Tailor stock
Species
- Tailor (Pomatomus saltatrix)
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eastern Australian | Sustainable | Sustainable | Sustainable | Sustainable | Sustainable |
Stock assessment
Monitoring
The biological monitoring program collects data on length, sex and age of fish caught by commercial and recreational fishers between the Queensland – New South Wales border and Baffle Creek, including popular ocean beach shore fishing locations.
The data collected during surveys on Kgari is collated with data collected year-round from recreational and commercial fishers at other locations.
The program began in 1999 and is ongoing.
Monitoring areas
Age and length
The majority of tailor caught by both recreational and commercial fishery sectors are between 35cm and 50cm. More than 50% of fish caught are between 35cm and 40cm.
Few fish longer than 70cm are observed in the harvest. This is a characteristic that has been observed throughout the history of the monitoring program.
Tailor are fast-growing and relatively short-lived predators. They reach maturity between 1 to 2 years of age and can reach a maximum of 13 years of age.
The majority of tailor caught by recreational and commercial fishers are between 2 and 5 years of age.
In 2009, when the minimum legal size (MLS) for tailor was 30cm, the harvest of both recreational and commercial fishery sectors was dominated by 2 year old fish. In 2010 the MLS was increased to 35cm. Since then, a relatively lower proportion of 2 year olds have been observed in the harvest as a large proportion of fish between 30cm and 35cm are 2 year olds and would not be retained by fishers.
The oldest tailor aged in the monitoring program in 2013 was 6 years of age. This fish had a total length of 73cm (approximately 3.5 kg) and was caught in the recreational fishery sector.
Graph 1 can be used to estimate the age of a tailor based on its length.
Graph 1: Age at length
Monitoring on Kgari
Fisheries Queensland conducts surveys on Kgari during late winter and spring to collect biological information for beach-caught species including tailor.
Surveys typically run for 5 days, with 2 to 3 surveys being conducted each year since 1999. Scientists measure approximately 1000 fish per survey, although in years when a survey coincides with great fishing conditions, this can exceed 2500 fish. Scientists also collect large numbers of fish frames (skeletons) as these provide additional information to complement the length data.
A mobile field laboratory is set up on the island to allow processing of fish frames soon after they are collected. Scientists record length and sex, and remove otoliths (ear bones) from a sub-sample of the fish frames donated.
The majority of tailor caught are between 35cm and 50cm TL. The Kgari surveys have shown large fish (e.g. greater than 50cm) comprise a larger percentage of the catch later in the fishing season (September to October) compared to earlier in the fishing season (August).
In the 1990s the majority of tailor caught were 1 or 2 year old fish (Hoyle et al. 2000). The reliance of the fishery on these very young fish caused great concern about the long-term sustainability of the fishery, resulting in a range of changes to management being made to address that concern.
Over time, the percentage of the catch consisting of older fish (especially 3 year olds) has increased. This is a positive change in the age structure of the fishery.
Ecological risk assessment
Assessed in the east coast inshore fishery.
Management
East coast inshore fishery: