SARDI’s Snapper Stock Assessment Report 2022 has been released and is now available.
To support the recovery of depleted snapper stocks in South Australia, a ban on snapper fishing has been in place since 1 November 2019 in the Spencer Gulf, West Coast and Gulf St Vincent/Kangaroo Island fishing zones.
Snapper is a long lived and slow growing species with variable recruitment of juvenile snapper to the fish population. This, combined with many other factors, has seen snapper stocks at critically low levels, with the 2020 snapper assessment showing a 78% reduction in the Spencer Gulf/West Coast zone and 90% reduction in the Gulf St Vincent zone since 2013.
The Snapper Stock Assessment Report 2022 has shown an arrest in the decline of the fishable biomass however stocks remain classified as depleted in both the Spencer Gulf/West Coast zone and Gulf St Vincent Zone.
The South East fishing zone, where snapper stocks are shared with Western Victoria, continues to be classified as sustainable.
While it is important to note that no decision has yet been made regarding ending the three-year snapper ban put in place by the former government in 2019, the release of the stock assessment is in line with Malinauskas Labor Government’s pre-election commitment to better explain the science behind important fisheries decisions.
Key stakeholders from the commercial and recreational sectors have been briefed on the report by SARDI, including the Marine Fishers Association, RecFish SA and the Charter Boat Association of SA.
SARDI scientists are presenting the results of the report in the coming weeks. The presentations will be held across the state as follows:
- Wednesday 9 November – Whyalla: Quest, 1:00–2:00 pm; Wallaroo: Coopers Alehouse, 7:00–8:00 pm
- Thursday 10 November – Adelaide: SARDI Aquatic Sciences Centre, 4:00–5:00 pm
- Friday 11 November – Victor Harbor: Victor Harbor Yacht Club, 12:00–1:00 pm
- Wednesday 16 November – Ceduna: Foreshore Hotel, 12:30–1:30 pm
- Thursday 17 November – Port Lincoln: Port Lincoln Hotel, 10:00–11:00 am
The Snapper Stock Assessment Report 2022 will be considered by the Marine Scalefish Fishery Management Advisory Committee and its scientific sub-committee with meetings scheduled in the next two weeks. The MSFMAC will provide recommendations to government, with a decision by government expected in December.
To download the report and for further information on current management arrangements, go to Snapper fishery research findings.
