Common coral trout stock

Species

Fish stock status

Although a species may be classified as sustainable under the Status of Australian Fish Stocks (SAFS) framework, this does not mean that the stock is meeting Queensland targets under the harvest strategy.

Stock20232020201820162014
Coral Reef Fin Fish FisherySustainableSustainableSustainableSustainableSustainable
Gulf of CarpentariaUndefinedUndefinedUndefinedUndefinedUndefined

Stock assessment

The 2022 stock assessment used current biological data, survey data, and commercial and recreational catch data to:

  • determine the sustainability of the stock
  • help inform management decisions
  • inform the application of the reef line harvest strategy.

The assessment estimated that the common coral trout stock was between 50% and 70% of unfished levels, and most probably at around 60%.

The assessment used Stock Synthesis, a modelling framework that was developed by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (United States).

Previous reports:

Biomass estimates and key management actions

The chart presents the biomass ratio of common coral trout from 1953 to 2022. The ratio is relative to 1 in 1953. Data used in the stock assessment includes 53 years of commercial catch data, 37061 fish aged, 41472 commercially caught fish measured, 6778 recreational catches measured, 8242 fish measured in underwater visual surveys and 26883 fish observed in underwater visual surveys.
© Queensland Government

Estimated retained catch from 1953 to 2021

The chart presents retained catch for common coral trout on the east coast of Queensland. The chart shows the data used and the modelled retained catch for both the commercial and recreational sectors.
© Queensland Government

Monitoring

Common coral trout are included in the coral reef fish biological monitoring program.

Ecological risk management

Assessed in the reef line fishery.

Management

Reef line fishery:

Last updated: 10 Jul 2024