Table 1: Stock status determination for Southern Calamari
Jurisdiction |
South Australia |
Tasmania |
Victoria |
New South Wales |
Commonwealth |
Stock |
South Australia (MSF, NZRLF, SAPF, SZRLF) |
Tasmania
(SF) |
Victoria
(CIF, ITF, OF, PPBF, WPF) |
New South Wales
(EGF, OHF, OTF, OTLF) |
Commonwealth
(CTS) |
Stock status |
|
|
|
|
|
Sustainable |
Undefined |
Sustainable |
Undefined |
Undefined |
Indicators |
Catch,
effort, CPUE trends |
Catch,
effort, CPUE trends |
Catch,
effort, CPUE trends |
Catch, effort, CPUE trends |
Catch |
CIF = Corner Inlet Fishery (Victoria); CPUE = catch per unit effort; CTS = Commonwealth Trawl Sector; EGF = Estuary General Fishery (New South Wales); ITF = Inshore Trawl Fishery (Victoria); MSF = Marine Scalefish Fishery (South Australia); NZRLF = Northern Zone Rock Lobster Fishery (South Australia); OF = Ocean Fishery (Victoria); OHF = Ocean Haul Fishery (New South Wales); OTF = Ocean Trawl Fishery (New South Wales); OTLF = Ocean Trap and Line Fishery (New South Wales); PPBF = Port Phillip Bay Fishery (Victoria); SAPF = South Australia Prawn Fisheries; SF = Scalefish Fishery (Tasmania); SZRLF = Southern Zone Rock Lobster Fishery (South Australia); WPF = Western Port Bay Fishery (Victoria)
The biological stock structure across the distributional range of Southern Calamari is complex and potentially dynamic. It involves three genetic types with overlapping distributions, and possible stocks off Western Australia, South Australia, New South Wales and Tasmania (data are not available for Victoria)1,2. Life history dynamics, and studies of movement and statolith microchemistry in Tasmania also suggest some localised biological stock structuring3. In the absence of definitive information on biological stock boundaries, stock status is reported at the jurisdictional level.
South Australia
The most recent stock assessment for Southern Calamari4 in South Australia considered that the resource was being harvested within sustainable limits. Since this assessment, the statewide commercial catch of Calamari has remained relatively high, exceeding 400 tonnes (t) for the past 2 years. Recreational catch is likely to be similar. Catch rates have remained relatively high in both the jig and the hauling net sectors of the fishery, indicating that the biomass of this stock is unlikely to be recruitment overfished and the current level of fishing pressure is unlikely to cause the stock to become recruitment overfished.
On the basis of the evidence provided above, Southern Calamari in South Australia is classified as a sustainable stock.
Tasmania
In Tasmania, the fishery for Southern Calamari developed rapidly in the mid-1990s, with landings peaking at around 100 t between 1997–98 and 2003–04. Management interventions, such as seasonal closures on some key spawning grounds and the introduction of species-specific licences in the south-east, have spread subsequent fishing effort throughout the state and decreased both catch and effort targeted at the species. Catch-per-unit-effort trends have shown a decline in some areas, and egg abundances have declined in one of the key spawning grounds5. However, major changes in management have dramatically changed fishing practices; as a result, long-term catch-and-effort data are unavailable, and insufficient information is available to confidently classify the status of this stock.
On the basis of the evidence provided above, Southern Calamari in Tasmania is classified as an undefined stock.
Victoria
Victoria’s 2008 stock assessment suggested that the abundance of Southern Calamari had increased since 1998 and that there was no need to change existing management arrangements6. The biomass of this stock was unlikely to be recruitment overfished at that time. Although catch has declined in the past 3 years (2011 to 2013), it remains consistent with long-term catch trends (going back more than 35 years), indicating 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, Southern Calamari in Victoria is classified as a sustainable stock.
New South Wales
Commercial landings in New South Wales have gradually declined in recent years, but catch rates are reasonably stable. Southern Calamari is mostly caught by ocean trawlers in the Sydney to Port Stephens area. Recreational anglers in New South Wales also take significant quantities of Southern Calamari in estuaries and near-shore ocean waters.
The biology of the species has not been studied in New South Wales, and no formal stock assessment has been undertaken. Insufficient information is available to confidently classify the status of this stock.
On the basis of the evidence provided above, Southern Calamari in New South Wales is classified as an undefined stock.
Commonwealth
Commonwealth fishers take a small catch of Southern Calamari in the Danish-seine component of the Southern and Eastern Scalefish and Shark Fishery. This undoubtedly comprises individuals from biological stocks that spawn, and spend the majority of their lives, in inshore state waters. A larger quantity of squid caught in trawls and reported as Southern Calamari is probably Gould’s Squid (Nototodarus gouldi) and is not included here. Insufficient information is available to confidently classify the status of this stock.
On the basis of the evidence provided above, Southern Calamari in the Commonwealth is classified as an undefined stock.
Table 2: Southern Calamari biology1, 7, 8
Longevity and maximum size |
<1 year; 550 mm dorsal ML, 3–4 kg |
Maturity (50%) |
3–6 months; 150–200 mm dorsal ML |
ML = mantle length
Figure 1: Distribution of reported commercial catch of Southern Calamari in Australian waters, 2013 (calendar year)
Table 3: Main features and statistics for Southern Calamari fisheries in Australia, 2013 (calendar year)
Jurisdiction |
South Australia |
Tasmania |
Victoria |
New South Wales |
Commonwealth |
Fishing methods |
Commercial |
Squid jigs |
✓ |
✓ |
✓ |
✓ |
|
Beach seine/haul net |
✓ |
✓ |
✓ |
✓ |
|
Dip net |
✓ |
✓ |
|
|
|
Spearfishing |
|
✓ |
|
|
|
Trawl |
✓ |
|
✓ |
✓ |
✓ |
Recreationala |
Squid jigs |
✓ |
✓ |
✓ |
✓ |
|
Spearfishing |
|
✓ |
✓ |
|
|
Indigenousb,c, |
Squid jigs |
✓ |
✓ |
|
✓ |
|
Spearfishing |
|
✓ |
|
|
|
Management methods |
Commercial |
Limited entry |
✓ |
✓ |
✓ |
✓ |
✓ |
Size limits |
✓ |
|
|
|
|
Vessel restrictions |
✓ |
|
|
✓ |
|
Catch limits |
|
✓ |
|
|
✓ |
Effort limits |
|
✓ |
✓ |
|
✓ |
Gear limits |
✓ |
✓ |
✓ |
✓ |
✓ |
Temporal closures (spawning season) |
|
✓ |
|
|
|
Spatial closures |
|
✓ |
|
|
|
Recreationala |
Bag limits |
✓ |
✓ |
✓ |
✓ |
|
Temporal closures (spawning season) |
|
✓ |
|
|
|
Spatial closures |
|
✓ |
|
|
|
Indigenousb–e |
Bag limits |
✓ |
✓ |
|
✓ |
|
Temporal closures (spawning season) |
|
✓ |
|
|
|
Spatial closures |
|
|
|
✓ |
|
Section 37(1)(c1), Aboriginal cultural fishing authority |
|
|
|
✓ |
|
Active vessels |
|
229 in MSF
40 in SAPF
10 in NZRLF and SZRLF combined |
60 in SF |
16 in CIF
8 in ITF
3 in OF
23 in PPBF
1 in WPF |
4 in EGF
Confidential in OHFf
50 in OTF
12 in OTLF |
11 in CTS |
Catch |
Commercial |
396 t in MSF
32 t in SAPF
2.8 t in NZRLF and SZRLF combined |
66 t in SF |
9 t in CIF
<0.1 t in ITF
<0.1 t in OF
21 t in PPBF
<0.1 t in WPF |
0.19 t in EGF
Confidential in OHFf
29.2 t in OTF
0.23 t in OTLF |
0.4 t in SESSF |
Recreationala |
300 t (2007–08) |
45 t (2007–08) |
45 t (2007) |
10–40 t (annual) |
|
Indigenousb–e |
Unknown |
Unknown |
Nil |
Unknown |
|
Markets |
Domestic |
✓ |
✓ |
✓ |
✓ |
✓ |
Export |
|
|
|
|
|
CIF = Corner Inlet Fishery (Victoria); CTS = Commonwealth Trawl Sector; EGF = Estuary General Fishery (New South Wales); ITF = Inshore Trawl Fishery (Victoria); MSF = Marine Scalefish Fishery (South Australia); NZRLF = Northern Zone Rock Lobster Fishery (South Australia); OF = Ocean Fishery (Victoria); OHF = Ocean Haul Fishery (New South Wales); OTF = Ocean Trawl Fishery (New South Wales); OTLF = Ocean Trap and Line Fishery (New South Wales); PPBF = Port Phillip Bay Fishery (Victoria); SAPF = South Australia Prawn Fisheries; SF = Scalefish Fishery (Tasmania); SZRLF = Southern Zone Rock Lobster Fishery (South Australia); WPF = Western Port Bay Fishery (Victoria)
a The Australian Government does not manage recreational fishing in Commonwealth waters. Recreational fishing in Commonwealth waters is managed by the state or territory immediately adjacent to those waters, under its management regulations.
b The Australian Government does not manage noncommercial Indigenous fishing in Commonwealth waters, with the exception of the Torres Strait. In general, noncommercial Indigenous fishing in Commonwealth waters is managed by the state or territory immediately adjacent to those waters.
c In Victoria, regulations for managing recreational fishing are also applied to fishing activities by Indigenous people. Recognised Traditional Owners (groups that hold native title or have agreements under the Victorian Traditional Owner Settlement Act 2010) are exempt (subject to conditions) from the requirement to hold a recreational fishing licence, and can apply for permits under the Fisheries Act 1995 that authorise customary fishing (for example, different catch and size limits or equipment). The Indigenous category in Table 3 refers to customary fishing by recognised Traditional Owners. In 2012–13, there were no applications for customary fishing permits to access Southern Calamari.
d The Aboriginal Fishing Interim Compliance Policy allows an Indigenous fisher in New South Wales to take in excess of a recreational bag limit in certain circumstances—for example, if they are doing so to provide fish to other community members who cannot harvest themselves.
e The Aboriginal cultural fishing authority is the authority that Indigenous persons can apply to to take catches outside the recreational limits under the New South Wales Fisheries Management Act 1994, section 37(1)(c1) (Aboriginal cultural fishing authority).
f Confidentiality clauses prevent reporting of fishery statistics for fewer than six vessels in New South Wales.
Figure 2: Commercial catch of Southern Calamari in Australian waters from 2000 to 2013 (calendar years)
- Beach seine/haul netting takes place over inshore seagrass habitats but has been shown to have negligible impact on seagrass or benthic invertebrate assemblages9. Jigs have little bycatch and do not negatively affect the environment.
- Trawling, used in the Commonwealth Trawl Sector and the Ocean Trawl Fishery (New South Wales), has potential for interactions with threatened, endangered and protected species. These fisheries have in place bycatch and discarding workplans or bycatch catch triggers to reduce these interactions and environmental impacts.
- In 2006, mandatory requirements for otter trawls to use 90 mm square-mesh codend panels were introduced to reduce the catch of small species and juvenile fish in the Commonwealth Trawl Sector10.
- Interactions also occur with animals protected under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999, including marine mammals (dolphins, seals and sea lions), seabirds, some shark species and seahorses and pipefish (syngnathids). These interactions are reported quarterly by the Australian Fisheries Management Authority11 and on-board observer programs are used to validate the reporting in commercial logbooks.
- In 2007, the South East Trawl Fishing Industry Association released an industry code of practice that aims to minimise interactions with fur seals, as well as addressing the environmental impacts of the fishery more generally12. Operators have developed other mitigation protocols that have further reduced seal mortalities, including using breakaway ties that keep the net closed until it is below depths that seals regularly inhabit, adopting techniques to close the trawl opening during recovery to minimise opportunities for seals to enter the net, switching off gantry lights that are not required during night trawling to avoid attracting bait species and seals, and dumping offal only when the boat is not engaged in deploying or hauling gear12.
- In 2011, AFMA mandated individual vessel seabird management plans13. The seabird action plans are used in the Commonwealth Trawl Sector to mitigate the impacts of trawling on seabirds. Seabird mitigation measures include warp deflectors (‘pinkys’), bird bafflers (a system of ropes and PVC piping that protects the warp cable) and seal excluder devices.
- The effects of trawl fishing on the marine environment are assessed through an environmental risk assessment and risk management framework and mitigated through spatial closures, and the implementation of bycatch and discard workplans in the Commonwealth Trawl Sector.
- Danish-seining has the potential to affect seahorses and pipefish (syngnathids) because Danish-seiners operate in relatively shallow waters and use nets with a small mesh size. An ecological risk assessment (ERA) indicated that the Spiny Pipehorse was at low risk because the fishery overlaps with only a small portion of the range of this species14.
- Southern Calamari has a highly variable life cycle. The influence of environmental factors on survival, growth and reproductive investment is complex and varies considerably from year to year8; the mechanisms remain poorly understood.
- Spawning occurs in shallow inshore waters, with egg mop deposits attached to seagrass, macro algae and reef substratespawning occurs in shallow inshore waters, with egg mop deposits attached to seagrass, macro algae and reef substrates15. Environmental pressures on these habitats include the effects of coastal development, marine pollution, ocean warming and changing weather patterns16. These pressures have the potential to influence spawning dynamics and success. It is also likely that seasonal environmental changes (such as changes in water temperature over preferred spawning areas) have an effect on annual spawning and recruitment success, contributing to the high interannual variability in biomass of this species17.
a Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, University of Tasmania
b Department of Environment and Primary Industries, Victoria
c South Australian Research and Development Institute
d Department of Primary Industries, New South Wales
e Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences