Torres Strait Prawn Fishery

The Torres Strait Prawn Fishery (TSPF) is a multi-species prawn fishery (Endeavour, tiger and king prawns) that operates in the eastern part of the Torres Strait. This is the most valuable commercial fishery in the Strait with 1,145 tonnes of product valued at over $11 million taken in the 2007 fishing season.

Brown Tiger prawn (Penaeus esculentus) and the Blue Endeavour prawn (Metapenaeus endeavouri) are the key target species. The Red Spot King prawn (Penaeus longistylus) is essentially a by-product species. Prawn harvesting occurs at night, primarily using the otter trawl (quad) method which involves towing four trawl nets behind a vessel. The TSPF has restrictions on the type of gear and vessel that can be used during harvesting. Fishing is permitted in the TSPF from 1 March to 1 December each year and is limited by allocated fishing days.

Management objectives

A plan of management is currently being developed for the Torres Strait Prawn Fishery and it is anticipated to be implemented before the 2009 season. Once the Plan has been determined, the following management objectives will be updated.

The TSPF is managed in accordance with fishery specific management objectives. These objectives aim to be achieved in a manner that avoids damage to other fisheries and the marine environment.
Objectives adopted for the Torres Strait Prawn Fishery are:

• to control effort in the fishery and provide for catch sharing to occur with PNG;
• to achieve a level of fishing effort which is consistent with conservation and optimum use of the Torres Strait prawn resource; and
• to encourage Traditional Inhabitants of the Torres Strait to participate in the Prawn Fishery.

Page last updated 28 August, 2008