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Commercial fishing

The department works with user groups and establishing industry partnerships to ensure Western Australia's fisheries will be in excellent health for future generations.

Operators in commercial fisheries in WA, including charters and aquaculture, must be licensed by the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development.

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.
  • Identification guide

    A commercial fishing identification guide is available to download or collect a printed copy from the department Hillarys office.

    Download guide
  • Fish Eye

    The Fish Eye online service lets you submit trip returns and catch data for West Coast Rock Lobster, Abalone and Marine Aquarium fisheries and access information about your fishery.

    Fish Eye online services
  • Sustainable fisheries

    Western Australia’s management systems are working to ensure our fisheries are ecologically sustainable.

    View more
  • Vessel Monitoring System

    One of the most important regulatory compliance tools for fisheries management worldwide, is a vessel monitoring system (VMS).

    View more

Peak bodies

  • Western Australian Fishing Industry Council

    Western Australian Fishing Industry Council (WAFIC) is the peak industry body representing professional fishing, pearling and aquaculture enterprises, processors and exporters in WA. 

    Find out more
  • Western Rock Lobster

    Western Rock Lobster (WRL) is the peak industry body dedicated to representing the interests of the western rock lobster commercial fishing industry.

    Find out more

Marine park compensation

The Fishing and Related Industries Compensation (Marine Reserves) Act 1997 is the mechanism used to enable fair and reasonable compensation to be paid to commercial fishers whose licences decline in value as a result of areas being closed to fishing when marine parks are introduced.

You can make an application for compensation with respect to:

  • an aquaculture lease
  • an aquaculture licence
  • a commercial fishing licence
  • a fishing boat licence
  • a fish processor's licence
  • a farm lease
  • a managed fishery licence
  • an interim managed fishery licence
  • a hatchery licence
  • a hatchery permit
  • a pearling lease, or
  • a pearling permit.

DPIRD will work through applications on a fishery-by-fishery basis, though negotiations may occur concurrently for multiple fisheries.

Marine park compensation FAQs

  • Marine park compensation for commercial fishers - FAQs
    pdf (273 KB)
    View document
  • Compensation process for the Greater Kimberley Marine Park and South Coast Marine Park
    pdf (177 KB)
    View document
  • Voluntary fisheries adjustment scheme - FAQs
    pdf (187 KB)
    View document

Contact us

  • WA Fisheries and Marine Research Laboratories
    +61 8 9203 0111
    39 Northside Drive, Hillarys WA 6025, Australia

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