The COVID-19 global pandemic and subsequent implementation of measures to reduce contact within the community have affected fisheries worldwide, yet few studies have reported the impacts on recreational fisheries. This study investigates boat-based recreational fishing in Western Australia from March to August 2020, where COVID-19 measures relevant to recreational fishers included various travel restrictions, and social and physical distancing measures. Information from surveys of licensed recreational fishers and fisheries compliance officers, and camera footage from key boat ramps is presented. A lower proportion of Perth metropolitan fishers went fishing compared with regional fishers. Metropolitan fishers also reported fewer days fished and lower participation in demersal and shore-based line fishing than regional fishers. In contrast, compliance officers observed more fishing activity in both metropolitan and regional locations. Fishing plans were mostly affected by travel restrictions with more metropolitan fishers affected compared with regional fishers. Daily recreational vessel retrievals at key boat ramps varied between locations, with metropolitan fishers initially unable to travel to regional centres. There was no decline in vessel retrievals at metropolitan boat ramps during the most rigid restrictions and northern regional boat ramps experienced substantial increases in recreational vessel activity once travel restrictions eased. Studies of this kind highlight the value of utilising established recreational fishing monitoring programmes to provide a responsive and scientific basis for policymakers to address societal behavioural changes associated with atypical events such as COVID-19.

COVID-19 全球大流行以及随后实施的减少社区内接触的措施影响了全世界的渔业，但很少有研究报告对休闲渔业的影响。本研究调查了 2020 年 3 月至 8 月西澳大利亚州的船上休闲钓鱼，其中与休闲钓鱼者相关的 COVID-19 措施包括各种旅行限制以及社交和身体距离措施。提供了对有执照的休闲渔民和渔业合规官员的调查信息以及主要船坡道的摄像机镜头。与地区渔民相比，珀斯大都市渔民捕鱼的比例较低。大城市渔民还报告称，与地区渔民相比，捕鱼天数较少，底层和岸上钓鱼的参与度也较低。相比之下，合规官员观察到大都市和偏远地区的捕鱼活动更多。捕鱼计划主要受到旅行限制的影响，与地区渔民相比，更多城市渔民受到影响。每天在主要船坡道取回休闲船只的情况因地点而异，大城市渔民最初无法前往区域中心。在最严格的限制期间，大都市船坡道的船只回收量没有下降，而一旦旅行限制放松，北部地区船坡道的休闲船只活动就会大幅增加。此类研究强调了利用已建立的休闲钓鱼监测计划的价值，为政策制定者提供响应性和科学依据，以应对与 COVID-19 等非典型事件相关的社会行为变化。