Tough new abalone laws have been introduced to Western Australia this season, giving recreational fishermen just one hour on the first Sunday of each month to collect the valuable shellfish.
The WA abalone season will run from November to March, and applies to a stretch of coast from Busselton in the southwest to Moore River, just north of Perth.
A total abalone ban is in place for the remainder of the WA coast.
Recreational abalone fishermen also require a licence.
WA Fisheries Minister Norman Moore said the new restrictions would improve safety for reef-bound fishermen, due to lower sea swells in summer, while providing extra time for stocks to recover.
