NORTH WEST SLOPE AND WESTERN DEEPWATER TRAWL FISHERIES

Major species:

North West Slope Trawl – Scampi and Deepwater Prawns

Western Deepwater Trawl – Bugs, Snapper, Deepwater Flathead and mixed finfish

Estimated catch 2009-10:

North West Slope Trawl – 35 tonnes

Western Deepwater Trawl – 13 tonnes

Gross value of production 2009-10:
Not available

Key species of the North West Slope and Western Deepwater Trawl Fisheries are scampi, bugs and deepwater flathead

Key species of the North West Slope and Western Deepwater Trawl Fisheries are scampi, bugs and deepwater flathead

DEVELOPMENTS IN 2010–11

  • The Commonwealth and Western Australian governments continued to discuss the boundary descriptions of the two Commonwealth fisheries in the Offshore Constitutional Settlement arrangement. The discussions have revolved around re-alignment of the boundary description to better reflect the 200 metre isobath along the coast of Western Australia. A partial area closure direction in the northern region of the North West Slope Trawl Fishery expired on 31 December 2010. This was replaced by a voluntary closure of the same area, which expires on 30 September 2011.
  • A review of the Western Trawl Fisheries Harvest Strategy is underway. The harvest strategy is a tool to maintain key commercial stocks at ecologically sustainable levels and within this context, maximise the economic returns to the fishing industry.

REPORT AGAINST MANAGEMENT PLAN

The fisheries were managed in accordance with a statement of management arrangements and permit conditions.