Commercial Garfish closure
Temporary closures to commercial Southern Garfish fishing will take place in Spencer Gulf and Gulf St Vincent for separate 20-day periods between 12 May and 24 June 2012. Find out more.

Interim Snapper limit announced
A commercial daily trip limit for Snapper has been introduced as an interim measure to protect local stocks. The change is effective 1 January to 31 June 2012 and will contain commercial fishers to an 800 kg daily commercial trip limit within gulf waters. View map of the restricted areas (pdf 254.8 KB) and answers to frequently asked questions.

Management Plans

A fisheries management plan under the new Fisheries Management Act 2007 must

  • set out the management objectives of the plan and strategies for achieving those objectives
  • identify research needs and priorities
  • set out the resources required to implement the plan
  • identify the fishery to which the plan relates
  • describe the biological, economic and social characteristics of the fishery
  • identify the impacts or potential impacts of the fishery on its associated ecosystem or ecosystems, including impacts on non-target species of fish or other aquatic resources
  • identify any ecological factors that could have an impact on the performance of the fishery
  • assess the risks to the ecosystem and set out strategies for addressing those risks
  • set out methods for monitoring the performance of the fishery and the effectiveness of the plan, including performance indicators, trigger points for review or action and progress reporting.


Management plans developed under the Fisheries Act 1982 continue to apply.  They are available for the following fisheries:

Abalone Fishery (June 2004)

Beach-Cast Seagrass and Marine Algae Fishery
The period for public comment on this draft management plan has now closed.  The Minister for Agriculture, Food and Fisheries will consider these comments and release the final management plan which will be posted to this page.

Blue Crab Fishery (2012)

Charter Boat Fishery (2011) 

Giant Crab Fishery (Oct 2002)

Lakes and Coorong Fishery (July 2005)

Marine Scalefish Fishery  (January 2006)

Pelican Lagoon Aquatic Reserve (October 2011)

Prawn (Gulf St Vincent) Fishery (Dec 1997)

Prawn (Gulf St Vincent) Fishery (Sept 2007)

Prawn (Spencer Gulf and West Coast) Fishery (July 1998)

Prawn (Spencer Gulf) Fishery (Sept 2007) 

Rock Lobster (Northern Zone) Fishery  (Dec 1997)

Rock Lobster (Northern Zone) Fishery (Sept 2007)   

Rock Lobster (Southern Zone) Fishery  (Dec 1997)

Rock Lobster (Southern Zone) Fishery (Sept 2007)

Sardine (Pilchard) Fishery (Nov 2005)