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Open season on marron fishery

Headshot of Jackson Barrett
Jackson BarrettSouth Western Times
DPIRD director of aquatic resource management Nathan Harrison is reminding fishers to abide by the rules this marron season.
Camera IconDPIRD director of aquatic resource management Nathan Harrison is reminding fishers to abide by the rules this marron season. Credit: Daniel Wilkins/The Sunday Times, Daniel Wilkins

The brief window of opportunity for recreational marron fishing in the South West officially opened this week, with the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development set to be out in force.

The State’s natural marron population is found between Albany and Harvey, with river systems and public dams able to be fished in for the open season which lasts just under a month.

Irrigation dams around Harvey, Waroona and the Wellington Dam are popular locations.

DPIRD director of aquatic resource management Nathan Harrison said below-average rainfall had meant some dams were at a lower capacity, which increased the need for effective management.

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As a result, DPIRD compliance officers will be operating patrols throughout the season.

“In the past 12 months, below- average rainfall has led to reduced runoff into dams and rivers,” Mr Harrison said.

“Some of the key marron fishing dams are at only 50 per cent capacity and having less runoff impacts on the marron fisheries productivity.

“This underpins the need for a careful management approach and the importance of all fishers abiding by the rules.”

The strict seasonal closures mean that it is illegal to transport marron after the end of the recreational period at noon on February 5.

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