The SGWCP fishery is limited by effort controls which in theory do not create the settings for maximum economic yield. These are high level settings which do not inform fishing based on historical effort and profitability by location, expected catch, prices, costs of fishing and margins, ahead of the daily fishing decision. The current approach is to "go fishing and sell what is caught", as opposed to directing fishing by location and grade mix to target maximum profits over time, given the spatial profit performance. Further the approach does not allow for assessment of the impact of delaying fishing as a fleet.

In order to grow fishing businesses and aggregate fishery profitability, finer scale decision making informed by spatial current and expected future stock conditions, prices and margins is required. To bring about such a change in approach, efficient spatial data capture and reporting and economic analysis in real time to inform fishing decisions is required.

Recent developments in tablet based digital technology mean opportunities exist to establish low cost and efficient data collection and management systems to support innovative fishing at both business and fishery levels.

Enhanced fleet management approaches which incorporate spatial and economic considerations are also needed if profits are to be maximised. Space or location and timing of fishing impacts costs, yields and grades - all key drivers of profit.