Stats Show Healthier Fish Stocks, Improved Profits

This is good news for our fishing industry and consumers as it means more sustainable, fresh, local fish on Australian tables, says the Australian Fisheries Management Authority.

Average net economic returns to boats in the Southern and Eastern Scalefish and Shark Fishery (which supplies many south-east Australian consumers) are at their highest levels since surveys began in the mid 1990s according to the recent economic information collected by ABARES. The improvement in fish stocks has allowed recent increases in sustainable catches of a number of key species. The economic surveys also show increases in net economic returns for the Eastern Tuna and Billfish Fishery and the Northern Prawn Fishery.

Since 2006 the Australian Government in partnership with the fishing industry has introduced significant changes in fisheries management to achieve more sustainable fish stocks and improved profits in most Commonwealth fisheries. The government invested in a buyback program to reduce the number of boats operating in Commonwealth waters meaning that profits are shared with a smaller number of boats so on average each boat receives a larger share.

A worlds best practice harvest strategy policy has been implemented which sets clear ground rules for how Commonwealth fisheries are managed for sustainability and profitability. Some fish stocks had strict fishing limits applied to allow the fish stocks to recover. The fishing industry and the Australian community are now seeing the benefits through more fish being harvested.