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WDTF at a glance

The Western Deepwater Trawl Fishery (WDTF) is located off Western Australia from the line approximating the 200 metre isobath to the edge of the Australian Fishing Zone (AFZ).

Its northern most point is the boundary of the AFZ to longitude 114° E and southern most point at the boundary of the AFZ to longitude 115° 08’E.

The Ningaloo Commonwealth Marine Reserve extends into the area of the fishery and the northern part of the fishery is also an area of high oil and gas productivity.

Principally a finfish trawl fishery, species diversity is considerable. Commercial species are taken on the upper and mid-continental slope, but generally not in large quantities.

The community structure in the WDTF ranges from a temperate/sub-tropical fish community in the south, to a more tropical fish community at the northern range of the fishery.

A wide range of species are caught, ranging from tropical snappers on the shelf edge to Oreo Dory, Deepwater Flathead and bugs in the deeper temperate waters.

At a glance
Principal Species	Mixed species, but mainly white-tailed and deepwater velvet bugs and Deepwater Flathead
No. of Fishing Concessions	11 fishing permits
Estimated Catch	34.3 tonnes (2009-2010)
Main Market	Domestic
Fishing Methods	Demersal fish trawl and Demersal crustacean trawl
Management Arrangements	A Statement of Management Arrangements and Harvest Strategy for the WDTF and North West Slope Trawl Fisheries, have been developed. Due to its small size and opportunistic fishing patterns, the WDTF does not have a statutory management plan.
Offshore Constitutional Settlement Arrangements	Under the terms of the Offshore Consitutional Settlement arrangements with Western Australia, AFMA has management responsibility for all marine species taken by trawl in the defined area of the fishery. The Western Australian government has responsibility for species taken with non-trawl methods in these waters (except tunas) and for all trawling in inshore waters.
State of the Resource	Deepwater bugs –  not subject to overfishing, uncertain stock statusOrange Roughy –  not subject to overfishing, uncertain stock statusRuby snapper – not subject to overfishing, uncertain stock status (ABARES, 2010)
Consultation and Communication	West Management Advisory Committee (WestMAC) was disbanded on 1 July 2009 and replaced by a small consultative panel that will focus on the key strategic issues facing the Western Trawl Fisheries.
Marine Bioregional planning	Details of all current Commonwealth Marine Reserves in the area of the fishery can be found at the Department of Sustainability Environment Water Population and Communities website.

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