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Black Bream is a primarily estuarine species found around Australia's southern coastline. Assessments are presented here for nine management units, distributed along the coasts of NSW, VIC, TAS, SA and WA. Of these units, three are classified as sustainable, one as recovering, one as depleted, and four as undefined.

Black Bream have a wide distribution in the estuaries of southern Australia from central New South Wales to the central Western Australian coast, including Tasmania [Kailola et al. 1993]. Black Bream are estuarine-dependent, completing much of their life cycle within a single estuary [Chaplin et al. 1997; Conron et al. 2016; Earl et al. 2016]. Genetic studies of Black Bream in Victoria and Western Australia have indicated that, while there has been gene flow between adjacent estuaries, there is evidence of isolation by distance between populations [Chaplin et al. 1997; Farrington et al. 2000; Burridge et al. 2004; Burridge and Versace 2007; Sarakinis et al. 2024]. Results of tagging studies conducted in the Swan River [Norriss et al. 2002], Gippsland Lakes [Butcher and Ling 1962; Hindell et al. 2008] and the Coorong estuary [Hall 1984] found limited or no evidence of coastal migration or emigration between estuaries. This indicates that estuarine Black Bream populations should be managed as distinct biological stocks. However, for most fisheries management agencies this is not practical.

Black Bream and the closely related Yellowfin Bream, Acanthopagrus australis, also exhibit considerable levels of hybridisation where their distributions overlap in south-eastern Australia [Farrington et al. 2000; Roberts et al. 2009, 2010, 2011; Ochwada-Doyle et al. 2012], further complicating status determination. Furthermore, Black Bream growth, size- and age-at-maturity and recruitment are strongly influenced by environmental conditions, particularly freshwater influx into estuaries [Norriss et al. 2002; Cottingham 2008]. It is therefore likely that over local scales at least, annual recruitment strength depends on environmental conditions, with substantial inter-annual variation in recruitment affecting individual stock demographics and biomasses. These environmental drivers complicate management across multiple catchments.

Here, assessment of stock status is presented at the management unit level—Western Australia West Coast Estuaries, Western Australia South Coast Estuaries (Western Australia); Southern New South Wales (New South Wales); Victoria Western Estuaries, The Gippsland Lakes, Victoria Eastern Estuaries (Victoria); Tasmania Scalefish Fishery (Tasmania); Lakes and Coorong Fishery and South Australia Marine Scalefish Fishery (South Australia).

Tasmania Scalefish Fishery

The sale of Black Bream from Tasmanian State waters has been prohibited since 1998, resulting in a cessation of significant harvest of the species for commercial purposes. Prior to 1998, Black Bream were harvested commercially using seine nets (including beach seine) and gillnets and, to a lesser extent, hand lines. Maximum commercial catches of 9.9 t were recorded in 1996–97. In the years following 1998, catches remained below 1 t, and average below 10 kg per annum from 2007 onwards.

Black Bream are a popular target for recreational fishers in Tasmania. Recreational fishers target the species primarily in estuaries using lines with bait or lures. Catches have remained fairly stable over time but dropped by about 50% between the last two surveys in 2012–13 and 2017–18 [Lyle et al. 2009; Lyle et al. 2014; Lyle et al. 2019]. Release rates have increased markedly since 2001, reflecting a documented change in fisher ethic towards catch-and-release sports fishing [Lyle et al. 2009; Lyle et al. 2014; Lyle et al. 2019]. The estimated total recreational catch in 2012–13 was 59,000 fish, with an estimated 40,000 of these released [Lyle et al. 2014]. In 2017–18, total recreational catch was estimated at 27,000, with about 18,000 released and 9,000 kept [Lyle et al. 2019]. Post-release survival of Black Bream is considered to be high but known to vary with hooking depth [Conron et al. 2010].

The above evidence suggests that the biomass of this stock is unlikely to be depleted. However, due to a significant decrease in recreational catch observed in the 2017–18 recreational survey, this management unit is classified as an undefined stock. 

Black Bream biology [Kuiter 1993; Sarre and Potter 2000; Walker and Neira 2001; Cheshire et al. 2013]

Distribution of reported commercial catch of Black Bream

New South Wales – Recreational (Catch). Murphy et al. [2022].

New South Wales – Indigenous (Management Methods). (https://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/fishing/aboriginal-fishing

Victoria - Recreational fishing (Management Methods). Recreational fishing licence requirement, and  minimum legal size, maximum legal size  and a bag limits  apply. For further details see  https://vfa.vic.gov.au/recreational-fishing/recreational-fishing-guide/catch-limits-and-closed-seasons/types-of-fish/marine-and-estuarine-scale-fish/bream-all-species

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 fishing licence under the provisions of the Commonwealth’s Native Title Act 1993.

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. The species is subject to a minimum size limit of 250 mm. A bag limit of five individuals and a possession limit of ten individuals is in place for recreational fishers fishing in marine waters.

Tasmania - Indigenous (Management Methods). In Tasmania, Indigenous persons engaged in traditional 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. For details, see the policy document 'Recognition of Aboriginal Fishing Activities” (https://fishing.tas.gov.au/Documents/Policy%20for%20Aboriginal%20tags%20and%20alloting%20an%20UIC.pdf).

Western Australia – Recreational (Management Methods). In Western Australia a recreational fishing licence is only required for fishing from a boat. Black Bream are subjected to a minimum size limit of 250 mm TL and a bag limit of six (of which only two fish may be over 400 mm TL if fishing in the Swan and Canning rivers).

Commercial catch of Black Bream - note confidential catch not shown

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