Since 2012, the department and Recfishwest have worked together to deploy 8 artificial reefs across Western Australia (WA). These reefs are made from concrete or steel modules designed to mimic the characteristics of natural reef systems by providing shelter, light and shade options and modified flow regimes to encourage colonisation of marine organisms.
Over time, marine organisms settle on the reef, forming the foundation of a food web that supports diverse and abundant fish communities. This process turns artificial reefs into long-lasting, productive ecosystems.
Artificial reefs are largely funded through the WA Government’s Recreational Fishing Initiatives Fund (RFIF), which reinvests recreational fishing licence fees into projects that directly benefit the fishing community.
To ensure artificial reefs remain safe, effective and environmentally beneficial, the department and Recfishwest carry out ongoing monitoring at all reef sites. This monitoring ensures the structural integrity and position of reef structures and tracks how fish and other marine life use the habitat over time.
View the video to find out what's living in and around the Dunsborough artificial reef.
Map of WA's artificial reefs
The Recfishwest website has a map of all artificial reefs in WA and their coordinates.
Visit the Recfishwest websiteWA's artificial reefs
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Exmouth Gulf ‘King Reef’
Photo credit: Recfishwest and Blue Media Exmouth.
Installed: August 2018
Location: 6.45 km north east of Exmouth Boat Harbour, inside the Exmouth Gulf.
Reef Type: Combines 6 steel structures and 49 mixed concrete modules, varying in height from 1 to 10 metres, arranged into 6 clusters.
Coordinates: 21° 54.938' S – 114° 11.235' E (centre point)
Depth: 17 metres
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NEW! Carnarvon
Installed: August 2025
Location: Approximately 7 km west south west of Pelican Point off the Carnarvon coast.
Reef Type: 300 concrete modules, each measuring 1 metre high by 1.3 metres long.
Coordinates: 24° 55.746'S, 113° 34.500' E (centre point)
Depth: 8 metres
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North Metro
Installed: May 2021
Location: Approximately 7 km west of Ocean Reef Marina.
Reef Type: 293 mixed concrete modules, ranging from 0.7 to 1.8 metres high.
Coordinates: 31° 45.588' S – 115° 38.94' E (centre point)
Depth: 27 metres
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Rottnest Island
Installed: December 2016
Location: 11 km south of Rottnest Island and 27 km west of Fremantle Heads.
Reef Type: Consists of 2 steel towers, each measuring 12.5 metres high, 10 metres long, and 7.8 metres wide. The towers are positioned approximately 150 metres apart.
Coordinates: Tower 1: 32° 07.527' S – 115° 27.013' E Tower 2: 32° 07.461' S – 115° 26.978' E
Depth: 45 metres
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Mandurah
Installed: April 2016
Location: 9 km off the coast of Mandurah.
Reef Type: 30 concrete boxes, each measuring 3 metres in height, length, and width, placed in 6 clusters.
Coordinates: 32° 31.59' S – 115° 34.98' E (centre point)
Depth: 25 metres
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Esperance ‘Cooper Reef’
Installed: January 2019
Location: 5 km south east of Bandy Creek Boat Ramp.
Reef Type: 128 mixed concrete modules, ranging from 1 to 1.5 metres in height, placed in 6 clusters.
Coordinates: 33° 52.2638' S – 121° 58.834' E (centre point)
Depth: 31 metres
South West Reefs
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Bunbury
Location: 7 km west south west of the Bunbury Port
Reef Type: In 2013, 30 concrete boxes, each measuring 3 metres in height, length, and width, were placed in 6 clusters. In 2019, an additional 90 smaller concrete modules were added, interlinking the 6 existing clusters.
Coordinates: 33° 18.500' S – 115° 35.900' E (centre point)
Depth: 17 metres
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Dunsborough
Location: 6.2 km north east of Old Dunsborough Boat Ramp and 5.7 km north/north east of Quindalup Boat Ramp in Geographe Bay.
Reef Type: 30 concrete boxes, each measuring 3 metres in height, length, and width, placed in 6 clusters.
Coordinates: 33° 33.962' S – 115° 9.980' E (centre point)
Depth: 27 metres
Contact us
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DPIRD HillarysOpening hours: 8.30 am to 4.30 pm (Monday to Friday)39 Northside Drive, Hillarys WA 6025