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Southern Garfish has a wide distribution around Australia. There are eight stocks or management units across WA, SA, TAS and VIC. Four stocks are sustainable, one is depleted and three are recovering.

Southern Garfish has a wide distribution in Australia, extending from Lancelin in Western Australia, along the southern coast of mainland Australia and up the east coast to Eden in southern New South Wales, as well as the surrounding waters of Tasmania [Gomon et al. 2008].

There has been no research into the stock structure of Western Australian populations of Southern Garfish. However, given the limited dispersal typically displayed by Southern Garfish, and the large spatial separation between the west and south coasts of Western Australia, it is highly likely that the west and south coast support separate biological stocks of this species [Ye et al. 2002; Steer et al. 2009].

In Victoria, there has been no research into the stock structure for populations of Southern Garfish and they are assumed to constitute a single jurisdictional stock.

In Tasmania, differences in size and age composition between the north coast and the east coast indicate that there may be multiple biological stocks; however, no firm evidence exists at present, and current stock assessments assume a single state-wide biological stock [Moore et al. 2018].

A multidisciplinary otolith-based study (otolith chemistry and morphometrics) identified at least five biological stocks in South Australia: West Coast, Northern Spencer Gulf, Southern Spencer Gulf, Northern Gulf St. Vincent and Southern Gulf St. Vincent [Steer et al. 2009]. Given the level of spatial separation of Southern Garfish observed between the gulfs, it was assumed that Southern Garfish from the south-east also comprised a separate biological stock. However, following a major reform of South Australia's Marine Scalefish Fishery in 2021 [Smart et al. 2022a], individual transferable quota arrangements and spatial scale of assessment for some key species(including Southern Garfish) were implemented at the spatial scale of four management zones: West Coast, Spencer Gulf, Gulf St Vincent/Kangaroo Island and South East.

Here, assessment of stock status is presented at the biological stock level for Western Australia (West Coast and South Coast), management unit level for South Australia (West Coast, Spencer Gulf, Gulf St Vincent/Kangaroo Island and South East) and at the jurisdictional level for Tasmania and Victoria.

Tasmania

Between 1995 and 2005 commercial catches of Southern Garfish in Tasmanian waters were relatively stable and ranged between 80–100 t per annum. A sharp decline to 31 t in 2007 coincided with a reduction in average size and truncation of older age classes in the catch, which may have resulted from heavy fishing pressure and/or a period of poor recruitment. As a result, seasonal closures were introduced in 2009 to protect spawning fish. By 2012, there was evidence of an increase in the size of Southern Garfish landed, a greater range of age classes present and increasing catch per unit effort, which collectively was interpreted to indicate stock recovery over that period. Catches fluctuated between 40 and 60 t up until 2013 after which they again trended downwards to 7.4 t in 2018–19, the lowest catch on record [Krueck et al. 2020]. Over the following three seasons, catches increased back to 16.5 t in 2021–22 [Cresswell et al. 2023]. However, consistent and steep declines in both catches and catch rates over several years up until 2018–19 give reason for continued caution that the stock could be depleted in some regions. The schooling behaviour and associated vulnerability of this species to overfishing suggests that even the current low levels of fishing pressure could be too high to allow the stock to recover in these regions. However, empirical data to support analyses of regional stock trends to identify regions of primary management concern are currently unavailable.  

The above evidence indicates that the biomass of this stock is likely to be depleted and that recruitment is likely to be impaired. The above evidence also indicates that current fishing mortality levels are expected to prevent the stock recovering from a recruitment impaired state. 

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

Southern Garfish biology [Ye et al. 2002; Smith et al. 2017]

Victoria – Indigenous (Management Methods). A person who identifies as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander is exempt from the need to obtain a Victorian recreational fishing licence, provided they comply with all other rules that apply to recreational fishers, including rules on equipment, catch limits, size limits and restricted areas. Traditional (non-commercial) fishing activities that are carried out by members of a traditional owner group entity under an agreement pursuant to Victoria’s Traditional Owner Settlement Act 2010 are also exempt from the need to hold a recreational fishing licence, subject to any conditions outlined in the agreement. Native title holders are also exempt from the need to obtain a recreational fishinglicence under the provisions of the Commonwealth’s Native Title Act 1993.

South Australia – Commercial (Catch). Data for the Northern Zone Rock Lobster Fishery (South Australia) and the Southern Zone Rock Lobster Fishery (South Australia) have been combined because of confidentiality requirements.

Tasmania – Recreational (Management Methods). In Tasmania, a recreational licence is required for fishers using dropline or longline gear, along with nets, such as gillnet or beach seine.

Tasmania – Indigenous (Management Methods). In Tasmania, Indigenous people engaged in fishing activities in marine waters are exempt from holding recreational fishing licences but must comply with all other fisheries rules as if they were licensed. Additionally, recreational bag and possession limits also apply. If using pots, rings, set lines or gillnets, aborigines must obtain a unique identifying code (UIC). The policy document Recognition of Aboriginal Fishing Activities for issuing a Unique Identifying Code (UIC) to a person for Aboriginal Fishing activity explains the steps to take in making an application for a UIC.

Western Australia – Recreational (catch). Current shore-based recreational catch and effort in Western Australia is unknown. State-wide surveys of boat-based fishing are conducted regularly, most recently in 2020–21 [Ryan et al. 2022].

Commercial catch of Southern Garfish - note confidential catch not shown

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