Total allowable catch
Species
| 2024/25 Season (tonnes) |
Blue Mackerel
| 1,908
|
Jack Mackerel
| 2,500 |
Redbait
| 895
|
Overview
Blue Mackerel (Scomber australasicus), Jack Mackerel (Trachurus declivis) and Redbait (Emmelichthys nitidus) are shared stocks with the Commonwealth Small Pelagic Fishery (SPF) managed by the Australian Fisheries Management Authority (AFMA). The Small Pelagic Fishery is a purse seine and mid-water trawl fishery that operates in Commonwealth waters (from 3 to 200 nautical miles) from southern Queensland to south-western Western Australia, including Tasmania.
The Jack Mackerel fishery in Tasmanian started in the early 1970s with the highest catch at around 6,300 tonnes in 1973.
By 2000, fishers were struggling to find surface schools in state waters and the industry began mid-water trawling (also for redbait) in Commonwealth waters.
Managing the fishery
The Tasmanian Mackerel Fishery consists of one licence authorised to targeted three species in state waters. The Fisheries (Mackerel) Rules 2019 provides the legislative framework for this fishery.
TAC
The Commonwealth Small Pelagic Fishery Harvest Strategy guides the setting of the Commonwealth TAC using a rigorous assessment process for each species. The Mackerel Fishery TACs are set as a portion of the SPF TACs to limit catches in Tasmanian State waters, within the global catch limits set by AFMA. The current TACs were set for the 2022/23, 2023/24 and 2024/25 seasons. Go to the Public Notices page to view current season TAC notice.
As the Mackerel Fishery operates in waters along the east coast of Tasmania, the TACs relevant to species in the fishery are based on the eastern stocks.
More information
Tasmanian Scalefish Fishery Assessment 2020/21
2017-18 Survey of Recreational Fishing in Tasmania