Fisheries
The fisheries science program advises the State and Australian Governments about managing sustainable fisheries resources. This determines the effects of both commercial and recreational fishing on fish populations and ecosystems.
We undertake ecological projects and collaborate widely with other research agencies.
Our scientific findings are published in peer-reviewed reports and national and international journals.
Research areas
SARDI fisheries scientists specialise in:
- assessing stock of both commercial and recreational marine and inland waters fisheries
- analysing biology and ecology of marine fishes and invertebrates
- monitoring the recruitment and survival of juveniles
- analysing fishery-dependent data
- conducting fishery-independent surveys
- developing harvest strategies for numerous species
- evaluating fishery performance against management plan performance indicators
- developing sophisticated stock assessment and bioeconomic models.
Fisheries has 5 subprograms.
Crustacean fisheries
Crustacean fisheries
This subprogram undertakes research on crustaceans in southern Australia, focusing on:
- southern rock lobster
- western king prawn
- giant crab.
Molluscan fisheries
Molluscan fisheries
This subprogram undertakes research on molluscs in southern Australia, focusing on:
- greenlip and blacklip abalone
- bivalves including vongole and pipi
- cephalopods including southern calamari, and Australian giant cuttlefish.
Community-based fisheries
Community-based fisheries
This subprogram works across numerous sectors including:
- South Australia’s Marine Scalefish Fishery
- Charter Boat Fishery
- Blue Crab Fishery
- the finfish component of the Lakes and Coorong Fishery
- recreational and Aboriginal traditional fishing.
The focus is on:
- King George whiting
- snapper
- southern garfish
- southern calamari
- mulloway
- yellow-eye mullet
- flounder
- black bream
- blue crab.
Read our snapper fishery research findings or find out more about snapper recovery.
Pelagic fisheries
Pelagic fisheries
This subprogram undertakes research on pelagic fishes in southern Australia, focusing on:
- Australian sardine
- blue mackerel
- jack mackerel
- red bait.
Fisheries modelling
Fisheries modelling
This subprogram provides modelling and statistical services to other fisheries subprograms. The focus is to:
- develop and maintain fishery and bioeconomic models, including management strategy evaluation
- design surveys and methods of data analysis that:
- estimate performance indicators, including stock abundance and levels of exploitation
- assess local and interstate fisheries from multiple data sources.
