Red emperor stock
Species
- Red emperor (Lutjanus sebae)
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.
| Stock | 2023 | 2020 | 2018 | 2016 | 2014 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| East Coast Queensland | Sustainable | Undefined | Undefined | Undefined | Undefined |
| Gulf of Carpentaria | Sustainable | Sustainable | Undefined | Undefined | Undefined |
Stock assessment
The 2022 stock assessment used current biological 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
This assessment estimated that the red emperor stock was between 56% and 65% of unfished levels, and most probably at around 58%.
The assessment used Stock Synthesis, a modelling framework that was developed by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (United States).
Biomass estimates and key management actions
The chart presents the biomass ratio of red emperor from 1953 to 2022. The ratio is relative to 1 in 1953. Data used in the stock assessment includes 33 years of commercial catch data, 2233 fish aged, 6169 commercially caught fish measured, 355 recreational catches measured and 20 per cent of the commercial catch measured yearly.
© Queensland Government
© Queensland Government
Estimated retained catch from 1953 to 2021
The chart presents retained catch for red emperor 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
© Queensland Government
Monitoring
Red emperor is included in the coral reef fish biological monitoring program.
Ecological risk assessment
- reef line fishery
- Gulf of Carpentaria developmental fin fish trawl fishery.
Management
Reef line fishery: