There is a risk that Queensland’s deepwater (>200m) fish stocks are being fished at levels that are not sustainable Increased effort by commercial fishers in deep waters under normal line entitlements and the lack of knowledge of many of the targeted deepwater species (many of these species are presumed to be long-lived, schooling species susceptible to overexploitation) are key threats.

There is also anecdotal evidence that recreational fishers are fishing further offshore in deeper water and that recent improved fishing technologies have increased the effective effort on deepwater fish by all sectors. It is imperative that basic information on these deep-water stocks is collected at a time when management arrangements are being updated for rocky reef species (both shallow and deepwater).

The DEEDI Fisheries Observer Program has 100 days allocated to the deepwater fishery next calendar year, providing a unique opportunity to gather additional biological information on deepwater species that would not normally be collected as part of the routine core functions of the program. The provision of resources via a short-term “Tactical Research Fund” proposal would provide additional information at a time that is critical in the management cycle. It would also enable an assessment of the impact of improvements in vessel and gear technology (braided line, soft plastic lures, GPS etc) that could be used to better standardise catch rates. This is an essential requirement in any future stock assessments.

Fisheries Queensland is currently undertaking a gap analysis to identify information needs for completing an ecological risk assessment of this fishery. The proposed research is critical as it is designed to address the data deficiencies identified by that analysis.

Fisheries Queensland has identified this issue as a priority to be addressed over the next 18 months with a view to review management arrangements in 2012.