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A tiny fish ear bone could allow researchers to find out if restrictions on herring fishing are helping stocks recover along the Western Australia coast.

A report last December showed herring stocks had declined to the point that the overall catch needed to be reduced by 50 per cent in order for them to replenish.

Much to the disappointment of the fishing industry, that led the State Government to announce changes included the closure of a herring fishery off WA's south coast and a reduction in the recreational bag limit from 30 to 12.

Dr Brett Molony, a Department of Fisheries supervising research scientist, said overfishing had meant most herring were not reproducing.

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