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Black Jewfish is assessed as sustainable in WA, Regional NT, and the Darwin Region. Stocks in the Gulf of Carpentaria and on the QLD East Coast are undefined, with limited information available.

Black Jewfish is a widespread Indo-Pacific species found from Exmouth Gulf in Western Australia, north and east across Northern Australia, to the east coast of Queensland. The stock structure for this species has been investigated in the north-western part of its range along the West Australian and Northern Territory coastlines [Saunders et al. 2016a]. The results indicated that separate stocks exist at the scale of tens of kilometres [Saunders et al. 2016a]. However, it is extremely difficult to collect relevant biological, and catch and effort information to assess each of these individual fine-scale biological stocks, although this fine-scale stock structure is an explicit consideration for fishery managers. Due to the logistic and operational constraints of the relevant monitoring, assessment and management agencies, assessment is only feasible at the jurisdictional level. This approach assumes that the assessment of stock status within a jurisdictional assessment unit is relevant to all biological stocks within that assessment unit.

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

Western Australia

Black Jewfish are not a target species in the Kimberley Gillnet and Barramundi Managed Fishery of Western Australia, but are landed in small quantities as by-product [Newman et al. 2020]. They have also been landed in very small quantities as by-product in the Pilbara Fish Trawl Interim Managed Fishery, the Nickol Bay Prawn Managed Fishery and the Pilbara Line Fishery. The total commercial catch in Western Australia in 2019 was approximately 4.0 tonnes (t). Black Jewfish catches have only been reported from a small area of their range in Western Australia. They are also landed in small quantities by charter fishers, primarily in the Kimberley region of Western Australia. In addition, Barramundi has been classified as a sustainable stock in the Kimberley Gillnet and Barramundi Managed Fishery (Western Australia) management unit. Barramundi is an indicator species [see Newman at al. 2018] for the North Coast Nearshore and Estuarine Resource. Given the status of Barramundi as an indicator species, there is a concomitant low level of risk associated with the biological sustainability of all species harvested in the North Coast Nearshore and Estuarine Resource. The above evidence indicates that the biomass of this stock is unlikely to be depleted and that recruitment is unlikely to be impaired.

Given the low level of take across their distributional range in Western Australia, the above evidence indicates that the current level of fishing mortality is unlikely to cause the stock to become recruitment impaired.

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

Black Jewfish biology [Phelan 2002, Welch et al. 2014]

Distribution of reported commercial catch of Black Jewfish

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. [2019].

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 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.

Western Australia – Active Vessels Data is confidential as there were fewer than three vessels operating in the Pilbara Fish Trawl Interim Managed Fishery.

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 The Fisheries Act 1988 (NT), specifies that “…without derogating from any other law in force in the Territory, nothing in a provision of this Act or an instrument of a judicial or administrative character made under it limits the right of Aboriginals who have traditionally used the resources of an area of land or water in a traditional manner from continuing 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 

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