Fish stock status
Stock status assessments help guide fisheries management and research.
National classification framework
Queensland assesses the stock status of important fish species using the nationally-agreed Status of Australian Fish Stocks (SAFS) classification framework.
The framework uses a weight-of-evidence approach to assess:
- whether the current abundance is at an adequate level, and
- if the level of fishing pressure is effectively controlled through management.
Each stock is classified as either:
- Sustainable
- Depleting
- Depleted
- Negligible
- Undefined.
Difference between national and state frameworks
While the Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries contributes to the SAFS program, there are key differences in how we assess fish stocks.
SAFS is an independent national program with limited direct connections to state-specific monitoring and management programmes.
Queensland’s Sustainable Fisheries Strategy established a broader framework for the long-term management and assessment of harvested stocks, including harvest strategies for all fisheries.
Additional assessment factors
Harvest strategies are designed to account for the sustainability of fish stocks into the future. They consider a broader range of factors, including economic and environmental impacts, that aren’t considered under the SAFS framework.
Definitions of sustainable stock
Although a species may be classified as sustainable in SAFS, this does not mean that the stock is meeting Queensland targets under the relevant harvest strategy.
The SAFS criteria for a stock to be listed as ‘Sustainable’ requires a stock’s biomass to be more than 20% of what would exist with no fishing (unfished biomass).
The Queensland harvest strategies generally:
- consider 40% to 50% to be sustainable (maximum sustainable yield, or the point at which there are enough new fish entering the fishery to replace those being taken out)
- aim to achieve a 60% biomass (maximum economic yield)
- set the 20% biomass as a trigger point for management action and intervention, including closing a commercial fishery.
Assessment schedule
SAFS assessments are completed approximately every 2 years and cover a list of species agreed on by all participating jurisdictions.
A single stock or multiple stocks of a species may be found wholly within Queensland, while others may extend outside Queensland waters.
Queensland only assesses or contributes to assessments of the stocks targeted within our fisheries.
Summary of stock status results
This table summarises the stock results from 2014 to 2023.
View the full reports for all Queensland fish species.
Email FishDataCoordinator@daf.qld.gov.au for reports earlier than 2014.
| Common Name | Species | Stock | 2023 | 2020 | 2018 | 2016 | 2014 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ballot's Saucer Scallop | Ylistrum balloti | East Coast Otter Trawl Fishery | Depleted | Depleted | Depleted | Overfished | Sustainable |
| Hammer Octopus | Octopus australis | Queensland | Undefined | Undefined | Not Assessed | Not Assessed | Not Assessed |
| Silverlip Pearl Oyster | Pinctada maxima | Queensland | Sustainable | Sustainable | Sustainable | Not Assessed | Not Assessed |
| Burrowing Blackfish | Actinopyga spinea | East Coast Queensland | Undefined | Sustainable | Not Assessed | Not Assessed | Not Assessed |
| White Teatfish | Holothuria fuscogilva | East Coast Sea Cucumber Fishery | Sustainable | Sustainable | Sustainable | Not Assessed | Not Assessed |
| Sandfish | Holothuria scabra | Queensland | Undefined | Not Assessed | Not Assessed | Not Assessed | Not Assessed |
| Balmain Bug | Ibacus spp. | East Coast | Sustainable | Sustainable | Sustainable | Sustainable | Sustainable |
| Banana Prawn | Penaeus indicus & Penaeus merguiensis | East Coast | Sustainable | Sustainable | Sustainable | Sustainable | Sustainable |
| Blue Swimmer Crab | Portunus armatus | North-Eastern Australia | Sustainable | Sustainable | Sustainable | Sustainable | Sustainable |
| Eastern King Prawn | Melicertus plebejus | Eastern Australian | Sustainable | Sustainable | Sustainable | Sustainable | Sustainable |
| Eastern School Prawn | Metapenaeus macleayi | Queensland | Sustainable | Sustainable | Sustainable | Sustainable | Sustainable |
| Endeavour Prawns | Metapenaeus endeavouri, M. ensis | East Coast Otter Trawl Fishery | Sustainable | Sustainable | Sustainable | Sustainable | Sustainable |
| Moreton Bay Bugs | Thenus spp. | East Coast Otter Trawl Fishery | Sustainable | Sustainable | Sustainable | Sustainable | Sustainable |
| Mud Crab | Scylla spp. | East Coast | Sustainable | Sustainable | Sustainable | Sustainable | Sustainable |
| Mud Crab | Scylla spp. | Gulf of Carpentaria | Sustainable | Sustainable | Sustainable | Sustainable | Sustainable |
| Ornate Rock Lobster | Panulirus ornatus | North-Eastern Australian | Sustainable | Sustainable | Sustainable | Sustainable | Sustainable |
| Redspot King Prawn | Melicertus longistylus | East Coast Queensland | Undefined | Sustainable | Not Assessed | Not Assessed | Not Assessed |
| Royal Red Prawn | Haliporoides sibogae | Queensland | Negligible | Undefined | Not Assessed | Not Assessed | Not Assessed |
| Spanner Crab | Ranina ranina | East Coast | Sustainable | Sustainable | Depleting | Sustainable | Sustainable |
| Tiger Prawns | Penaeus esculentus, P. semisulcatus | East Coast Otter Trawl Fishery | Sustainable | Sustainable | Sustainable | Sustainable | Sustainable |
| Western King Prawn | Melicertus latisulcatus | East Coast Otter Trawl Fishery | Sustainable | Sustainable | Sustainable | Sustainable | Sustainable |
| Australian Blacktip Shark | Carcharhinus tilstoni | East Coast | Sustainable | Sustainable | Sustainable | Undefined | Undefined |
| Australian Blacktip Shark | Carcharhinus tilstoni | Gulf of Carpentaria | Undefined | Undefined | Undefined | Undefined | Undefined |
| Australian Bonito | Sarda australis | Eastern Australia | Sustainable | Not Assessed | Not Assessed | Not Assessed | Not Assessed |
| Barramundi | Lates calcarifer | South-East Coast | Negligible | Negligible | Negligible | Negligible | Negligible |
| Barramundi | Lates calcarifer | Central East Coast | Sustainable | Sustainable | Sustainable | Sustainable | Sustainable |
| Barramundi | Lates calcarifer | Mackay | Sustainable | Sustainable | Sustainable | Sustainable | Sustainable |
| Barramundi | Lates calcarifer | North-East Coast | Sustainable | Sustainable | Sustainable | Sustainable | Sustainable |
| Barramundi | Lates calcarifer | Northern Gulf of Carpentaria | Sustainable | Sustainable | Sustainable | Sustainable | Sustainable |
| Barramundi | Lates calcarifer | Princess Charlotte Bay | Undefined | Sustainable | Sustainable | Sustainable | Sustainable |
| Barramundi | Lates calcarifer | Southern Gulf of Carpentaria | Sustainable | Sustainable | Depleting | Transitional-depleting | Sustainable |
| Barred Javelin | Pomadasys kaakan | East Coast Queensland | Sustainable | Sustainable | Not Assessed | Not Assessed | Not Assessed |
| Barred Javelin | Pomadasys kaakan | Gulf of Carpentaria | Sustainable | Sustainable | Not Assessed | Not Assessed | Not Assessed |
| Black Jewfish | Protonibea diacanthus | Queensland East Coast | Sustainable | Undefined | Undefined | Undefined | Undefined |
| Black Jewfish | Protonibea diacanthus | Gulf of Carpentaria | Undefined | Undefined | Undefined | Undefined | Undefined |
| Blue Threadfin | Eleutheronema tetradactylum | East Coast Queensland | Sustainable | Sustainable | Sustainable | Not Assessed | Not Assessed |
| Blue Threadfin | Eleutheronema tetradactylum | Gulf of Carpentaria | Sustainable | Sustainable | Sustainable | Not Assessed | Not Assessed |
| Blue-eye Trevalla | Hyperoglyphe antarctica | Eastern Australian | Sustainable | Sustainable | Sustainable | Sustainable | Not Assessed |
| Bronze Whaler | Carcharhinus brachyurus | Southern Australia | Not Assessed | Undefined | Not Assessed | Not Assessed | Not Assessed |
| Brownstripe Snapper | Lutjanus vitta | East Coast Queensland | Undefined | Undefined | Not Assessed | Not Assessed | Not Assessed |
| Brownstripe Snapper | Lutjanus vitta | Gulf of Carpentaria | Undefined | Undefined | Not Assessed | Not Assessed | Not Assessed |
| Cobia | Rachycentron canadum | Eastern Australia | Sustainable | Sustainable | Not Assessed | Not Assessed | Not Assessed |
| Cobia | Rachycentron canadum | Northern Australia | Sustainable | Sustainable | Not Assessed | Not Assessed | Not Assessed |
| Common Blacktip Shark | Carcharhinus limbatus | East Coast | Sustainable | Sustainable | Sustainable | Undefined | Undefined |
| Common Blacktip Shark | Carcharhinus limbatus | Gulf of Carpentaria | Undefined | Undefined | Undefined | Undefined | Undefined |
| Coral Trouts | Plectropomus spp., Variola spp. | Coral Reef Fin Fish Fishery | Sustainable | Sustainable | Sustainable | Sustainable | Sustainable |
| Coral Trouts | Plectropomus spp., Variola spp. | Gulf of Carpentaria | Undefined | Undefined | Undefined | Undefined | Undefined |
| Crimson Snapper | Lutjanus erythropterus | East Coast Queensland | Sustainable | Undefined | Undefined | Undefined | Undefined |
| Crimson Snapper | Lutjanus erythropterus | Gulf of Carpentaria | Sustainable | Sustainable | Sustainable | Sustainable | Sustainable |
| Dusky Flathead | Platycephalus fuscus | Queensland | Sustainable | Sustainable | Sustainable | Sustainable | Sustainable |
| Dusky Whaler | Carcharhinus obscurus | Eastern Australia | Sustainable | Not Assessed | Not Assessed | Not Assessed | Not Assessed |
| Eastern Shovelnose Ray | Aptychotrema rostrata | Eastern Australia | Undefined | Not Assessed | Not Assessed | Not Assessed | Not Assessed |
| Garfish | Hemiramphidae | East Coast | Not Assessed | Not Assessed | Undefined | Undefined | Not Assessed |
| Goldband Snapper | Pristipomoides multidens | East Coast Queensland | Undefined | Undefined | Undefined | Undefined | Undefined |
| Goldband Snapper | Pristipomoides multidens | Gulf of Carpentaria | Sustainable | Undefined | Sustainable | Sustainable | Sustainable |
| Golden Perch | Macquaria ambigua | Queensland | Undefined | Undefined | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Golden Snapper | Lutjanus johnii | Eastern Australia | Sustainable | Sustainable | Undefined | Undefined | Undefined |
| Golden Snapper | Lutjanus johnii | Gulf of Carpentaria | Sustainable | Sustainable | Sustainable | Sustainable | Undefined |
| Grey Mackerel | Scomberomorus semifasciatus | Gulf of Carpentaria | Sustainable | Sustainable | Sustainable | Sustainable | Sustainable |
| Grey Mackerel | Scomberomorus semifasciatus | North East Queensland | Sustainable | Sustainable | Sustainable | Sustainable | Sustainable |
| Grey Mackerel | Scomberomorus semifasciatus | South East Queensland | Sustainable | Sustainable | Sustainable | Sustainable | Sustainable |
| Grey Morwong | Nemadactylus douglasii | Eastern Australia | Depleted | Depleted | Depleted | Not Assessed | Not Assessed |
| Gummy Shark | Mustelus antarcticus | Eastern Australia | Undefined | Not Assessed | Not Assessed | Not Assessed | Not Assessed |
| Hapuku | Polyprion oxygeneios | Queensland | Negligible | Negligible | Not Assessed | Not Assessed | Not Assessed |
| John Dory | Zeus faber | South Eastern Australia | Depleted | Sustainable | Not Assessed | Not Assessed | Not Assessed |
| King Threadfin | Polydactylus macrochir | Central East Coast | Sustainable | Not Assessed | Not Assessed | Not Assessed | Not Assessed |
| King Threadfin | Polydactylus macrochir | Far North East Coast | Undefined | Not Assessed | Not Assessed | Not Assessed | Not Assessed |
| King Threadfin | Polydactylus macrochir | Mackay East Coast | Sustainable | Not Assessed | Not Assessed | Not Assessed | Not Assessed |
| King Threadfin | Polydactylus macrochir | North East Coast | Sustainable | Not Assessed | Not Assessed | Not Assessed | Not Assessed |
| King Threadfin | Polydactylus macrochir | South East Coast | Sustainable | Not Assessed | Not Assessed | Not Assessed | Not Assessed |
| King Threadfin | Polydactylus macrochir | East Coast | Not Assessed | Sustainable | Sustainable | Sustainable | Not Assessed |
| King Threadfin | Polydactylus macrochir | Gulf of Carpentaria | Depleted | Depleting | Depleting | Transitional-depleting | Not Assessed |
| Longfin Eel | Anguilla reinhardtii | Queensland | Undefined | Undefined | Not Assessed | Not Assessed | Not Assessed |
| Luderick | Girella tricuspidata | Eastern Australian | Sustainable | Sustainable | Sustainable | Sustainable | Not Assessed |
| Mahi Mahi | Coryphaena hippurus | Western and Central Pacific | Undefined | Undefined | Undefined | Not Assessed | Not Assessed |
| Mangrove Jack | Lutjanus argentimaculatus | East Coast Queensland | Undefined | Undefined | Undefined | Not Assessed | Not Assessed |
| Mangrove Jack | Lutjanus argentimaculatus | Gulf of Carpentaria | Sustainable | Sustainable | Recovering | Overfished | Not Assessed |
| Mulloway | Argyrosomus japonicus | Queensland | Undefined | Undefined | Undefined | Undefined | Undefined |
| Murray Cod | Maccullochella peelii | Queensland | Undefined | Undefined | Undefined | Undefined | Undefined |
| Painted Sweetlips | Diagramma labiosum | East Coast | Undefined | Not Assessed | Not Assessed | Not Assessed | Not Assessed |
| Painted Sweetlips | Diagramma labiosum | Gulf of Carpentaria | Undefined | Not Assessed | Not Assessed | Not Assessed | Not Assessed |
| Pearl Perch | Glaucosoma scapulare | Eastern Australia | Depleted | Depleted | Depleted | Transitional-depleting | Not Assessed |
| Red Emperor | Lutjanus sebae | East Coast Queensland | Sustainable | Undefined | Undefined | Undefined | Undefined |
| Red Emperor | Lutjanus sebae | Gulf of Carpentaria | Sustainable | Sustainable | Undefined | Undefined | Undefined |
| Redspot Emperor | Lethrinus lentjan | East Coast | Undefined | Not Assessed | Not Assessed | Not Assessed | Not Assessed |
| Redspot Emperor | Lethrinus lentjan | Gulf of Carpentaria | Undefined | Not Assessed | Not Assessed | Not Assessed | Not Assessed |
| Redthroat Emperor | Lethrinus miniatus | East Coast Queensland | Sustainable | Sustainable | Sustainable | Sustainable | Sustainable |
| Ruby Snappers | Etelis spp. | Northern Australia | Sustainable | Sustainable | Not Assessed | Not Assessed | Not Assessed |
| Ruby Snappers | Etelis spp. | Eastern Australia | Undefined | Undefined | Not Assessed | Not Assessed | Not Assessed |
| Saddletail Snapper | Lutjanus malabaricus | East Coast Queensland | Sustainable | Undefined | Undefined | Undefined | Undefined |
| Saddletail Snapper | Lutjanus malabaricus | Gulf of Carpentaria | Sustainable | Sustainable | Sustainable | Sustainable | Sustainable |
| Sand Whiting | Sillago ciliata | Queensland | Sustainable | Sustainable | Sustainable | Sustainable | Sustainable |
| Sandbar Shark | Carcharhinus plumbeus | Eastern Australian | Sustainable | Sustainable | Undefined | Undefined | Undefined |
| School Mackerel | Scomberomorus queenslandicus | North Eastern Australian | Undefined | Undefined | Sustainable | Not Assessed | Not Assessed |
| School Mackerel | Scomberomorus queenslandicus | South Eastern Australia | Sustainable | Sustainable | Sustainable | Not Assessed | Not Assessed |
| School Mackerel | Scomberomorus queenslandicus | Northern Australia | Negligible | Negligible | Negligible | Not Assessed | Not Assessed |
| School Mackerel | Scomberomorus queenslandicus | Central Eastern Australia | Negligible | Negligible | Not Assessed | Not Assessed | Not Assessed |
| Sea Mullet | Mugil cephalus | Eastern Australia | Sustainable | Sustainable | Sustainable | Sustainable | Sustainable |
| Silver Trevallies | Pseudocaranx georgianus, Pseudocaranx sp. "dentex" & Pseudocaranx wrighti, Pseudocaranx dinjerra | Queensland | Undefined | Undefined | Undefined | Undefined | Not Assessed |
| Snapper | Chrysophrys auratus | Queensland | Depleted | Depleted | Depleted | Overfished | Overfished |
| Spangled Emperor | Lethrinus nebulosus | East Coast Queensland | Sustainable | Sustainable | Sustainable | Not Assessed | Not Assessed |
| Spangled Emperor | Lethrinus nebulosus | Gulf of Carpentaria | Undefined | Undefined | Undefined | Not Assessed | Not Assessed |
| Spanish Mackerel | Scomberomorus commerson | East Coast | Depleted | Depleted | Sustainable | Sustainable | Sustainable |
| Spanish Mackerel | Scomberomorus commerson | Gulf of Carpentaria | Depleting | Depleting | Sustainable | Sustainable | Sustainable |
| Spot-Tail Shark | Carcharhinus sorrah | Northern Australian | Sustainable | Sustainable | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Spotted Mackerel | Scomberomorus munroi | Eastern Australia | Sustainable | Sustainable | Sustainable | Sustainable | Not Assessed |
| Spotted Mackerel | Scomberomorus munroi | Northern Australia | Negligible | Negligible | Sustainable | Sustainable | Not Assessed |
| Stout Whiting | Sillago robusta | Eastern Australia | Sustainable | Sustainable | Sustainable | Sustainable | Sustainable |
| Stripey Snapper | Lutjanus carponotatus | Eastern Australian | Sustainable | Sustainable | Not Assessed | Not Assessed | Not Assessed |
| Stripey Snapper | Lutjanus carponotatus | Northern Australia | Sustainable | Sustainable | Not Assessed | Not Assessed | Not Assessed |
| Southern Shortfin Eel | Anguilla australis | Queensland | Undefined | Undefined | Not Assessed | Not Assessed | Not Assessed |
| Tailor | Pomatomus saltatrix | Eastern Australian | Sustainable | Sustainable | Sustainable | Sustainable | Sustainable |
| Teraglin | Atractoscion atelodus | Eastern Australian | Sustainable | Sustainable | Not Assessed | Not Assessed | Not Assessed |
| Trumpeter Whiting | Sillago maculata | Queensland | Undefined | Undefined | Not Assessed | Not Assessed | Not Assessed |
| Yellowfin Bream | Acanthopagrus australis | Eastern Australian | Sustainable | Sustainable | Sustainable | Sustainable | Sustainable |
| Yellowtail Kingfish | Seriola lalandi | Eastern Australian | Sustainable | Sustainable | Undefined | Undefined | Undefined |
| Yellowtail Scad | Trachurus novaezelandiae | Eastern Australian | Sustainable | Sustainable | Not Assessed | Not Assessed | Not Assessed |
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