headlands, and jig fishing The fishery extends from the West Coast Bioregion to the Western Australian – Northern Territory border. Catches are reported for three areas: Area 1—Kimberley (121ºE to Western Australian – Northern Territory border); Area 2—Pilbara (114ºE to Patterns of 121ºE); Area 3—Gascoyne (27ºS to 114ºE) and West Coast (Cape Leeuwin to 27ºS). exploitation Current management plan is due to expire in December 2011. Most effort and catches are recorded north of Geraldton, especially from the Kimberley and Pilbara coasts of the Northern Bioregion. Management changes were instituted in 2006. Following declines in catches from 2003, fishing effort has since stabilised and catch rate has increased. Estimates of catches are monitored through mandatory logbook systems. These estimates do not include fish caught and released or lost to sharks. Separate reporting of grey mackerel since 2000 has improved the reliability of catch data. In 2007, a review Data and of logbook records led to further improvements and a significant shift in data from information issues other mackerel to Spanish mackerel. Data used to estimate potential displacement were mean annual catch from 10-minute scale blocks over the period 2008–10. 38 active vessels (2009). Approximately 42 people were employed for 6 months in the Employment commercial mackerel fishery during 2007. No more recent updates are available. Sources Fletcher & Santoro 2011; Molony & Lai 2010 Figure Catch total (bars) and number of active vessels (line) from the Western Australian Mackerel Fishery, 2000–10
headlands, and jig fishing Patterns of exploitation The fishery extends from the West Coast Bioregion to the Western Australian – Northern Territory border. Catches are reported for three areas: Area 1—Kimberley (121ºE to Western Australian – Northern Territory border); Area 2—Pilbara (114ºE to 121ºE); Area 3—Gascoyne (27ºS to 114ºE) and West Coast (Cape Leeuwin to 27ºS). Current management plan is due to expire in December 2011. Most effort and catches are recorded north of Geraldton, especially from the Kimberley and Pilbara coasts of the Northern Bioregion. Management changes were instituted in 2006. Following declines in catches from 2003, fishing effort has since stabilised and catch rate has increased. Data and information issues Estimates of catches are monitored through mandatory logbook systems. These estimates do not include fish caught and released or lost to sharks. Separate reporting of grey mackerel since 2000 has improved the reliability of catch data. In 2007, a review of logbook records led to further improvements and a significant shift in data from other mackerel to Spanish mackerel. Data used to estimate potential displacement were mean annual catch from 10-minute scale blocks over the period 2008–10. Employment 38 active vessels (2009). Approximately 42 people were employed for 6 months in the commercial mackerel fishery during 2007. No more recent updates are available. Sources Fletcher & Santoro 2011; Molony & Lai 2010 Figure Catch total (bars) and number of active vessels (line) from the Western Australian Mackerel Fishery, 2000–10
abares-assessment-south-west.docx