https://www.daf.qld.gov.au/business-priorities/fisheries/sustainable/fishery-working-groups/spanish-mackerel-fishery-working-group/communiques/17-18-may-2021

Communique 17-18 May 2021

Some excerpts:

Members generally agreed that large numbers of Spanish mackerel are lost to depredation and supported further research to quantify the extent of depredation, identify the species responsible and better understand what is driving the apparent increased prevalence of shark interactions.

The working group was provided a preliminary presentation on the results of the 2021 east coast Spanish mackerel stock assessment (not yet published) and how this will inform future decision making in the fishery. Fisheries Queensland advised the draft biomass for Spanish mackerel is estimated to be 17% of unfished biomass. The working group noted the limit reference point of 20% unfished biomass is the point below which a fishery is recommended to be closed under the Sustainable Fisheries Strategy and under National Guidelines. While there are some uncertainties, this is a complex stock assessment with good confidence about the outputs. Industry members noted concerns that a new stock assessment model was used, which produced lower biomass estimates than the previous assessment in 2018.

The working group noted that the stock assessment is currently undergoing independent scientific peer review, which will also be published in coming months. The working group requested more detail on projections for different rebuilding strategies for discussion at the next meeting. Given the stock is shared with New South Wales the working group felt it was important to invite them to attend the next meeting to discuss rebuilding strategies.

The working group were presented with an overview of the current management arrangements in place for Spanish mackerel. Given the low biomass estimate, the working group agreed that the management arrangements and fishing rules for all sectors would need to be reviewed to inform management interventions and a rebuilding strategy for this stock.