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Common coral trout Plectropomus leopardus.
Illustration © R. Swainston www.anima.net.au |
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| Target species |
There are a group of species of coral trout that are the main target for reef line fishers in North Queensland. Each species of coral trout has a different life cycle. The size limit for Chinese footballer trout differs from that of the other coral trout to suit their different characteristics. Common coral trout make up most of the coral trout caught, but there are seven species of coral trout on the Reef. They are:
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| Status & trend |
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Commercial catch of coral trout. Data extracted from http://chrisweb.dpi.qld.gov.au 30 June 2004, with permission of Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries. |
Coral trout species in Queensland are almost exclusively caught within the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area. Under the new Coral Reef Fin Fish Management Plan, the total commercial catch of coral trout in 2004 is limited to 1,350 tonnes, which is approximately equivalent to 1996 catch levels.
The Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries long-term monitoring program are currently (2005) assessing the commercial coral trout fishery by collecting fishery-dependent and fishery-independent data. Surveys of recreational fishers (RFISH) in 1999 suggest that coral trout comprise around 13 per cent of recreational harvest of coral reef fin fish species, with about 600,000 coral trout caught of which about half were of legal size and therefore kept by the recreational fisher.
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| Commercial effort in GBRWHA in 2003 |
Tonnes: 1,766
Boats: 467
Primary boat days: 29,966
Data extracted from http://chrisweb.dpi.qld.gov.au 30 June 2004, with permission of Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries.
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| Commercial Gross Value of Production (GVP) in GBRWHA in 2003 |
$17.8 million
Data extracted from http://chrisweb.dpi.qld.gov.au 30 June 2004, with permission of Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries.
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| Recreational Catch (Queensland) |
The recreational catch was estimated to be 306 tonnes in 1997 and 329 tonnes in 1999 (RFISH). An additional estimated 260,000 fish (weighing approximately 260 tonnes) were caught and released in 1999.
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| Location of fishing |
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Commercial fishing density. Data extracted from http://chrisweb.dpi.qld.gov.au 30 June 2004, with permission of Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries.
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Coral trout are caught on reefs along the entire length of the Great Barrier Reef, with the highest concentration of effort on reefs off the coast between Ingham and the Swains Reefs east of Mackay. The distribution of recreational fishers is similar to that of commercial fishers (Williams 2002). |
| Harvest methods |
Commercial fishers use a simple rig of a strong hand line with one or two hooks per line. Recreational fishers use either rods or hand lines. There is also a small amount of recreational spearfishing on snorkel.
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| Management |
The fishery is regulated under Queensland’s Fisheries (Coral Reef Fin Fish Fishery) Management Plan 2003.
Size (recreational and commercial): A minimum size of 38cm applies to all coral trout except Chinese footballer (blue spot) trout, which has a minimum size of 50cm and a maximum of 80cm.
Take and possession limit: Recreational fishers (and commercial fishers who do not operate under an ‘RQ’ commercial licence from Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries) are limited to seven coral trout. This is a combined limit of all coral trout species. They may not keep live fish, and must remove a pectoral fin from any fish they keep in cool storage. Fish (other than Chinese footballer/blue spot trout) may be filleted as long as the length of the fillet is at least 40cm, and skin and scales are attached to the fillet.
Commercial catch: The total allowable catch for the commercial coral trout fishery is capped at 1,350 tonnes from 2004. Fishers who operate under a commercial ‘RQ’ licence from the Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries are issued a quota for coral trout catch according to section 56 of the Fisheries (Coral Reef Fin Fish) Management Plan 2003.
Area: Coral trout can be taken from tidal waters except in no-take zones as specified by the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority and waters closed to fishing by DPI&F.
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| Monitoring & research |
Fisheries independent monitoring using visual surveys of various sites on the Great Barrier Reef has been conducted by the Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries (DPI&F) since 1999, to collect information about the status of fish stocks and monitor major fishery species and their habitats.
The Effects of Line Fishing Experiment conducted by CRC Reef researchers is monitoring fish stocks on a small number of reefs in the Great Barrier Reef to assess the changes to fish stocks under varying amounts of fishing pressure. Information from this experiment is being used in a computer model which simulates the effects of different fisheries management strategies on areas in the Great Barrier Reef, and is used as a tool for decision-makers.
CRC Reef and DPI&F are also working together on the National Strategy for the Survival Of Released Line Caught Fish.
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| More reading |
Williams LE. (ed). 2002. Queensland's Fisheries Resources. Current condition and Recent Trends 1988-2000. Queensland Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries, Brisbane.
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Last updated
August 9, 2005
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