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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]. Genetic analysis, otolith microchemistry and tagging studies suggest that Spotted Mackerel comprise a single stock in eastern Australian waters [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 [Ryan et al. 2022; West et al. 2022; Webley et al. 2015; Teixeira et al. 2021].

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 the catch of Spotted Mackerel has averaged 10 kg per year over the last five years, with only 6 kg reported in 2021–22. The species is not a major component of the recreational landings, estimated at 175 fish (+/- 86 se) in the 2020–21 boat-based survey [Ryan et al. 2022] and the 2021–22 WA Charter sector landed catch was 28 kg. In the Northern Territory, the recreational catch was estimated at 396 (+/-188 se) fish per annum in 2018–19 [West et al. 2022] and the commercial catch has averaged 1.2 t over the last 5 years with a maximum harvest of 3.3 t 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.

On the basis of the evidence provided above, the entire Nothern Australia stock is classified as a negligible stock.

Spotted Mackerel biology [Begg et al. 1998a; Cameron and Begg 2002; Begg et al. 2005; QDAF unpublished data]

Distribution of reported commercial catch of Spotted Mackerel

Queensland – Recreational (Catch). Data are based at the whole of Queensland level and derived from statewide recreational fishing surveys [Teixeira et al. 2021]. Where possible, estimates have been converted to weight (tonnes) using best known conversion multipliers. Conversion factors may display regional or temporal variability. In the absence of an adequate conversion factor, data presented as number of fish. Charter is included with Recreational. 

Queensland – Indigenous (Management Methods). For more information see: https://www.daf.qld.gov.au/business-priorities/fisheries/traditional-fishing

Queensland – Commercial (Catch). Queensland commercial data have been sourced from the commercial fisheries logbook program. Further information available through the Queensland Fisheries Summary Report https://www.daf.qld.gov.au/business-priorities/fisheries/monitoring-research/data/queensland-fisheries-summary-report 

Queensland – Commercial (Management Methods). Harvest strategies are available at: https://www.daf.qld.gov.au/business-priorities/fisheries/sustainable/harvest-strategy   

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

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

Northern Territory - Indigenous (Management Methods). The Fisheries Act 1988 (NT), specifies that: “Unless expressly provided otherwise, nothing in this Act derogates or limits the right of Aboriginal people who have traditionally used the resources of an area of land or water in a traditional manner to continue to use those resources in that area in that manner.”

Western Australia – Recreational (Catch). Statewide survey of boat-based recreational fishing in Western Australia 2017/18 [Ryan et al. 2022]. 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

1. Begg, G, Keenan, C and Sellin, M 1998, Genetic variation and stock structure of school mackerel and spotted mackerel in northern Australian waters, Journal of Fish Biology, 53: 543–559.
2. Begg, GA 1998, Reproductive biology of school mackerel (Scomberomorus queenslandicus) and spotted mackerel (S. munroi) in Queensland east-coast waters, Marine and Freshwater Research, 49(3): 261–270.
3. Begg, GA and Sellin, MJ 1998, Age and growth of school mackerel (Scomberomorus queenslandicus) and spotted mackerel (S. munroi) in Queensland east-coast waters with implications for stock structure, Marine and Freshwater Research, 49(2): 109–120.
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10. Murphy, JJ, Ochwada-Doyle, FA, West, LD, Stark, KE, Hughes, JM and Taylor, MD 2022, Survey of recreational fishing in NSW, 2019/20 – Key Results, NSW DPI – Fisheries Final Report Series No. 161, NSW Department of Primary Industries, Nelson Bay, NSW. ISSN 2204-8669.
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17. Webley, J, McInnes, K, Teixeira, D, Lawson, A and Quinn, R 2015, Statewide Recreational Fishing Survey 2013–14, Department of Agriculture and Fisheries, Queensland.
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