The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development has announced that the State’s seventh purpose-built artificial reef is being installed off Ocean Reef.
The Department said the reef will create another safe and easily accessible recreational fishing experience along the metropolitan coastline.
Located approximately seven kilometres offshore from the Ocean Reef Marina, the $1 million Northern Metropolitan Artificial Reef will be at a depth of 27 metres spanning an area of 150,000 square metres.
It said a total of 292 concrete modules ranging from 70 centimetres to 1.8 metres high were loaded onto a barge in Fremantle, transported to the reef location and placed in position on the ocean floor by local manufacturer, Subcon Blue Solutions.
The Department will monitor the development of the reef using remote underwater video and dive inspections.
It said it worked closely with Recfishwest to select the reef’s location, maximising the benefits for local users and attracting visitors to the area.
“Additional artificial reefs are also located off Dunsborough, Bunbury, Mandurah, south of Rottnest Island, Esperance and in the Exmouth Gulf,” the Department said.
“Consultation and planning is also under way for a new artificial reef off Albany, one of three new artificial reefs to be built as part of a $6 million package to support the recreational fishing industry through the WA Recovery Plan.”
Minister for Fisheries, Don Punch said artificial reefs were a great way to enhance recreational fishing by providing safe and easily accessible fishing locations for species such as yellowtail kingfish, samson fish, silver trevally and pink snapper.
