Fishing restrictions to protect wildlife at local lakes and wetlands
The City of Stirling has introduced fishing restrictions to protect our local lakes and wetlands and the native wildlife they support.
While fishing is a popular pastime in WA, it is not something the City has encouraged in our ecologically sensitive urban wetland areas.
Discarded lines and hooks can injure or kill native animals, from the declining southwestern snake-necked turtle to WA's bird emblem, the black swan.
Over the last two years, the City has received an increasing number of reports of littering and harm to native wildlife associated with fishing.
We have tried to reduce these negative impacts by erecting signage, installing temporary CCTV cameras and conducting hundreds of proactive and reactive patrols.
Despite these efforts, complaints about harm to native wildlife have escalated, with reports of deliberate cruelty of particular concern to our Council and community.
From March to May this year, we advertised a proposal to prohibit fishing at 17 locations, including lakes, wetlands and the popular Mettams Pool.
The proposal attracted more than 500 submissions, with 80 per cent supporting the changes, primarily on the basis of protecting wildlife.
As of Tuesday 11 August 2026, fishing is prohibited at most lakes and wetlands across the City under our Local Government Property Local Law.
The City understands that many fishers do the right thing, but we have listened to our community on this issue and prioritised the protection of native wildlife.
People can still fish along most of the City's 7km of coastline and in the Swan River, situated less than one kilometre from the City's eastern boundary.
Here is the full list of 17 locations where fishing is prohibited across the City:
Carine
• Carine Regional Open Space.
Dianella
• Dianella Regional Open Space
• Lilac Shannon Reserve.
Gwelup
• Lake Gwelup
• Careniup Wetland.
Herdsman
• Herdsman Lake (City controlled).
Joondanna
• Dog Swamp Reserve.
Stirling
• Roselea Lake
• Princeton Lake
• Talia Lake
• Potenza Reserve
• Stirling Civic Gardens
• Shearwater Spoonbill Reserve
• Cedric Grebe Reserve.
Trigg
• Mettams Pool.
Woodlands
• Jackadder Lake.
Yokine
• Yokine Regional Open Space.
Fishing at these locations can be reported to the City by calling the Community Safety team on (08) 9205 8555.
Suspected animal cruelty should be reported to the RSPCA WA through their Cruelty Hotline on 1300 278 358 or the RSPCA WA website.
