At a glance

The Coral Sea Fishery (CSF) is a relatively small but diverse fishery, targeting a wide range of species with methods including line, trap, trawl and hand collection.

At a glance
Area of the Fishery The CSF covers waters from the east of Sandy Cape (Fraser Island) to east of Cape York. The Fishery commences east of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park and extends to the edge of the Australian Fishing Zone. It excludes the areas of the Coringa-Herald and Lihou Reef National Nature Reserves. Together the Nature Reserves cover approximately 17,000 square kilometres of coral reef habitat.
Principal Species A wide range of finfish species are taken in the CSF, as well as sharks, lobsters, trochus, sea cucumbers and live rock (limestone encrusted with coralline algae and other encrusting species). Catch composition varies over time and depending on the methods and areas fished.
Fishing Technique
  • Line and trap sector – demersal longline, trotlines, droplines, setlines and handlines, and demersal finfish traps;
  • Trawl and trap sector – otter board trawl gear for fish and crustaceans, demersal finfish traps;
  • Sea cucumber sector – hand collection;
  • Aquarium sector – hand collection, barbless hook and line, scoop, cast nets, seine nets, and
  • Lobster and trochus sector – hand collection.
No. Fishing Concessions There are currently 16 fishing permits in total:

  • eight line and trap;
  • two trawl and trap;
  • two sea cucumber;
  • two aquarium, and
  • two lobster and trochus sector permits.
Estimated Catch and Value 2007-2008 The fishery landed about 132 tonnes of fish, crustaceans, molluscs and echinoderms in 2007-08 as well as a number of aquarium species which (apart from live rock) are not weighed but recorded as numbers of individuals. The estimated value of the fishery, excluding the Aquarium sector was approximately $0.58 million.
Main Markets Markets for the CSF are largely domestic, however export markets are also important for the sea cucumber and aquarium sectors.
Stock Status Most stocks have not been assessed and are classified uncertain for overfishing and uncertain for overfished by the Bureau of Rural Sciences[1]. ]. Some sea cucumber species, lobster and trochus species were found not to be subject to overfishing by BRS, and a project is currently underway to clarify the status of other CSF stocks.
Management of the Fishery The Coral Sea Fishery is a relatively small but diverse fishery. Management arrangements are developed in consultation with stakeholders including industry members, scientific researchers and other fishery managers. The Management Arrangements booklet describes the arrangements in place for the fishery. In addition to these arrangements, the industry has also developed voluntary codes and policies to ensure responsible use of the fishery and its resources.

The CSF is a limited entry fishery managed in accordance with AFMA’s harvest strategies. These harvest strategies include input controls (limited number of permits, gear and operator limits, spatial and temporal management regimes) as well as output controls (size limits, proportional and total catch limits).

AFMA manages the CSF in a precautionary manner in accordance with the objectives of the Fisheries Management Act 1991 and associated legislation.

The fishery is regularly assessed by the Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities (SEWPAC) and has been approved as a sustainable wildlife trade operation until 19 November 2010.
Bycatch and discard All species (including bycatch and discarding) for each sector have specific mitigation measures in place and are managed under CSF harvest strategies.

AFMA has developed a Bycatch and Discard Work Plan for the CSF and is undertaking further ecological risk assessments during 2010-2011 to augment its management arrangements.

Hand collection sectors such as the lobster and trochus, aquarium and sea cucumber sectors are highly selective and do not discard catch.
Consultative Mechanism AFMA regularly consults informally with operators and other stakeholders in managing the CSF. A meeting for all stakeholders is held each year, typically in March or April to discuss management arrangements for the fishery. AFMA also works closely with managers and scientific experts associated with Queensland State fisheries, to inform and coordinate management arrangements with adjacent fisheries.
Priorities for the next 12 months Current priorities for the CSF include:

  • implement and review the CSF harvest strategies;
  • continue to develop collaborative arrangements with Queensland fisheries managers and scientific experts;
  • progress risk assessment for the fishery;
  • implement the Bycatch and Discard Work Plan for the fishery;
  • continue to develop and rationalise data collection, collation and analysis for the fishery, and
  • facilitate SEWPAC’s strategic assessment of the fishery for wildlife trade operation and export approvals.
Research Objectives and Priorities AFMA is analysing logbook and observer data collected to date. Key future research priorities are likely to focus on stock assessment and minimising any environmental impacts of fishing identified through risk assessments.

[1] Fishery Status Reports 2008. Australian Government Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Bureau of Rural Sciences.