Queensland rocky reef finfish harvest and catch rates

Annual harvest and standardised catch rates indices are reported for —snapper (Chrysophrys auratus), pearl perch (Glaucosoma scapulare), teraglin (Atractoscion aequidens), cobia (Rachycentron canadum), grass emperor (Lethrinus laticaudis), amberjack (Seriola dumerili), samsonfish (Seriola hippos) and yellowtail kingfish (Seriola lalandi) in Queensland waters. The analysis used data from commercial, charter and recreational fishing up to the year 2019. The analysis indicated that the standardised catch rates of snapper, pearl perch, cobia and grass emperor had declined in recent years

Stock Assessment of Ballot's saucer scallop (Ylistrum balloti) in Queensland, Australia

This stock assessment builds on previous assessments that estimated the biomass at 5-10% and 9% in 2016 and 2018 respectively. This assessment estimated the biomass to be 15% in 2021. It includes updates to the input data but keeps the methodology in line with the 2018 assessment

Stout Whiting Fishery Summary : Commercial Quota Setting for 2017

This fishery assessment report describes the commercial stout whiting fishery operation along Australia’s east coast between Sandy Cape and the Queensland-New South Wales border. The fishery is identified by a T4 symbol. This study follows methods applied in (O'Neill & Leigh, 2016a) and extends the results of that study by using the latest data available up to end of March 2016. The fishery statistics reported herein are for fishing years 1991 to 2016. This study analysed stout whiting catch rates from both Queensland and New South Wales (NSW) for all vessels, areas and fishing gears. The 2016 catch rate index from Queensland and NSW waters was 0.86. This means that the 2016 catch rate index was 86% of the mean standardised catch rate. Results showed that there was a stable trend in catch rates from 2012 to 2016, as in the previous study (O'Neill & Leigh, 2016a), with the 2015 and 2014 catch rates 85% of the mean catch rate. The fish-length frequency and age-length-otolith data were translated using two models which showed: • Where patterns of fish age-abundance were estimated from the fish-length frequency and age-length data, there were slightly decreased estimated measures of fish survival at 38% for 2014, compared to fish survival estimates in 2013 at 40%. The 2014 and 2015 estimated age structure was dominated by 1+ and 2+ old fished, with a slightly higher frequency of age 2 - 3 fish for 2015. • Where only the age-length data were used, estimates showed that from 2011 to 2014 the survival index increased. The estimated survival index increased from 35% in 2013 to 64% in 2014, indicating stronger survival of fish as they recruited and aged. Together the stout whiting catch rate and survival indicators showed the recent fishery harvests were sustainable. Since 1997, T4 management (Stout Whiting Fishery) is centred on annual assessments of total allowable commercial catch (TACC). The TACC is assessed before the start of each fishing year using statistical assessment methodologies, namely evaluation of trends in fish catch rates and catch-at-age frequencies measured against management reference points. The TACC has been under-caught in many years. For setting the 2017 T4 stout whiting TACC, the calculations covered a range of settings to account for the variance in the data and provide options for quota change. The overall (averaged) results suggested: • The procedure where the quota was adjusted based on previous TACC setting in year 2016 gave a recommended TACC for 2017 of between 1100 and 1130 t. • The procedure that focussed directly on optimising the average harvest to match target reference points gave a recommended TACC for 2017 of between 860 and 890 t. Use of these estimates to set TACC will depend on management and industry aims for the fishery

Stock Assessment of Ballot's saucer scallop (Ylistrum balloti) in Queensland

This assessment estimates the status of saucer scallops in the main fishing grounds of the Queensland Southern Inshore fishery. The stock assessment data inputs included total harvests, standardised catch rates and fishery independent density estimates.   Analyses suggested that spawning biomass in 2019 fell to around 17 per cent of the unfished level. The report presents recommendations on fishing effort levels to begin rebuilding the stock to levels consistent with 40 per cent of unfished biomass

Quantitative assessment of the Queensland saucer scallop (Amusium balloti) fishery

In recent years (2015 and 2016) there has been growing concern from members of the fishing industry and the Queensland Government over declining catches of legal-sized saucer scallop. This led to a request in mid-2016 by Fisheries Queensland, the fisheries management service within the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries, for an investigative analysis of the status of saucer scallops. The scope of the investigation was limited to a short time frame of three months to urgently analyse the most recent data and undertake a stock assessment. This report provides findings that support the concerns about low abundance of legal-sized scallops. Average catch rates from January 2015 to April 2016 were the lowest in the 39-year record. These recent average catch rates are slightly lower than those in 1996 when the scallop population size fell to low levels and emergency closed areas were implemented by the Government. From these data the model estimates of spawning stock in 2015 are potentially as low as 5-6% of 1977 levels, when the fishery was in its early development

Stock predictions and population indicators for Australia's east coast saucer scallop fishery

This project undertook analyses to understand the roles of overfishing and the environment on saucer scallops. Results of this study indicated a decline in numbers of spawning scallops. High levels of fishing effort since the 1980s contributed to stock depletion. In addition, environmental influences such as increased sea surface temperatures (SST) may have amplified scallop mortality rates. These findings can be applied to efforts for stock rehabilitation for the scallop fishery between Yeppoon and K’gari (Fraser Island). Recommended management actions include reduction of the spatial intensity of fishing effort applied, and ensuring sufficient annual spawning to support the scallop population and fishery

Stock assessment of Australian east coast snapper, Chrysophrys auratus Predictions of stock status and reference points for 2016

Snapper, Chrysophrys auratus, is a valuable commercial, recreational and charter fish species throughout its temperate/subtropical range along Australia’s east coast. East coast snapper form a single genetic stock in ocean waters between Mackay (21.50S) in northern Queensland and about Eden (380S) in southern New South Wales. Fish in this eastern coast stock have been recorded to live for up to 41 years, with maturity occurring at four years of age. This is the first assessment for the whole east coast stock. This comprehensive snapper stock assessment includes commercial, recreational and charter data sets from both New South Wales and Queensland (up to 2016). The assessment grouped the dynamics of the fishery into four fishing sectors: namely, 1) New South Wales commercial trap fishing, 2) New South Wales commercial and charter line, 3) Queensland commercial and charter line and 4) New South Wales and Queensland recreational. Changes in management arrangements through time were incorporated

Stock assessments of bream, whiting and flathead (Acanthopagrus australis, Sillago ciliata and Platycephalus fuscus) in South East Queensland

Yellowfin bream, sand whiting and dusky flathead are major target species for both commercial and recreational fishers in south east Queensland. Their fishery and regional social and economic importance prompted stock assessments to inform on the sustainability of fishing. The assessments covered both estuarine and ocean-beach waters between Baffle Creek north of Bundaberg and Coolangatta on the Gold Coast. Over the last five years (2013 to 2017), the South East Queensland total harvest for yellowfin bream, sand whiting and dusky flathead averaged 242, 272 and 121 tonnes per year respectively. The catches split for bream was 54 per cent commercial versus 46 per cent recreational, 77 per cent commercial versus 23 per cent recreational for whiting and 36 per cent commercial versus 64 per cent recreational for flathead. The stock assessments used commercial, recreational, charter and indigenous catch, and research data. Inputs to the model included fish harvest sizes (1945 to present), standardised catch rates from commercial net logbook data (1988 to present), and fish age–length data collected from the fishery (2007 to present). All three assessments were challenging due to lack of contrast in the data since the commercial logbook system began in 1988. All three species had been subject to high harvests prior to that year, and commercial catch rates had not varied much since then. In addition, the only available catch rates came from net fishing, which can target whole schools of fish. Net catch rates may be ‘hyperstable’ and not sensitive to trends in fish population size. Bream biomass was estimated to be at 33.8 per cent of unfished biomass. The equilibrium maximum sustainable yield (MSY) was estimated as 420 tonnes per year (commercial and recreational sectors combined, and Moreton and Fraser regions combined). The model indicated that maintenance of a harvest size of 220 t ⁄ yr will recover the biomass to 60 per cent of unfished in about 25 years. A lower harvest of 150 t ⁄ yr would recover to 60 per cent in about 12 years. Whiting biomass in 2017 was estimated as 28.7 per cent of unfished biomass, which is approximately the biomass corresponding to MSY (denoted BMSY). The model’s estimate of equilibrium MSY was 452 t ⁄ yr. Current combined harvest size is approximately equal to the equilibrium harvest at 60 per cent unfished biomass (B60). Rebuilding of the stock from its current level to B60, however, would require the harvest to be reduced, ideally to about 150 t (commercial and recreational sectors combined, and Moreton and Fraser regions combined) to rebuild within about five years. Yearly harvests between 150 and 270 t ⁄ yr would recover the stock more slowly; the midpoint 210 t ⁄ yr would reach B60 in about seven years. The status of flathead is more uncertain than bream and whiting. The precautionary estimate of dusky flathead biomass in the Moreton region in 2017 was between 36 per cent and 39 per cent of unfished spawning biomass, approximately equal to or slightly below BMSY. The estimated MSY was 104 t ⁄ yr to 112 t ⁄ yr, approximately equal to current harvests. Recovery of the spawning stock to 60 per cent in the Moreton region would require the harvest to be reduced, ideally to 63 t ⁄ yr (commercial and recreational sectors combined, Moreton region only) which would recover to B60 within eight years. An intermediate harvest level of 73 t ⁄ yr would reach B60 within 16 years. In the Fraser region, fishing pressure on flathead was lower, and 2017 estimated spawning biomass was 70 per cent of unfished. Although the results for flathead are already precautionary, additional caution may be needed in view of fishing club catch rates which date back to the 1950s and indicate that flathead were already heavily fished by 1988