Fishery Report No. 106 November 2011 Northern Territory Government Department of Resources GPO Box 3000 Darwin NT 0801 AUSTRALIA © Copyright Northern Territory Government 2011 This work is copyright. Except as permitted under the Copyright Act 1968 (Commonwealth) no part of this publication may be reproduced by any process, electronic or otherwise, without the specific written permission of the copyright owners. Nor may information be stored electronically in any form whatsoever without such permission. Disclaimer While all care has been taken to ensure that information contained in the Fishery Status Reports is true and correct at the time of publication, changes in circumstances after the time of publication may impact on the accuracy of its information. The Northern Territory of Australia gives no warranty or assurance, and makes no representation as to the accuracy of any information or advice contained in this Fishery Report, or that it is suitable for your intended use. You should not rely upon information in this publication for the purpose of making any serious, business or investment decisions without obtaining independent and/or professional advice in relation to your particular situation. The Northern Territory of Australia disclaims any liability or responsibility or duty of care towards any person for loss or damage caused by any use of or reliance on the information contained in this publication. November 2011 Bibliography Northern Territory Government (2011). Fishery Status Reports 2009. Northern Territory Government Department of Resources. Fishery Report No. 106. Fishery Report No. 106 ISSN 1832-7818 Page ii Contents INTRODUCTION .............................................................................................................................1 NT FISHERIES – 2010 HIGHLIGHTS AND 2011 PRIORITIES ....................................................... 2 COMMERICAL WILD HARVEST ....................................................................................................5 AQUARIUM FISHERY ................................................................................................................................. 6 BARRAMUNDI FISHERY .......................................................................................................................... 17 COASTAL LINE FISHERY ........................................................................................................................ 31 COASTAL NET FISHERY ......................................................................................................................... 39 DEMERSAL FISHERY .............................................................................................................................. 44 DEVELOPMENT FISHERY........................................................................................................................ 54 FINFISH TRAWL FISHERY ....................................................................................................................... 56 MUD CRAB FISHERY ............................................................................................................................... 64 OFFSHORE NET AND LINE FISHERY ..................................................................................................... 75 SPANISH MACKEREL FISHERY .............................................................................................................. 90 TIMOR REEF FISHERY........................................................................................................................... 102 TREPANG FISHERY ............................................................................................................................... 111 RECREATIONAL ........................................................................................................................118 FISHING TOUR OPERATOR .................................................................................................................. 119 RECREATIONAL FISHING ..................................................................................................................... 125 AQUACULTURE .........................................................................................................................132 AQUACULTURE INDUSTRY SUPPORT AND DEVELOPMENT ............................................................. 133 AQUATIC ANIMAL HEALTH ................................................................................................................... 135 BARRAMUNDI FARMING ....................................................................................................................... 137 PEARLING INDUSTRY ........................................................................................................................... 140 INDIGENOUS..............................................................................................................................144 INDIGENOUS FISHING AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ................................................................... 145 AQUATIC BIOSECURITY ........................................................................................................... 150 AQUATIC BIOSECURITY ....................................................................................................................... 151 FISHERIES LICENSING AND COMPLIANCE ............................................................................ 158 FISHERIES COMPLIANCE ..................................................................................................................... 159 FISHERIES LICENSING .......................................................................................................................... 161 APPENDIX 1: GLOSSARY OF ABBREVIATIONS ..................................................................... 163 APPENDIX 2: GENERIC FISHERIES DIVISION DETAILS......................................................... 165 Page iii Fishery Status Reports 2010 INTRODUCTION The Northern Territory is fortunate to have a and aquaculture development and facilitate large coastline with a comparatively small access and sharing of fish resources between population, resulting in a relatively pristine marine Aboriginal, recreational and commercial users. environment and healthy fish stocks. We also work closely with the Water Police Unit of NT Police, Fire and Emergency Services which The Northern Territory Government is committed delivers fisheries compliance and enforcement to the ecologically sustainable development of programs. Community Marine Ranger groups our fisheries and aquatic resources. A wide range also play a valuable role in monitoring our of users depend upon or enjoy the healthy state fisheries and coastlines. of our fisheries. Many Aboriginal communities have strong customary links with our aquatic This report summarises the Fisheries division’s environments and rely on fish for food, culture activities during 2010, including an assessment and potential economic development of the status of our fish stocks and management opportunities. Our commercial fisheries provide directions in each of our fisheries. valuable supplies of high quality seafood such as mud crab, tropical snappers, barramundi, shark These summaries confirm that overall, NT and mackerel to restaurants and retail markets. fisheries are in a healthy condition with Recreational fishing is an intrinsic part of the governance structures in place to ensure their Territory lifestyle and quality fishing experiences development in a ecologically sustainable attract visitors to the Territory and also support a manner. Nonetheless, careful management is still growing fishing tour operator industry. required if we are to ensure optimum use of our fish and aquatic resources, particularly in high The government continues to support and assist use areas around population centres. the development of the Territory's aquaculture industry through difficult economic times. New I would like to thank all fisheries staff who have and innovative aquaculture projects are also contributed to this annual assessment of the being actively explored in partnership with local status of our fisheries and those indigenous, companies and remote Indigenous communities. commercial and recreational stakeholders who Recent advances in culture methods for sea have assisted in our fisheries monitoring, cucumbers, giant clams and tropical rock oysters research and management programs. have been encouraging with some of these projects moving to pilot scale trials at Groote Eylandt and Goulburn Island. Ian Curnow The Fisheries Division of the Department of Executive Director, Fisheries Resources (DoR) works in partnership with all of the fishing industry sectors to assist wild fisheries Page 1 Fishery Report No. 106 NT FISHERIES – 2010 HIGHLIGHTS AND 2011 PRIORITIES DEVELOPING FISHERIES WHILST A project assessing the ability of escape vents to improve gear selectivity of mud crab fisheries MAINTAINING ECOLOGICAL VALUES was funded by FRDC. Highlights Priorities To better utilise the offshore snapper stocks, an Implement a new management framework for the Individual Transferable Quota was implemented Demersal and Finfish Trawl fisheries. in the Timor Reef Fishery. Develop new management arrangements in the A proposed new management framework was Coastal Line and Spanish mackerel fisheries to developed for Demersal and Finfish Trawl better control catches of targeted species. fisheries for consideration