As WA's fishing industry grapples with some of the biggest changes to regulations in more than a decade, one operator says diversification is the only way forward.
From February, charter and recreational fishers will have reduced bag limits of recreational species, including snapper or dhufish, and a reduced possession limit of five kilograms of fillets or a day's bag limit of whole fish.
In addition, the charter sector will have a tag system in place from July next year.
Abrolhos Islands tour operator Jay Cox said while the quota system would apply to his business, the changes would not hit hard, because only enough fish to be eaten during each trip were caught.
Mr Cox moved from fishing charters to broader tourism 13 years ago and said fishing-based tourism "wasn't going to last forever".
"[Operators] have to diversify into more ecotourism," he said.
"I think its going like that all over the world, really, so it was only a matter of time before it happened here."
Right time to change
Mr Cox has had a decades-long career spanning from fishing at the islands, to operating charters and his current tourism business.
He said in that time demersal fish had become harder to catch.
"When I was crayfishing you could drop a line anywhere and you'd be pulling up fish, in the early days," Mr Cox said.
"I started charter fishing and realised that we just can't keep pulling so many fish out of the ocean.
"It's time to change."
New plan brings opportunity
The fishery changes come a month after the state government's Abrolhos Island Management Plan was released to guide conservation, tourism and fishing in the area.
Mr Cox said he was happy with the situation.
"If we can do more land-based activities, and snorkelling … it takes the pressure off the fish stocks, for sure," he said.
"The Abrolhos has got a long way to go … and if we treat it good and look after it, it's going to be there for a long, long time.
"I'm really happy with the management plan [and] I'm happy they're bought the quota down for the fish stocks because it was too much."
As part of the island's management, wilderness fishing will be introduced to the islands.
The concept encourages fishers to eat their catches and not release them back, along with reduced bag limits.
It aims to reduce the mortality rates of fish released back into the ocean and protect marine resources.
