School Prawn ​Metapenaeus macleayi

New South Wales

Despite a peak in median ocean prawn trawling catch rates during 2010–11, the median commercial catch rates of School Prawn in New South Wales have been relatively steady for the past 5 years (especially for the Estuary Prawn Trawl Fishery) and greater than in the previous 5 years (Figure 1). This species is commercially fished throughout most of its geographic range in New South Wales, although there has been limited harvest between latitudes 35 and 36°S in recent years.

Landings in New South Wales in 2013 (731.3 tonnes [t]) were similar to the long-term annual average (788.2 t) (Figure 1). The reported number of fisher days in 2013 in the Ocean Trawl Fishery–Prawn Sector (approximately 1389 days), the Estuary Prawn Trawl Fishery (approximately 3856 days) and the Estuary General Fishery (3562 days, summed across methods) were some of the lowest levels observed historically. Typical size compositions in landings in 2012–13 suggest little change in the stock. Although slightly fewer large prawns have been caught in the past 2 years, this shift is likely related to interannual changes in environmental conditions. Recent research and modelling have established that environmental factors (river flows) influence School Prawn landings ² . The above evidence indicates that the biomass of this stock is unlikely to be recruitment overfished and that the current level of fishing pressure is unlikely to cause the stock to become recruitment overfished.

On the basis of the evidence provided above, School Prawn in New South Wales is classified as a sustainable stock.

Victoria

Since 2000, the total annual catch of School Prawn in Victoria has usually been between 5 and 15 t. Catches were relatively high (approximately 50 t) during 2011 and 2012, but returned to more average levels (16.7 t) in 2013 (Figure 1). Nearly all the catch is landed by vessels belonging to the Inshore Trawl Fishery, and, since 2008, a maximum of 10 vessels have participated in the fishery. The relatively low but variable levels of catch, and the absence of reliable estimates for current biomass and sustainable yield mean that there is insufficient information to confidently classify the status of this stock.

On the basis of the evidence provided above, School Prawn in Victoria is classified as an undefined stock.

Queensland

Long-term catch levels are variable (Figure 1), and nominal catch rates are fairly stable. There have been occasional very high catch and catch-rate years (for example, 2009) ³ . A recent ecological risk assessment found that School Prawn was at low risk of being overfished at 2009 effort levels ⁴ . Although the species appears to be resilient (that is, it has a high capacity to recover from a decline in abundance) ⁴ and fishing pressure is low in most years ⁴ , catches have been at or near historical lows since 2009, when a record catch of 305 t was taken (more than three times the long-term average). Without a reliable estimate of current biomass or sustainable yield, there is insufficient information to confidently classify the status of this stock.

On the basis of the evidence provided above, School Prawn in Queensland is classified as an undefined stock.