Fisheries economic and social data
As part of the Queensland Sustainable Fisheries Strategy: 2017–2027, we are working to improve our monitoring and research. Commercial fishers provided feedback that economic and social information should be used to manage Queensland’s fisheries, so we have developed a practical and cost-effective system to collect this data.
Economic and social indicators provide valuable information for fisheries managers, the fishing industry and other stakeholders. Economic indicators can help to demonstrate the profitability of the industry and how the state’s resources are being used to deliver economic benefits to our regional communities and our state as a whole.
Data collection
Fisheries Queensland engaged BDO EconSearch to collect data about Queensland’s fisheries from commercial fishers and charter operators. They have undertaken this type of work for the South Australian fisheries sector and are involved in Fisheries Research and Development Corporation projects related to fisheries economics and human dimensions. The data BDO EconSearch collects is confidential – Fisheries Queensland only receives aggregated data and reports that cannot be linked to individual businesses.
Fisheries Queensland also provided information to BDO about the costs of managing fisheries.
Estimates
Estimates for all fisheries for the 2017–18 and 2018–19 financial years are available in an interactive dashboard.
Reports
A consolidated report for Queensland commercial fisheries, individual reports for 14 commercial fisheries and a report for licenced fishing charter operators are available for the 2017–18 and 2018–19 financial years.
Combined report
Individual fishery reports
- Blue swimmer crab
- Coral harvest and marine aquarium fish
- Coral reef fin fish (Coral reef and deep water)
- East coast inshore fin fish
- East coast Spanish mackerel
- East coast trawl (otter trawl, river and inshore beam trawl)
- Gulf of Carpentaria inshore (inshore, line)
- Moreton Bay commercial (other)
- Moreton Bay commercial (trawl)
- Mud crab (east coast)
- Mud crab (Gulf of Carpentaria)
- Other harvest (beachworm, bloodworm, crayfish and rocklobster, adult and juvenile eel, pearl, sea cucumber, east coast trochus, yabby)
- Rocky Reef fin fish
- Spanner crab
Charter fishing report
Next steps
This fishery monitoring program is looking to provide annual sets of economic performance indicators for each of Queensland’s commercial fisheries. These indicators can be used to better understand the business of commercial fishing, which will improve the sustainable economic management and individual performance of the fisheries.
More information
Call 13 25 23 or email fisheriesmonitoring@daf.qld.gov.au