From 1 January 2019, the Aquatic Resources Management Act 2016 (ARMA) will become the primary legislation used to manage fishing, aquaculture, pearling and aquatic resources in Western Australia, replacing the existing Fish Resources Management Act 1994 and the Pearling Act 1990.
While the new Act will create a modern, flexible framework for managing our fisheries and aquatic resources for decades to come, there will be little change for recreational fishers in the early phase of ARMA’s introduction.
For example, existing recreational fishing rules will still apply under the new Act from 1 January 2019. Similarly, all recreational fishing licences will continue to be valid until the expiry date printed on the licence.
Although there won’t be any immediate changes as a direct result of the new Act, recreational fishing rules will continue to evolve to ensure the sustainable management of our aquatic resources and fisheries.