While the WA Labor Minister for Fisheries announces the release of pink snapper fingerlings in Cockburn Sound south of Perth as part of their West Coast Demersal Recovery package, the Nationals WA continue to hold forums for fishers impacted by the demersal fishing ban and call for a parliamentary inquiry.

60,000 ‘baby’ pink snapper released in Cockburn Sound: Jarvis

The Hon. Jackie Jarvis, Minister for Fisheries (WA), Media Release, 29 January 2026

About 55,000 hatchery-reared juvenile pink snapper have been released in Cockburn Sound as part of the Cook Government’s stock enhancement research program. A further 5,000 are set to be released in February as part of a community event.

The pink snapper ‘fingerlings’ were reared and released by the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) at its Fremantle Marine Finfish Hatcheryusing world-leading techniques.

The latest release is part of the 2023 State Government’s one-million-dollar commitment to increase snapper stocking in the West Coast Bioregion as part of the West Coast Demersal Recovery package. The aim is to release one million pink snapper ‘fingerlings’ to boost recreational fishing opportunities.

Since commencing the research program in 2016, DPIRD has successfully released about 300,000 fingerlings into Cockburn Sound. Importantly, the natural rate of mortality means this program is designed to enhance stocks but not replenish them.

Cockburn Sound is an important spawning and nursery ground for pink snapper, however, the survival rate of pink snapper eggs in the wild is thought to be less than one per cent. In the hatchery, the survival rate to the early juvenile stage can be 20 times higher.

DPIRD aquaculture staff raise the pink snapper fingerlings in the hatchery after collecting fertilised eggs from wild spawning snapper aggregations in Cockburn Sound to maximise survival rates.

Importantly, the genetic diversity of hatchery-grown pink snapper released in Western Australia is the same as the natural population in Cockburn Sound, best suited to the local environmental conditions and supporting the sustainability of the fish population.

The community will also have an opportunity to get involved with release of the further 5,000 snapper fingerlings as part of Recfishwest’s annual Snapper Guardians event on Saturday 7 February.

Comments attributed to Fisheries Minister Jackie Jarvis:

“This world-leading science and technique is helping enhance the sustainability of the State’s fisheries and providing for future opportunities for recreational fishing across Western Australia.

“The release of the juvenile pink snapper into Cockburn Sound builds on the current recovery measures and enhances future stocks for recreational fishers when demersal fishing resumes in the West Coast zone in spring next year.

“Over 10 years our aquaculture scientists have learned and refined their techniques giving spawned eggs a 20 per cent greater chance of survival in the hatchery. Yet, it can take 15 years for a snapper to reach maximum size and 5-6 years to reach maturity.

“With a survival rate of less than one per cent we must do everything we can to protect these at-risk species.

“Our stocking programs have also seen the successful release of 150,000 yellowtail kingfish in metropolitan waters from 2020 to 2024 and more than 60,000 trout in 2025 into freshwater rivers and dams to provide more recreational fishing opportunities.”

Albany fishers unite to fight inflexible Government: Love

The Hon. Shane Love, Nationals WA Leader, Media Release, 29 January 2026

Albany fishers have turned out in force to question the Government’s demersal fishing bans and demand a parliamentary inquiry.

The Nationals WA-organised Fishing Forum today heard from commercial and recreational fishers, and fishing businesses, from across the Great Southern region.

Nationals WA Leader, Shane Love MLA, said the forums are proving to be a very necessary opportunity for fishers to band together and express their collective views.

“Fishers are justifiably angry and have made it clear that this is a high-stakes issue which the Government will be forced to back down on.

“The Premier cannot keep saying his government has to make the tough decisions when the decisions defy all science and logic.

“The least this Government could do is start fronting up to these audiences and engage openly and honestly.”

The Nationals WA have vowed to fight for a pause in the sweeping bans and a review of all information which led to them.

Shadow Minister for Fisheries, Kirrilee Warr MLA, says the response to the Nationals online fishing petition, which is heading to a record-breaking number of signatures, is proof that this is a major issue which will not just go away.

“This is about a lifestyle and livelihood. Fishers are passionate people who love what they do whether it is fishing for fun or fishing as a way of putting a roof over their heads.”

Member for Albany, Scott Leary MLA, says the growing unrest is palpable and the longer the Government tries to ignore the issue, the worse things will get.

“If the petition isn’t enough to signal a rethink, these rolling forums and their accompanying protests certainly will. The Government cannot remain inflexible forever.”

The Nationals WA will be hosting its next fishing forum in Geraldton next Thursday (February 5).