Snapper ban to stay as new survey reveals stock in crisis
Any hopes of ending SA’s three-year snapper ban early have been dashed by a new survey that’s revealed their numbers have continued to fall despite drastic intervention.
SA News
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Any hope of South Australia’s three-year snapper ban being lifted early has been dashed by a new survey that reveals stock levels have plunged to their lowest levels on record.
The biomass of the prized table fish in both Spencer Gulf and Gulf St Vincent has continued to decline and egg production this year was the lowest on record, stock assessments by the SA Research and Development Institute show.
Alarmingly, they reveal the snapper biomass in Gulf St Vincent has dropped so dramatically over the past year, the fishery is now classed as “depleted’’, down from its former status of “depleting’’.
Recreational and professional anglers and coastal communities that rely on summer fishing tourism were devastated late last year when fishing for snapper was banned in Spencer Gulf, the West Coast and Gulf St Vincent until January 31, 2023. Only controlled snapper fishing is permitted in the South East between February and October each year.
Primary Industries and Regional Development Minister David Basham said the stock assessments highlighted the need to take action to protect the iconic species.
“The Marshall Liberal Government has invested $1m in vital research into the snapper stocks to better inform our decision-making,” he said.
“This clearly shows that closing those fisheries was the right thing to do to allow stocks to recover.’’
The stock assessment for Gulf St Vincent reveals that in 2019 the status of stocks was changed from “sustainable’’ to “depleting’’ because of the reduction in biomass and “persistent, high, targeted fishery catch and effort’’ from professionals.
The latest report has downgraded its status to “depleted’’ and states there is “compelling evidence that the biomass and recruitment ... are at their lowest recorded levels’’.
The stock assessment for Spencer Gulf/West Coast waters reveals the fishable biomass and recruitment are “at historically low levels’’.
“… and there is no evidence of stock recovery following implementation of management changes,’’ the report states.
Respected fishing identity and SA Angler magazine editor Shane Mensforth said the stock assessments were “extremely disappointing’’.
“The Gulf St Vincent situation is particularly disturbing. I’m shocked to learn this sector has moved from ‘depleting’ to ‘depleted’,’’ he said.
“However, I’m still of the opinion that this is part of a cycle, the likes of which we’ve seen before and will probably see again.’’
