Ocean Trawl Fishery

Share class fact sheets

New rules will apply in most share classes from 1 December 2017. Fact sheets are available for each share class detailing the new share linkage arrangements and proposed new rules.

Ocean trawl

What's new

There are two sectors to the NSW Ocean Trawl Fishery: the prawn trawl sector and the fish trawl sector. Both sectors use similar gear, the otter trawl net, and many of the fishers endorsed for fish trawling are also endorsed for prawn trawling.

The fishery produces high quality fresh seafood predominately for the domestic market. The major species taken in the Ocean Trawl Fishery include school whiting (comprising of stout whiting and red spot whiting), eastern king, school and royal red prawns, tiger flathead, silver trevally, various species of sharks and rays, squid, octopus and bugs.

Managing the fishery

A comprehensive Fishery Management Strategy has been prepared for the Ocean Trawl Fishery and was approved by the Minister for Primary Industries in January 2007. The Strategy includes a description of the fishery and the management arrangements that apply or are proposed. Before the Strategy was finalised, a draft strategy was subject to a comprehensive environmental impact assessment process under the NSW Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979. The Environmental Impact Statement was publicly exhibited in August 2004.

The Ocean Trawl Fishery is a share management fishery. This means that commercial fishers must hold sufficient shares to be eligible for an endorsement to operate in the fishery. An endorsement authorises the use of specific gear to take fish for sale from certain waters. The rules and regulations that apply to the fishery are contained in the Strategy and within the share management plan, the Fisheries Management Act 1994 No 38, and the Fisheries Management (General) Regulation 2010.

Contact

For further information on the Ocean Trawl Fishery telephone 1300 726 488.