Grey mackerel 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
Gulf of Carpentaria SustainableSustainableSustainableSustainableSustainable
North East QueenslandSustainableSustainableSustainableSustainableSustainable
South East QueenslandSustainableSustainableSustainableSustainableSustainable

Stock assessment

Monitoring

The sampling program predominantly collects data on length, sex and age of fish caught by commercial fishers in the east coast inshore fishery.

Data from the recreational fishery is collected through the boat ramp survey, which began in 2017.

Routine biological monitoring of grey mackerel on the east coast of Queensland occurred from 2008 until 2016, and recommenced in January 2020.

Regions

Monitoring focuses on specific regions during certain times of the year where most grey mackerel catches occur.

The main regions include Cairns, Townsville, Bowen, Mackay, Rockhampton and Hervey Bay which are most heavily sampled between May and October.

Map showing the locations where grey mackerel stock is monitored in Queensland.

Age and length

Grey mackerel reach maturity at two years of age and can live to 12 years of age, reaching 120cm in length. They are found around headlands and in rocky reef habitats where they feed mainly on pelagic baitfish.

Use Graph 1 to determine how old your fish is, based on the length.

Total catch and catch rate for the commercial eastern king prawn fishery.

Ecological risk assessment

Assessed in the:

  • east coast inshore fishery
  • Gulf of Carpentaria inshore fishery.

Management

East coast inshore fishery:

Last updated: 10 Jul 2024