FISHERIES LAUNCHES NEW DOMAIN NAME

13 August 2002 31/02: The Department of Fisheries has relaunched its highly popular and multi-award winning website at the new address www.fish.wa.gov.au.

The site, which receives more than 1.2 million requests and 200,000 hits per month, is one of the most popular government websites in Australia and is your "one-stop-shop" for everything and anything fish and fishing related in Western Australia.

At www.fish.wa.gov.au, information such as comprehensive guidelines for recreational and commercial fishers, including legal sizes and bag limits, is instantly at the fingertips of internet users across the world.

The most popular pages have been the recreational fishing and rock lobster pages, with the aquaculture page also attracting an increasing number of hits recently.

However, these pages only scratch the surface of the vast array of information available at www.fish.wa.gov.au.

The site is easily navigable from the home page and other highlights are comprehensive fish habitat facts and research updates, along with suggestions for responsible fishing behaviour.

There is amazing information on a wide range of WA species ranging from sharks to seadragons, and handy hints for everything from cooking your catch to finding a market for your fishing product.

Important Department of Fisheries reports can be downloaded directly from the site, as can recent media releases, and the Department's innovative and highly successful Voluntary Fisheries Liaison Officer (VFLO) program is outlined.

There is an on-line shop selling a range of books and videos and recreational licences can be renewed electronically.

West Coast Eagles star Glen Jakovich also has his own interactive section on the site - Fish Tales.

Fish Tales is a fun and educational section for kids and Glen's section includes games, free screensavers and wallpaper to download, and much more.

The site promotes 'Fish for the Future' and 'Ecologically Sustainable Development', concepts that are central to the successful long-term management our precious marine resources in WA.

If its fisheries information you're seeking, make www.fish.wa.gov.au your first port of call - you'll be amazed at just how much you can find there.

MEDIA CONTACTS:

Gary BarberWebmaster - Radharc 92491512

Jenny HodderSenior Public Relations

CoordinatorPh: 9482 7235 (Mob): 0418 901 767