Torres Strait Spanish Mackerel Fishery

The Torres Strait Spanish Mackerel Fishery operates predominantly in the eastern Torres Strait, targeting the narrow-barred Spanish mackerel (Scomberomorus commerson). In 1999, the fishery was expanded to include school mackerel (Scomberomorus queenslandicus), grey mackerel (Scomberomorus semifasciatus), spotted mackerel (Scomberomorus munroi) and shark mackerel (Grammatorcynus bicarinatus).

The Spanish Mackerel Fishery catch was 124 tonnes (fillet weight) and worth approximately $1.2 million in 2002-03.

Spanish mackerel are fished by trolling, generally from dories/dinghies operating either to a primary vessel or by themselves. The majority of the catch is taken by a small number of commercial operators. At the end of June 2003 there were 34 primary vessels with 64 tenders licensed as Torres Strait Fishing Boats. There were also a small number of Torres Strait Fishing Boat Dinghy Licences. Approximately 194 Traditional Inhabitant Boat Licences were also held by Islanders. Islander participation in the fishery is unknown but is thought to be relatively low. For some of those Islanders who participate in the fishery Spanish mackerel fishing is also an important source of income with an unknown but relatively small quantity also taken for subsistence.

Condition of the fishery

Information available for the Torres Strait Spanish Mackerel Fishery indicates that the stock has been relatively stable during a period of several decades. Although the Spanish mackerel stocks in Torres Strait were once thought to be migratory and moved between jurisdictions, there is emerging evidence that there is probably limited exchange between the Torres Strait and the Gulf of Carpentaria or Queensland east coast.

Management objectives

Objectives adopted for the Torres Strait Spanish Mackerel Fishery are:
to manage the mackerel resource so as to achieve its optimal utilisation;
to maximise the opportunities for Traditional Inhabitants of both Australia and Papua New Guinea to participate in the commercial fishery;
to promote the fishery as a line fishery; and
to continue monitoring of the fishery and enter into a catch sharing agreement with Papua New Guinea.

Management arrangements

In the Torres Strait Spanish Mackerel Fishery any expansion in licences is limited to Traditional Inhabitants, so as to maximise their opportunities.

Provisions applying to the fishery include boat replacement policies, restrictions on the granting of new licences to non-Islanders, and the linking of tender boats with specific primary boats.

Management regulations

Regulations currently implemented in the Torres Strait Spanish Mackerel Fishery include:

the taking of mackerel is restricted to trolling, hand-lining and drop-lining fishing methods only;
for all commercial fishing operators, the following legal minimum size limits measured from the snout to caudal fin tip are applicable –
Spanish mackerel (Scomberomorus commerson) 750 mm
Spotted mackerel (Scomberomorus munroi) 600 mm
School mackerel (Scomberomorus queenslandicus) 500 mm
Grey mackerel (Scomberomorus semifasciatus) 500 mm
Shark mackerel (Grammatorcynus bicarinatus) 500 mm
commercial mackerel operators are permitted to take bait for their own use - using a general purpose bait net; and
an allowance of up to 20kgs of Spanish mackerel and/or reef fish may be carried at any one time by all holders of a Torres Strait fishing licence granted under section 19(2) or 19(3) of the TSFA.

Page last updated 2 January, 2007