Australian Salmon ​Arripis trutta, A. truttaceus

Eastern Australian Salmon biological stock

The Eastern Australian Salmon cross-jurisdictional biological stock has components in New South Wales, Tasmania and Victoria. Each jurisdiction assesses that part of the biological stock that occurs in its waters. The status presented here for the entire biological stock has been established using evidence from all jurisdictions.

For the New South Wales part of the biological stock, commercial landings are influenced largely by market demands. Annual landings have varied substantially since the mid-1990s in response to these demands. Catch rates (median catch per day hauling) have increased steadily during the past decade. The size and age compositions of fish in commercial landings have remained similar since the late 1970s¹. The above evidence indicates that the biomass of this part of the stock is unlikely to be recruitment overfished. Australian Salmon in northern New South Wales are lightly fished commercially because fishing in this area is restricted to servicing of the commercial bait market, with an annual catch limit of 224 tonnes (t) in place. Estimates of overall fishing mortality are similar to estimates of natural mortality¹. The above evidence indicates that the current level of fishing pressure is unlikely to cause this part of the stock to become recruitment overfished.

For the Victorian part of the biological stock, commercial landings have varied between 300 and 700 t annually, with a peak during the mid-2000s. The annual catch in 2013 was relatively low (235 t) compared with the previous year (more than 730 t). The most recent assessment of this part of the stock indicates that, until 2011, there was little change in the size and age composition of fish in landings¹. Little information is available after this time. However, the fishery continues to target mainly adolescent fish, and the level of effort has remained steady. This evidence indicates that the Victorian part of the Eastern Australian Salmon biological stock is unlikely to be recruitment overfished and that the current level of fishing pressure by the Victorian fishery is unlikely to cause this part of the biological stock to become recruitment overfished.

For the Tasmanian part of the biological stock, the most recent assessment investigated catches up to 2012². Biomass was not estimated in this assessment. Although catches are at an all-time minimum, catch per unit effort remains high; the low catches are a result of a decline in effort, driven by decreased demand for Southern Rock Lobster bait². The above evidence indicates that the biomass of this part of the stock is unlikely to be recruitment overfished. In Tasmania, Eastern Australian Salmon are landed by a large number of vessels using a variety of methods. However, more than 80 per cent of landings are by beach-seine vessels, and therefore the fishing patterns of these vessels dictate the catch patterns. The above evidence indicates that the current level of fishing pressure is unlikely to cause this part of the stock to become recruitment overfished.

On the basis of the evidence provided above, the biological stock is classified as a sustainable stock.

Western Australian Salmon biological stock

The Western Australian Salmon cross-jurisdictional biological stock has components in South Australia, Victoria and Western Australia. Each jurisdiction assesses that part of the biological stock that occurs in its waters. The status presented here for the entire biological stock has been established using evidence from all jurisdictions.

In Western Australia, total commercial landings have declined since the mid-1990s, with the strongest declines since 2004³. Since 2004, fishing effort has followed a similar downward trend, as a result of weak market demand and low wholesale prices (landings in Western Australia are mainly sold as bait). These catch and effort declines mainly reflect changes in the south coast fishery, where the majority of annual landings occur. Total commercial fishing effort directed towards Australian Salmon in Western Australia is currently very low compared with historical levels, and the reduction in effort accounts for much of the catch decline since 2004. However, a decline in commercial catch rate, and anecdotal reports from commercial and recreational fishers suggest a possible decline in stock abundance over the past decade that may also have contributed to the catch decline. Pronounced ocean warming around south-western Australia, and changes in the strength and seasonality of the Leeuwin Current over the past decade are among the environmental factors that may have negatively impacted on the breeding success of Australian Salmon, and resulted in a lower stock level. Fishery-independent monitoring annually since 1996 in Western Australia, and from 1981 to 2000 in South Australia has confirmed highly variable recruitment by this species, with variations in recruitment associated with fluctuations in the Leeuwin Current^3–5. Despite the possibility of low stock abundance at present, the Western Australian recruitment index was relatively high in 2013, suggesting that the breeding stock level was adequate to maintain recruitment. The above evidence indicates that the biomass of this part of the stock is unlikely to be recruitment overfished. Very low levels of fishing effort are currently directed towards Western Australian Salmon across all jurisdictions. The above evidence indicates that the current level of fishing pressure is unlikely to cause this part of the stock to become recruitment overfished.

For the South Australian part of the biological stock, total commercial landings have declined markedly since the mid-1990s. However, commercial effort has declined similarly. The current commercial fishing effort directed towards Western Australian Salmon in South Australia is very low compared with historical levels, and, although variable, catch rates have not decreased⁶. This evidence indicates that the South Australian part of the Western Australian Salmon biological stock is unlikely to be recruitment overfished and that the current level of fishing pressure by the South Australian fishery is unlikely to cause this part of the biological stock to become recruitment overfished.

For the Victorian part of the biological stock, total commercial landings are very low compared with those in other states and compared with landings of Eastern Australian Salmon in Victoria. The low commercial landings of Western Australian Salmon relative to the catches taken by other jurisdictions indicate that the current level of fishing pressure by the Victorian fishery is low. This evidence indicates that the Victorian part of the Western Australian Salmon biological stock is unlikely to be recruitment overfished and that the current level of fishing pressure by the Victorian fishery is unlikely to cause this part of the biological stock to become recruitment overfished.

On the basis of the evidence provided above, the biological stock is classified as a sustainable stock.