New rules protect vulnerable black jewfish

COMMERCIAL fisheries will be required to use authentication tags on black jewfish swim bladders to identify legally caught product and protect licensed commercial operations

It is now an offence for commercial fishermen to sell aswim bladder without a tag affixed.

COMMERCIAL fisheries will be required to use authentication tags on black jewfish swim bladders to identify legally caught product and protect licensed commercial operations.

It will be an offence to sell a swim bladder without a tag affixed.

Department of Primary Industry and Resources (DPIR) Aquatic Resource Manager Will Bowman said the new changes, which came into effect yesterday, had been implemented to ensure that only jewfish swim bladders lawfully taken by licensed commercial fishers can be sold.

“This is the first of a number of measures that will be introduced to help eliminate the potential for a black market in swim bladders and to ensure that vulnerable black jewfish stocks in the Darwin area can rebuild,” he said.

The value of jewfish swim bladders has escalated rapidly with prices now estimated to range between $220 and $500 per kilo.

The swim bladder from a black jewfish typically weighs between 200 and 400 grams.

“Black market fishing operations are illegal and will not be tolerated as they threaten the sustainability of our fish stocks and undermine legal commercial fisheries,” Mr Bowman said.

“The department has consulted with industry and water police and held a trial with two coastal line fishers (CLF) to find a suitable identification tag that can be attached to each swim bladder before sale.” Mr Bowman said there had been concerns over the sustainability of black jewfish over several years, with research indicating the species was subject to overfishing.

This led to commercial catches being capped in 2010, and an individual quota system being introduced for commercial operators in 2015, as well as boat limits to limit recreational catches.

“The biology and aggregating behaviour of black jewfish make them vulnerable to overfishing,” he said.

“We are also looking at further measures to prevent illegal trade, including limits on jewfish swim bladders taken and kept by recreational fishers and fishing tour operators.

“These measures will be developed in consultation with the Recreational Fishing Advisory Committee as a matter of priority.”