An education campaign to promote better ways to safely release undersized or unintentionally caught Snapper has been launched, aimed at improving survival rates and ensuring the long-term future of the species in South Australian waters.
Snapper can suffer barotrauma when caught from depths greater than 10 metres due to the rapid change in pressure when they are brought to the surface, resulting in the expansion of gasses within the fish’s body.
Barotrauma can cause significant internal injuries, affect the ability of the fish to regulate buoyancy, and is strongly associated with mortality, which can occur up to 24 hours after release. The severity of barotrauma increases with increasing depth, which results in higher mortality rates in deeper water.
The Department of Primary Industries and Regions (PIRSA) has developed educational materials which will be distributed before the summer school holidays to promote the best practices for capture, handling and release of Snapper to increase the chance of survival.
The information has been compiled from the latest findings by the South Australian Research and Development Institute (SARDI) in a co-funded research project ‘Quantifying post-release survival and movement of Snapper’, with the Fisheries Research and Development Corporation (FRDC).
An educational video is now available on the PIRSA website, along with a flyer and updated information on the techniques recreational fishers can use to boost survival rates of released Snapper and other bottom dwelling fish.
The effects of barotrauma can be reduced by fishing in shallow water and using a release weight when returning fish to the water, which is designed to rapidly send the fish back to the depth that it was caught. This recompresses the gasses in the fish’s body and enables it to regulate its buoyancy.
Last December, the Malinauskas Government announced the Snapper Recovery Package – a three-year, $8.8 million support package, developed in response to the extended closure of the Spencer Gulf, West Coast and Gulf St Vincent Snapper stocks until 30 June 2026. The package includes:
- $5 million for the Snapper Science Program, which is co-funded by the State Government and FRDC
- $2.4 million fee relief to support impacted commercial fishers
- $1.2 million to support the continuation of the Snapper restocking program
- $200,000 for reef restoration projects.
Recreational Snapper fishing is open in the South East Fishing Zone only, and is closed in the West Coast, Spencer Gulf and Gulf St Vincent/Kangaroo Island Fishing Zones until 30 June 2026.
Fishing for Snapper in the South-East Fishing Zone is managed by a Total Allowable Catch, with a recreational daily bag limit of two Snapper per person and a daily limit of six Snapper per boat if there are three or more people fishing on board.
Recreational fishers must report the Snapper they catch through the free SA Recreational Fishing Guide app or by phoning the Fishwatch 24-hour hotline on 1800 065 522.
For more information go to Snapper recovery, contact the Fishwatch 24-hour hotline 1800 065 522, or check out the free SA Fishing app.