Salmon spur alert to anglers

The emergence of the annual salmon run on the south coast has led to a timely reminder to anglers to be aware of the dangers.

An influx of visitors is again expected to the region in the Easter holidays with many lured by the attraction of catching Australian salmon.

Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions Albany district manager Peter Hartley said while the weather conditions on the southern coast were often best during salmon season, the Southern Ocean could also be unpredictable.

“We urge everyone to always consider their personal safety and always fish from sandy beaches and not from rock platforms,” he said.

“Lives have been lost when people slip or are washed off the rocks and we can’t stress enough the importance of taking extra care; we are all responsible for our own safety.”

Mr Hartley urged anglers to wear a personal flotation device if they chose to fish from the rocks but said keeping sand between the toes on the beach was the safest option to catch salmon.

Government agencies and local stakeholders will again have a presence at Salmon Holes over Easter to engage with visitors, increase awareness of rock fishing safety, reduce environmental damage and increase understanding of proper waste disposal.