The fishing industry in the Kimberley includes catches of wild stocks and an aquaculture industry dominated by pearling. The principal fisheries in the Region focus on finfish, particularly the high-value emperors, snappers and cods. The Region has a number of limited-entry trawl fisheries for prawns. There are also significant fisheries for Spanish mackerel, barramundi, threadfin salmon and shark. In addition, species, such as barramundi, tropical emperors, sea perches, mangrove jacks, trevallies, sooty grunter, threadfin, mud crabs and cod can be found in the creek systems, mangroves, rivers and beach areas.

The total live catch for the 2004/05 season was 2,426 tonnes, estimated to have a value of $13.5 million. Finfish and prawns contribute 98 per cent of the value of the catch in the Kimberley.

Finfish
The finfish catch includes barramundi and silver cobbler from Lake Argyle. A Lake Argyle barramundi aquaculture fishery was closed in June 2005, however a number of smaller operations continue to be in effect. The 2004/05 live weight catch was 1,875 tonnes with an estimated value of $8.8 million.

Prawns
Western king and coral prawns dominate the catch in the Broome fishery, while in the Kimberley fishery the catch is made up of banana, tiger and endeavour prawns. In 2004/05, the prawn catch was 466 tonnes, with an estimated value of $4.4 million. The major market for prawns is Japan.

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Aquaculture
The cultured pearling industry is the most significant part of the Kimberley aquaculture industry. Pearling has been an important local industry since the 1880s and is primarily based on the Pinctada maxima species.

In 2004/05, pearls and pearl oyster shell production was valued at $91.5 million. Over the last ten years the value of pearl production has fluctuated, peaking in 1999/00, when production was estimated at $161 million. The fall in value was the result of the global economic downturn, particularly in Asia, and over-supply of low to medium quality pearls on the world market.

The Department of Fisheries has identified that the Kimberley Region has significant potential for diversifying aquaculture and is supporting commercial interest in the Region through the Broome Tropical Aquaculture Park. In addition, hatcheries and trials are underway to assess a range of fish species including barramundi and aquarium fish.

Other aquaculture species include black tiger prawns, with hatcheries established and grow-out trials under way. In addition, hatcheries and trials are looking at growing a range of fish species including barramundi, goldfish and ornamental (aquarium) fish.