Rebuilding the Queensland saucer scallop fishery

The east coast otter trawl fishery targets a variety of species, with saucer scallops an historical key target species. Current stock sustainability information indicates the southern stock, in the southern inshore and offshore regions, has an estimated biomass of 15% of unfished levels, below the 20% limit reference point. The northern stock has recently been identified as a separate stock in the central region through a genetic study, with biomass and harvest potential to be determined.

The future management of the fishery will be informed by a fishery-independent scallop survey, co-delivered with industry in October 2025 (pending permit approval). The survey will assess scallop densities across more than 420 sampling sites, including the southern inshore, southern offshore and central regions. The data obtained from the survey will be used to obtain evidence of the status of the stock and determine if the southern inshore trawl region's biomass is no longer depleted.

In addition, the data will inform regional total allowable commercial catch (TACC) limits in a precautionary and adaptive harvesting framework. The target harvest rate for TACC limits is proposed to be set at 21% of the available biomass (based on previous studies), while maintaining existing arrangements for scallop replenishment areas and marine park zoning. Future stock assessments will further refine this framework.

To ensure ongoing sustainability, it is proposed that harvest of saucer scallop runs from midday 1 March until midday 1 May across all regions, with landed product reported against regional competitive TACC limits. To support these TACC limits, it is proposed to limit fishing for saucer scallop to one management region per trip and to close scallop shucking areas to ensure scallop are landed whole. We are also seeking feedback on:

• the ability for commercial fishers to electronically report catch under a competitive TACC

• if trip-limits are preferred by industry and, to guide the development of these limits, the length of time an operator currently spends in each region on each trip.

The following 3 options are proposed for each management region:

Option 1: Regional TACC limits only
Option 2: Regional trip limits and regional TACC limits
Option 3: Same trip limit across all regions and regional TACC limits