Crimson Snapper (2023)
Lutjanus erythropterus
Date Published: June 2023
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Summary
The Crimson Snapper is a demersal species for which several biological stocks have been identified across northern Australia, either through targeted genetic research or by assumed similarity to the stock structure of the related Saddletail Snapper. All stocks are classified as sustainable.
Stock Status Overview
Jurisdiction | Stock | Stock status | Indicators |
---|---|---|---|
Queensland | Gulf of Carpentaria | Sustainable | Catch, biomass |
Queensland | East Coast Queensland | Sustainable | Biomass, stock assessment (one - sex population model) |
Stock Structure
Crimson Snapper (Lutjanus erythropterus) is a widespread Indo-Pacific species found throughout tropical Australian waters. Research on the biological stock structure of this species in Australian waters has only occurred in northern Australia; including the Timor Sea, the Arafura Sea and the Gulf of Carpentaria [Salini et al. 2006]. A single genetic stock was found across this region. In addition to this Northern Australia biological stock, it is considered that the species has a similar biological stock structure to Saddletail Snapper (Lutjanus malabaricus), with a Western Australia (North Coast Bioregion) biological stock and a biological stock off the east coast of Queensland [Salini et al. 2006]. Saunders et al. [2018] used otolith microchemistry and parasitology to identify separate biological stocks of Saddletail Snapper in the Joseph Bonaparte Gulf, Timor and Arafura seas and Gulf of Carpentaria. It is assumed that Crimson Snapper have the same biological stock structure.
Here, assessment of the stock status is presented at the biological stock level for the five identified biological stocks - North Coast Bioregion (Western Australia), Joseph Bonaparte Gulf (Northern Territory), Timor and Arafura Seas (Northern Territory), Gulf of Carpentaria (Queensland and Northern Territory) and the East Coast (Queensland).
Stock Status
East Coast Queensland
Crimson Snapper is caught by line in both the commercial and recreational fishing sectors with most harvested from within the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park (GBRMP). The most recent stock assessment [Fox et al. 2021] estimated that biomass in 2021 was 44% of unfished levels (estimate range across scenarios = 21%–45 %). The assessment indicated that biomass declined to 35% (unfished levels) in 2019 before rebuilding to the current level. The stock is not considered to be recruitment impaired.
Crimson Snapper is regionally important to recreational fishers and the sector harvested around 65% of the total annual catch [Teixeira et al. 2021]. The 2019–20 recreational fishing survey estimated that this sector harvested around 19 t of Crimson Snapper. Crimson Snapper make up as much as 2% of retained recreational catch in the GBRMP; making it one of the top ten retained recreational species reported in state wide creel surveys [QDAF 2023]. The appeal of the species is reflected in the charter fishery data where annual catches from the east coast averaged approximately 5 t across the last five years.
Crimson Snapper is generally not targeted within the Queensland Reef Line Fishery (RLF) but is harvested when targeting more valuable species such as Saddletail Snapper and Red Emperor. Crimson Snapper catches in the RLF have declined since 2009–10 (20.6 t) but have stabilised over the last five years at around 12 t. In 2021–22, the RLF retained 13 t of Crimson Snapper with a 10-year average of 14 t. Like other deep-water lutjanids, it can be difficult to determine how regularly this species is targeted in the RLF as it will (likely) vary between operations, vessels and trips. The difficulty of accounting for this aspect of the fishery when standardising catch and effort data has been noted in recent assessments [Sumpter et al. 2022; Campbell et al. 2021; Fox et al. 2021].
Commercial harvest in the RLF is constrained by a multi-species total allowable commercial catch (TACC). The long-term management of the species is also guided by the Reef Line Fishery Harvest Strategy: 2020–2025 [QDAF 2020]. Recreational harvest is controlled through a minimum legal-size limit and a combined possession limit (9 in total) that includes Saddletail Snapper and Crimson Snapper. Saddletail Snapper make up the larger part of the recreational catch as it is targeted with more frequency. The Indigenous catch of Crimson Snapper is unknown but considered to be minor. A portion of the biomass is protected by zoning in the GBRMP, although this has not been quantified.
Overall, the available evidence indicates that the current level of fishing mortality is unlikely to cause the stock to become recruitment impaired. While data displays some inter-year variability, current harvest levels are sufficiently low to maintain biomass levels above the biomass limit reference point of 20% unfished levels [Fox et al. 2021; QDAF 2020].
Based on the evidence provided above, the East Coast Queensland biological stock is classified as a sustainable stock.
Gulf of Carpentaria
The Gulf of Carpentaria Crimson Snapper stock is mainly harvested by commercial trawl operations within the Gulf of Carpentaria Developmental Fin Fish Trawl Fishery (GOCDFFTF – Queensland) and Northern Territory Demersal Fishery (DF). There is no reliable estimate of recreational, charter or Indigenous harvest of Crimson Snapper within this stock, however, harvest rates are considered to be low given the offshore distribution of this species. This stock was also targeted by foreign fleets from the 1950s to the 1980s [O’Neill et al. 2011] and harvest levels over this period were notably higher (peaked at 513 t).
From 2016–17 to 2019–20, the GOCDFFTF reported limited fishing activities and annual Crimson Snapper harvests declined to < 1 t. Commercial fishing resumed in 2020–21 with operators reporting seasonal Crimson Snapper catches of 101 t (2020–21) and 118 t (2021–22). Gulf of Carpentaria catches in the Northern Territory DF have steadily grown over the last ten years, peaking in 2019–20 at 275 t, before falling to 93 t in 2020–21 and 58 t in 2021–22. The lower catches over the last two years are below the 10-year average catch of 96 t and are reflective of a decrease in effort in this portion of the fishery.
Harvest rates in the GOCDFFTF show considerable variability and, at times, reflect management changes in the fishery. In response to the increases in catch from 2002–13, the multi-species Total Allowable Commercial Catch (TACC) was significantly reduced from 1,250 t to 450 t [O’Neill et al. 2011; Leigh and O’Neill 2016]. In 2020, Crimson Snapper was transitioned to a non-transferrable ITQ and a 169 t species-specific TACC was introduced in response to MSY modelling. The TACC allocated was 6% of the MSY [O’Neill et al. 2011]. These catch totals are below the current TACC, which is considered conservative [Leigh and O’Neill 2016]. This inference is supported by fishery independent surveys conducted in 2021 which provided updated estimates of relative biomass for Crimson Snapper and other GOCDFFTF species [Knuckey et al. 2021].
A fishery independent biomass survey was undertaken in the Northern Territory in 2021. As a result of this work, the biomass of Crimson Snapper in the whole of the Northern Territory was estimated to be 54,828 t, with a coefficient of variation (CV) of 0.15, of which 21,000 t was estimated to be present in the NT portion of the Gulf of Carpentaria. [Knuckey and Koopman 2022]. Current catches represent < 1% of the estimated biomass. This indicates that the biomass of this stock is unlikely to be depleted and that recruitment is unlikely to be impaired. However, it is important to note that the survey is designed to obtain a time-series of consistent and robust relative abundance indices and due to uncertainties around assumptions of catchability, herding and escapement, this one-off estimate of absolute abundance should be used with caution [Knuckey and Koopman 2022]. Regardless, this estimate of biomass can assist in understanding the impact fishing has on this stock, with current evidence suggesting there is a low level of catch relative to biomass size.
On the basis of the evidence provided above, the Gulf of Carpentaria (Queensland and Northern Territory) stock is classified as a sustainable stock.
Biology
Crimson Snapper biology [DAF unpublished data; Fry and Milton 2009; Fry et al. 2009; McPherson et al. 1992; McPherson and Squire 1992; Newman et al. 2000; Fox et al 2021]
Species | Longevity / Maximum Size | Maturity (50 per cent) |
---|---|---|
Crimson Snapper | Northern Australia: 42 years, 470 mm SL East Coast Queensland: 32 years, 790 mm FL | Northern Australia: Males 270 mm SL, Females 350 mm SL East Coast Queensland: Females 485 mm (+/- 1.7) FL |
Tables
Queensland | |
---|---|
Commercial | |
Line | |
Midwater Trawl | |
Charter | |
Spearfishing | |
Hook and Line | |
Handline | |
Indigenous | |
Spearfishing | |
Various | |
Handline | |
Recreational | |
Spearfishing | |
Hook and Line | |
Handline |
Method | Queensland |
---|---|
Charter | |
Bag/possession limits | |
Gear restrictions | |
Processing restrictions | |
Seasonal or spatial closures | |
Size limits | |
Commercial | |
Gear restrictions | |
Harvest Strategy | |
Individual transferable quota | |
Limited entry | |
Processing restrictions | |
Seasonal or spatial closures | |
Size limits | |
Total allowable catch | |
Vessel restrictions | |
Recreational | |
Bag/possession limits | |
Gear restrictions | |
Processing restrictions | |
Seasonal or spatial closures | |
Size limits |
Queensland | |
---|---|
Commercial | 12.90t |
Charter | 6 t |
Indigenous | Unknown |
Recreational | 19 t [2019-20] |
Western Australia – Active Vessels. Data are confidential as there were fewer than three vessels in the Pilbara Fish Trawl Interim Managed Fishery (Western Australia) and Pilbara Trap Managed Fishery (Western Australia).
Western Australia – Recreational (Catch). Boat-based recreational catch is from 1 September 2020–31 August 2021. These data are derived from those reported in [Ryan et al. 2022].
Western Australia – Recreational (management methods). A Recreational Fishing from Boat License 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 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.
Northern Territory – Recreational (catch). Saddletail Snapper, Crimson Snapper and Indonesian Snapper catch were combined during the Northern Territory 2018–19 recreational fishing survey. Crimson Snapper was assumed to be a proportion of that catch [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 (NT), 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 – Commercial (Catch). Queensland commercial and charter data have been sourced from the commercial fisheries logbook program. Further information is available through the Queensland Fisheries Summary Report: https://www.daf.qld.gov.au/business-priorities/fisheries/monitoring-research/data/queensland-fisheries-summary-report
Queensland – Recreational Fishing (Catch). Data are based at the whole of Queensland level and derived from statewide recreational fishing surveys. Estimates have been converted to weight (tonnes) using best known conversion multipliers. Conversion factors may display regional or temporal variability.
Queensland – Indigenous (management methods). For more information see: https://www.daf.qld.gov.au/business-priorities/fisheries/traditional-fishing.
Queensland – Commercial (Management Methods). Harvest strategies are available at: https://www.daf.qld.gov.au/business-priorities/fisheries/sustainable/harvest-strategy
References
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