JURISDICTION: New South Wales

These datasets were created for the Futures of Seafood study administered by the Blue Economy CRC. The datasets contain summaries of NSW DPI logbook data on catch and effort distribution for NSW commercial fisheries in state marine and estuarine waters. The logbook data has been recorded and submitted to NSW DPI by commercial fishers. The data are aggregated to produce summaries of total catch and effort by fishery at a 1 degree resolution where 6 boats or more operate. For areas where less than 6 boats operate the data is shown as confidential. The data was mapped using 5 year - financial year periods; 2003/04 to 2007/08, 2008/09 to 2012/13, 2018/19 to 2022/23, and 1 year; 2022/03.

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipisicing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum.

The diverse product portfolio from the OTF supplies a wide spectrum of seafood markets. The iconic Sydney Fish Market serves as the primary distribution hub, where buyers ranging from high-end restaurants to export consolidators compete for fresh, locally-harvested seafood. This central marketplace enables efficient distribution throughout metropolitan areas while providing transparency in pricing and quality assessment.

Species like Eastern King Prawns command premium prices in domestic markets, while certain finfish species enter specialized export channels. The fishery maintains Wildlife Trade Operation (WTO) approval, enabling international market access while ensuring operations meet sustainability requirements under environmental legislation.

Comprehensive stock assessments guide the sustainable management of this complex multi-species fishery:

• Sustainable stocks: Eastern King Prawns, Southern Calamari, Stout Whiting, and Tiger Flathead all maintain robust population structures capable of supporting current harvest levels while ensuring long-term viability
• Depleted stocks: Some historically important species including Redfish (Centroberyx affinis) and Grey Morwong (Nemadactylus douglasii) are classified as depleted, triggering specific management responses to facilitate recovery
• Shared stocks: Many species are harvested across multiple jurisdictions, necessitating coordinated management approaches between NSW and adjacent state and Commonwealth fisheries

This diverse stock status landscape requires sophisticated, adaptive management responses to balance current economic needs with long-term resource sustainability.

The NSW Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) implements a comprehensive management framework through the Fishery Management Strategy, employing both input and output controls to ensure sustainability:

Input Controls:

• Spatial and temporal closures protecting sensitive habitats and spawning aggregations
• Gear restrictions specifying mesh sizes, net configurations, and bycatch reduction devices
• Limited entry system restricting the number of fishing endorsements
• Vessel size limitations and engine capacity restrictions to manage fishing effort
• Seasonal closures aligned with biological cycles of key species

Output Controls:

• Total Allowable Catch (TAC) limits for key commercial species
• Daily catch limits for non-quota species
• Size limits ensuring specimens reach reproductive maturity before harvest

This integrated approach enables precise management responses tailored to the biological characteristics of individual species and the ecological dynamics of different fishing grounds.

The OTF employs specialized harvesting technology adapted to target species characteristics and seabed conditions:

• Demersal Trawl: Bottom-trawl nets towed along the seafloor to harvest species living on or near the bottom. These systems incorporate:
  • Turtle Excluder Devices (TEDs) and Bycatch Reduction Devices (BRDs) to minimize impacts on non-target species
  • Varied mesh sizes tailored to target species
  • Ground gear configurations adapted to different seafloor types
• Danish Seine: A surrounding net method that uses long ropes to herd fish into the path of the net, causing less seafloor disturbance than traditional trawling while effectively capturing schooling fish species.

Both methods have evolved through continuous innovation to improve selectivity, reduce environmental impacts, and enhance product quality.

1. Marine Protected Area Network: The fishery’s operational footprint intersects with both the Commonwealth Temperate East Marine Park Network and New South Wales state marine parks and reserves, creating spatial access challenges. Ongoing engagement with marine planning processes is essential to maintain operational viability while supporting conservation objectives.
2. Stock Recovery Strategies: The Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW) Risk Assessment identified improved documentation of recovery strategies for depleted stocks as a priority area for enhancement. Developing comprehensive, evidence-based recovery plans with clear milestones and monitoring protocols represents an important opportunity for fishery advancement.
3. Elasmobranch Management: Various shark species face elevated risk from fishing interactions, requiring specialized management approaches. Developing targeted bycatch mitigation strategies for elasmobranchs remains a priority area for continued improvement.
4. Market Development: Opportunities exist to enhance value-chain integration, develop premium branding for sustainably harvested species, and create value-added products from traditionally lower-value species.

• Implementation of bycatch reduction technologies to minimize impacts on non-target species
• Spatial management to protect sensitive habitats and spawning areas
• Ongoing research collaboration with scientific institutions to improve ecological understanding
• Temporal closures during critical biological periods for key species

• As one of the state’s most valuable fisheries (ranking in the top two by both volume and value), the OTF provides significant economic benefits to coastal communities
• The prawn sector in particular contributes substantially to the overall Gross Value of Production
• Creates diverse employment opportunities from harvesting through processing and distribution
• Supplies culturally significant seafood to NSW communities, supporting food security and regional identity

• NSW Department of Primary Industries provides regulatory oversight
• Digital transformation through FisherMobile application implementation in 2017 enables real-time catch and effort reporting for quota-managed species
• FisherDirect web platform provides comprehensive services to commercial fishers throughout NSW
• Regular stock assessments and scientific monitoring inform adaptive management responses

• Development of markets for traditionally underutilized bycatch species
• Research into prawn shell waste utilization for chitin extraction and biomedical applications
• Exploration of processing waste streams for value-added products
• Gear recycling programs to address end-of-life fishing equipment
• Energy efficiency improvements in vessel operations to reduce carbon footprint

TO BE ADVISED

Operators in the Ocean Trawl Fishery are represented by the NSW Commercial Fishing Industry Association (CFIA), which advocates for industry interests in management decisions, policy development, and market access initiatives.