West Australians anglers – both commercial and recreational – face tough new restrictions as popular species along the coast plummet to “severe” levels.

A forum held with government and fishing industry representatives on Monday heard previous restrictions hadn’t been enough, with the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development warning overfishing of demersal species was preventing their recovery.

WA dhufish spawning biomass is 85 per cent depleted; northern snapper is 83 per cent depleted; and southern snapper is 80 per cent depleted, according to the department.

This meant all three species were regarded as at “severe risk”.

Fisheries Minister Jackie Jarvis said “tough decisions” loomed for regulation of WA fishers.

“The commercial sector, the recreational sector, the

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