*

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. .

Gulf of Carpentaria

In the Gulf of Carpentaria, Black Jewfish are taken by commercial trawl, net and line fishers as well as recreational anglers. It is also likely that this species consists of multiple biological stocks in this region [Saunders et al. 2016a]. Black Jewfish were exposed to historical fishing from foreign fleets during the 1950s to the 1980s [O’Neill 2011], however, these historical catches were relatively low (< 10 tonnes (t)). 

In the Queensland portion of this management unit concerns over rapid depletion of Black Jewfish stocks led to the introduction of a 6 t Total Allowable Commercial Catch (TACC) on 1 January 2020. The TACC is applied to the commercial sector but has implications for recreational fishers, with take of the species becoming prohibited across sectors upon exhaustion of catch limits for the remainder of the quota season. Prior to the TACC commercial harvest has reduced, averaging 8 t over the 2015–19 calendar year period and peaking at 13.5 t in 2016 in the Gulf of Carpentaria Inshore Fin Fish Fishery [QFISH 2020]. The number of licences in operation averaged 27 for the years 2012–15, but have increased to a peak of 49 in 2017 [QFISH 2020], likely due to the high value placed on Black Jewfish swim bladders. However, an increase in the targeting of Saddletail Snapper by the Northern Territory Demersal Fishery (DF) has led to a peak catch of 17 t of Black Jewfish occurring in this management unit in 2019.

Black Jewfish are particularly vulnerable to fishing pressure due to their tendency to aggregate [Phelan 2008] and are slow to recover once depleted [Taillebois et al. 2017]. There is evidence that targeted fishing of Black Jewfish aggregations in this management unit through the mid-late 1990s, while producing relatively low catches in absolute terms, was sufficient to significantly reduce abundance of large mature fish in the northern Cape York region [Phelan 2002]. The perceived overfishing of this aggregation area resulted in a two-year ban on fishing for Black Jewfish which was further extended as a permanent closure [Roelofs 2003]. No studies have been undertaken to measure recovery of this aggregation area.  The Northern Territory DF trawl fishery began increasing effort in 2012, resulting in higher levels of harvest of Black Jewfish in the western Gulf of Carpentaria. These catches are likely to be from a different stock then the Cape York aggregation so the impacts of this fishing activity are unknown. Additionally, while Black Jewfish are a popular recreational species in the Gulf of Carpentaria, there are no reliable estimates of recreational harvest [Roelofs 2003].

On the basis of the evidence provided above, the management unit Black Jewfish in the Gulf of Carpentaria is classified as a undefined stock.

Queensland East Coast

Black Jewfish are harvested by commercial fishers (net and line) and recreational anglers on the Queensland east coast. Commercial catches have fluctuated over the last 20 years (average 26.8 t, 2000–-2019), increasing markedly in recent years due to the high value placed on Black Jewfish swim bladders on the export market. Concerns over rapid depletion of Black Jewfish stocks on the Queensland east coast led to the introduction of a 20 t Total Allowable Commercial Catch (TACC) on 1 January 2020. The TACC is applied to the commercial sector but has implications for recreational fishers, with take of the species becoming prohibited across sectors upon exhaustion of catch limits for the remainder of the quota season. In addition to the TACC, spatial closures were introduced as of 1 September 2019 to prohibit the take and possession of Black Jewfish in Dalrymple Bay and Hay Point, reducing fishing pressures on these key aggregation points. In the years prior to the TACC commercial harvest increased markedly, peaking at 136 t in the 2018 calendar year [QFISH 2020]. Nominal catch rates have been steadily increasing over the last 20 years, with the most notable increases seen in 2018–19. Increased fishing pressure will continue while there is high demand for swim bladders in overseas markets and while high prices are attainable. No formal stock assessments have been undertaken to quantify biomass levels of Black Jewfish on the Queensland east coast. There are no reliable estimates of fishing pressure from recreational and Indigenous activities [Webley et al. 2015, Teixeira et al. 2021].

The legal size limit on the Queensland east coast (750 mm TL) is below the reported age of first maturity for females (850–900 mm TL) and may not be effective in protecting spawning females from fishing. A conservative possession limit (two fish) reduces recreational fishing pressure on the stock. Recent management changes will drive a decrease in harvest and effort, however their impact on stock sustainability cannot be considered in this assessment which is based on 2019 data. There is currently insufficient information available to confidently classify the status of the stock.

On the basis of the evidence provided above, the Queensland East Coast management unit is classified as an undefined 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 

1. Haddon M, Punt A and Burch P 2018, simpleSA: A package containing functions to facilitate relatively simple stock assessments. R package version 0.1.18.
2. Martell, S, and Froese, R. 2013, A simple method for estimating MSY from catch and resilience. Fish and Fisheries 14:504–514.
3. Newman, SJ, Brown, JI, Fairclough, DV, Wise, BS, Bellchambers, LM, Molony, BW, Lenanton, RCJ, Jackson, G, Smith, KA, Gaughan, DJ, Fletcher, WJ, McAuley, RB and Wakefield, CB 2018, A risk assessment and prioritisation approach to the selection of indicator species for the assessment of multi-species, multi-gear, multi-sector fishery resources. Marine Policy, 88: 11–22.
4. Newman, SJ, Mitsopoulos, G, Skepper, C and Wiberg, L 2020, North Coast Nearshore and Estuarine Resource Status Report 2019. pp. 153-129. In: Gaughan, D.J. and Santoro, K. (eds.). 2020. Status Reports of the Fisheries and Aquatic Resources of Western Australia 2018/19: The State of the Fisheries. Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, Western Australia, Perth, Australia. 291p.
5. Northern Territory Government 2017, Status of key Northern Territory Fish Stocks Report 2015, Northern Territory Government Department of Primary Industry and Resources, Fishery Report 118.
6. O'Neill, MF, Leigh, GM, Martin, JM, Newman, SJ, Chambers, M, Dichmont, CM, and Buckworth, RC 2011, Sustaining productivity of tropical red snappers using new monitoring and reference points. Fisheries Research and Development Corporation Project No. 2009/037, Published by the The State of Queensland, Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation. 108 pp.
7. Penny S, Lovett R, Trinnie F, Newman S, 2018, Black Jewfish Protonibea diacanthus, in Carolyn Stewardson, James Andrews, Crispian Ashby, Malcolm Haddon, Klaas Hartmann, Patrick Hone, Peter Horvat, Stephen Mayfield, Anthony Roelofs, Keith Sainsbury, Thor Saunders, John Stewart, Simon Nicol and Brent Wise (eds) 2018, Status of Australian fish stocks reports 2018, Fisheries Research and Development Corporation, Canberra.
8. Phelan, M 2008, Assessment of the implications of target fishing on Black Jewfish (Protonibea diacanthus) aggregations in the Northern Territory, Fisheries Research and Development Corporation project 2004/004, fishery report 91, Northern Territory Fisheries.
9. Phelan, MJ 2002, Fishery biology and management of the Black Jewfish Protonibea squamosa (Sciaenidiae) aggregations near Injinoo community, Far Northern Cape York. Stage 1: Initial characterisation of the aggregations and associated fishery, Fisheries Research and Development Corporation project 98/135, Department of Primary Industries, Queensland and Balkanu Cape York Development Corporation, Cairns.
10. QFish, Department of Agriculture and Fisheries, www.qfish.gov.au
11. Roelofs, AJ 2003, Ecological Assessment of the Gulf of Carpentaria Inshore Finfish Fishery - A report to Environment Australia on the sustainable management of a multi-species tropical gillnet fishery, Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries, Brisbane.
12. Ryan, KL, Hall, NG, Lai, EK, Smallwood, CB, Tate, A, Taylor, SM, Wise, BS 2019, Statewide survey of boat-based recreational fishing in Western Australia 2017/18. Fisheries Research Report No. 297. Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, Government of Western Australia, Perth. 
13. Saunders T 2020b, Stock Status Summary - 2020 Black Jewfish (Protonibea diacanthus), Darwin Region Stock Reduction Analysis. Unpublished Fishery Report.
14. Saunders T, 2020a, Regional Northern Territory Black Jewfish Stock Status Summary - 2020. Unpublished Fishery Report.
15. Saunders T, Roelofs A, Newman S and Errity C 2016b, Black jewfish Protonibea diacanthus. In: Stewardson, C., Andrews, J., Ashby, C., Begg, G., Fletcher, R., Gardner, C., Georgeson, L., Hansen, S., Hartmann, K., Hone, P., Horvat, P., Maloney, L., McDonald, B., Morre, A., Roelofs, A., Sainsbury, K., Saunders, T., Smith, T., Stewart, J., Stobutzki, I., and Wise, B. (Eds.): Status of key Australian fish stocks reports 2016. Canberra: Fisheries Research and Development Corporation.
16. Saunders, TM, Welch, D, Barton, D, Crook, D, Dudgeon, C, Hearnden, M, Maher, S, Ovenden, J, Taillebois, L and Taylor J 2016a, Optimising the management of tropical coastal reef fish through the development of Indigenous capability. FRDC final report 2013/017.
17. Taillebois, L, Barton, DP, Crook, DA, Saunders, T, Taylor, J, Hearnden, M, Saunders, RJ, Newman, SJ, Travers, MJ, Welch, DJ, Greig, A, Dudgeon, C, Maher, S and Ovenden, JR 2017, Strong population structure deduced from genetics, otolith chemistry and parasite abundances explains vulnerability to localized fishery collapse in a large Sciaenid fish, Protonibea diacanthus, Evolutionary Applications, vol. 10, no. 10, pp. 978–993.
18. Teixeira, D., Janes, R. and Webley, J. (2021) 2019/20 Statewide Recreational Fishing Survey Key Results. Project Report. State of Queensland, Brisbane.
19. Webley, J, McInnes, K, Teixeira, D, Lawson, A and Quinn, R 2015, Statewide Recreational Fishing Survey 2013-14, Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries, Brisbane.
20. Welch, DJ, Robins, J, Saunders, T, Courtney, T, Harry, A, Lawson, E, Moore, BR, Tobin, A, Turnbull, C, Vance, D and Williams, AJ 2014, Implications of climate change impacts on fisheries resources of northern Australia. Part 2: Species profiles, final report to the Fisheries Research and Development Corporation, project 2010/565, James Cook University, Townsville.