The government has established a quarantine zone around eight Perth suburbs in an attempt to limit the damage of an outbreak of Queensland fruit fly that has ended WA's status as free from Australia's most damaging fruit pest.

Department staff found six male Qfly, now present in all other states except South Australia and Tasmania, in the Alfred Cove residential area between November 18 and 23 in surveillance traps, forcing it to evaluate the effect on trade if the spread is not controlled.

Residents of the southern Perth suburbs inside the quarantine zone faced fines for failing to comply with the restrictions on the movement of fruit and vegetables.

The Department of Agriculture and Food WA has from Tuesday imposed restrictions on the movement of all home-grown fruit and vegetables from inside the quarantine area of Alfred Cove, Ardross, Booragoon, Winthrop, Willagee, Myaree, Melville and Attadale.