Draft Management Plan for the South Australian Commercial Marine Scalefish Fishery

Consultation has concluded

Have your say on the draft Management Plan for SA's Commercial Marine Scalefish Fishery (MSF).

What's being decided?

We want to hear your views on key features of the draft management plan, including the:

  • description of the fishery
  • co-management arrangements
  • allocation of access between sectors
  • goals and objectives for the management of the fishery
  • harvest strategy
  • stock assessment and research
  • compliance and monitoring arrangements.

Background

The commercial MSF is a multi-species, multi-gear, shared-access fishery. The fishery includes all South Australian coastal waters including gulfs, bays and estuaries (excluding the Coorong estuary) from the state border with Western Australian to the Victorian border.

There are over 60 species of marine scalefish taken commercially, however the majority of fishing effort is traditionally concentrated on:

  • King George Whiting
  • Southern Garfish
  • Snapper
  • Southern Calamari.

Access to marine scalefish species is shared with recreational fishers, including the Charter Boat Fishery, as well as Aboriginal traditional fishers, and supports a significant amount of recreational fishing activity both in terms of participation and catch.

Some marine scalefish species are also taken commercially by:

  • Miscellaneous Fishery
  • Rock Lobster Fishery
  • Lakes and Coorong Fishery
  • Prawn Fishery
  • Sardine Fishery
  • Vongole Fishery
  • Blue Crab Fishery.

The current management plan for the South Australian Commercial Marine Scalefish Fishery expires on 30 June 2025.

In line the Fisheries Management Act 2007, an updated management plan has been prepared. This was done in consultation with the Marine Scalefish Fishery Management Advisory Committee (MSFMAC), relevant industry bodies, and other stakeholders.

A major component of this work has been the development of a new Harvest Strategy Framework (HSF). The HSF seeks to ensure stocks are biologically sustainable through setting fishing limits or other management arrangements that are proportionate to the size of species' populations.

An Ecologically Sustainable Development (ESD) Risk Assessment was undertaken for the MSF to inform development of the draft management plan. The new ESD assessment considered new information, in particular the reform of the fishery in 2021, as the previous assessment was undertaken in 2011.

The MSFMAC considered the draft management plan and noted that the document had been modernised to be more concise and remove redundant information, consistent with other recent PIRSA fishery management plans. The MSFMAC has recommended that the draft management plan be endorsed for public consultation.

Get involved

  1. Read the document for consultation:
  2. Read the supporting documents:
  3. Have your say.

Written feedback must be received before 5 pm, 31 January 2025.

By completing the survey, you agree to the Department of Primary Industries and Regions (PIRSA) making your submission publicly available. All personal contact information will be removed from submissions before they are made publicly available.

What are the next steps?

We will make written submissions available for viewing on 4–5 February 2025 at 2 Hamra Avenue, West Beach during business hours. We will hold a public hearing at the same location from 4 pm on 5 February 2025, at which interested persons may appear to be heard in relation to the draft management plan and the submissions.

We will consider all comments received and prepare an updated draft plan for the Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development to consider adopting as the new Management Plan for the South Australian Commercial Marine Scalefish Fishery.

Once adopted by the Minister, the management plan will be presented to Parliament within 12 sitting days.

Have your say on the draft Management Plan for SA's Commercial Marine Scalefish Fishery (MSF).

What's being decided?

We want to hear your views on key features of the draft management plan, including the:

  • description of the fishery
  • co-management arrangements
  • allocation of access between sectors
  • goals and objectives for the management of the fishery
  • harvest strategy
  • stock assessment and research
  • compliance and monitoring arrangements.

Background

The commercial MSF is a multi-species, multi-gear, shared-access fishery. The fishery includes all South Australian coastal waters including gulfs, bays and estuaries (excluding the Coorong estuary) from the state border with Western Australian to the Victorian border.

There are over 60 species of marine scalefish taken commercially, however the majority of fishing effort is traditionally concentrated on:

  • King George Whiting
  • Southern Garfish
  • Snapper
  • Southern Calamari.

Access to marine scalefish species is shared with recreational fishers, including the Charter Boat Fishery, as well as Aboriginal traditional fishers, and supports a significant amount of recreational fishing activity both in terms of participation and catch.

Some marine scalefish species are also taken commercially by:

  • Miscellaneous Fishery
  • Rock Lobster Fishery
  • Lakes and Coorong Fishery
  • Prawn Fishery
  • Sardine Fishery
  • Vongole Fishery
  • Blue Crab Fishery.

The current management plan for the South Australian Commercial Marine Scalefish Fishery expires on 30 June 2025.

In line the Fisheries Management Act 2007, an updated management plan has been prepared. This was done in consultation with the Marine Scalefish Fishery Management Advisory Committee (MSFMAC), relevant industry bodies, and other stakeholders.

A major component of this work has been the development of a new Harvest Strategy Framework (HSF). The HSF seeks to ensure stocks are biologically sustainable through setting fishing limits or other management arrangements that are proportionate to the size of species' populations.

An Ecologically Sustainable Development (ESD) Risk Assessment was undertaken for the MSF to inform development of the draft management plan. The new ESD assessment considered new information, in particular the reform of the fishery in 2021, as the previous assessment was undertaken in 2011.

The MSFMAC considered the draft management plan and noted that the document had been modernised to be more concise and remove redundant information, consistent with other recent PIRSA fishery management plans. The MSFMAC has recommended that the draft management plan be endorsed for public consultation.

Get involved

  1. Read the document for consultation:
  2. Read the supporting documents:
  3. Have your say.

Written feedback must be received before 5 pm, 31 January 2025.

By completing the survey, you agree to the Department of Primary Industries and Regions (PIRSA) making your submission publicly available. All personal contact information will be removed from submissions before they are made publicly available.

What are the next steps?

We will make written submissions available for viewing on 4–5 February 2025 at 2 Hamra Avenue, West Beach during business hours. We will hold a public hearing at the same location from 4 pm on 5 February 2025, at which interested persons may appear to be heard in relation to the draft management plan and the submissions.

We will consider all comments received and prepare an updated draft plan for the Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development to consider adopting as the new Management Plan for the South Australian Commercial Marine Scalefish Fishery.

Once adopted by the Minister, the management plan will be presented to Parliament within 12 sitting days.