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    The Small Pelagic Fishery is managed by limiting catch taken in the fishery irrespective of the number of size of vessels that fish and regulating what fishing gear can be used.

    To fish in this fishery, operators must hold statutory fishing rights that allow them to catch the fish species that are under a quota. The quota limits the amount of fish that the operator can take in the fishery.

    Target Species

    Species

    Fishing Mortality*

    Biomass**

    Australian sardine

    Sardinops sagax

    G;Not subject to overfishingG;Not overfished

    Blue mackerel east

    Scomber australasicus

    G;Not subject to overfishingG;Not overfished

     

    Blue mackerel west

    Scomber australasicus

    G;Not subject to overfishingG;Not overfished

    Jack mackerel east

    Trachurus declivis

    G;Not subject to overfishingG;Not overfished

     

    Jack mackerel west

    Trachurus declivis

    G;Not subject to overfishingG;Not overfished

    Redbait east

    Emmelichthys nitidus

    G;Not subject to overfishingG;Not overfished

    Redbait west

    Emmelichthys nitidus

    G;Not subject to overfishingG;Not overfished


    * Fishing mortality status relates to the level of fishing pressure on a stock - specifically, whether fishing mortality in the year being assessed is likely to result in the stock becoming overfished, or prevent the stock from rebuilding from an overfished state. If fishing mortality exceeds either of these thresholds, a stock is considered to be subject to overfishing.

    ** Biomass status relates to how many fish there are - specifically, whether the biomass in the year being assessed is above the level at which the risk to the stock is considered to be unacceptable. The HSP defines this level as the limit reference point, below which the stock is considered to be overfished.

    Catch allowance

    Species2024–25 Total allowable catch (tonnes)2023–24 Total allowable catch (tonnes)2022–23 total allowable catch (tonnes)2021–22 total allowable catch (tonnes)2020–21 total allowable catch (tonnes)2019–20 total allowable catch (tonnes)
    Australian sardine813080607970798091909050
    Blue mackerel - eastern sub-area115301161011450114401197011970
    Blue mackerel - western sub-area324032403240321032103240
    Jack mackerel (eastern sub-area)186501872018620186301858018730
    Jack mackerel (western sub-area)210021004190418041704200
    Redbait - eastern sub-area539053805370344034203150
    Redbait - western sub-area334066806680668066406680

    Catch data

    AFMA publishes annual fishery catch information at data.gov.au. Details about individual boat movements and catches are not made public by AFMA because the information is commercially sensitive and releasing it can disadvantage companies against their competitors.

    Download raw data on annual catches from AFMA catch disposal records and AFMA daily fishing logbooks.

    View historical Small Pelagic Fishery catch data.

    Total fishery value

    Confidential due to the small number of fishers.

    Fishing gear

    Midwater trawl, and purse seine methods are permitted in the SPF. Fishers mainly use midwater trawl and purse seine gear to catch target species.

    Read more about midwater trawl and purse seine methods.

    Location

    The Small Pelagic Fishery extends from the Queensland/New South Wales border, typically outside 3 nm, around southern Australia to a line at latitude 31° south (near Lancelin, north of Perth).

    The fishery is divided into two sub areas, east and west of latitude 146°30’ due to evidence of separate stocks both east and west of Tasmania for jack mackerel, blue mackerel and redbait.

    Major landing ports

    • Ulladulla (New South Wales)
    • Iluka (New South Wales)

    Markets supplied

    • Domestic and international for human consumption, bait for recreational fishing and fishmeal for aquaculture

    Fishing season

    12 month season, beginning on 1 May.

    Management of catch

    This fishery is managed under a quota system that limits the amount of fish that boats can take in the fishery. Under this system, each fisher is only permitted to catch the amount of quota that they hold and the whole fishery is limited by the total allowable catch that is set each season. Setting quotas is one of the main methods AFMA uses to ensure that fishing for these fish species remains sustainable.

    Each year the AFMA Commission sets the total allowable catch in accordance with the Small Pelagic Fishery Harvest Strategy. The harvest strategy adopts a precautionary approach, providing three tiers of assessment for setting a total allowable catch. The tiers are based on the level of information known about a stock; a higher potential catch applies when more information is known about the stock.

    Licence to fish

    Fishers need to hold statutory fishing rights allocated by AFMA to fish in the SPF.

    A quota statutory fishing right represents a share or percentage of the total allowable catch allowed in that fishery. Each season a total allowable catch is set for the respective fishery and a proportion of this catch is allocated to fishers based on the number of quota statutory fishing rights they hold. The total allowable catch is set in tonnes. It may vary from season to season depending on how much fish can be sustainably caught. The more statutory fishing rights a fisher holds, the greater the proportion of the catch they can take but all fishers combined can not take more than the total allowable catch.

    Collecting data

    Data about the catch and effort of the fishery is collected in electronic logbooks (e-logs) or paper logbooks fishers must fill out for every fishing shot.

    Logbooks record:

    • the species and amount caught
    • catch that is discarded
    • the catch/release of any protected species and their life status
    • set and haul times of each shot
    • the location of each shot
    • the type and amount of gear used.

    Species sustainability

    Total catch limits for the 2024–25 fishing season leave 89.95 per cent of the combined estimated biomass of SPF stocks in the water for the marine environment and other uses such as recreational fishing.

    Australia (ABARES 2023)

    • Australian sardine – not overfished and not subject to overfishing
    • Jack mackerel – not overfished and not subject to overfishing
    • Blue mackerel – not overfished and not subject to overfishing
    • Redbait – not overfished and not subject to overfishing.

    Species risk assessments

    AFMA regularly monitor the effects fishing activities have on marine species, habitats and communities through ecological risk assessments. The assessment results help to prioritise the management, research, data collection and monitoring needs for the fishery.

    After the risk assessment is complete, an ecological risk management (ERM) strategy is developed to address how AFMA will manage marine species, habitats and communities identified in the assessment as greatly impacted by commercial fishing operations.

    The ERM framework was independently reviewed in 2014 and a new ERM guide was released in 2017 which introduces the use of Fishery Management Strategies (FMS) for each Commonwealth managed fishery.

    The FMS incorporates previously existing fishery management strategies (i.e. harvest strategies, ecological risk management strategies, bycatch strategies, research strategies and data strategies) into a single document. The FMS makes the management objectives and processes more transparent, outlining the results from risk/stock assessments (and other information) and the management actions and processes required to achieve ERM and other key fishery management objectives. The FMS for the SPF is currently being developed.

    Go to the assessment and strategy for the Small Pelagic Fishery.

    See the ERM strategies for Commonwealth commercial fisheries page for further information for further information on the revised framework.

    Bycatch work plans

    The Small Pelagic Fishery Bycatch and Discarding Workplan outlines ways to minimise the bycatch of species that are at a high risk of being caught as bycatch in the fishery. These species can include threatened, endangered and protected species, sharks and other non-target fish species.

    Several measures to reduce bycatch and manage the risk from both mid-water trawl and purse seine methods are in place, including:

    • observer coverage
    • the Commonwealth Small Pelagic Fishery Purse Seine Code of Practice
    • the SPF Dolphin Mitigation Strategy
    • reporting requirements.

    Go to the Small Pelagic Fishery Bycatch and Discard Workplan.

    The SPF Bycatch and Discard workplan is currently being reviewed and is due to be completed mid 2021.

    Harvest strategy

    A harvest strategy is used to help determine what the quota should be for the target species of the fishery. Fishing, environmental and economic information is included in the harvest strategy, which helps to monitor and maintain the sustainability of the targeted species.

    All harvest strategies are developed in line with the Commonwealth Fisheries Harvest Strategy Policy and Guidelines.

    View the Small Pelagic Fishery Harvest Strategy.

    Export approval

    To export from an Australian commercial fishery, the fishery must be accredited by the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act).

    Marine reserves

    Commonwealth marine reserves are areas established under Australian environment law to help conserve the spectacular marine life in our oceans. They allow ecologically sustainable use of our marine resources and provide special places for people to enjoy and appreciate the fantastic diversity of our marine habitats.

    Marine reserves are sometimes known as marine protected areas or marine parks and are managed by the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water.

    More information about marine reserves can be found on the Parks Australia website.

    Protected Species Interactions

    All fishers are required to report in their logbooks if they have an interaction with a threatened, endangered or protected species.

    AFMA publishes all threatened, endangered and protected species in Commonwealth fisheries on a quarterly basis – under Protected species interaction reports on afma.gov.au.

    Fishing in the fishery

    Fishing operators wanting to fish in the SPF must hold quota statutory fishing rights for all target species in the fishery. 

    Rules and regulations for boats in the SPF include:

    • being fitted with a GPS tracking system to allow AFMA to track a boats location in ‘real time’ (known as a Vessel Monitoring System or VMS)
    • electronic monitoring (including cameras) and/or independent observers as required by AFMA to monitor their fishing practices
    • using equipment to reduce interactions with wildlife, such as barrier nets and excluder devices to minimise risks to seals and dolphins, and tori lines, bafflers and offal management to minimise risks to seabirds
    • completing catch and effort elog/books
    • having to land all catch in Australia
    • only being able to sell to a licenced Commonwealth fish receiver
    • compliance officers routinely inspecting catch and log books when vessels return to port.

    To operate in a Commonwealth fishery, a boat must be an Australian boat. All vessels of more than 130 metres in length have been permanently banned from fishing in Commonwealth waters.

    Download a copy of the Small Pelagic Fishery Management Arrangements Booklet for a full description of all fishing requirements in the fishery.

    Fishery legislation

    Management plan

    Small Pelagic Fishery Management Plan 2009

    Fishery Determinations

    Small Pelagic Fishery Total allowable catch determination 2023

    Small Pelagic Fishery Total Allowable Catch Determination 2024

    Small Pelagic Fishery Overcatch and undercatch determination 2023

    Small Pelagic Fishery (Overcatch and Undercatch) Determination 2024

    Directions

    Southern and Eastern Scalefish and Shark Fishery and Small Pelagic Fishery (Closures) Direction 2021

    Harvest strategy

    The objective of the Small Pelagic Fishery Harvest Strategy is to allow sustainable and profitable utilisation of quota managed species in the SPF (jack mackerel, blue mackerel, redbait and Australian sardine).

    Monitoring

    The minimum level of observer coverage is:

    • 10 per cent of days fished in the fishery for purse seine
    • 10 per cent of days fished in the fishery for midwater trawl.

    New boats that enter the fishery are required to have observers for the first five trips for purse seine boats and the first 10 trips for midwater trawl boats. These levels may be adjusted depending on the need for data requirements. Operators are required to carry an AFMA Observer when directed to do so by AFMA.

    All midwater trawl vessels are required to have an operational electronic monitoring system.

    Closures

    Mid-water trawl boats in the SPF are subject to a range of closures in place primarily to protect Australian sea lions. These closures are enforced through the Southern and Eastern Scalefish and Shark Fishery and Small Pelagic Fishery (Closures) Direction 2021, and the Vessel Management Plans.

    Spatial Management

    Spatial management, in the form of a regional catch limit applies to all methods fishing in the SPF combined. This rule requires boats to ‘move on’ if the catch taken in a one degree grid (~60 nm blocks), in a rolling 30 day period reaches 2,000 tonnes (all species combined).

    While the risk of localised depletion is low, this rule aims to further reduce any risk as a precautionary measure. The SPF Resource Assessment Group continue to monitor for evidence of localised depletion with no trends evident to date.

    Catch Triggers

    Due to limited information on the stock structure of Jack Mackerel West, if catch in the grids south of Kangaroo Island (G54 and G55) reach 20 per cent of the TAC (420 tonnes) this area will be closed to fishing for the rest of the fishing year.

    Catch will continue to be restricted to 20 per cent of the TAC in these grids as a precautionary measure until more is known about the stock structure of jack mackerel west in this area.

    We recognise that fisheries management involves a broad range of stakeholders.

    Here are just a few ways we are working with our stakeholders, who include industry, scientists, recreational fishers, environmental groups and the community for an informed approach to fisheries management.

    Fishing industry

    In making decisions, AFMA Management considers the views of individual industry members, industry associations and advisory groups that have industry members. AFMA engages with the fishing industry regularly and ensures that the most up to date on the water experience is available for the continued management of the fishery.

    South East Management Advisory Committee

    The South East Management Advisory Committee (SEMAC) is the key management advisory body for the SPF, Gillnet Hook and Trap Sector, South Eastern Trawl Sector and Southern Squid Fishery. SEMAC includes representatives from AFMA, scientific agencies, environmental non-government organisations, the recreational/charter fishing sector and state government.

    SEMAC holds four to five meetings per year to discuss and provide advice on the management of these fisheries to AFMA.

    See the South East Management Advisory Committee webpage for a summary of the latest discussions and outcomes from the committee.

    Recreational fishers

    Some of the fish species caught by commercial fishers in the SPF are of importance to the recreational fishing sector. While recreational fishing is managed by the respective state governments, AFMA does consult with this sector a number of ways and takes into account the impacts of commercial fishing by Commonwealth fishers on all aspects of the marine environment, including recreational fishing species. AFMA consults the recreational sector by having recreational fishing member positions on its Resource Assessment Groups and Management Advisory Committees. AFMA may also undertake targeted consultation of individuals or recreational fishing groups on an issue-by-issue basis including holding broader recreational fishing forums.

    Government departments

    AFMA works closely with other government departments, such as the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry and the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water. They help in providing advice and guidance on both domestic and international fisheries issues.

    State governments

    The Australian state governments generally manage fishing from the Australian coast out to 3 nautical miles. Occasionally there is some overlap in fishing operations between the state and commonwealth jurisdictions and AFMA regularly communicates with the state fisheries agencies to manage any problems.

    Representatives from the state fisheries agencies also attend the South East Management Advisory Committee.

    Environmental non-government organisations

    As for other stakeholders, AFMA engages with environmental non-government organisations via membership on Resource Assessment Groups and Management Advisory Committees. AFMA may also undertake targeted consultation of individuals or e-NGO groups on an issue-by-issue basis including holding broader environmental forums as required. 

    Small Pelagic Fishery Resource Assessment Group

    After a two-year trial of a Scientific Panel and Forum in the SPF, the AFMA Commission decided to return to a more conventional RAG model for obtaining scientific and economic advice regarding this fishery from June 2019 onwards.

    See a summary of the 61st AFMA Commission meeting which include the Commission’s rationale on this decision.

    See the SPF Scientific Panel and SPF Stakeholder Forum webpages for previous meeting minutes and papers.

    See the Small Pelagic Fishery Resource Assessment Group webpage for a summary of the latest discussions and outcomes from the committee.

    Management publications

    Environment publications

    Research and data publications

    Research Plans

    Species summaries

    Research / Management Strategy Evaluation

    Daily Egg Production Method (DEPM) surveys

    Annual Fishery Assessment Reports

    Broader impacts of the SPF on the Environment

    Other

    Tools

    SPF map

     

    Area closure

    Mid-water trawl closures as of 1 May 2016

    SPF area closures map

    AFMA uses many methods to monitor the compliance of fishing activities and collect data on fish stocks. These include:

    Onboard observers

    One of the main monitoring methods used by AFMA is onboard scientific observers. These observers are people employed by AFMA to go out on boats and independently record the catch, effort and biological information of each fishing trip.

    They take samples from fish, such as the otoliths or ear bones, and use these to determine the age of the fish caught.

    Observers also record the length, weight and sex of each fish caught during a trip and report on the other wildlife that may be seen, the weather conditions, the composition of commercial catch fate of species that are caught as bycatch.

    Boats in the fishery must carry an AFMA observer when requested by AFMA.

    Read more about the Observer program.

    Satellite tracking

    A satellite monitoring system called a Vessel Monitoring System or VMS for short, is fitted to each concession holders boat. This system helps AFMA to monitor vessel position, course and speed. The tracking unit regularly transmits the information through a communications satellite to a land earth station. This information is sent by secure internet connection to a database at AFMA.

    Read more about our satellite tracking program.

    Cameras on fishing boats – electronic monitoring

    AFMA has electronic monitoring systems on some fishing boats. These systems have sensors linked to surveillance cameras that record fishing activity such as the impacts of some fishing methods on protected species. These recordings can then be collected and monitored by AFMA. Electronic monitoring gives fishers a cost-effective way to support monitoring and data collection.

    Read more about our electronic monitoring program.

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    Page last updated: 30/04/2024