- Environment and sustainability
- Fisheries A to Z index
- Antarctic fisheries
- Bass Strait Central Zone Scallop Fishery (BSCZSF)
- Christmas Island and Cocos (Keeling) Islands fisheries
- Coral Sea Fishery (CSF)
- Eastern Tuna and Billfish Fishery (ETBF)
- High Seas permits
- Norfolk Island Fishery
- North West Slope Trawl Fishery (NWSTF)
- Northern Prawn Fishery (NPF)
- Skipjack Tuna fisheries
- Small Pelagic Fishery (SPF)
- Southern and Eastern Scalefish and Shark Fishery (SESSF)
- Southern Bluefin Tuna Fishery (SBTF)
- Southern Squid Jig Fishery (SSJF)
- South Tasman Rise (STR)
- Torres Strait Fisheries
- Western Deepwater Trawl Fishery (WDTF)
- WDTF at a glance
- WDTF map
- WDTF notices and announcements
- WDTF management
- WDTF publications
- Western Tuna and Billfish Fishery (WTBF)
- Compliance activities
- Co-management
- Harvest strategies
- Antarctic fisheries Harvest Strategy
- Bass Strait Central Zone Scallop Fishery Harvest Strategy
- Coral Sea Fishery – Hand Collection Sector: Aquarium Harvest Strategy
- Coral Sea Fishery – Hand Collection Sector: Lobster and Trochus Harvest Strategy
- Coral Sea Fishery – Hand Collection Sector: Sea Cucumber Harvest Strategy
- Coral Sea Fishery: Line, Trawl and Trap Sectors Harvest Strategy
- Eastern Tuna and Billfish Fishery Harvest Strategy
- Northern Prawn Fishery Harvest Strategy under Input Controls
- Skipjack Tuna Harvest Strategy
- Small Pelagic Fishery Harvest Strategy
- Southern and Eastern Scalefish and Shark Fishery Harvest Strategy
- Southern Squid Jig Fishery Arrow Squid Harvest Strategy
- Western Deepwater Trawl and North West Slope Trawl Fishery Harvest Strategy
- Data collection
- Consultation
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 |
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. |
Hot Topics
Latest News
- Changes in the Gillnet, Hook and Trap Sector of the Southern and Eastern Scalefish and Shark Fishery to Protect Dolphins
- Draft Shark Plan 2
- Changes in the Gillnet, Hook and Trap Sector of the Southern and Eastern Scalefish and Shark Fishery
- Eastern Tuna and Billfish Fishery Management arrangements booklet 2011
- Freedom of Information
