Cockburn Sound – home to WA’s largest pink snapper spawning grounds and busiest boat ramp – is facing an unprecedented wave of development. (This is a shortened version of an article taken from Recfishwest’s website)
At the centre of this is the Commonwealth Government’s plan for a new Defence precinct at Henderson. Despite more than a year of announcements and a $12 billion funding pledge, fishers are still in the dark about what the Defence build-up will mean for access, amenity and the environment in Cockburn Sound.
The proposed precinct sits alongside Woodman Point, WA’s busiest recreational boat ramp, with almost 30,000 launches in 2024. Local fishers are rightly concerned the Defence expansion could lead to new exclusion zones in waters heavily used by the community.
These uncertainties come on top of a growing list of industrial projects proposed for the Sound – including the new Westport container port, Kwinana Bulk Jetty replacement, and Australia’s largest-ever dredging program. Without transparency, it’s impossible to assess the combined impact these developments will have on fishing access and marine habitats.
Cockburn Sound’s environmental importance cannot be overstated. Scientific research shows pink snapper spawning in the Sound produce 1.6 times more eggs than those spawning elsewhere – making it a critical nursery for one of WA’s most iconic fish.
Recfishwest has called for a coordinated, whole-of-Sound plan that:
- Clarifies Defence boundaries and access;
- Ensures recreational fishing and boating values are front and centre;
- Considers the cumulative impacts of all developments; and
- Safeguards key habitats like pink snapper spawning grounds.
“Cockburn Sound belongs to the community,” said Recfishwest Operations Manager Leyland Campbell. “As governments push forward with major projects, fishers must not be left in the dark.”