*

There are five assessment units of Golden Snapper across Australia’s north. The WA, Regional NT, Gulf of Carpentaria and Eastern Australia assessment units are sustainable, whereas the Darwin Region management unit of the NT is classified as depleted.

Golden Snapper is a moderately long-lived (i.e. 30 years), late-maturing species that can reach a length of one metre [Cappo et al. 2013]. They are broadly distributed throughout the tropical and sub-tropical Indo-West Pacific with juveniles spending several years in estuarine and inshore reef habitats before migrating to nearshore reef environments (to a depth of at least 80 m) as they near sexual maturity [Allen 1985; Kiso and Mahyam, 2003; Tanaka et al. 2011].

The distribution of this species within Australian waters extends from the Kimberley region in Western Australia, around the north of the continent to the southern Great Barrier Reef (around Rockhampton) [Travers et al. 2009]. A study of the stock structure of Golden Snapper across this range suggests that many functionally separate adult populations are present at a scale of tens of kilometres, although boundaries are unknown [Taillebois et al. 2021].

Golden Snapper experience moderate to high harvest rates in some Australian fisheries (particularly those targeting adults of this late-maturing species), which can cause localised depletion. However, it is extremely difficult to collect relevant biological and catch-and-effort information to assess each adult population unit.

Here, assessment of stock status is presented at the jurisdictional level―Western Australia; and the management unit level―Darwin Region, and Regional Northern Territory (Northern Territory); Gulf of Carpentaria (Northern Territory and Queensland), East Coast (Queensland).

Western Australia

Golden Snapper is not a target species in the demersal commercial fisheries of Western Australia, but is landed in small quantities as by-product in the North Demersal Scalefish Managed Fishery. Total catch of Golden Snapper in WA over the last 10 years (2013–22) have ranged from 4.0–9.9 t, with a mean annual catch of 7.3 t. This is consistent with the average catches across the previous 10 years of 6 t. The total commercial catch of Golden Snapper in Western Australia has been low and stable over the last 10 years (2013–22), ranging from < 0.1–1.7 t per year, with a mean annual catch of 700 kg. The catch of Golden Snapper by recreational (approximately 2 t annually) and charter fishers (approximately 4.5 t annually) is greater than the commercial catch of this species and primarily caught in the Kimberley region of Western Australia. Given the low catches of Golden Snapper in Western Australia are derived from a limited area compared to the wider distribution of the species, it is considered unlikely that the biomass of Golden Snapper in Western Australia is depleted.

On the basis of the evidence provided above, Golden Snapper in Western Australia is classified as a sustainable stock.

Golden Snapper biology [Hay et al. 2005; Cappo et al. 2013; Welch et al. 2014]

Distribution of reported commercial catch of Golden Snapper

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

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 – 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 – 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 – 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 – Indigenous (Management methods). For more informationsee: https://www.daf.qld.gov.au/business-priorities/fisheries/traditional-fishing

Queensland – Commercial (Catch). Queensland commercial and charter data has been sourced from the commercial fisheries logbook program. Further information available through the Queensland 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

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. In the absence of an adequate conversion factor, data presented as number of fish. 

Commercial catch of Golden Snapper - note confidential catch not shown

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