Category: Industry News

Winners of the 2025 Western Rock Lobster Photo Competition

We’re excited to reveal the winners of this year’s WRL Annual Photo Competition! With dozens of entries capturing the heart of our western rock lobster fishery, our Board and WRL Staff selected 12 stunning images that truly stand out in originality, impact and artistic style. These winning photos will be proudly showcased in our 2026 […]

Important Health and Safety Topics

As usual, Brett McCallum keeps us in touch with health and safety developments affecting our industry.  He recently brought the following important items to our attention.  If you want to speak to Brett about these his details are also below. Review of the operational effectiveness of the Work Health and Safety Act (WA).  WorkSafe are […]

DECK Program 2025

DECK 2025: Strengthening Leadership and Collaboration in the Western Rock Lobster Industry The 2025 DECK Program Conference brought together industry leaders, emerging fishers and subject-matter experts for two days of insight, collaboration and professional development at the Fremantle Sailing Club on Wednesday 5th and Thursday 6th November 2025. Designed to support leadership growth and strengthen […]

OCEAN TO PLATE – Annual Photo Competition

Open to all Western Australian residents, we are on the lookout for photos that capture the beauty of our fishery in a unique, spectacular or visually appealing manner. Photographs may include lobsters, boats, landscapes and/or people, etc. We welcome images that capture the fishing operation; fishers of all ages; culture (community-based work, community events); lobsters’ […]

Subsurface Sensors on Lobster Pots

Subsurface Sensors on Lobster Pots WRL has successfully trialled attaching subsurface depth and temperature sensors to lobster pots and will be expanding the project. Currently we have fishers operating out of Geraldton and Mandurah and are very keen to find more to cover a larger geographical area. So places like Fremantle, Lancelin, Dongara, Cervantes, Kalbarri, […]

FishOps – Smarter Fishing, Simplified

Fishing just got easier. FishOps is the all-in-one app designed exclusively for Western Rock Lobster fishers, helping you record, track and manage your catch with ease. Whether you’re at sea or onshore, FishOps keeps your fishing operations organised, secure and at your fingertips.  Confidential & Secure Your data stays yours. FishOps protects your privacy by […]

Rope Coiling Competition – Fremantle Fishing Fleet Festival

Get ready to test your skills at the 2025 Rope Coiling Competition, happening as part of this year’s Fremantle Fishing Fleet Festival! 📅 Date: Sunday, 26th October 2025🕦 Time: 11:30am – 12:30pm📍 Location: Molfetta Quays Car Park, 5 Molfetta Quays, Fremantle (Out the front of the Western Rock Lobster Offices) This lively competition celebrates a time-honoured seafaring tradition by producing the neatest […]

Offshore Wind Farms

Offshore wind farms As reported at the recent AMM’s the Commonwealth push for offshore wind farming in our Fishery continues.  In June the northern project (Oceanex Energy,) was given pre-feasibility approval and in August Westward Wind and Bunbury Offshore Wind South were given prefeasibility approvals. These approvals cover about 38% of the 1916km2 of Area […]

September Member Meetings Wrap-Up

September saw Western Rock Lobster host two Mini Annual Management Meetings (AMMs) in Fremantle and Geraldton, alongside the Annual General Meeting (AGM) at the Fremantle Sailing Club.   Members and stakeholders came together to discuss key issues shaping the industry, including: Scientific and stock status updates DPIRD’s Management Plan Compliance and the weighing system trial Resource […]