Commercial fishos say there’s enough barramundi for everybody

Commercial fishermen have defended themselves against claims they’re depleting barramundi reserves in the NT. Read what they say.

The Territory’s wild Barramundi stocks are not under threat and new innovations will secure fish numbers in Top End waters, the commercial fishing industry claims.

Responding to calls from recreational fishers for weight limits on commercial barramundi catch, NT Seafood Council chief executive Katherine Winchester returned serve, saying it was in nobody’s interests to deplete barramundi stocks.

“In supplying the iconic wild caught barramundi, industry is committed to ensuring sustainability,” Ms Winchester said.

“Through innovation and the best available science, industry’s goal is to deliver the highest quality seafood and world-leading sustainability. This includes adopting a best-practice approach to operational fisheries management.”

Recreational anglers, led by Amateur Fishermen’s Association, said commercial fishing effort limits set this month by the NT Government were at decade high levels despite catches being smaller in recent years.

NT Seafood Council chief executive Katherine Winchester. Photograph: Che Chorley

The NT government implemented effort limits on commercial barra fishos - which prescribe net limits allowed at a fishery - but not weight or catch limits as requested by AFANT.

The local seafood industry supplies most of the commercial catch available in the Territory.

The industry supports about 450 full-time equivalent jobs, has more than 200 commercial fishing licences, 190 registered fishing vessels and harvests on average 5500 tonnes of fish a year from 15 different commercial wild harvest fisheries.

Most NT barra licenses are operated by WA-based Wild Barra Fisheries.

Ms Winchester acknowledged gillnets were an issue with non-commercial fishos, but said “extensive research” on reducing further “interactions” would be rolled out this year.

“Despite the highly selective nature of gillnets used for harvesting barramundi and king threadfin, the Seafood Council acknowledges concerns about unintended bycatch from this gear type,” she said.

“Innovations are set to be rolled out during the 2024 Barramundi season, with extensive research on reducing interactions further, as well as a program of electronic and real time monitoring to provide transparency and accountability.”

Darwin’s Duck Pond is the Territory’s centre of commercial fishing. Pic Clive Hyde.

Ms Winchester said while the sustainability of barramundi was not in question, an ongoing review of the barra fishery recognised the need to maintain an abundance of barramundi across the fishery.

“While the harvest strategy only impacts commercial operations, it is entirely driven by the objectives of maintaining high abundance levels - an objective agreed by all stakeholders,” Ms Winchester said.

She said the NT Government’s Fisheries Division had been leading the way in mapping a sustainable seafood strategy in partnership with the Barramundi Fishery Management Advisory Committee and said decisions were made consultatively.

Agribusiness and Fisheries Minister Mark Monaghan. Picture: Sierra Haigh

“The Seafood Council, industry and all stakeholder representatives collaborated in the development of these important initiatives through the BFMAC, a governance structure established by the NT Fisheries Division to consult on how we best manage the fishery for all Territorians.

It is understood catch limit or quotas will not be implemented by the NT Government, with

Agribusiness and Fisheries Minister Mark Monaghan saying there was plenty of fish to go around.

“The changing landscape of traditional fishing areas has seen the displacement of commercial fishing operations into areas shared with recreational and tourism fishers,” he said.

“To manage this, The Territory Government consulted with all parties to find a middle ground which maintained the commercial fishing industry within their historical range, and minimised the impact on recreational and tourism fishing.

“As such, interim commercial fishing effort limits have been implemented in the Roper River, Anson Bay, and the Moyle River catchments for the 2024 fishing season alone.”