Prized fish species including dhufish, snapper and red emperor are at severe risk of population collapse along WA's coast, prompting the state government to flag even stricter measures to protect stocks.

Previous attempts to reduce catches have failed to curb the decline in fish stocks, according to the Department of Fisheries.

In 2023, the WA government extended a ban on recreational fishing of demersal scalefish to six months of the year .

"The management measures did reduce catches, but they weren't effective enough," the department's executive director Nathan Harrison said.

"With that latest data on the recreational catch, and the updated stock assessment, it's clear that there is a need for additional management action to be taken."

'Severe risk'

WA dhufish and snapper — indic

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