Snapper, one of the Rocky Reef Fin Fish Fishery iconic species

The review

The Rocky Reef Fin Fish Fishery is under review following concerns from the commercial, recreational and charter fishing sectors about the sustainability of rocky reef fish stocks. Public consultation for the review of Queensland´s Rocky Reef Fin Fish Fishery closed at 5pm on 20 October 2008. Thank you to all who participated in this consultation.

The fishery

The Rocky Reef Fin Fish Fishery is a multi-species fishery characterised by iconic species such as pink snapper, known as snapper (Pagrus auratus), pearl perch (Glaucosoma scapulare) and teraglin jew (Atractoscion aequidens).

Secondary species include amberjack (Seriola dumerilii), samsonfish (Seriola hippos), yellowtail kingfish (Seriola lalandi), black kingfish, also known as cobia (Rachycentron canadus), dolphinfish, also known as mahi-mahi (Coryphaena spp), sweep (Scorpis lineolatus), frying pan snapper (Argyrops spinifer) and grass sweetlips (Lethrinus laticaudis).

While rocky reef fish are taken on reefs in depths to 150 metres from Mackay to the Queensland/New South Wales border, most of the catch is taken south of the Great Barrier Reef (south of latitude 24^o30'S). The recreational catch including charter fishing is generally higher than the commercial fishing catch.

Update

The latest stock assessment report for snapper (Pagrus auratus) has been published and is available by contacting the QPIF Business Information Centre on 13 25 23. A summary of the stock assessment is available below.

The summary details what stock assessments are, what the stock assessment found and the process to implement new management arrangements for the fishery.

QPIF received hundreds of written responses in relation to this review, and more than 300 people attended public meetings to provide feedback. During the consultation, a number of proposals were put forward to manage this fishery and rebuild the snapper stock to sustainable levels. The proposed management arrangements include a review of size and in-possession (bag) limits for snapper, seasonal closures and improved catch reporting for all fishing sectors.

The Stakeholder Network Working Group met on five occasions between July 2008 and March 2009 to consider all feedback before finalising recommendations for managing the fishery. All feedback from the consultation, including public meetings, was considered by the working group. The group had full access to a range of other information including results from the snapper stock assessment and information about Rocky Reef fish species from scientists in Queensland and New South Wales.

Recommendations from the Stakeholder Network Working Group will be sent to the Minister for Primary Industries, Fisheries and Rural and Regional Queensland, the Honourable Tim Mulherin MP, for consideration. The Minister will meet with peak stakeholder groups to discuss these recommendations. Following this, final recommendations will be sent to the Queensland Government for consideration.

Partnership approach

The Stakeholder Network Working Group was formed to identify and prioritise key issues affecting the fishery. The group consists of key representatives from the commercial, charter, recreational, marketing, tackle industry, research, government, and conservation sectors. The aim is to represent all stakeholders and the wider community.

Key issues raised by Stakeholder Network Working Group

To complement the consultation undertaken by the working group, officers from QPIF held public meetings at a number of locations between the Gold Coast and Mackay.