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Redspot Emperor is found throughout tropical Australia in both coastal and offshore habitats. Stocks In NT and WA are classified as sustainable, while stocks found on the east coast of QLD and in the Gulf of Carpentaria are undefined. 

Photo credit: Matthew Dorter

Redspot Emperor is a widespread Indo-Pacific species, found throughout tropical Australia in both coastal and offshore habitats. This species inhabits northern Australia, with its range extending from approximately Gladstone, Queensland in the east, to Port Headland Western Australia, in the west [Carpenter and Allen 1989].

There is no information on population connectivity for this species in Australian waters and subsequently, this species has been assessed at the jurisdictional level for the Northern Territory and Western Australia. In Queensland, geographic separation caused by Torres Strait most likely results in limited movement between the Queensland east coast and the Queensland side of the Gulf of Carpentaria, consequently, this species has been assessed as two management units in this state.

Here, assessment of stock status is presented at the jurisdictional level–Western Australia and Northern Territory, and the management unit level–Gulf of Carpentaria Queensland and East Coast.

East Coast

Redspot Emperor on the East Coast of Queensland is mainly caught within the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park by line in the commercial and charter sectors in the Reef Line Fishery (RLF) [QDAF 2020a]. Within the RLF, Redspot Emperor is retained as a by-product species and managed through a multi species total allowable commercial catch (TACC) quota. In addition, species-specific harvest control rules and catch reference points were introduced for by-product species (including Redspot Emperor) through the RLF Harvest Strategy in 2020. Charter catch records span from 1995–96 to present with annual harvest increasing from 0.1 tonnes (t) up to 1 t in 2021–22.  Commercial catch records span from 2002–03 to present with annual harvest increasing from 0.1 t to a peak of 1.6 t in 2019–20 and stabilising to 0.75 t to present. Most of the increase in harvest can be attributed to increases in charter and commercial harvest in far north Queensland. Recreational fishing catch could not be estimated in the latest Recreational Fishing Survey [Teixeira et al. 2021], however take is likely to be low. The indigenous take is unknown.  

On the basis of the evidence provided above, Redspot Emperor along the Queensland East Coast is classified as an undefined stock.

Gulf of Carpentaria Queensland

Redspot Emperor in the Gulf of Carpentaria, Queensland is mainly caught by trawling in the Gulf of Carpentaria Developmental Fin Fish Trawl Fishery (GOCDFFTF). The GOCDFFTF is managed as a developmental fishery under the Queensland Fisheries Act 1994, Queensland Fisheries (Commercial Fisheries) Regulation 2019 and the Fisheries (General) Regulation 2019 [QDAF 2020b]. Redspot Emperor are not targeted by the GOCDFFTF but are retained as a by-product species and managed through a multi species total allowable commercial catch (TACC) quota.  

Commercial catch records span the period from 1997–2022, however, fishing has not occurred in every year. Commercial catches of Redspot Emperor increased from 1 t in 1996–97 to a peak of 13 t in 2004–05, then decreased to zero in 2016–17. Harvest resumed in 2020–21 when new developmental fishing permits were issued. Annual commercial catches increasing to 3 t in 2020–21 and 4.5 t in 2021–22. Redspot Emperor accounts for approximately 4% of the catch in the GOCDFTF [Zeller and Snape 2006]. Recent fishery independent surveys estimated biomass of Redspot Emperor was 2,385 t in the eastern Gulf of Carpentaria, based on calculations using an effective trawl path for trawl swept area [Knuckey et al. 2022]. The recreational and indigenous take is unknown. There is insufficient information to confidently classify the status of this stock. 

On the basis of the evidence provided above, Redspot Emperor in the Gulf of Carpentaria is classified as a sustainable stock.

Redspot Emperor biology [Currey et al. 2009; Currey et al. 2013; Grandcourt 2002; Johnson unpublished; Mobiha 1991]

Distribution of reported commercial catch of Redspot Emperor – confidential catch is not shown

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.”

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

Queensland – Recreational Fishing (Catch). Data with high uncertainty (Residual Error greater than 50 %) has been excluded and listed as unknown. More information available at: https://www.daf.qld.gov.au/business-priorities/fisheries/monitoring-research/monitoring-reporting/statewide-recreational-fishing-surveys

Queensland – Commercial (Catch). Queensland commercial and charter 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   

Western Australia – Recreational (catch). Boat-based recreational catch between 1 September 2020 and 31 August 2021 from Ryan et al. [2022]. Please note that catches of Blue Threadfin are underestimates as shore-based and boat-based fishers that only operated in freshwater were out of scope of the survey.

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.

Commercial catch of Redspot Emperor - note confidential catch not shown

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