West Coast Zone bracing for thousands of abalone fishers, promoting surf lifesaving warning after rescue surge

Abalone lovers are set to descend on designated fishing areas across WA’s coast on Saturday, prompting a fresh safety warning from surf lifesavers after 118 rescues last season.

A designated abalone fishing area known as The West Coast zone, extending from Busselton Jetty in the South West to the Greenough River Mouth in the Mid West, will be open for licensed abalone fishers as of Saturday.

It will be the first of four one hour sessions between December and February.

Surf lifesaving WA’s Cam Robbins said “hundreds of surf lifesavers” will be deployed across designated areas in the Perth metropolitan area as “thousands” descend on waters at popular locations including Mettams Pool, Penguin Island, Hamersley Pool and Point Peron.

“While conditions have been deemed suitable for fishing to go ahead, whether or not individuals proceed should be based on their abilities and the prevailing conditions at each location,” he said

“Last year, we saw some pretty irresponsible and risky behaviours, and this is something we really hope to avoid having to deal with this year.

“While our lifesavers are there to keep an eye on them, people still need to take responsibility for their own behaviours.

“This includes ensuring they’re dressed appropriately, with gloves and reef shoes, and preferably a long-sleeve wetsuit, which will also help protect them from the reef.

“We also prefer that they don’t go alone. Take some mates or family to help keep an eye on each other.”

SLSWA last year performed 118 rescues, gave first aid to 66 people and were forced to make 3224 preventative actions.

Fisheries officers from Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development are expected to be patrolling beaches and checking bags of abalone to ensure each catch is above the 60mm minimum and don’t exceed the 15 bag limit for Roe’s abalone.

DPIRD management officer Aidan Walsh said abalone should be measured before they are removed from a reef in order to ensure undersized abalone can grow.

“Once removed, the survival rate for undersize abalone is reduced,” he said.

“If abalone is in your catch bag it’s considered your catch. It’s too late to measure when you return to shore.”

SLSWA predicts tide an average tide of around 04m with an average wave height of 1m or above.

The list of designated areas where approved fishers can catch abalone can be found here.

Saturday’s session will occur between 7am and 8pm.

The next sessions are scheduled to occur on January 10, February 7 and February 21 pending dangerous conditions.