*

Spotted Mackerel occurs in two stocks. Stock status is sustainable on the continental shelf waters along Australia's eastern coast. Stock status is negligible across the northern and western coast.

Spotted Mackerel occurs in continental shelf waters along Australia's western, northern and eastern coast between the Abrolhos Islands region to central New South Wales [Begg et al. 1998a, Cameron and Begg 2002]. In eastern Australian waters, Spotted Mackerel comprise a single stock (confirmed through genetic analysis, otolith microchemistry and tagging studies) that is genetically isolated from fish in the northern Arafura Sea [Begg et al. 1998a,b, Cameron and Begg 2002]. In northern and western Australian waters the delineation of stocks is less clear. Results from an otolith microchemistry study suggest that fish from Gove and Joseph Bonaparte Gulf may belong to separate stocks [Cameron and Begg 2002] although the biological stock boundaries are unknown. Here, assessment of stock status is presented at the biological stock level—Eastern Australia; and the management unit—Northern Australia.

Northern Australia

Spotted Mackerel is broadly distributed across northern Australia, with components occurring in Western Australia, Northern Territory and Queensland [Begg et al. 1998a, Cameron and Begg 2002]. Stock status for the Northern Australia management unit is reported as Negligible due to historically low catches and the stock has not been subject to targeted fishing [West et al. 2012, Webley et al. 2015, Teixeira et al. 2021, QFISH 2020].

Spotted Mackerel is not a major component of the commercial or recreational landings in any jurisdiction within the Northern Australia management units. In Western Australia, only the Mackerel Managed Fishery is licensed to land mackerel species and in 2019 the reported commercial catch of Spotted Mackerel was less than 10 kg. The Western Australian Mackerel Managed Fishery predominantly targets Spanish Mackerel with gear, and in locations, not conducive to catching Spotted Mackerel. The species is not a major component of the recreational landings, estimated at 273 fish (+/- 84 se) in the 2017–18 boat based survey [Ryan et al. 2019] and the 2019 WA Charter catch was 61 kg. In the Northern Territory the recreational catch is < 2 t [West et al. 2012] and the commercial catch has averaged 326 kg over the last 10 years with a maximum harvest of 1,276kg in 2016. In Queensland Gulf of Carpentaria waters recreational and commercial catches are limited, with negligible commercial net and line harvests. There is a recreational possession limit of five Spotted Mackerel in both Northern Territory and Queensland waters. Fishing is unlikely to be having a negative impact on the stock.

Spotted Mackerel biology [Begg et al. 1998a, Cameron and Begg 2002, Begg et al. 2005, QDAF 2018]

Distribution of reported commercial catch of Spotted Mackerel

Queensland – recreational (catch) Estimated from Teixeira et al. 2021 (31 219 fish retained by Queensland residents) and average weight of 2.6 kg.

Queensland – Indigenous (management methods) for more information see https://www.daf.qld.gov.au/business-priorities/fisheries/traditional-fishing

New South Wales – Recreational (Catch) Murphy et al. [2020].

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

Western Australia – Recreational (Catch) Statewide survey of boat-based recreational fishing in Western Australia 2017/18 [Ryan et al. 2019]. Shore- based catch (if any) largely unknown.

Western Australia – Recreational (Management methods) Boat-based recreational fishing licence required.

Western Australia – Charter (Catch) The charter catch is an estimate based on numbers of fish caught multiplied by an average weight.

Commercial catch of Spotted Mackerel - note confidential catch not shown

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