Mackerel Fishery

​Total allowable catch

​Species
2022/23 Season (tonnes)​
​Blue Mackerel
​1,995​​
​Jack Mackerel
2,500​
​Redbait
525​


Overview 

Blue Mackerel (Scomber australasicus), Jack Mackerel (Trachurus declivis) and Redbait (Emmelic​hthys 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 C​ommonwealth 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 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. 


Blue and jack mackerel

Managing the fishery 

The Tasmanian Mackerel Fishery consists of five licences authorised to targeted three species in state waters and the TAC for the fishery much be set each year. The Fisheries (Mackerel) Rules 2019 ​provides the legislative framework for this fishery. 

TAC 

The Commonwealth SPF Harvest Strategy (last revised in 2017)​ guides the setting of the Commonwealth TAC using a rigorous assessment process for each species. The Tasmanian Mackerel Fishery TACs are set as a portion of the SPF TACs. 

Since the Mackerel Fishery has not been active since 2012/13 season, NRE Tas proposed that the TAC for this fishery are set for two seasons - i.e., the 2020/21 and 2021/22season. Go to the Public Notices page to view current season TAC notice. 

As the Tasmanian Mackerel Fishery operates in waters along the east coast of Tasmanian, the TACs relevant to species in the fishery are based on the eastern stocks. ​

More information 

Tasmanian Scalefish Fishery Assessment 2019/20​

2017-18 Survey of Recreational Fishing in Tasmania 

Commonwealth Small Pelagic Fishery Assessment Report 2019 - 2021

2020 Status of Australian Fish Stocks (SAFS) Report - Jack Mackerel 

2020 Status of Australian Fish Stocks (SAFS) Report - Blue Mackerel


    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 3, 134 Macquarie St

    GPO Box 44

    Phone: (03) 6165 3000, 1300 368 550

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