The decline of the WSPs in the Swan-Canning Estuary was marked firstly in commercial catches in the 1970s and subsequently, a decline in recreational catches through to the late 1990s. Reasons for the decline are not well understood but coincide with actions to improve environmental conditions of the river system. This once abundant and iconic species is highly prized by recreational fishers in the region and is a core community value identified in surveys of river users. For this reason, addressing the population decline of the WSP is seen as priority for research under the SRT Healthy Rivers Action Plan. The WAFF project on the production and release of WSPs in the Swan-Canning Estuary, funded through WA Recreational Fishing Initiatives Fund, will work to develop production technologies for WSPs and engage the community but is not funded to fully evaluate the effectiveness of the restocking. This WAFF program needs to be supported by an investigative and evaluative program that can ascertain current population levels and factors limiting natural recruitment, optimize release strategies and evaluate cost-benefits, which forms the basis for this FRDC application.

The combination of the WAFF project with this FRDC proposal will also help evaluate the potential effectiveness of a major restocking program to rebuild the stocks of WSPs in the Swan-Canning estuary. The stock enhancement and associated community engagement program (PrawnWatch) have the potential to increase the numbers of recreational fishers in this fishery, the quality of their fishing experience and provide recreational fishers (and the broader community) with a greater understanding of the biology and ecology of WSPs and the environmental conditions of the system. The WAFF project, particularly the PrawnWatch component, also provides opportunities to engage fishers in improved stewardship of the fishery and the Swan-Canning Estuary.