Resources

This fact sheet provides information about blue swimmer crabs, a tropical crustacean species found in Western Australia mainly between Karratha and Dunsborough. Also known as a blue manna crab, it is an important recreational and commercial fishing species.

Resource type: Fact SheetLast updated: 09.03.2026

Nuisance or necessary?
The common blowfish, or ‘blowie’, is abundant in estuaries and coastal waters throughout south-west Western Australia (WA). It is often regarded as a nuisance because it gobbles bait, making it hard for fishers to catch other species of fish.
However, while the blowfish will never win a popularity contest, it has an important role in marine ecosystems. The blowie is native to WA and keeps our waterways clean by eating up waste scrap, bait and berley.

Resource type: Fact SheetLast updated: 19.12.2025

Seagrasses support highly productive and diverse ecosystems. These specialised marine plants are vitally important in the coastal environment because they are a source of food and shelter; oxygenate water, trap sand and recycle nutrients; act as carbon sinks (blue carbon); and provide breeding habitats and nursery areas for many marine organisms

Resource type: Fact SheetLast updated: 27.10.2025

Red, green and brown, Algae are essential!
Algae are a diverse group of simple, plant-like organisms found in aquatic environments. They play an important role, forming the base of the food chain for marine life. They range from tiny, single-celled organisms called phytoplankton, visible only with the aid of a microscope, to the large kelps that can form massive undersea forests.

Resource type: Fact SheetLast updated: 07.10.2025

This fact sheet covers information on the biology and ecology of the Baldchin groper.

Resource type: Fact SheetLast updated: 17.09.2025

Colourful and protected by a strong carapace, the western rock lobster is one of the family of 'spiny' lobsters - and the target of WA's largest and most valuable fishery. This fact sheet explores the basic biology of the western rock lobster.

Resource type: Fact SheetLast updated: 17.09.2025

Pink snapper are one of Western Australia's best-known and most sought-after fish. This fact sheet provides information on the widely distributed Pink snapper (Pagrus auratus) and their biology.

Resource type: Fact SheetLast updated: 05.09.2025

A fact sheet providing information on Western Australian dhufish, a fish species endemic to the southern part of Western Australia. Its great size and superb eating qualities make this fish a Western Australian fishing icon.

Resource type: Fact SheetLast updated: 03.09.2025

Of the 370-plus shark species in the world, more than 100 species live in Western Australian waters. This fact sheet provides general information about the biology of sharks, protected species and their vulnerability to overfishing.

Resource type: Fact SheetLast updated: 09.05.2025

Marine parks help to conserve marine biodiversity and provide special places for people to learn about, enjoy and appreciate spectacular marine areas.

Resource type: Fact SheetLast updated: 13.02.2025

The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) has the largest collection of fish ages in Australia. Our fisheries scientists have processed and aged 381,000 fish (December 2022), ranging from small estuarine to large marine species. This information is held in a database at the Western Australian Fisheries and Marine Research Laboratories, which dates back to 1990 (and even earlier for some species!).

Resource type: Fact SheetLast updated: 07.12.2022

In southern Australia, the western blue groper is actually the largest carnivorous bony fish species found living on reefs, reaching a length of up to 1.7m and a weight of up to 40kg. Learn more about the biology of this fish in this fact sheet.

Resource type: Fact SheetLast updated: 22.06.2022

The unusual-looking sawfish family are a type of ray and are therefore related to sharks . Found in both marine and freshwater, these predatory fish derive their name from their long snouts lines with sharp points. An identification and general information guide on Sawfish.

Resource type: Fact SheetLast updated: 09.06.2022