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Yelloweye Mullet (2023)

Aldrichetta forsteri

  • Jason Earl (South Australian Research and Development Institute)
  • Harry Gorfine (Victorian Fisheries Authority)
  • Rodney Duffy (Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, Western Australia)
  • Stephen Bradshaw (Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, University of Tasmania)

Date Published: June 2023

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Summary

Yelloweye Mullet is a nearshore and estuarine species found along southern Australia. Stocks in WA, SA, VIC and TAS are sustainable.

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Stock Status Overview

Stock status determination
Jurisdiction Stock Stock status Indicators
South Australia South Australia Sustainable

Catch, CPUE

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Stock Structure

Yelloweye Mullet is widely distributed along the southern coasts of Australia, from Murchison River in Western Australia to the Hunter River in New South Wales, and around Tasmania [Gomon et al. 2008]. Yelloweye Mullet typically occur in schools in nearshore marine waters from the intertidal zone to depths of at least 10 metres and are often abundant in estuaries and the lower reaches of rivers [Kailola et al. 1993; Connolly 1994].

Biological stock structure for Yelloweye Mullet in Australia is uncertain. It has been suggested that there are two biological stocks—Western and Eastern—based on morphological differences [Thomson 1957; Pellizzari 2001]. However, further studies are required to confidently define biological stock delineation for this species.

Here, assessment of stock status for Yelloweye Mullet is presented at the jurisdictional level—Western Australia, Victoria, Tasmania and South Australia.

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Stock Status

South Australia

The Lakes and Coorong Fishery (LCF) has traditionally been the most significant fishery for Yelloweye Mullet in South Australia, and in 2021–22 contributed 96% of the State's total commercial catch of this species. The remaining catch was taken by the Marine Scalefish Fishery (MSF). The most recent assessment of the LCF for Yelloweye Mullet was completed in 2023 and used a weight-of-evidence approach that considered fishery catch and effort data to the end of June 2022 [Earl 2023].

The primary measures for biomass and fishing mortality are total catch and targeted catch per unit effort (CPUE) using small-mesh gillnets (50–64 mm mesh). Commercial landings of Yelloweye Mullet in South Australia peaked at 519 t in 1989–90 and then progressively declined to 155 t in 2003–04. This long-term decline reflected a reduction in targeted effort due a combination of MSF licence buy-backs and low wholesale prices rather than a declining biomass, because catch rates were relatively high during that period. Gillnet CPUE declined from 2010–11 to 2014–15 suggesting a possible decline in fishable biomass in areas of the LCF. Since then, catches and catch rates have been considerably higher. The total catch of 213 t in 2021–22 was associated with the third highest annual estimate of gillnet CPUE on record [Earl 2023]. The State-wide recreational survey in 2021–22 estimated that 69,657 Yelloweye Mullet were captured, of which 16% were released [Beckmann et al. 2023]. The estimated total recreational harvest weight was 11 t (± 4), which was approximately 5% of the State’s total catch in 2021–22. 

The above evidence indicates that the biomass of this stock is unlikely to be depleted and that recruitment is unlikely to be impaired. Furthermore, 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 provide above, Yelloweye Mullet in South Australia is classified as a sustainablestock.

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Biology

Yelloweye Mullet biology [Gaughan et al. 2006; Edgar 2008; Earl and Ferguson 2013]

Biology
Species Longevity / Maximum Size Maturity (50 per cent)
Yelloweye Mullet 10 years, 440 mm TL  2–3 years, 200–260 mm TL 
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Distributions

Distribution of reported commercial catch of Yelloweye Mullet

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Tables

Fishing methods
South Australia
Commercial
Gillnet
Unspecified
Seine Nets
Indigenous
Hook and Line
Gillnet
Traditional apparatus
Recreational
Hook and Line
Gillnet
Management methods
Method South Australia
Commercial
Effort limits
Gear restrictions
Limited entry
Size limit
Spatial closures
Temporal closures
Indigenous
Bag limits
Gear restrictions
Size limit
Spatial closures
Temporal closures
Recreational
Bag limits
Gear restrictions
Size limit
Spatial closures
Temporal closures
Catch
South Australia
Commercial 212.92t
Indigenous Unknown
Recreational 11 t (in 2021–22)

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

Tasmania – Commercial (Catch totals). Catches reported for the Tasmanian Scalefish Fishery are for the period 1 July to 30 June the following year. The most recent assessment available is for 2018–19.

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).

Tasmania – Recreational (Fishing 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. Mullet (all species combined) are subject to a bag limit of 15 individuals and a possession limit of 30 individuals.

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Catch Chart

Commercial catch of Yelloweye Mullet - note confidential catch not shown

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References

  1. Beckmann, CL, Durante, LM, Graba-Landry, A, Stark, KE and Tracey, SR 2023, Survey of Recreational Fishing in South Australia 2021-22. Report to PIRSA Fisheries and Aquaculture. South Australian Research and Development Institute (Aquatic and Livestock Sciences), Adelaide. SARDI Publication No. F2022/000385-1. SARDI Research Report Series No. 1161. 185pp.
  2. Bell, JD, Ingram, BA, Gorfine, HK and Conron, SD 2023, Review of key Victorian fish stocks — 2022 Victorian Fisheries Authority Science Report Series No. 38, First Edition, June 2023. VFA: Queenscliff. 58pp.
  3. Connolly, RM 1994, A comparison of fish assemblages from seagrass and unvegetated areas of a South Australian estuary, Australian Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research, 45: 1033–1044.
  4. Earl, J 2023, Assessment of the South Australian Lakes and Coorong Fishery in 2021/22. Report to PIRSA Fisheries and Aquaculture. South Australian Research and Development Institute (Aquatic Sciences), Adelaide. SARDI Publication No. F2020/000208-04. SARDI Research Report Series No. 1176. 94pp.
  5. Earl, J and Ferguson, GJ 2013, Yelloweye Mullet (Aldrichetta forsteri) stock assessment report 2011–12, Report to Primary Industries and Regions South Australia (Fisheries and Aquaculture), SARDI Publication F2007/001048-1, SARDI Research Report Series 737, South Australian Research and Development Institute (Aquatic Sciences), Adelaide.
  6. Edgar, GD 2008, Australian marine life: the plants and animals of temperate waters. New Holland Publishers, Sydney.
  7. Gaughan, D, Ayvazian, S, Nowara, G and Craine, M 2006, The development of a rigorous sampling methodology for a long-term annual index of recruitment for finfish species from south-western Australia, Fisheries Research and Development Corporation Project 1999/153, Fisheries Research Report 154, Western Australia Department of Fisheries, Perth.
  8. Gomon, MF, Bray, DJ and Kuiter, RH (ed.s) 2008, Fishes of Australia’s southern coast, New Holland Publishers, Sydney.
  9. Hamer, P and Giri, K 2016, Port Phillip Bay Commercial Fishery Assessment 2016. Fisheries Victoria Science Report Series No. 9.
  10. Kailola, P, Williams, MJ, Stewart, PC, Reichlet, RE, McNee, A and Grieve, C 1993, Australian fisheries resources, Bureau of Resource Sciences and Fisheries Research and Development Corporation, Canberra.
  11. Lyle, JM, Stark, KE, Ewing, GP and Tracey, SR 2019, 2017-18 Survey of recreational fishing in Tasmania. Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, Hobart, Tasmania.
  12. Pellizzari, M 2001, A preliminary investigation of the biology of Yelloweye Mullet in South Australian waters, South Australian Research and Development Institute (Aquatic Sciences), Adelaide.
  13. Potter, IC, Veale, L, Tweedley, JR and Clarke, R 2016, Decadal changes in the ichthyofauna of a eutrophic estuary following a remedial engineering modification and subsequent environmental shifts, Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science, 181:345-363.
  14. Ryan KL, Lai EKM and Smallwood CB 2022, Boat-based recreational fishing in Western Australia 2020/21. Fisheries Research Report No. 327 Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, Western Australia. 221pp.
  15. Sharples, R, Cresswell, K, Hartmann, K and Krueck, N 2023. Tasmanian Scalefish Fishery Assessment 2021/22. Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, University of Tasmania.
  16. Tate, AC, Rudd, LJ and Smallwood, CB 2022, Shore-based recreational fishing in the Perth Metropolitan area: 2022. Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, Perth. Report 326.
  17. Thomson, JM 1957, Interpretation of the scales of the yellow-eye mullet, Aldrichetta forsteri (Cuvier and Valenciennes) (Mugilidae), Australian Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research, 8: 14–28.
  18. Tweedley, J, Krispyn, K, Maus, C and Cottingham, A 2022, Peel-Harvey Estuary condition assessment based on fish communities - 2020/21 (Issue January).
  19. Victorian Fisheries Authority 2017, Review of key Victorian fish stocks—2017. Victorian Fisheries Authority Science Report Series No. 1.

Downloadable reports

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