Fishers’ Safety A Focus As Abalone Season Opens

With the first session of the 2025/26 Western Zone abalone fishing season confirmed to go ahead this Saturday, Surf Life Saving WA (SLSWA) is calling on fishers to focus on their safety, with recent seasons experiencing a massive surge in incidents.

“Once again this year, we’ll have hundreds of surf lifesavers and resources stationed at designated fishing locations within the Western Zone,” said SLSWA Lifesaving Services Manager, Cam Robbins.

“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.”

Surf Life Saving WA has reported an increase in incidents over the past few years, with their lifesaving services performing 118 rescues during the four hours of fishing last season, and 101 rescues the previous year.

“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,” said Mr Robbins.

“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.”

Fishers are also reminded to heed the bag limit for Roes’ abalone, which is a maximum of 15 and a minimum size limit of 60 mm measured across the widest part of the shell, and note that fisheries will also be out on patrol checking.

The four allocated one-hour fishing sessions between December and February see thousands of licence holders descend on the inshore reef in what is a potentially dangerous coastal activity. Each session is given the final go-ahead based on the predicted conditions and level of risk to participants.

Surf Life Saving WA will continue to deliver a range of safety services including Jet Ski, inflatable rescue boat and beach-based patrols at the following locations within the Western Fishing Zone: Halls Head, Point Peron, Penguin Island, Marmion Angling & Aquatic Club, Hamersley Pool, Mettams, Bennion Beach, Illuka, Ocean Reef (restricted access due to marina works), Mindarie, Yanchep Lagoon, and Fisherman’s Hollow.

The 2025/26 fishing sessions will occur for one hour between 7:00 am and 8:00 am on the following Saturdays:

• 13 December 2025
• 10 January 2026
• 07 February 2026
• 21 February 2026

Last season, Surf Life Saving WA services performed:

• 118 rescues
• 66 first aids
• 3,224 preventative actions

Further abalone fishing location, safety information, and resources, including areas where Surf Life Saving WA services will be patrolling, can be found at www.mybeach.com.au/abalone

In November 2025, Surf Life Saving WA received funding for a period of three (3) years from the West Australian Government and the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development’s Recreational Fishing Fund towards Abalone Patrols.