The Quarterly Catch March 2025

No take of abalone in Southern Zone

Fishers are reminded that the take of any abalone (commercial or recreational) in waters from the mouth of the River Murray to the Victorian Border is prohibited from 5 pm on Thursday 6 March 2025.

The closure will remain in place initially for 12 months to support stock recovery under a notice approved under section 79 of the Fisheries Management Act 2007 – see The South Australian Government Gazette No. 13, Thursday 6 March 2025, p. 260.

Due to the abalone growth cycle, it is highly likely that this closure will be extended.

The closure has been activated with the support of the abalone industry and RecFish SA on the basis of observations of AVG-infected abalone throughout the whole zone. Preliminary results from recent SARDI surveys indicate losses of up to 96% of abalone stock in some areas.

Decontamination requirements for any diving and fishing equipment and anchors that may have come in contact with the sea floor in the Southern Zone remain in place to mitigate the risk of spread of AVG to the other abalone fisheries in South Australia.

For further details see How to reduce the spread of abalone disease.

New marine biosecurity educational materials

Watch our video to find out how you can help protect our marine environments and oceans.

SA fishing allocation assessment update

Changes are underway for some of South Australia’s popular fish species, with the Allocation Review Committee (ARC) having assessed how different fishing sectors – commercial and recreational – catch levels compared to their allocated share of the catch.

As previously advised, the initial, stage 1, allocation assessments saw Black Bream, King George Whiting, Yellowtail Kingfish, Southern Garfish and Sand Crab recommended to proceed to a full, stage 2, allocation assessment by the ARC.

Here’s the latest information following ARC recommendations being approved by the Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development in February 2025:

• Black Bream: The ARC recommends the recreational sector should be managed back to within their allocation (their proportional share of the total 5yr catch average) and consider regional management of the species with a focus on the Lakes and Coorong where the stock is depleted.
• King George Whiting: The ARC will defer their decision until the Marine Scalefish Fishery (MSF) harvest strategy, MSF management plan and the new fishery assessment model for King George Whiting are finalised.
• Southern Garfish: The ARC will defer their decision until the MSF harvest strategy, MSF management plan and new fishery assessment model for Garfish are finalised.
• Sand Crab: The ARC recommends that the sectors should be managed back within their allocations, ideally through increasing the recreational access to Sand Crab.
• Yellowtail Kingfish: The ARC recommends that the commercial sector be managed back within their allocation.

PIRSA will now start working with key stakeholders to put these changes into effect for Black Bream, Sand Crab, and Yellowtail Kingfish.

Meanwhile, new fishery assessment models for King George Whiting and Garfish are expected by April 2026, and once they’re ready, the ARC will revisit their allocations as part of the full stage 2 allocation assessment.

Find out more about fisheries allocations.

Foundations of fish tagging with SAFTAG

In early February, RecFish SA and SAFTAG (South Australian Fish Tagging) hosted a fundamentals of fish tagging workshop for recreational fishers at SARDI’s Aquatic Sciences Centre in West Beach.

The workshop involved two components. The first was a series of presentations by SARDI, PIRSA, and Hallprint which described the types of tags used, appropriate tagging techniques, and how information from tagging can be used for research and management.

The tags were produced and supplied by Hallprint, a South Australian family-owned business that is recognised as a world leader in fish tags. The tags allow researchers to track movement patterns, growth rates, and population dynamics of key fish species which contribute to informed fisheries management decisions.

The second part of the workshop was a hands-on practical experience, with attendees applying tags to commercially caught Mulloway and Mullet supplied by RecFish SA. The demonstration by David Hall from Hallprint included correct handling and tagging procedures for the two most common tag types used by recreational fishers for citizen science.

Following the tagging workshop, the fish were then used in a RecFish SA Reel Women filleting workshop – teaching women how to fillet a fish whilst making the most of the fish on the day. Read more about the RecFish SA clinics at [link to other article]?

Caught a tagged fish in SA? Here’s what to do:

1. Record the details.
   Carefully note the tag number, species, length, location, date, and conditions of the fish, such as whether it’s healthy, injured or deceased.
2. Decide whether to release or keep the fish.
   Please note that undersized or protected species must be released carefully after quickly recording the tag details.
3. Report the tag.
   This may be with SAFTAG or with other programs such as CSIRO or SARDI. It’s likely there will be a number to call on the tag.
4. Once reported, you may receive information on the fish’s history.
   Some programs also offer recognition or a reward for reporting tagged fish.

By reporting a tagged fish, you help scientists and fisheries managers track fish movements, growth, and survival, contributing to sustainable fisheries management in South Australia!

This workshop was proudly supported by SAFTAG, RecFish SA, Hallprint, PIRSA and SARDI. If you’d like to know about future events or workshops, touch base with RecFish SA by emailing programs@recfishsa.org.au.

Pondi (Murray cod) First Nations collaborative research

Murray cod, known as Pondi in Ngarrindjeri language, was once abundant throughout the Murray River. Historical Ngarrindjeri accounts tell of Pondi so large they outsized the fishers who caught them!

However, due to extensive river regulation, habitat degradation, the introduction of non-native species, and other environmental challenges over time, this is no longer the case.

Commonwealth environmental water has been delivered to the Lower Murray River aiming to improve the health of our rivers, wetlands and floodplains. In response, First Nations people and SARDI researchers have partnered through the Flow-MER (Flow-Monitoring, Evaluation and Research) program to initiate and implement the collaborative Pondi monitoring project.

This collaborative initiative brings together Indigenous Rangers from the Ngarrindjeri Aboriginal Corporation (NAC) and the River Murray and Mallee Aboriginal Corporation (RMMAC) with scientists to monitor Pondi health and abundance in the Lower Murray River. Using boat electrofishing, researchers collect vital data to better understand the status of this iconic species and how they respond to river flow and water delivery.

Spanning five years, the Flow-MER project in the Lower Murray and Coorong, Lower Lakes and Murray Mouth is part of the broader Flow-MER program, which assesses the ecological outcomes of environmental water delivery across the Murray-Darling Basin. The insights gained will support informed decision-making and adaptive management of water resources, helping to protect and restore the river system for future generations.

This program is proudly funded by the Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder (CEWH) and delivered by a research consortium led by SARDI (The South Australian Research and Development Institute). For more information, see Lower Murray on the Flow-MER website.

Seafloor Snapper habitat survey in Gulf St Vincent

Snapper inhabit a range of different environments throughout their life cycle. Juveniles in particular, prefer soft, muddy habitats, as revealed by annual surveys conducted in northern Spencer Gulf between 2000 to 2010. While these areas have been well-documented in Spencer Gulf, the distribution of suitable seafloor (benthic) habitats for juvenile Snapper in Gulf St Vincent is poorly understood.

As part of the Snapper Science Program which is co-funded by the South Australian Government and the FRDC, researchers are investigating the spatial distribution of seafloor (benthic) habitats in Gulf St Vincent, with particular focus on the soft sediments preferred by baby (age 0) Snapper.

The survey of Gulf St Vincent was conducted over two research cruises in September and October 2024. During the two weeks at sea, researchers completed 167 underwater camera tows along the seafloor, covering a total of 83.5 km, and collected 207 sediment samples. Formal analysis of the camera footage and sediment samples is currently underway to identify suitable habitats that serve as nursery areas for juvenile Snapper. Find out more about the benthic habitat survey in Gulf St Vincent.

What’s next with Snapper?

We’re developing a plan to support the recovery of depleted stocks and potential future Snapper fishing in SA. Find out more about our Snapper Rebuilding Plan.

Enhancing the SA Fishing app

The redevelopment of the SA Fishing app is currently in progress, with a strong focus on making it easier and more user friendly for recreational fishers.

Taking on feedback from RecFish SA and insights from the Fisheries Research and Development Corporation (FRDC) project on app-based reporting, the updated app will simplify data collection and improve data accuracy.

A key feature of the upgraded app will be the introduction of a new fishing log, enabling recreational fishers to maintain a personal fishing diary and report their catch data. This includes:

• mandatory Snapper reporting to ensure compliance with regulations
• voluntary catch reporting to contribute to improved fisheries data
• standardised data fields aligned with recreational fishing surveys for consistency and accuracy.

Beyond catch reporting, the app also makes it easy to check the latest fishing rules and regulations, including size and bag limits, closed areas, and seasonal restrictions – all at your fingertips.

These enhancements are designed to improve the reliability of data and encourage greater participation through intuitive design and communication.

By simplifying the process of logging fishing activity, the app will support better fisheries management and contribute to the sustainability of South Australia's marine resources.

For more information see SA Fishing app.

Fishing programs for women and children

RecFish SA, in partnership with the South Australian Government, has successfully delivered Australia’s largest fishing program for women and children. Since July, the Reel Women and Reeling In programs have already hosted 100 fishing clinics – with 20 more on the horizon.

These programs have been a reel hit, introducing more women and kids to fishing while fostering skills development with hands-on experience, community connection, and environmental stewardship.

With a strong regional focus, these programs have ensured that fishing clinics are accessible to communities across the state. Throughout March, 25 clinics were delivered in the Eyre Peninsula and West Coast, with between 15 to 100 enthusiastic participants taking part in each one.

RecFish SA and the SA Government are proud to support these initiatives, equipping women and children with the skills and confidence to enjoy and actively participate in recreational fishing.

Want to get involved? Check out upcoming clinics and register for free as an affiliate member on the RecFish SA website.

Strict penalties for fishers who break the law

A Port Lincoln man has been hit with a hefty fine of nearly $5,000 after being caught taking fish protected under the current Snapper fishing closures.

In June 2024, fisheries officers found the man in possession of 6 Snapper and 2 undersized Nannygai (Bight Redfish) upon returning from a fishing trip.

Snapper fishing remains strictly off limits, with the waters of the Gulf St Vincent, West Coast and Spencer Gulf regions remaining closed to Snapper fishing until 30 June 2026.

Breaking these rules can cost you:

• First offence: up to $5,000
• Second offence: up to $10,000
• Third or subsequent: up to $20,000
• Maximum penalty for possessing Snapper on the water in a closed area is $20,000.

Acting Director of Operations, Fisheries and Aquaculture at PIRSA, Matt Read, said it was a timely reminder for fishers that if they break the law, they will be caught.

“Fishers who deliberately flout the rules are acting well outside community expectations and are letting down all the South Australians who have collectively foregone Snapper in order to help rebuild stocks of this important and iconic species.”

See Snapper for fishing limits and closures in SA.

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