East coast black jewfish season closed after catch limit reached

News release | 24-Aug-2022

The commercial 20-tonne catch limit for black jewfish in Queensland’s east coast waters has been reached, putting the species off limit to all fishers until next year.

The commercial 20-tonne catch limit for black jewfish in Queensland’s east coast waters has been reached, putting the species off limit to all fishers until next year.

Fisheries Queensland Executive Director Dallas D’Silva said black jewfish was now a no-take species for commercial and recreational fishers in east coast waters until early 2023.

“All fishers are reminded that the no-take applies to all east coast waters, while the key areas where black jewfish aggregate at Hay Point and the Dalrymple Bay coal terminal are closed to all fishing to protect the species,” he said.

“Fishing for black jewfish in the Gulf of Carpentaria remains open at this stage until a 6-tonne annual limit is reached.”

Mr D'Silva said black jewfish were vulnerable to overfishing and there was a risk of black-marketing due to the extremely high market prices for their swim bladders.

“Significant penalties can be imposed on fishers caught doing the wrong thing,” he said.

“Any fisher found in possession of commercial quantity of black jewfish, with the intention of black marketing the fish, may be subject to a maximum fine of $431,250 or three-years imprisonment.”

The following rules apply to ensure the sustainability of black jewfish:
a commercial catch limit of 20 tonnes per year on the east coast and 6 tonnes per year in the Gulf of Carpentaria;

• • a recreational in-possession limit of 1 for recreational fishers, with black jewfish becoming a no-take species when the commercial catch limit is reached;
• a requirement for black jewfish and mulloway to be kept whole while on board a vessel in any Queensland waters in order to prevent processing of the fish at sea to remove the valuable swim bladders, and for scaly jewfish to be kept whole while on board vessels on the east coast; and
  • closures to all fishing around key aggregation areas of Hay Point and Dalrymple Bay coal terminal.

For information about the management of black jewfish in Queensland visit www.daf.qld.gov.au.

Follow Fisheries Queensland on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter (@DAFQld).

Media contact: DAF Media, media@daf.qld.gov.au