In 1999 overfished stocks included southern bluefin tuna, eastern gemfish, school shark, two northern prawn fisheries, tiger prawns, southern scallops and sandfish (beche-de-mer or sea cucumber.) More recently orange roughy, blue warehou, redfish and tropical rock lobster have been added to this list.

The status of some of these newer stocks is very worrying. Orange roughy is a very long-lived low-productivity fish and there will be delays before it recovers. Recently a stock status report said that fishers in many regions had not been able to fulfil their quota.

For a decade the blue warehou catch rate has declined steadily and since 1995 it has been below the AFMA reference level. Catch rates for redfish were at a 15-year low in 2000. Some feel that they have declined because of the depletion of the adult biomass and that young fish have been caught before they can contribute to the stock’s potential yield.

It appears that Australian and Papua New Guinea catch of tropical rock lobster in the Torres Strait has been too high. The Queensland and Commonwealth governments have announced new management initiatives, which include an extended season closure and increased minimum size.

Other overfished stocks like eastern gemfish and Bass Strait scallops have been effectively closed to commercial fishing in an effort to promote recovery of these stocks to normal levels.

"Other stocks, such as the Southern bluefin tuna," said Dr Wendy Craik chairperson of the AFMA, "are subject to a stringent recovery plan in partnership with the fishing industry, and internationally with other fishing nations."

She added that for each of these overfished stocks the AFMA has binding new management plan arrangements and stringent controls on allowable catches.

There has also been a significant decline in the number of fish stocks that are underfished (to nil) and an increase in the number of fish stocks that are now regarded as uncertain. Some 35 fish stocks out of a total of 67 are in this category. Some of these fish stocks have this status because of insufficient scientific evidence as to their number.

What is more worrying is that more reliable assessment suggests less in known about these fish stocks than was previously thought. This highlights the need for a precautionary approach.

"AFMA has also introduced action plans to address the problems associated with bycatch in an effort to protect threatened or endangered species from the impacts of commercial fishing wherever possible," continued Dr Craik.

She added that it was likely that some species would remain classified as overfished for the foreseeable future. "It will take time to reverse years of overfishing. For example, it is estimated that between 1970 to 1992, fishing removed more than 50,000 tonnes of eastern gemfish from the stock. As gemfish are a long-lived species, it will be a long while before we see major signs of recovery.

"Compared to other fishing nations, Australia has a good record when it comes to sustainably managing our fish resources and taking the hard decisions needed."

Dr Craik said she hoped that the report would generate further debate in the commercial fishing industry and wider community about the need for careful management and the ongoing sustainability of fishing stocks.

"Many of the classifications have come about as our level of scientific knowledge about certain fish stocks has improved dramatically and our understanding of other environmental factors has increased.

"Indeed, the need for more research about some species and the impact of fishing on the broader marine environment is a priority for AFMA and other key agencies such as the CSIRO and the Fisheries Research and Development Corporation.

"This is particularly crucial as we move towards ecosystem-based management approaches to our fisheries."

By Jenny Haworth
FIS.com

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