Publication Date

9-2025

Series Number

3

Publisher

Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development

City

Perth

ISBN

ISBN: 978-1-925415-14-8 (Print), ISBN: 978-1-925415-15-5 (Online)

ISSN

ISSN: 3083-5399 (Print), ISSN: 3083-5380 (Online)

Abstract

The Gascoyne Demersal Scalefish Resource (GDSR) comprises over 80 species inhabiting inshore (20-250 m deep) and offshore ( > 250 m deep) waters in the Gascoyne Coast Bioregion (GCB; south of Onslow to north of Kalbarri). The GDSR is primarily targeted by commercial, charter and recreational boat-based line fishers. Snapper and Goldband Snapper are the indicator species selected for monitoring and assessing the status of the inshore suite of the GDSR, while Ruby Snapper and Greybanded Grouper are the indicators for the offshore suite.

Periodic assessments of GDSR indicator species demonstrated that historical fishing of Snapper led to stocks being below the limit reference level between 2010 and 2020. A formal harvest strategy was introduced in 2017 for the GDSR followed by a recovery plan for oceanic Snapper in 2018. The recovery plan is designed to limit total removals (including retained catches and estimated post-release mortality) of Snapper by all sectors to no more than 100 t and recover stocks to the threshold level by 2027 and the target level by 2037. The main commercial fishery targeting the GDSR, the Gascoyne Demersal Scalefish Managed Fishery (GDSMF), holds a Wildlife Trade Organisation accreditation (valid until January 2028; Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water 2025).

This 2024 GDSR assessment is focused on the two main indicators (Snapper and Goldband Snapper) that collectively make up are a large proportion of the total catches retained by all fishing sectors. The assessment includes available catch and effort information and biological data (sizes and ages) for Snapper up to 2023 (inclusive) and for Goldband Snapper up to 2020 (inclusive).

Number of Pages

65

Keywords

Gascoyne Demersal Scalefish Resource, catch and effort, recovery, commercial fishery

Disciplines

Aquaculture and Fisheries | Environmental Indicators and Impact Assessment | Environmental Monitoring

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