Queensland stock status results

The Department of Agriculture and Fisheries (DAF) assesses important Queensland fishery species using the Status of Australia Fish Stocks (SAFS) classification framework and reporting template. SAFS assessments are completed biennially and cover a list of species agreed on by all participating jurisdictions. DAF assesses the status of other important species not included in the SAFS assessment every other year.

All species with sustainability concerns are reviewed annually to ensure they are closely monitored. A summary of stock status results from 2014 to 2020 is provided below. More detailed reports for Queensland species are included in the biennial SAFS reports (2014, 2016, 2018 and 2020) and can be found at www.fish.gov.au.

Species

Stock

2020

2017

2016

2015

2014

Molluscs

Ballot's Saucer Scallop
(Ylistrum balloti)

East Coast Otter Trawl Fishery

Depleted

Overfished

Overfished

Sustainable

Sustainable

Silverlip Pearl Oyster
(Pinctata maxima)

Eastern Australia

Sustainable

Sustainable

Not assessed

Not assessed

Not assessed

Trochus
(Trochus niloticus)

East Coast

Not assessed

Sustainable

Not assessed

Sustainable

Not assessed

Sea Cucumber

Burrowing Blackfish
(Actinopyga spinea)

East Coast

Not assessed

Sustainable

Not assessed

Sustainable

Not assessed

WhiteTeatfish
(Holothuria fuscogilva)

East Coast

Sustainable

Sustainable

Not assessed

Sustainable

Not assessed

Crustaceans

Balmain Bug
(Ibacus alticrenatus, I. brucei, I. chacei, I. peronei)

East Coast

Sustainable

Not assessed

Sustainable

Not assessed

Sustainable

Banana Prawns
(Penaeus indicus & Penaeus merguiensis)

East Coast

Sustainable

Not assessed

Sustainable

Not assessed

Sustainable

Endeavour Prawns
(Metapenaeus endeavouri, M. ensis)

East Coast Otter Trawl Fishery

Sustainable

Not assessed

Sustainable

Not assessed

Sustainable

Blue Swimmer Crab
(Portunus armatus)

North Eastern Australia

Sustainable

Not assessed

Sustainable

Not assessed

Sustainable

Eastern King Prawn
(Melicertus plebejus)

Eastern Australia

Sustainable

Not assessed

Sustainable

Not assessed

Sustainable

Moreton Bay Bug
(Thenus australiensis, T. parindicus)

East Coast Otter Trawl Fishery

Sustainable

Not assessed

Sustainable

Sustainable

Sustainable

Mud Crab
(Scylla serrata, S. olivacea)

East Coast

Sustainable

Sustainable

Sustainable

Not assessed

Sustainable

Mud Crab
(Scylla serrata, S. olivacea)

Gulf of Carpentaria

Sustainable

Sustainable

Sustainable

Not assessed

Sustainable

Redspot King Prawn
(Melicertus longistylus)

East Coast

Not assessed

Sustainable

Not assessed

Sustainable

Not assessed

Eastern School Prawn
(Metapenaeus macleayi)

Queensland

Sustainable

Not assessed

Sustainable

Not assessed

Sustainable

Spanner Crab
(Ranina ranina)

East Coast

Depleting

Not assessed

Sustainable

Not assessed

Sustainable

Tiger Prawns
(Penaeus esculentus, P. semisulcatus)

East Coast Otter Trawl Fishery

Sustainable

Not assessed

Sustainable

Not assessed

Sustainable

Ornate Rock Lobster
(Panulirus ornatus)

North Eastern Australia

Sustainable

Not assessed

Sustainable

Not assessed

Sustainable

Western King Prawn
(Melicertus latisulcatus)

East Coast Otter Trawl Fishery

Sustainable

Not assessed

Sustainable

Not assessed

Sustainable

Finfish

Barramundi
(Lates calcarifer)

Central East Coast

Sustainable

Not assessed

Sustainable

Not assessed

Sustainable

Barramundi
(Lates calcarifer)

Mackay

Sustainable

Not assessed

Sustainable

Not assessed

Sustainable

Barramundi
(Lates calcarifer)

North East Coast

Sustainable

Not assessed

Sustainable

Not assessed

Sustainable

Barramundi
(Lates calcarifer)

Northern Gulf of Carpentaria

Sustainable

Not assessed

Sustainable

Not assessed

Sustainable

Barramundi
(Lates calcarifer)

Princess Charlotte Bay

Sustainable

Not assessed

Sustainable

Not assessed

Sustainable

Barramundi
(Lates calcarifer)

Southern Gulf of Carpentaria

Sustainable

Transitional-depleting

Transitional-depleting

Not assessed

Sustainable

Black Jewfish
(Protonibea diacanthus)

East Coast

Undefined

Not assessed

Undefined

Not assessed

Undefined

Black Jewfish
(Protonibea diacanthus)

Gulf of Carpentaria

Undefined

Not assessed

Undefined

Not assessed

Undefined

Australian Blacktip Shark
(Carcharhinus tilstoni, C. limbatus, C. sorrah)

East Coast

Sustainable

Not assessed

Sustainable

Not assessed

Undefined

Australian Blacktip Shark
(Carcharhinus tilstoni, C. limbatus, C. sorrah)

Gulf of Carpentaria

Undefined

Not assessed

Undefined

Not assessed

Undefined

Common Blacktip Shark
(Carcharhinus limbatus)
East Coast Sustainable     
Common Blacktip Shark
(Carcharhinus limbatus)

Gulf of Carpentaria

Undefined     

Blue Threadfin
(Eleutheronema tetradactylum)

East Coast

Sustainable

Undefined

Not assessed

Sustainable

Not assessed

Blue Threadfin
(Eleutheronema tetradactylum)

Gulf of Carpentaria

Sustainable

Sustainable

Not assessed

Undefined

Not assessed

Blue-eye Trevalla
(Hyperoglyphe Antarctica)

Eastern Australia

Sustainable

Not assessed

Sustainable

Not assessed

Not assessed

Cobia
(Rachycentron canadum)

East Coast

Sustainable

Undefined

Not assessed

Sustainable

Not assessed

Cobia
(Rachycentron canadum)

Gulf of Carpentaria Qld

Sustainable

Sustainable

Not assessed

Undefined

Not assessed

Coral Trout
(Plectropomus spp., Variola spp.)

Coral Reef Fin Fish Fishery

Sustainable

Not assessed

Sustainable

Not assessed

Sustainable

Coral Trout
(Plectropomus spp., Variola spp.)

Gulf of Carpentaria

Undefined

Not assessed

Undefined

Not assessed

Undefined

Crimson Snapper
(Lutjanus erythropterus)

East Coast

Undefined

Not assessed

Undefined

Not assessed

Undefined

Crimson Snapper
(Lutjanus erythropterus)

Gulf of Carpentaria

Sustainable

Not assessed

Sustainable

Not assessed

Sustainable

Dart
(Trachinotus spp.)

Gulf of Carpentaria

Not assessed

Negligible

Not assessed

Negligible

Not assessed

Dart – other
(Trachinotus spp.)

East Coast

Not assessed

Undefined

Not assessed

Undefined

Not assessed

Dusky Flathead
(Platycephalus fuscus)

Queensland

Sustainable

Not assessed

Sustainable

Not assessed

Sustainable

Southern Shortfin Eel
(Anguilla australis)

East Coast

Undefined

Sustainable

Not assessed

Sustainable

Not assessed

Longfin Eel
(Anguilla australis)

 Undefined    

Garfish
(Hemiramphidae)

East Coast

Not assessed

Not assessed

Not assessed

Undefined

Not assessed

Goldband Snapper
(Pristipomoides multidens)

East Coast

Undefined

Not assessed

Undefined

Not assessed

Undefined

Goldband Snapper
(Pristipomoides multidens)

Gulf of Carpentaria

Sustainable

Not assessed

Sustainable

Not assessed

Sustainable

Golden Snapper
(Lutjanus johnii)

East Coast

Sustainable

Not assessed

Undefined

Not assessed

Undefined

Golden Snapper
(Lutjanus johnii)

Gulf of Carpentaria Qld

Sustainable

Not assessed

Sustainable

Not assessed

Undefined

Grass emperor
(Lethrinus laticaudis)

Gulf of Carpentaria Qld

Not assessed

Negligible

Not assessed

Negligible

Not assessed

Grass emperor
(Lethrinus laticaudis)

East Coast

Not assessed

Undefined

Not assessed

Undefined

Not assessed

Grey Mackerel
(Scomberomorus semifasciatus)

Gulf of Carpentaria Qld

Sustainable

Not assessed

Sustainable

Not assessed

Sustainable

Grey Mackerel
(Scomberomorus semifasciatus)

North East Coast Qld

Sustainable

Not assessed

Sustainable

Not assessed

Sustainable

Grey Mackerel
(Scomberomorus semifasciatus)

South East Coast Qld

Sustainable

Not assessed

Sustainable

Not assessed

Sustainable

Hammerhead Shark
(Sphyrna lewini, S. mokarran,S. zygaena, Eusphyra blochii )

East Coast

Not assessed

Sustainable

Not assessed

Not assessed

Not assessed

Hammerhead Shark
(Sphyrna lewini, S. mokarran, S. zygaena, Eusphyra blochii )

Gulf of Carpentaria

Not assessed

Undefined

Not assessed

Not assessed

Not assessed

Hapuka
(Polyprion oxygeneios)

Queensland

Negligible

Not assessed

Not assessed

Not assessed

Not assessed

Hussar Snapper
(Lutjanus adetii, L. vitta)

East Coast

Not assessed

Sustainable

Not assessed

Undefined

Not assessed

Barred Javelin
(Pomadasys spp.)

East Coast

Sustainable

Undefined

Not assessed

Undefined

Not assessed

Barred Javelin
(Pomadasys spp.)

Gulf of Carpentaria Qld

Sustainable

Undefined

Not assessed

Undefined

Not assessed

John Dory
(Zeus faber)

South Eastern Australia

Sustainable

Not assessed

Not assessed

Not assessed

Not assessed

King Threadfin
(Polydactylus macrochir)

East Coast

Sustainable

Not assessed

Sustainable

Undefined

Not assessed

King Threadfin
(Polydactylus macrochir)

Gulf of Carpentaria Qld

Depleting

Transitional-depleting

Transitional-depleting

Transitional-depleting

Not assessed

Luderick
(Girella tricuspidata)

Eastern Australia

Sustainable

Not assessed

Sustainable

Not assessed

Not assessed

Mahi Mahi
(Coryphaena hippurus)

East Coast

Undefined

Not assessed

Not assessed

Sustainable

Not assessed

Mangrove Jack
(Lutjanus argentimaculatus)

East Coast

Sustainable

Undefined

Not assessed

Undefined

Not assessed

Mangrove Jack
(Lutjanus argentimaculatus)

Gulf of Carpentaria

Recovering

Transitional-recovering

Overfisheed

Undefined

Not assessed

Mulloway
(Argyrosomus japonicus)

Queensland

Undefined

Not assessed

Undefined

Not assessed

Undefined

Murray Cod
(Maccullochella peelii)

Queensland

Undefined

Not assessed

Undefined

Not assessed

Undefined

Pearl Perch
(Glaucosoma scapulare)

East Coast

Depleted

Transitional-depleting

Transitional-depleting

Transitional-depleting

Not assessed

Queenfish
(Scomberoides spp.)

East Coast

Not assessed

Undefined

Not assessed

Undefined

Not assessed

Queenfish
(Scomberoides spp.)

Gulf of Carpentaria Qld

Not assessed

Undefined

Not assessed

Undefined

Not assessed

Red Emperor
(Lutjanus sebae)

East Coast

Undefined

Not assessed

Undefined

Not assessed

Undefined

Red Emperor
(Lutjanus sebae)

Gulf of Carpentaria Qld

Sustainable

Not assessed

Undefined

Not assessed

Undefined

Redthroat Emperor
(Lethrinus miniatus)

East Coast

Sustainable

Not assessed

Sustainable

Not assessed

Sustainable

Saddletail Snapper
(Lutjanus malabaricus)

East Coast

Undefined

Not assessed

Undefined

Not assessed

Undefined

Saddletail Snapper
(Lutjanus malabaricus)

Gulf of Carpentaria Qld

Sustainable

Not assessed

Sustainable

Not assessed

Sustainable

Sand Whiting
(Sillago ciliata)

Queensland

Sustainable

Not assessed

Sustainable

Not assessed

Sustainable

Sandbar Shark
(Carcharhinus plumbeus)

Eastern Australia

Sustainable

Not assessed

Undefined

Not assessed

Undefined

School Mackerel
(Scomberomorus queenslandicus)

North Eastern Australia

Undefined

Sustainable

Not assessed

Sustainable

Not assessed

School Mackerel
(Scomberomorus queenslandicus)

Cenrtral Eastern Australia

Negligible

Negligible

Not assessed

Negligible

Not assessed

School Mackerel
(Scomberomorus queenslandicus)

South East Australia

Sustainable

Sustainable

Not assessed

Sustainable

Not assessed

School Mackerel
(Scomberomorus queenslandicus)

Gulf of Carpentaria

Negligible

Negligible

Not assessed

Negligible

Not assessed

Sea Mullet
(Mugil cephalus)

Eastern Australia

Sustainable

Not assessed

Sustainable

Not assessed

Sustainable

Silver Trevallies
(Pseudocaranx georgianus, Pseudocaranx sp. "dentex" & Pseudocaranx wrighti, Pseudocaranx dinjerra)

Queensland

Undefined

Not assessed

Undefined

Not assessed

Not assessed

Snapper
(Chrysophrys auratus)

East Coast

Depleted

Overfished

Overfished

Overfished

Overfished

Spangled Emperor
(Lethrinus nebulosus)

East Coast

Sustainable

Undefined

Not assessed

Undefined

Not assessed

Spangled Emperor
(Lethrinus nebulosus)

Gulf of Carpentaria

Undefined

Negligible

Not assessed

Negligible

Not assessed

Spanish Mackerel
(Scomberomorus commerson)

East Coast

Depleted

Not assessed

Sustainable

Not assessed

Sustainable

Spanish Mackerel
(Scomberomorus commerson)

Gulf of Carpentaria Qld

Depleting

Not assessed

Sustainable

Not assessed

Sustainable

Spotted Mackerel
(Scomberomorus munroi)

East Coast

Sustainable

Not assessed

Sustainable

Sustainable

Not assessed

Spotted Mackerel
(Scomberomorus munroi)

Northern Australia

Negligible

Not assessed

Sustainable

Not assessed

Not assessed

Stout Whiting
(Sillago robusta)

Eastern Australia

Sustainable

Not assessed

Sustainable

Not assessed

Sustainable

Stripey Snapper
(Lutjanus carponotatus)

Eastern Australia Sustainable Undefined Not assessed Not assessed  

Stripey Snapper
(Lutjanus carponotatus)

Northern Australia

Sustainable

Undefined

Not assessed

Undefined

Not assessed

Swallowtail Dart
(Trachinotus copperingi)

East Coast

Not assessed

Undefined

Not assessed

Undefined

Not assessed

Tailor
(Pomatomus saltatrix)

Eastern Australia

Sustainable

Not assessed

Sustainable

Not assessed

Sustainable

Trevally
(Carangidae)

East Coast

Not assessed

Undefined

Not assessed

Undefined

Not assessed

Tuskfish
(Choerodon spp.)

East Coast

Not assessed

Undefined

Not assessed

Undefined

Not assessed

Tuskfish
(Choerodon spp.)

Gulf of Carpentaria Qld

Not assessed

Negligible

Not assessed

Negligible

Not assessed

Yellowfin Bream
(Acanthopagrus australis)

Eastern Australia

Sustainable

Not assessed

Sustainable

Not assessed

Sustainable

Yellowtail Kingfish
(Seriola lalandi)

Eastern Australia

Sustainable

Not assessed

Undefined

Not assessed

Undefined

Yellowtail Scad
(Trachurus novaezelandiae)

Eastern Australia

Sustainable

Not assessed

Not assessed

Not assessed

Not assessed

Bronze Whaler
(Carcharhinus brachyurus)
 Undefined    
Brownstripe Snapper
(Lutjanus vitta)
East Coast Undefined    
Brownstripe Snapper
(Lutjanus vitta)
Gulf of Carpentaria Qld Undefined    
Golden Perch
(Macquaria ambigua)
Queensland Undefined    
Hammer Octopus
(Octopus australis)
Queensland Undefined    
Grey Morwong
(Nemadactylus douglasii)
Eastern Australia Depleted