A new artificial reef off the Carnarvon coast will soon be in the water, creating a new recreational fishing hotspot in the Gascoyne region for locals and visitors.
The WA Government has invested $1.4 million in the project through the Recreational Fishing Initiatives Fund.
Artificial reefs are purpose-built structures which create underwater habitats and shelter to attract fish and other marine species.
The reef will be located about seven kilometres west-south-west of Pelican Point and deployed across a nine-hectare area.
The project has been led by the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, with support from the Gascoyne Development Commission, Recfishwest, the Shire of Carnarvon and the Carnarvon Chamber of Commerce.
“This new artificial reef will be a gamechanger for recreational fishing in the Gascoyne,” said Fisheries Minister, Jackie Jarvis.
“It will create new quality and accessible recreational fishing experiences along the Carnarvon coastline and provide direct benefits to local businesses with the potential to create jobs and tourism opportunities in the future.
“I’m thrilled the project has already supported the region’s economy, with local business Sweet as Concrete fabricating the reef modules and this artificial reef having been Made in WA.”
Local business, Sweet as Concrete, has fabricated the 300 purpose-built reef modules (pictured, above) on behalf of the successful tenderer, Cyan Renewables. The modules, designed by Cyan Renewables, are made of steel-reinforced concrete and will provide a unique underwater habitat designed to support a diverse range of commonly targeted fish species including cobia, mulloway, tailor and trevally.
The Carnarvon reef will be the eighth artificial reef built along the WA coastline. The other reefs are located off Ocean Reef, Dunsborough, Bunbury, Mandurah, south of Rottnest Island, Esperance and in Exmouth Gulf.
The artificial reef locations can be found on the DPIRD website.
