A ban on recreational fishing for certain species in WA has been extended. 

A 900km-long section of water and coastline will be closed for demersal fishing six months a year under new rules to take force from February 1 next year, the state says. 

The WA Government has extended a previous two-month ban on catching demersal scalefish species - including snapper and dhufish - between Kalbarri and Augusta by another four months, at different intervals through the year.

Catching demersal scalefish from a boat will be prohibited between February 1 and March 31, from August 1 to the beginning of the September/October school holidays, and from the end of those holidays until December 15. There will also be a boat limit of four demersal scalefish per vessel.

Fisheries Minister Don Punch said the ban is necessary to ensure the sustainability of the fish.

“I understand the changes will be difficult for recreational fishers,” he said.

“This is not a ban on fishing.

“This is about the protection of a particular range of species that at this point in time are very vulnerable both in terms of numbers and in terms of the age profile of the fish.”

The ban is shorter than the government's previous plan for a nine-month stoppage, which had upset several fishing groups. 

Additionally, the maximum legal commercial catch is being cut in half, to 240 tonnes, from January 1.

“It is very significant and we know it will have a profound impact on that sector,” Mr Punch said.

The number of hours each licence holder can fish will be reduced by an average of 20 days per year.

The state is offering several support measures for the industry, including a voluntary buyback of fishing licences.

Charter boat operators will move to a quota system that includes specific limits on the number of demersal fish that can be kept each year.

“If we don't act now, if we don't put these measures in place, then we may well be facing a much more challenging situation in two or three years' time that could even lead to the closing of the fishery in a similar way to that which has occurred in South Australia with the pink snapper sector,” Mr Punch said.

The WA Fishing Industry Council says the recreational fishing limits do not go far enough, while questions have been asked about how a tag system for the commercial quotas will be implemented.