Study shows snapper numbers in Gulf St Vincent have gone down by 90 per cent
Desperate measures are needed to replenish the state’s snapper stocks after research found almost 90 per cent of the population has disappeared from Gulf St Vincent since 2014.
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Almost 90 per cent of the snapper stocks have disappeared from Gulf St Vincent since 2014, Government-funded research has found.
The State Government has announced that a South Australian Research and Development Institute study showed drastic action was needed to make snapper fishing sustainable.
Primary Industries and Regional Development Minister Tim Whetstone said the Government had been consulting the commercial, charter and recreational fishing sectors about further snapper restrictions this coming summer.
“There has been an 87 per cent decrease in snapper stocks in Gulf St Vincent over the last five years and a 23 per cent decline in the Spencer Gulf,” Mr Whetstone said.
“Last December, the Marshall Liberal Government implemented eight spatial closures and cut charter boat bag limits as an interim measure to protect snapper stocks.
“This latest scientific information shows we need to implement strong restrictions across all sectors to protect the current snapper stock and enable them to recover.”
Mr Whetstone said the Government would consult further about potential changes. Concerns about snapper being overfished, have been raised for more than two decades.
SA Fishing Alliance chairman Graham Keegan said his organisation would suggest some “hard, hard solutions” to the problem.
Most members were now fishing for tuna and other species because snapper stocks were so low.
“It’s been going down for the last 20 years but in the last five or six years, it’s been quite dramatic,” Mr Keegan said.
michelle.etheridge@news.com.au
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