Spanish mackerel shutdown ruled out but seasonal ban, quotas likely

A seasonal ban on fishing one of North Qld’s most popular fish could be on the cards to stop a ‘massacre’ of the depleting species during spawning but some industry players label any restrictions as ‘ridiculous’. Take the poll.

A years-long closure of Queensland’s Spanish mackerel industry to replenish depleted fish stock has been ruled out.

But catch quotas for recreational and commercial fisherman, as well as a seasonal ban on the species during spawning, are on the cards.

An average 300 tonnes a year of Spanish mackerel have been fished off Queensland’s east coast since 2004, about half the total allowable commercial catch limit for the species.

Queensland Fisheries monitoring programs suggest there has been an increase in recreational fishing, estimating a further harvest of about 170 tonnes Spanish mackerel.

Together the yearly harvests are still well below the annual quota limit scientists set as sustainable.

But Fisheries Minister Mark Furner has argued the need for change after new data found Spanish mackerel stocks had dropped to 17 per cent of original ‘unfished’ levels, a figure many fishermen dispute.

He said, after receiving more than 1400 submissions on the issue, he had ruled out a complete closure of the fishery for a period of years because of the impact it would have on fishers, jobs and communities.

“No decision has been made but doing nothing is not an option,” he said.

“Spanish mackerel stocks are historically low, and if we don’t take steps to rebuild their stocks it could be the end of this important fishery.

Agricultural Industry Development and Fisheries Minister Mark Furner spoke by the Pioneer River in Mackay about Spanish mackerel stock. Picture: Duncan Evans

“We know … the community expects sustainable fisheries for the future to support a viable industry and support great fishing experiences in Queensland.

“They also expect sensible management changes and expect to be consulted. That’s why we are giving people a final opportunity to have their say.”

Mackay Recreational Fishers Alliance president John Bennett was surprised to hear there was going to be yet further consultation, meaning another delay on a mackerel decision.

But he said something did need to be done to replenish fish stocks.

“I’ve talked to commercial fisherman who are shocked there are not already spawning closures for Spanish mackerel,” he said.

“They say it’s a massacre up there at the spawning aggregation point between Cairns and Townsville.

Mackay Recreational Fishers Alliance president John Bennett.

“If you talk to the people who have been fishing 40 to 50 years, they say there’s definitely less Spanish mackerel now than there used to be.

“I’m only a pretty new player in the Spanish mackerel fishery, but as long as what they do is sensible I think most people would support it.”

Mr Bennett said the barramundi seasonal closure caused massive waves when first floated but that appeared to be a productive fishery now.

“I think Spanish mackerel in the future will be viewed the same way,” he said.

“There’s been a bit of to and fro about the accuracy of the numbers (17 per cent stock) but a total closure for years would have been pretty foolish.

“Commercial fishermen have never caught the full quota set for them, only about half.

“And a lot of people out there think the fish will come back on their own.

“We would support a small bag reduction because it’s not about today or yesterday, it’s about tomorrow, it’s fish for our future, for our kids.”

Mackay Reef Fish Supplies owner David Caracciolo said quotas and a seasonal closure were ridiculous and completely unnecessary because Spanish mackerel were a migratory fish.

He said it was also not necessary when he could count commercial fisherman catching Spanish mackerel on one hand in Queensland.

“They are such a migratory fish;, they’ll be in Queensland one day and be in the Pacific Ocean the next,” he said.

“It’s a bit the same as our tuna.

“We fatten them up in Queensland and then others can catch them in the Pacific Ocean where it’s a free for all.

“The industry has been asking them for 12 months to two years how they came up with that number (17 per cent) and they can’t show us the figures.

“They want to get rid of small commercial fishermen. They’ve made the industry unviable, impractical to work with all the paperwork already without closures.

“The only thing that’s depleting is the fisherman.

“To be a commercial Spanish mackerel fisherman, you need to know when the fish are biting, what bait, what colour evil eye; it’s a very specialised field.

“Myself personally, I have no confidence in Queensland Fisheries as a body for the Queensland fishing industry.”

Spanish mackerel commercial fisherman Pat Selman. Mackerel fishers are facing a massive cut in catch quotas and tough new restrictions. Picture: Nigel Hallett

Mr Caracciolo, who believes the plan is political, also laughed at suggestions recreational fishermen should record their catch to help keep accurate data on Spanish mackerel fish stocks.

“There’s no way they can monitor recreational fishers, we find that very hard to comprehend,” he said.

“Commercial fisherman can give an accurate assessment because they have to keep logbooks.”

Vella’s on Sydney owner Jay Ashford said his fish and chip business sold about 400kg of mackerel every week.

He said while he was a little worried about quotas pushing up fish prices, he was just as concerned about the cost of vegetables right now.

Vella's on Sydney owner Jay Ashford. Picture: Ashley Pillhofer

“At the moment everything is going up, so just got to wing it,” he said.

“The government are just being silly buggers.

“They need to focus on the country more than fishing.

“I don’t really support (a seasonal closure) but if they want to do it then it’s a better alternative than reduced bag limits.”

The Queensland Government was now seeking final feedback from recreational and commercial fishers on options for rebuilding Spanish mackerel stocks.

A final decision and announcement on management actions will be made following this next consultation period, with management actions expected to be implemented from October.

Consultation is open until August 5 seeking feedback on:

• Reducing recreational and commercial catch limits;

• Introducing closed seasons to protect spawning fish and reduce fishing pressure; and

• Improving data by requiring recreational fishers to report their Spanish mackerel catch.

Have your say at: daf.engagementhub.com.au/spanish-mackerel-2022

Originally published as Spanish mackerel shutdown ruled out but seasonal ban, quotas likely