School mackerel stock
Species
- School mackerel (Scomberomorus queenslandicus)
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 | 2020 | 2018 | 2016 | 2014 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Central East Australia | Negligible | Not assessed | Not assessed | Not assessed |
| North East Australia | Undefined | Sustainable | Not assessed | Not assessed |
| Northern Australia | Negligible | Negligible | Not assessed | Not assessed |
| South East Australia | Sustainable | Sustainable | Not assessed | Not assessed |
Stock assessment
Monitoring
The biological monitoring program collects data on length, sex and age of fish caught by commercial and recreational fishers.
Recreational fishing data is collected through the boat ramp survey and Keen Angler Program. Data collection from the commercial fishery began in 2020.
School mackerel is a schooling species that lives in shallow waters along the Queensland coast.
There are 2 stocks on the east coast - a northern and southern stock separated by a mixing zone located between Townsville and Proserpine (19.5°S to 20.5°S).
School mackerel mature around 2 years of age and may live up to 10 years.
Commercially, fish are mostly taken using gill nets, with more than 90% of the total harvest coming from the southern stock.
Monitoring area
Ecological risk assessment
Assessed in the east coast inshore fishery.
Management
East coast inshore fishery: