The Government is working with fishers, researchers and the community to address a serious decline in sand flathead stocks.
Sand flathead is the most popular recreational fish in Tasmania, with around 1.6 million caught each year, accounting for almost 70 per cent of all recreational fish.
Recreational fishers take the majority of sand flathead - 98% or 184 tonnes - in Tasmania. Only 2 per cent are taken by commercial fishers.
Southern sand flathead (Platycephalus bassensis) is the most popular recreational fish in Tasmania
Sand flathead stock status
Many fishers are noticing that it's harder to catch a legal-size sand flathead in many areas, particularly around the south east and east coasts. They are increasingly reporting high numbers of undersized sand flathead.
These trends are also being seen in scientific sampling.
The
Scalefish Assessment Report 2020-2021 from the Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies (IMAS) assessed the sand flathead stock status as depleted.
The fishery biomass is down to 17% in some regions, below the nationally recognised level of 20% of unfished biomass where urgent management action is required.
Southern sand flathead stock status summary from the IMAS Scalefish Assessment Report 2020-21
Animation - Sand Flathead Need Your Help
Rebuilding stocks
IMAS research indicates:
- The number of legal-size flathead is decreasing.
- The average size of a flathead is getting smaller.
- 70% of flathead are caught within a year of reaching legal size.
- Large breeding females are depleted in most areas.
- Undersize flathead appear plentiful, but fishing is removing the faster-growing flathead, leaving more genetically stunted fish to breed.
- Current fishing levels are not sustainable – we need to reduce flathead catch.
Size limit changes and a bag limit reduction in 2015 aimed to improve flathead stock levels, but heavy fishing pressure particularly on females, has led to further declines.
A range of potential options are being considered, Management changes will be targeted towards sand flathead, not tiger flathead which is currently assessed as sustainable.
Other actions include:
- Continuing research into sand flathead stocks; and
- Fisher education and stewardship programs.
How fishers can help
- Take fewer sand flathead.
- Target sustainable species such as tiger flathead, Australian salmon, mackerel and mullet.
- Use a dehooker to release your flathead.
- Use circle hooks when bait fishing.
- Never use undersize flathead for bait.
Public activities
From January 2023, the Recreational Fishing Team will roll out the
Flathead for the Future program to engage the recreational community by informing them about stock challenges, listening to fisher views, and promoting greater stewardship.
- Flathead Discovery Days – interactive events exploring Tasmania's flathead species and the science behind how we manage stocks
-
Fisher liaison at boat ramps, jetties and fishing spots
- Fishing clinics
- Regional shows
- Follow us on
Facebook and
Instagram to learn more about sand flathead.
Follow the
Fishcare Events Page for more details.
Research
To address concerns about sand flathead stocks, IMAS is leading two key research projects:
Potential management options
Any proposed rule changes to address depleted sand flathead stocks will be included in a review of the
Fisheries (Scalefish) Rules 2015. Formal consultation will occur around March 2023 and all fishers will be encouraged to have their say.