Banded Morwong Fishery

​​​​​​​​​Total Allowable Catch (TAC)

​2023/24 TAC (KG)
2023/24 TAC kg/quota unit
​35,760
​30


Overview

The banded morwong fishery is a component of the commercial ​scalefish fishery that targets banded morwong using large mesh gillnets. Almost all the catch is destined for live Asian restaurant​ market in Sydney and Melbourne. 

The fishery is centred on the east coast of Tasmania between St Helens and the Tasman Peninsula, with the largest catches coming from around Bicheno. Smaller catches have been taken along the south coast and around Flinders Island. Fishing is over inshore reefs, with gear set primarily in the 10-20 metre depth range. 

The total allowable catch (TAC) for the 2023/24 quota year has been set at 30 kg/quota unit (totalling 35,760 kg). There are 1,192 quota units in the banded morwong fishery. Go to the Public Notices page to view the detail about 2023/24 quota year total allowable catch. 

Banded morwong

Managing the fishery 

The banded morwong fishery is managed under the Living Marine Resources Management Act 1995 and the Fisheries (Scalefish) Rules 2015

The fishery is currently managed by a combination of limited licences (29 licences) and quota (for the developed part of the fishery), gear limits, size limits and a two month annual spawning closure​. Catch limits are also in place for recreational fishers. ​

Area 

With the introduction of quota management system in 2008, the fishery was split into two areas: the TAC area and the non-TAC area. 

For assessment purposes, the state is divided into five regions, with the assessment regions 1, 2 and 3 being in the TAC area and the regions 4 and 5 in the non-TAC area. 

Go to the Banded Morwong Map page for more detail. 

Catch updates

Month
TAC Area Total KG Landed​ TAC Area Total KG Uncaught​
% of TAC Taken​
Non-TAC Area Total KG Landed​
Monthly Beach Price $/KG*
​May 2023
6,431
29,329
18.0
0
34.43
​June 2023
3,642
25,687
28.2
411​
34.30
​July 2023
3,236
22,451
​37.2
​0
​34.73
​August 2023​
2,820​
19,631
​45.1
​​​0
​35.81
​September 2023
2,774
​16,857
​52.9
​​0

35.82​
​October 2023​

2,589
14,268
60.1​
0​35.88​
​November
2023^​
1,373​12,895​63.9​45​
​TOTAL
22,86512,895
63.9456
​-​

^ ​As at 21 November 2023.​

*The monthly beach price is an average calculated from the monthly processer return​s. 

More information 

 2023 Operational Guide for the commercial Banded Morwong Fishery

 Historical Banded Morwong Quota Landings since October 2008 (PDF 355Kb)

 Banded Morwong Fishery Forum Summary - November 2021 (PDF 1Mb)

 Banded Morwong Fishery Forum Summary - March 2021 (PDF 826Kb)

Tasmanian Scalefish Fishery Assessment 2020/21​

Tasmanian Banded Morwong Fishery Assessment 2021/22 

2020 Status of Australian Fish Stocks (SAFS) Report - Banded Morwong​ 

  • Banded Morwong Fishery Map
    Map indicating the both the developed and undeveloped areas of the commercial banded morwong fishery, including the assessment regions.

Contact

Commercial Scalefish Management​
Level 3, 134 Macquarie Street
GPO Box 44
HOBART TAS 7001
Phone: 0457 006 821
Email: commercial.fisheries@nre.tas.gov.au

Hotline

Fishwatch Report illegal fishing

0427 655 557

What to report? arrow button

Contact us

Recreational Fishing

Level 3, 134 Macquarie St

Hobart TAS 7000

Phone: (03) 6165 3233, 1300 720 647

Email: fishing.enquiries@nre.tas.gov.au

Commercial Fisheries

Level 3, 134 Macquarie St

GPO Box 44

Phone: (03) 6165 3000, 1300 368 550

Email: commercial.fisheries@nre.tas.gov.au

Commercial Fisheries Licensing

Level 1, 134 Macquarie St

GPO Box 44

Phone: (03) 6165 3000, 1300 368 550

Email: fishing.licensing@nre.tas.gov.au