The Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences (ABARES) has released a report on the stock status of all fish stocks managed by the Australian Government.
This year’s report shows that no stocks are classified as subject to overfishing and there is a sustained excellence in fisheries managed by the government.
“With regard to stocks caught by trawling in south eastern Australia the biggest change is in the eastern zone off Tasmania, that is no longer classed as being overfished,” said Simon Boag, executive officer of the South East Trawl Fishing Industry Association (SETFIA).
He added: “The only other change was the status of redfish has declined and the stock is now managed under a non-target quota to allow it to rebuild. The report found that no stock in the fishery is currently being overfished.”
The recovery of the area is said to be due to the tough management that was put in place by dropping quotas to levels that did not allow targeting, this then allowed the stock to recover.
Mr Boag said: “SETFIA is proud to have contracted Hobart’s CSIRO to run several surveys of eastern orange roughy using acoustic optical survey (AOS) technology developed in Australia.”
“This Tasmanian technology has now been exported to New Zealand. The eastern surveys found 30,000-48,000 tonnes of fish and lead to the setting of a yearly 500 tonne quota.”
“The proven recovery of eastern Tasmania’s orange roughy stock and small total allowable quota has increased the annual value of landed catch by about $4m,” he concluded.
Tasmania’s recovery has led to more employment in the area which has the second highest unemployment rate in Australia.
ABARES Stock Status Report can be found on the Department of Agriculture and Water Resources website.
