THE seasonal ban on pink snapper fishing in local waters has been lifted.
Between October and January, anglers are restricted from reeling in the popular fish from Cockburn and Warnbro sounds.
The local waters provide a nursery to large aggregations of spawning fish.
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READ NOWRecfishwest chief executive Andrew Rowland said the restriction period was important.
“Cockburn Sound’s pink snapper stock is one of the most important fish stocks in WA,” he said.
“These waters are home to the largest spawning aggregations of this species on the west coast.”
The latest ban was considered particularly important after an algae problem killed hundreds of fish in the sounds the previous summer.
Aiding fish stocks, about 50,000 juvenile snapper raised in captivity under the Snapper Guardian Project have been released into the sounds.
A further 3000 snapper will be released on Saturday, with Recfishwest encouraging people to come down.
The release will take place at the beach adjacent to the Cockburn Power Boats Association on Jervoise Bay Cove between 9am and 11am.