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Stocks of Coral Trout are sustainable in the Torres Strait, WA and QLD’s Reef Line Fishery. They are undefined in QLD’s Gulf of Carpentaria, and negligible in the NT. This is a combined assessment for five Coral Trout and two Coronation Trout species. The main commercial catch comes from QLD.

The Coral Trout species complex, part of the family Epinephelidae, is found throughout Australia and is comprised of: Common Coral Trout (Plectropomus leopardus), Barcheek Coral Trout (Plectropomus maculatus), Bluespotted Coral Trout (Plectropomus laevis), Passionfruit Coral Trout (Plectropomus areolatus), Highfin Coral Trout (Plectropomus oligocanthus), Yellow-edge Coronation Trout (Variola louti) and White-edge Coronation Trout (Variola albimarginata), with the Passionfruit Coral Trout not being found in the Northern Territory. The biological stock structures of these species are species-specific and spatially complex [Bergenius et al. 2005; Bergenius et al. 2006; van Herwerden et al. 2006; van Herwerden et al. 2009] and remain uncertain for some species.

Here, assessment of stock status for this multispecies group is presented at the management unit level—Torres Strait Finfish Fishery (Commonwealth); Reef line Fishery and Gulf of Carpentaria (Queensland); and at the jurisdictional level—Western Australia and Northern Territory.

Coral Reef Fin Fish Fishery

Common Coral Trout dominates catches in the Reef Line Fishery (Queensland) [Leigh et al. 2014]. Other species such as Barcheek Coral trout, and Bluespotted Coral Trout are also commonly caught by both the recreational and commercial sectors. From 2021 onwards, commercial fishers have been required to report species-specific harvest details within the coral trout species group, providing improved harvest estimates of the lesser caught species within this species group. The level of contribution of other species to the overall harvest of Coral Trouts was less than 2% in 2021–22.

The most recent stock assessment of Common Coral Trout conducted in 2022 based on calendar year data from 1961 to 2021 estimated that the biomass was 60 per cent of the unfished (1961) level [Fox et al. 2022]. Annual harvest levels have been consistently below the estimated maximum sustainable yield (MSY) (1946 t). Over the last five years (2017–2021), the Queensland total harvest averaged 1,002 t per year, including 812 t by the commercial sector, 68 t by the charter sector, 111 t by the recreational sector, and 11 t by Indigenous fishers [Fox et al. 2022; QDAF 2022]. The recreational and charter fishing harvest in 2019–20 was 212 t or 135,000 fish according to the most recent survey [DAF 2022; Teixeira et al. 2021].

The Reef line fishery harvest strategy: 2020–2025 manages fishing mortality for Common Coral Trout through setting sustainable catch limits [QDAF 2020]. In 2021, the total allowable commercial catch (TACC) was reduced from 1,163 t to 963 t based on advice from the 2020 stock assessment [Campbell and Northrop 2020; QDAF 2021] and Harvest Strategy decision rules. Commercial catch harvested in 2021–22 was 656 t and approximately 32% below the TACC. Under the harvest strategy this TACC is set to achieve or maintain a maximum economic yield (MEY) target using 60% of unfished biomass as a proxy for MEY [QDAF 2020]. Setting the biomass target at 60% through the TACC, aims to provide additional resilience to the spawning stock from adverse environmental impacts. In addition, approximately 33% of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park is protected from fishing, providing additional protection to the biomass of this stock. 

The above evidence indicates that the biomass of this stock is unlikely to be depleted and that the current level of fishing pressure is unlikely to cause the stock to become recruitment impaired. On the basis of the evidence provided above, the multispecies Coral Trout Reef Line Fishery (Queensland) management unit is classified as a sustainable stock.

Gulf of Carpentaria

Coral Trouts are not targeted in Queensland-managed commercial fisheries in the Gulf of Carpentaria (GOC). They are taken as by-product in the Developmental Fin Fish Trawl Fishery (Queensland) and Gulf of Carpentaria Line Fishery (Queensland) [Bessell-Browne et al. 2018], but only small catches are reported (< 1 t in 2021–22). Coral Trout is a popular recreational species for GOC residents and visiting fishers who target reef fish, however, estimates of the recreational catch are uncertain due to the small sample size. They are also taken by the charter sector in the GOC in small quantities, averaging less than 0.5 tonnes (t) per year over the last ten years. There is insufficient information available to confidently classify the status of this stock.

On the basis of the evidence provided above, the multispecies GOC (Queensland) management unit is classified as an undefined stock.

Coral Trout biology [Kailola et al. 1993; Ferreira 1995; Samoilys 1997; Mapstone 2004; Williams et al. 2008; Mapleston et al. 2009; Heupel et al. 2010; Frisch et al. 2016]

Distribution of reported commercial catch of Coral Trout

Commonwealth – Commercial (Management Methods/Catch). Provided for the Commonwealth and align with the 2021–22 financial year.

Commonwealth – Recreational. 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.

Commonwealth – Indigenous. The Australian Government does not manage non-commercial Indigenous fishing in Commonwealth waters (with the exception of the Torres Strait). In general, non-commercial Indigenous fishing in Commonwealth waters is managed by the state or territory immediately adjacent to those waters. In the Torres Strait, both commercial and non-commercial Indigenous fishing is managed by the Torres Strait Protected Zone Joint Authority (PZJA) through the Australian Fisheries Management Authority (Commonwealth), the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (Queensland), and the Torres Strait Regional Authority. The PZJA also manages non-Indigenous commercial fishing in the Torres Strait.

Northern Territory – Recreational (Catch). Northern Territory recreational catch data align with the 2019 calendar year [West et al. 2022].

Northern Territory – Charter (management methods). In the Northern Territory, charter operators are regulated through the same management methods as the recreational sector but are subject to additional limits on license and passenger numbers.

Northern Territory – Indigenous (management methods). The Fisheries Act 1988 (Northern Territory), specifies that: “Unless expressly provided otherwise, nothing in this Act derogates or limits the right of Aboriginal people who have traditionally used the resources of an area of land or water in a traditional manner to continue to use those resources in that area in that manner.”

Queensland – Indigenous (management methods). For more information see https://www.daf.qld.gov.au/business-priorities/fisheries/traditional-fishing

Queensland – Recreational Fishing (Catch). Data are based at the whole of Queensland level and derived from statewide recreational fishing surveys. Where possible, estimates have been converted to weight (tonnes) using best known conversion multipliers. Conversion factors may display regional or temporal variability.

Queensland – Commercial (Catch). Queensland commercial and charter data have been sourced from the commercial fisheries logbook program. Further information available through the Fisheries Summary Report https://www.daf.qld.gov.au/business-priorities/fisheries/monitoring-research/data/queensland-fisheries-summary-report

Queensland – Commercial (Management Methods). Harvest strategies are available at: https://www.daf.qld.gov.au/business-priorities/fisheries/sustainable/harvest-strategy  

Western Australia – Recreational (Catch). Western Australia recreational catch data align with the 2021 calendar year.

Western Australia – Commercial (management methods). In Western Australia, different zones within fisheries may have different effort allocations.

Western Australia – Active Vessels. Data are confidential as there were fewer than three vessels operating in PFTIMF, PTMF and WCDGDLIMF.

Western Australia – Recreational (Catch). Boat-based recreational catch if from 1 September 2017–31 August 2018. These data are derived from those reported in Ryan et al. 2022.

Western Australia – Recreational (management methods). A Recreational Fishing from Boat Licence is required for the use of a powered boat to fish or to transport catch or fishing gear to or from a land-based fishing location.

Western Australia – Indigenous (management methods). Subject to the application of Section 211 of the Native Title Act 1993 (Cth), and the exemption from a requirement to hold a recreational fishing licence, the non-commercial take by Indigenous fishers is covered by the same arrangements as that for recreational fishing.

Commercial catch of Coral Trout - note confidential catch not shown

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