said today (August 25).

Mr Baston said the success of the south-west artificial reef trials helped secure funding from the Recreational Fishing Initiatives Fund (RFIF) to establish another reef about nine kilometres off the Mandurah coast (see accompanying graphic).

The Minister said the Mandurah reef, made up of 30 purpose-built concrete reef modules, would be deployed in an area that was double the size of the  the MCG, providing four hectares of habitat for fish to populate.

"This year, $604,890 has been allocated for the deployment of the reef, taking the State Government's total investment in the Mandurah artificial reef through the RFIF to $1.139 million," he said.

"This will be the first artificial reef to be deployed that is funded entirely by recreational fishing licence fees, which proves the fees are being used to improve recreational fishing.

"Recfishwest has advised me that a location has been selected for the Mandurah reef, following site surveys and consultation with stakeholders, including local recreational fishers and the WA Fishing Industry Council, which represents commercial fishers."

Baston said the Government's artificial reef trials in the south-west had proved popular with fishers off Bunbury and Dunsborough, by attracting an increased abundance and diversity of species.

"Mandurah's reef will be similar to the south-west structures and is aimed at setting up a quality recreational fishing location, within easy reach of the metropolitan area," he said.