Western Australian herring recovery update

WA DPI’s just-released stock assessment for Australian herring indicates recovery of the herring stock, following action taken by the department in 2015 to address stock depletion.

In 2013, an independently reviewed fisheries stock assessment showed that due to a combination of environmental factors and fishing pressure the Australian herring stock was inadequate and total catches needed to be reduced by a minimum of 50 per cent to allow it to recover.

Following consultation with the commercial and recreational fishing sectors on March 1, 2015, the department introduced changes to halve the total herring catch for both sectors. This involved reducing the daily recreational bag limit for herring from 30 to 12 and closing the main commercial herring fishery at that time, the South Coast G-net Fishery.

Given the recent recovery of the resource, the department noted that any catch increases will be gradual, so the impact on stock levels can be monitored and managed.

After three years of increased catch, an interim review will be undertaken to ensure the risk remains at an acceptable, sustainable level, ahead of the next full stock assessment due at the end of 2026.

The first step in increasing herring catches has been a short-term exemption approved in March to allow G-net fishing for Australian herring to re-open on the south coast.

This will allow G-trap fishers to take up to 70 tonnes of herring through to June 30 this year, with G-netting restricted to Cheynes Beach, Bettys Beach and Triglow Beach.

The department noted that this initial catch limit is well below herring’s potential sustainable catch, and is subject to a significant portion of herring being sold for human consumption.