Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development Media Release

Fisheries researchers are out on water this week conducting surveys in the Exmouth Gulf Prawn Managed Fishery to check the health of prawn stocks.

The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) is undertaking fishery-independent prawn surveys in Western Australia’s Exmouth Gulf to monitor prawn abundance, growth, and spawning, and assess the health of critical fish habitats. Led by Principal Research Scientist Dr. Jason How, six lunar-timed surveys are conducted annually, with early-season surveys (March–April) estimating future catch potential, and later ones (August–October) informing spawning success and stock assessments. Using commercial trawl gear, researchers collect detailed data on size, sex, spawning condition, and catch composition, which informs decisions on the start date and fishing zones for the commercial season to support long-term sustainability and maintain Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) certification.
In parallel, DPIRD Senior Research Scientist Scott Evans is leading habitat assessments focused on seagrass beds, essential for juvenile prawn development. The surveys aim to understand the effects of the recent marine heatwave on these habitats and anticipate its influence on prawn recruitment in future years. While key findings are expected later this year, full impacts may not be clear until surveys in 2026.

Full media release can be found here: https://www.wa.gov.au/government/announcements/research-surveys-checking-health-of-exmouth-gulf-prawn-stocks