Commercial Fishing

Commercial wildcatch fisheries in South Australia include:

  • marine-based fisheries for species such as abalone, garfish, King George whiting, mullet, pilchards, prawns, rock lobster, snapper, tuna, tommy ruff and sharks
  • estuarine and freshwater fisheries targeting callop, carp, cockles, flounder, mullet, mulloway, Murray cod and yabbies.

South Australia's wildcatch fisheries are subject to limited entry regimes and are controlled by:

  • input controls (controlling what goes in to the water, such as limitations on the number of licences issued, gear restrictions, seasonal closures and limits on total fishing time)
  • output controls (controlling what comes out of the water, such as directly limiting the number of fish that can be landed).

South Australian seafood is recognised for its freshness and consistent quality and makes a significant contribution to the economy of the state. The SA Seafood Food Plan 2005-2015  establishes the framework and strategies for the seafood industry (including fish processing, wholesale, retail and live seafood distribution) over the coming years.

The challenge is to develop these valuable industries while at the same time ensuring the sustainability of the ecosystem and respecting the rights of other users.