Summary

Sea mullet is the primary target species in the NSW Ocean Hauling Fishery and a major target species in the NSW Estuary General Fishery. The status of the NSW sea mullet resource is assessed annually using catch statistics supplied by commercial fishers and trends in the length and age composition of commercial landings. Age and length data are obtained via a biological monitoring program, which has operated annually since 1995.

From 1995 to 2001, the monitoring programme has generated a large database of biological information about sea mullet in NSW. Part 1 of this report provides a summary of the type and quantity of all data collected during monitoring between 1995 and 2001. Part 2 provides a detailed graphical description of the age and length composition of samples of sea mullet collected between 1995 and 2001. Samples from ocean and estuary landings are examined separately. Some trends in the data are described.

Parts 1 and 2 of this report will be useful in future stock assessment and population modelling of sea mullet by providing an overview of all available information 'at a glance'.

Recommendations regarding appropriate sampling protocols for monitoring of age and length of sea mullet in estuary and ocean fishery landings in NSW are also given in the final section of this report.