Upper Spencer Gulf Netting

The Hon. H.M. GIROLAMO (14:43): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking questions of the Minister for Primary Industries on Upper Spencer Gulf netting.

Leave granted.

The Hon. H.M. GIROLAMO: In 2020, the Upper Spencer Gulf was closed to all netting activity. However, the most recent Marine Scalefish Fishery operator use guide, published in March 2024, shows the Upper Spencer Gulf is now open to large mesh nets and fish nets to take salmon. Over the October long weekend, Fishwatch received a report of kingfish netting occurring approximately 25 kilometres inside the reg 99 Upper Spencer Gulf area.

However, Fishwatch did not act on this report, telling the caller there wasn't anything wrong. These changes give commercial fishers impunity to net this area under the guise of salmon netting, allowing them to retain bycatch of other species, including kingfish, and muddying the waters for reports to Fishwatch. My questions to the minister are:

1. When was the reg 99 Spencer Gulf netting closure changed?

2. What consultation was done with the recreational fishing and tourism sector over these changes?

3. Will the minister commit to closing this loophole and protecting kingfish in the Upper Spencer Gulf?

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN (Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development, Minister for Forest Industries) (14:45): I thank the honourable member for her question. Yellowtail kingfish is a highly mobile pelagic species found along much of Australia's western, southern and eastern coastlines. The species is an iconic recreational fishing target species, with variable commercial fishery importance across its range. It also supports a significant finfish aquaculture industry in South Australia.

Both the west coast and east coast stocks of yellowtail kingfish in Australia are classified as sustainable, which is a key consideration. No formal stock assessment is conducted for yellowtail kingfish in South Australian state waters. PIRSA considers that the low commercial and recreational catches do not necessitate the need for formal assessment.

While commercial catches of yellowtail kingfish have fluctuated, it is an important species that supports the diversification of fishing efforts within the marine scalefish fishery. Management arrangements are in place for both the commercial and recreational fishing sectors for yellowtail kingfish. The minimum legal length for yellowtail kingfish for all sectors is 60 centimetres.

The recreational sector is restricted to a personal bag limit of one and a boat limit of three, where three or more people are fishing. It is noted that the bag limit was implemented in 2016 as a precautionary reduction in recreational take as stock status was undefined until 2020, when it was first classified as sustainable.

There are in excess of 40 commercial NETFISH enclosures throughout the waters of South Australia and 19 marine parks where sanctuary zones prohibit fishing and consequently protect important spawning areas for this species. I am advised there have been no recent legislative changes to the commercial NETFISH enclosures in South Australia.

Commercial fishers provide daily catch and effort return data through a monthly log book return. PIRSA monitors catch using this information. Recent total statewide annual commercial catches between 2017-18 and 2021-22 I am advised ranged between less than one tonne in 2021-22 and 5.2 tonnes in 2021. Further commercial catch information will be available in the coming months.

Recreational catch estimates are available every five to seven years to inform trends in recreational catch of species, including yellowtail kingfish, with the next recreational fishing data to be available in approximately 2027-28. The estimate of statewide recreational catch for yellowtail kingfish in 2021-22 through the recreational fishing survey was 2,004 fish, equating to 39.8 tonnes. There have been very few commercial or recreational offences reported relating to yellowtail kingfish. There are no current investigations in relation to this species, and I am advised there have been no significant offences in recent years.

Formal allocations are in place for yellowtail kingfish, with 0.12 per cent allocated to the commercial sector—0.12 per cent—with 98.88 per cent being allocated to the recreational sector and 1 per cent allocated to the Aboriginal traditional fishing sector. These allocations were set based on previous catch data. Following the release of the 2021-22 survey on recreational fishing, yellowtail kingfish was recently considered by an allocation working group, initial stage 1 allocation assessment, where the species was not recommended to proceed to a full stage 2 assessment.

This recommendation considered allocations as a proportional share of sustainable yield and noted the estimated recommended biological catch (RBC) for yellowtail kingfish was unreliable. The working group noted that, while the commercial sector had exceeded its allocation as a proportion of the five-year catch average as a proxy for RBC, this catch level did not exceed the notional trigger level and therefore no further assessment was required.

Consistent with previous positions, PIRSA considers that the sustainability of the species and low commercial catch levels indicate there is no need to change management arrangements for the species at this stage; however, I am always open to further discussions, and changes can be made if that appears to be appropriate.