Torres Strait Finfish Fishery

The Torres Strait Finfish Fishery is a multi-species fishery with a range of reef fish being targeted. The fishery focuses on primarily on the highly valued coral trout (Plectropomus spp.), and mixed reef fish (Lutjanus spp. and Lethrinus spp.), and numerous species of rock cods (Epinephelus spp.). A barramundi fishery also exists within the Torres Strait Finfish Fishery but is limited to the territorial waters adjacent to the six Australian islands in the north west of Torres Strait near the Papua New Guinea coast: Saibai, Boigu, Moimi, Kaumag, Aubusi and Dauan

Finfish are generally taken by hand lines. The level of Islander catch in this fishery is expected to increase in future due to the high value of the target species and the fact that this fishery provides an important economic development opportunity for Traditional Inhabitants in the eastern Torres Strait.

Nets may also be used in the Finfish Fishery however net endorsements are limited to Traditional Inhabitants only and are permitted to be used only in an area within the outside but near area. The use of nets on a commercial basis is extremely low.

Barramundi are fished from the inland swamps and shorelines of these islands. The catch is taken through the use of hand spears and hand set monofilament gill nets. The fishery is mainly exploited at subsistence level.

Condition of the fishery

The status of reef fish stocks in the TSPZ is uncertain at present. There are presently four full time primary commercial fishing boats operating in the fishery. Several other primary commercial fishing boats operate in the fishery from time to time. The number of Traditional Inhabitants participating in the fishery is uncertain.

Although there are many boats endorsed for the Finfish Fishery, most are multi-endorsed providing access to other Torres Strait fisheries including the prawn, Spanish mackerel or tropical rock lobster fisheries. These boats typically fish very little or not at all in the Finfish Fishery. The line sector is comprised of 179 non-Indigenous boat licences (96 primaries [which include 63 prawn boats] and 83 tenders) and 174 Traditional Inhabitant Boat Licences. There are also 133 net endorsements (Traditional Inhabitants only).

There is a paucity of information concerning the quantity of reef fish taken by Torres Strait Islanders under community fishing arrangements. An unknown quantity is also taken during the course of traditional fishing.

With respect to barramundi, it is unknown how many are harvested in a season from the swamps on Boigu and Saibai, although the numbers are thought to have remained low over recent years. All harvested swamp barramundi are under legal commercial size limits and are eaten locally.

Received logbook Catch data of the Torres Strait Finfish Fishery 2002/03:

Management objectives

The objectives for the Torres Strait Finfish Fishery have been developed in conjunction with the objectives of the Torres Strait Fisheries Act 1984 and the Torres Strait Treaty to reflect the new status of the fishery following the change in jurisdiction from a fishery managed solely under Queensland law. These are to:

• to manage the resource so as to achieve optimum utilisation;
  
• to maximise opportunities for Traditional Inhabitants of Australia and PNG to participate in the commercial fishery; and with respect to the barramundi fishery:
• to manage the resource so as to achieve optimal utilisation; and
• to reserve barramundi stocks for the exclusive use of Islanders.

Management arrangements

In the Torres Strait Finfish Fishery expansion in licences is limited to traditional inhabitants so as to maximise their opportunities.

Provisions applying to the non-Indigenous segment of the fishery include boat replacement policies, restriction on the renewal and issue of licences, and the linking of tender boats with specific primary boats.

In the Barramundi Fishery the PZJA has determined that no barramundi licences will be issued for the TSPZ to any non-Traditional Inhabitant and that stocks will be retained entirely for the benefit of Traditional Inhabitants undertaking community fishing.

Management regulations

Regulations in the fishery include that:

• all line fishing methods must have no more than 6 hooks attached to each line;
• no more than 3 fishing apparatus can be used per boat;
• minimum size limits apply to all species taken commercially and maximum size limits apply to some species;
• retaining, storing or the carrying of live finfish is prohibited;
• a seasonal barramundi closure (for commercial fishing) commencing on midday 01 November to midday 01 February the following year;
• specific length, drop and mesh size restrictions for each net fishing method;
• specific restrictions on net markings, including size, number and colour of floats and lights when net fishing;
• a permanent area closure by net fishing methods in that part of the finfish fishery west of 142°09’, and in part of the fishery east of 142°09’ and north of 10°28’;
• a permanent closure by line fishing methods in that part of the finfish fishery west of 142°31’49” (except in the course of traditional fishing);
• vessels must be less than 20 metres in length;
• the take of Potato Cod, Queensland Groper, Chinaman Fish and Paddletail are prohibited; and
• new size limits are have also been recommended by the TSFMAC as follows: minimum and maximum size limit for Maori Wrasse of 750mm minimum and 1200mm maximum, respectively; and 450mm minimum size for Barramundi Cod. Note: these new sizes have not been legislated at time of updating the page but are expected to be in the near and distant future.

Page last updated 2 January, 2007