Five new fish aggregation devices to provide new sportfishing opportunities for Port Hedland fishers

Pilbara fishers are celebrating a significant boost to their offshore fishing options with the installation of five fish aggregation devices off the Port Hedland coast. The large buoys, anchored in the open ocean, are set to attract small bait fish, creating ideal conditions for popular recreational pelagic sportfish such as Spanish mackerel, trevally and sailfish. The new FADs were positioned 20 to 40 nautical miles off Port Hedland in a collaborative effort between Recfishwest, BHP and maritime service provider TAMS. North-West Spearfishing Club’s Robbie Peck was instrumental in driving the FADs vision for Port Hedland and said they were great for anglers. “It’s a great outcome which has created exciting new fishing opportunities for fast-growing, highly sustainable pelagic fish and distributing local fishing efforts across a wider area,” he said. “The outdoor and fishing lifestyle is huge in Hedland — you’re not going to spend any time in the Pilbara without doing one or another. “So we’re delighted that Recfishwest and BHP is supporting fishing in the region through initiatives like this that go a long way in adding to the attraction of living here and coming to visit.” The high-quality Okabe FADs are designed to withstand the region’s challenging tides and swell, eliminating the need for removal during the cyclone season. Each FAD has a small buoy for satellite tracking and water temperature data collection which is shared with fishers. The initiative follows extensive stakeholder consultations with Recfishwest, the North-West Spearfishing Club, the Port Hedland Game Fishing Club and local fishers. FAD coordinates: · 19°40.924’S, 118°47.925’E · 19°45.284’S, 118°44.344’E · 20°00.632’S, 118°15.053’E · 20°02.603’S. 118°08.577’E · 20°04.636’S, 118°00.891’E