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c h a p t e r 1 5

15 Torres Strait Finfish Fisheries (Spanish mackerel and reef line)n marton, j Woodhams and k mazur

F i g u r e 1 5 .1 Area of the Torres Strait Finfish Fisheries (TSFF) (comprising the Torres Strait Spanish Mackerel Fishery [TSSMF] and the Torres Strait Reef Line Fishery [TSRLF])

c h a p t e r 1 5 Torres Strait Finfish Fisheries 285

ta B l e 1 5 .1 Status of the Torres Strait Finfish Fisheries

Fishery status 2008 2009 Comments

Biological status Overfishing Overfished Overfishing Overfished

Coral trout(Plectropomus spp., Variola spp.)

2009 catch below all total allowable catch scenarios run in recent management strategy evaluation.

Spanish mackerel(Scomberomorus commerson)

Catch for 2008 and 2009 below base-case model estimate of maximum sustainable yield and lower risk simulations in management strategy evaluation.

Economic statusFishery level

Estimates of net economic returns not available Economic status uncertain. Total net economic returns are likely to be low.

not overfiShed / not Subject to overfiShing overfiShed / overfiShing uncertain not aSSeSSed

ta B l e 1 5 . 2 Main features and statistics of the Torres Strait Finfish Fisheries

Feature Description

Key target and byproduct species

Coral trout (Plectropomus spp., Variola spp.)—common coral trout (P. leopardus)—blue-spotted coral trout (P. laevis)—passionfruit coral trout (P. areolatus)—barcheek coral trout (P. maculatus)—white-edge coronation trout (V. albimarginata)—yellowedge coronation trout (V. louti)Spanish mackerel (Scomberomorus commerson)

Other byproduct species Mixed reef species; predominately snappers (Lutjanus spp.), emperors (Lethrinus spp.) and rock cods (Epinephelus spp.)School mackerel (Scomberomorus queenslandicus), grey mackerel (S. semifasciatus), spotted mackerel (S. munroi) and double-lined or shark mackerel (Grammatorcynus bicarinatus)

Fishing methods Coral trout and mixed reef species: handlineSpanish mackerel: trolled baits and lures, handlines and droplines

Primary landing ports Cairns; Torres Strait Island fish receivers on Darnley, Murray and Yorke islands

Management methods Input controls: limited entry, vessel restrictions, prohibited speciesOutput controls: size limits

Management plan No formal plan of management. A management plan is being developed.

Harvest strategy None

Consultative forums Torres Strait Fisheries Management Advisory Committee (TSFMAC), Torres Strait Scientific Advisory Committee (TSSAC), Torres Strait Finfish Fishery Working Group (TSFFWG)

Main markets Domestic: frozen

EPBC Act assessments:—listed species (Part 13)—international movement of wildlife specimens (Part 13A)

Current accreditation dated 18 November 2008.Current accreditation (Wildlife Trade Operation) expires 25 November 2011.

Ecological risk assessment None

Bycatch workplans Torres Strait Finfish Bycatch Action Plan 2005 (AFMA 2005a)

Table 15.2 continues over the page

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1 5 . 1 B a c k g r o u n d

In July 2005 the Torres Strait Protected Zone Joint Authority (PZJA) approved a voluntary surrender process for all non-Traditional Inhabitant commercial operators in the Torres Strait Finfish Fisheries (TSFF). The surrender process covered the Transferable Vessel Holder (TVH) Sector and included both the reef line and mackerel fisheries. The aims were:

to facilitate a 50:50 split of the •Australian share of the resource between the TVH Sector and the Traditional Inhabitant Boat (TIB) Sector (for Traditional Inhabitant fishers)to allow for at least 50% ownership •of Australia’s share of the finfish resource by Traditional Inhabitantsto meet Australia’s catch-sharing •obligations to Papua New Guinea under the Torres Strait Treaty.

Mediations initiated by TVH fishers and the Australian Government Department of

Feature Description

Fishery statisticsa 2008 fishing season 2009 fishing season

Fishing season 1 January 2008–31 December 2008 1 January 2009–31 December 2009

TAC and catch by species—coral trout—Spanish mackerel

TACNoneNone

Catch (tonnes)2590

TACNoneNone

Catch (tonnes)27

101

Effort Not available Not available

Fishing permits/licences In June 2008:166 TIB licences with line endorsements184 TIB licences with mackerel endorsements11 TVH licences with mackerel and/or line endorsements

In June 2009:13 TIB licences with line endorsements4 TIB licences with mackerel endorsements6 TVH licences with mackerel and/or line endorsements

Active vessels 35 TIB line fishers24 TIB mackerel fishers9 TVH line and/or mackerel fishers

17 TIB line and mackerel fishers6 TVH line and mackerel fishers

Observer coverage Zero Zero

Real gross value of production (2008–09 dollars)

2007–08: $0.73 million (TSRLF), $0.70 million (TSSMF)

2008–09: $0.83 million (TSRLF), $0.30 million (TSSMF)

Allocated management costs n.a. n.a.

EPBC Act = Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999; TIB = Traditional Inhabitant Boat; TSRLF = Torres Strait Reef Line Fishery; TSSMF = Torres Strait Spanish Mackerel Fishery; TVH = transferable vessel holder; n.a. = not available

a Fishery statistics are provided by fishing season unless otherwise indicated.

Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry resulted in agreement on a voluntary 100% buyout of all TVH fishing licences in the finfish fisheries. All TVH endorsements were surrendered to the PZJA by 30 June 2008 (Table 15.3). Since the surrender of TVH licences, there has been limited leasing of licences to non-traditional fishers.

reef line

The Torres Strait Reef Line Fishery (TSRLF) is a multispecies fishery targeting mainly coral trout, with a smaller harvest of tropical snappers, emperors and rock cods (Table 15.2). Most commercial fishing activity takes place in the north-eastern region of the Torres Strait (Fig. 15.1). A large area of the fishery west of 142°32’E is closed to commercial fishing. Commercial operations are subject to many of the size limits that apply to species in Queensland’s east-coast commercial reef line fishery (the Coral Reef Fin Fish

ta B l e 1 5 . 2 Main features and statistics of the Torres Strait Finfish Fisheries C O N T I N U E D

c h a p t e r 1 5 Torres Strait Finfish Fisheries 287

Fishery); however, red bass (Lutjanus bohar) and barramundi cod (Cromileptes altivelis), which are no-take species on the east coast, may be harvested in the Torres Strait.

A management plan for the TSRLF is under development and is expected to be implemented during 2011. New management arrangements may include a total allowable commercial catch for finfish species.

Spanish mackerelThe Torres Strait Spanish Mackerel Fishery (TSSMF) targets the Spanish mackerel, primarily by trolling (Table 15.2). The catch is highly seasonal, and the majority is taken around Bramble Cay in the far north-east of the Torres Strait (Fig. 15.1). A management plan for the fishery is

under development and is expected to be implemented during 2011. New management arrangements may include a total allowable commercial catch for Spanish mackerel.

ta B l e 1 5 . 3 History of the Torres Strait Finfish Fisheries

Year Description

Pre-1939 A troll fishery for Spanish mackerel existed; vessels based on Thursday Island.

1939 to 1945 Army unit stationed at Thursday Island to provide fish for army hospitals and troops.

1950 The first Cairns-based vessel began fishing for Spanish mackerel in the Torres Strait. Commercial fishing for reef fish began, with fishers travelling from southern ports.

1953 Other vessels from the Queensland east coast began to work in the Torres Strait.

1979 to 1983 Small-scale tagging projects for Spanish mackerel in effect.

1980 Commercial fishing by Traditional Inhabitants began for reef fish after the establishment of processing facilities and freezers on some islands.

1985 Introduction of the Torres Strait Treaty.

1988 Logbooks introduced for non-traditional fishers.

1990 ~20 vessels licensed to fish in the Torres Strait for Spanish mackerel.

1998 Fishing methods for Spanish mackerel restricted to trolling, handlines and droplines. Possession limit of no more than 50 kg of other finfish. Minimum legal size of 45 cm total length for all mackerel.

2003 Logbooks introduced.

2004 Islander docket-book system introduced. Minimum legal size for Spanish mackerel set to 75 cm total length.

2008 Removal of transferable vessel holder endorsements from the fishery and commencement of leasing arrangements.

2009 Timeline for implementation of new management plan established. Management plan is expected to commence in July 2011.

SOURCES: Williams (1994); Begg et al. (2006).

Thursday Island moored vessels PHOTO: JAMES WOODHAMS, ABARE –BRS

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1 5 . 2 h a rv e s t s t r at e g y

The Commonwealth Fisheries Harvest Strategy Policy (HSP) is not prescribed for fisheries jointly managed by the Australian Government and other management agencies (domestic or international), such as the fisheries in the Torres Strait. Although the PZJA has asked its management forums to provide advice on the application of the HSP to the Torres Strait fisheries, currently no formal harvest strategies are in effect for the TSFF.

1 5 . 3 t h e 2 0 0 9 F i s h e ry

key target and byproduct speciesIn 2009 the reported catch was approximately 27 t of coral trout and 101 t of Spanish mackerel (Table 15.2). Reporting of TIB catch is not mandatory, and catch records for July–December 2009 from Mer (Murray) Island were not available. The catch of Spanish mackerel and coral trout in 2009 was similar to the levels in 2008. The reduction in catch from previous years is understood to be a result of the voluntary surrender process for TVH operators.

minor byproduct speciesA recent survey of byproduct and bycatch in the TSRLF by Williams et al. (2008) found

that coral trout made up more than 65% of retained catch by weight for both the TIB and TVH sectors, with mackerel and snapper making up an additional 23% for both sectors. The TIB Sector retains a wider range of species as byproduct than the TVH Sector.

Byproduct makes up a relatively minor component of catch in the TSSMF. Other mackerel species—including grey, school, spotted and shark mackerel—make up the majority of byproduct species; however, small quantities of reef fish such as coral trout may also be retained (AFMA 2005b; Begg et al. 2006). Table 15.4 lists the most abundantly caught byproduct species in the TSFF.

A recent study of Islander subsistence catch found that subsistence fishing yielded similar quantities of fish to the TIB and TVH sectors combined (Busilacchi 2010). However, the species composition of the subsistence and commercial catches differed: traditional subsistence fishing took predominantly Carangids (31% by weight) and Mugilids (20% by weight), whereas the commercial sector predominantly caught Serranids (19% by weight) and Carangids (18% by weight). Since traditional subsistence fishing is not targeting the same families as commercial subsistence fishing (with the exception of Carangids), it is unlikely that traditional subsistence fishing has a large impact on the more commercially valuable species such as coral trout and Spanish mackerel.

ta B l e 1 5 . 4 Minor byproduct species—TACs/triggers, catches/landings and discards in the Torres Strait Finfish Fisheries

SpeciesTaC/trigger

2008 catch (tonnes)

2008 discards

2009 catch (tonnes)

2009 discards

Barramundi cod (Cromileptes altivelis) None <1 n.a. <1 n.a.

Cod, other (Serranidae) None <1 n.a. <1 n.a.

Emperors (Lethrinus spp.) None <1 n.a. 1.7 n.a.

Sharks (Carcharhinidae) None 0 n.a. 0 n.a.

Snappers (Lutjanidae) None 0 n.a. 0 n.a.

Trevally (Carangidae) None <1 n.a. 1 n.a.

Wrasse (Labridae) None 0 n.a. 0 n.a.

TAC = total allowable catch

c h a p t e r 1 5 Torres Strait Finfish Fisheries 289

1 5 . 4 B i o l o g i c a l s tat u s

coral trout(Plectropomus leopardus, P. laevis, P. areolatus, P. maculatus, Variola albimarginata, V. louti)

LINE DRAWING: FAO

ta B l e 1 5 . 5 Biology of coral trout

Parameter Descriptiona

Range Species: Tropical waters of the Indian and Pacific Oceans.Stock: The area of the TSFF.

Depth Relatively shallow water—to about 100 m—often associated with coral reefs. On the nearby Great Barrier Reef, inhabit mid-shelf reefs.

Longevity ~17 years

Maturity (50%) age: females 3–4 years; males 2 years. Species are protogynous hermaphrodites, functioning first as females and later as males.Size: 280 mm FL

Spawning season August–December

Size Maximum: ~65 cm for all species other than blue-spotted coral trout (~130 cm).Recruitment into the fishery: 38 cm TL for all species other than blue-spotted coral trout, which has a minimum legal size of 50 cm and a maximum of 80 cm.

FL = fork length; TL = total length; TSFF = Torres Strait Finfish Fisheries

a As approximately 80% of the catch of coral trout in the Torres Strait (by number) is common coral trout (Plectropomus leopardus), the information presented is for common coral trout, unless otherwise indicated.

SOURCES: Kailola et al. (1993); Samoilys (1997); Williams et al. (2007).

1997 1999 2001 2003 2005 2007 20090.00

0.05

0.10

0.15

0.20

Figure 15.2 Catch: coral trout, TS

Cat

ch (

tho

usa

nd

to

nn

es)

F i g u r e 1 5 . 2 Coral trout catch history, 1997 to 2009

stock status determinationThe data presented in Williams et al. (2007), combined with a comparison of the 2009 catch with the historical catch record (Fig. 15.2), form the basis of the classification of this stock. This work estimated the spawning biomass to be greater than 60% of pre-fished levels in 2004. Catch in recent years has been below historic catch levels and well below the lowest catch level simulated in the management strategy evaluation (MSE) (80 t per year). This simulation saw the stock reach greater than 80% of the unfished spawning biomass within 20 years (Williams et al. 2007). On this basis, the stock is assessed as not overfished and not subject to overfishing (Table 15.1).

reliability of the assessment/sAlthough the TSRLF MSE (Williams et al. 2007) is not a stock assessment, the information presented by the authors is founded in well-tested methodology. The results of this work can be considered sound.

previous assessment/sAn MSE has recently been undertaken for the TSRLF and should prove valuable in the development of future management arrangements (Williams et al. 2007). All four total allowable catch (TAC) simulations, ranging from 80 t to 170 t, achieved a spawning biomass greater than 70% of the Barcheek coral trout PHOTO: MIKE GERNER, AFMA

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assumed unfished levels by 2025. Seasonal closures, minimum size limits (Table 15.5) and effort reductions were also tested in the MSE. Although additional management measures are probably not needed at current fishing levels, the results of these simulations indicated that a seasonal closure would be a good measure for addressing conservation, stock and economic objectives.

Future assessment needsA formal stock assessment for coral trout would be a valuable addition to the management tools available to this fishery, providing useful information for any future TAC setting.

SPaniSh mackerel(Scomberomorus commerson)

LINE DRAWING: FAO

ta B l e 1 5 . 6 Biology of Spanish mackerel

Parameter Description

General Relatively fast-growing pelagic fish

Range Species: Widely distributed throughout tropical and subtropical waters. In Australia, they are distributed from Geographe Bay in Western Australia to St Helens in Tasmania.Stock: The area of the TSFF.

Depth Range from near the edge of the continental shelf to shallow coastal waters. Adults are commonly associated with coral reefs, rocky shoals and current lines on outer reef areas and offshore.

Longevity 22 years

Maturity (50%) age: ~2 yearsSize: 90 cm TL

Spawning season Multiple spawning events between August and March

Size Maximum: 240 cm FL; weight: 70 kgRecruitment into the fishery: 75 cm TL; weight: <5 kg; age: <2 years

FL = fork length; TL = total length; TSFF = Torres Strait Finfish Fisheries

SOURCES: McPherson (1992, 1993); Kailola et al. (1993); Begg et al. (2006).

1997 1999 2001 2003 2005 2007 20090.00

0.05

0.10

0.15

0.20

0.25

0.30

Figure 15.3 Catch: Spanish mackerel, TS

Cat

ch (

tho

usa

nd

to

nn

es)

F i g u r e 1 5 . 3 Spanish mackerel catch history, 1997 to 2009

stock status determination

The most recent assessment of Spanish mackerel in the Torres Strait was released in 2006, incorporating data up to 2003. Based on the estimates of maximum sustainable yield (MSY) in the stock assessment and catch information for 2008 and 2009 (Fig. 15.3), this stock is assessed as not subject to overfishing (Table 15.1). Catches in 2008 and 2009 were below both the base case and lower risk MSY estimates (Begg et al. 2006).

Although the authors of the 2006 assessment acknowledged the significant uncertainty in the models, none of the model runs saw the biomass fall below 0.2B0

; the base case predicted the exploitable biomass at 0.37B0. On this basis, the stock is assessed as not overfished. However, the more pessimistic of these models indicated that some rebuilding of the stock may be required, acknowledging that targets have not been set for this fishery. The low levels of harvest in recent years may have resulted in some rebuilding of the stock.

reliability of the assessment/s

Uncertainty associated with the 2006 Spanish mackerel assessment and with the management advice and reference points derived from the analysis is largely a result of the quality and extent of the input data. The assessment used all available data, including the non-Islander commercial catch from logbooks,

c h a p t e r 1 5 Torres Strait Finfish Fisheries 291

valuable addition to the management tools available to the fishery, providing useful information for any future TAC setting.

1 5 . 5 e c o n o m i c s tat u s

Historically, the TSFF has been managed under a licensing system, combined with input and output controls. The fishery is currently developing a management plan that allows for setting of TACs. If the shift to a TAC management system occurs, input controls currently in place such as area closures, gear controls and minimum fish size limits will still have an important role to play in allowing sustainability and environmental objectives to be met.

In 2008–09 the GVP of the TSSMF was approximately $301 000. Since 2003–04 the real GVP in the fishery has fallen by $0.77 million (72%) (Fig. 15.4). This decline is largely the result of a 76% decrease in volume over this period.

In 2008–09 the gross value of production (GVP) of the TSRLF was approximately $826 000. Since 2003–04 the real GVP in the TSRLF has fallen by $1.7 million (67%) (Fig. 15.5). The main factor contributing to this decline has been a 73% fall in the volume of coral trout caught (Fig. 15.2).

2004−05 2005−06 2006−07 2007−08 2008−090.0

0.5

1.0

1.5

2.0

2.5

Figure 15.4 GVP: Spanish Mackerel Fishery, TS

Spanish mackerelOther

GV

P (

2008

−09

A$

mill

ion

)

F i g u r e 1 5 . 4 Real GVP in the TSSMF by financial year, 2004–05 to 2008–09

Islander commercial catches from island council fish receivers, and AFMA docket books (1989–2003). Average total catch for years when no data were available (1940 to 1988) was modelled with both a non-linear model and a linear regression model. The modelling of catches for this period introduces further uncertainty in the biomass predictions. Although logbooks have been compulsory for non-traditional commercial fishers since 1988, the voluntary recording of commercial catch from traditional fishers through the docket-book system has only been in place since 2004. Therefore, it is highly likely that not all commercial harvest of Spanish mackerel was available for use in the assessment (Begg et al. 2006).

previous assessment/sThe first formal stock assessment of Spanish mackerel in the Torres Strait was published in 2006 (Begg et al. 2006), informed by data to 2003 (inclusive). This found that catch rates declined from 1989 to 1999, and then increased from 2000 to 2003. The assessment concluded that Spanish mackerel was probably being harvested at levels near or exceeding maximum sustainable levels (up to 2003).

An MSE suggested that annual catches of around 150 t per year or less would achieve a better risk outcome and meet a fishing mortality target of half natural mortality. Noting that no target or limit reference points have been set for this fishery. The 2006 assessment noted that catches for 12 of the 15 years from 1989 to 2003 were above the base-case MSY of 169 t.

The potential for hyperstability of catch rates in the TSSMF was discussed by Begg et al. (2006). Hyperstability, in this case, is the maintenance of catch or catch rates, primarily due to the fishing operations focusing on spawning aggregations around Bramble Cay.

Future assessment needsThe most recent assessment of Spanish mackerel is now more than three years old, and an additional six years of catch and effort data are now available. An update to this assessment would be a

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2004−05 2005−06 2006−07 2007−08 2008−090.0

0.5

1.0

1.5

2.0

2.5

Figure 15.5 GVP: Reef Line Fishery, TS

Coral troutOther

GV

P (

2008

−09

A$

mill

ion

)

F i g u r e 1 5 . 5 Real GVP in the TSRLF by financial year, 2004–05 to 2008–09

Leasing first occurred in 2008–09. In that year, 30 t of coral trout and 90 t of Spanish mackerel quota were leased (TSFMAC 2009); quantities that are significantly lower than catches achieved in recent years. For the 2009–10 season, there was a general lack of interest in leasing coral trout quota. A range of factors have been suggested by fishers for this, including low whole/fillet prices, difficulties in employing crew, remoteness of fishing locations and high fuel costs. All of these factors indicate that the expected economic returns from targeting coral trout were low. However, for Spanish mackerel in 2009–10, 105 t of quota was made available, all of which was taken up by fishers. This indicates that there has been an increase in the expected economic returns from catching this species in 2008–09.

Revenue from leasing quota to non-traditional fishers amounted to around $170 000 in 2008–09 (TSFMAC 2009) and approximately $110 000 in 2009–10 (sourced from the Torres Strait Regional Authority via S. Hall, pers. comm., July 2010). Revenue from leasing activity is invested in capacity building for Traditional Inhabitant fishers (TSFMAC 2009). These leasing revenues also represent a lower bound estimate of the NER (excluding management costs) generated from the fishery in each year as leasing costs represent a transfer of NER from operators to another entity (in this case, the TIB sector). Provided

operators cover their leasing costs, then NER is at least equal to the leasing transfer.

To help increase leasing activity, longer term leases—for up to three years—are now also offered in the fishery, to provide longer term security to TVH fishing operators investing in the fishery. It is expected that these capacity-building projects will boost the economic performance of the fishery in the longer term, and increase the participation in the fishery by Traditional Inhabitant fishers.

1 5 . 6 e n v i r o n m e n ta l s tat u s

The fishing methods employed in both fisheries typically result in the landing of live fish, allowing for the release of any unwanted or undersize fish. Therefore, provided that post-release mortality is not high, the impact on discarded fish is likely to be low. Results of post-release mortality studies in Queensland indicate that post-release survival of coral trout is quite high (>75%). Williams et al. (2007) report bycatch as a significant component of catch in the TSRLF. The number of species that were not kept was greater for non-Indigenous fishers (59.6%) than for Islander fishers (38.9%). The proportion of catch (by number of individual fish) discarded was similar between Islander fishers (57.8%) and non-Indigenous fishers (54.9%) (Williams et al. 2007).

ecological risk assessment

No ecological risk assessment (ERA) has been completed to date.

habitats

No studies have been undertaken to date on the impact of the fishery on habitat. However, due to the methods used and the selective nature of the fishery, it is expected that any impact is minimal. Completion of an ERA will provide valuable information on this

c h a p t e r 1 5 Torres Strait Finfish Fisheries 293

aspect of the fishery. Anchoring of vessels potentially has some impact on habitat.

threatened, endangered and protected species

sharksGrey reef, white tip and unidentified shark are caught by Indigenous and non-Indigenous fishers. However, they make up less than 5% of the total catch in the TSRLF, and neither sector harvested them (Williams et al. 2008).

marine turtlesA recent survey on the TSRFL by Williams et al. (2008) did not list marine turtles in the list of species caught. A previous assessment by the AFMA suggested that, based on anecdotal evidence, incidental capture of marine turtles is rare (AFMA 2005b).

1 5 . 7 h a rv e s t s t r at e g y p e r F o r m a n c e

Not applicable.

1 5 . 8 l i t e r at u r e c i t e d

AFMA (Australian Fisheries Management Authority) 2005a, Torres Strait Finfish Bycatch Action Plan 2005, AFMA, Canberra.

——2005b, Torres Strait Finfish Fishery draft assessment report, AFMA, Canberra.

Begg, GA, Chen, CCM, O’Neill, MF & Rose, DB 2006, Stock assessment of the Torres Strait Spanish Mackerel Fishery, technical report no. 66, CRC Reef Research Centre, Townsville.

Busilacchi, S 2010, ‘Monitoring and assessment of the subsistence fisheries in the eastern Torres Strait islands, Australia’, PhD thesis, James Cook University, Townsville.

Kailola, PJ, Williams, MJ, Stewart, PC, Reichelt, RE, McNee, A & Grieve, C 1993, Australian fisheries resources, Bureau of Resource Sciences & the FRDC, Canberra.

McPherson, GR 1992, ‘Age and growth of the narrow-barred Spanish mackerel (Scomberomorus commerson Lacepède, 1800) in north-eastern Queensland waters’, Australian Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research, vol. 43, no. 5, pp. 1269–82.

——1993, ‘Reproductive biology of the narrow-barred Spanish mackerel (Scomberomorus commerson Lacepède, 1800) in Queensland waters’, Asian Fisheries Science, vol. 6, pp. 169–82.

Samoilys, MA 1997, ‘Periodicity of spawning aggregations of coral trout, Plectropomus leopardus (Pisces: Serranidae) on the northern Great Barrier Reef’, Marine Ecology Progress Series, vol. 160, pp. 149–59

TSFMAC (Torres Strait Fisheries Management Advisory Committee) (2009), ‘Update to finfish leasing arrangements for 2009/2010’, presented at meeting no. 11, 11–12 November, agenda item no. 7.3, <www.pzja.gov.au/committees/macs/tsfmac11_20091111/item_7.pdf>.

Williams, G 1994, Fisheries and marine research in the Torres Strait, Bureau of Resource Sciences, Department of Primary Industries and Energy, Canberra.

Williams, AJ, Begg, GA, Little, LR, Currey, LM, Ballagh, AC & Murchie, CD 2007, Evaluation of the eastern Torres Strait reef line fishery, Fishing and Fisheries Research Centre technical report no. 1, James Cook University, Townsville.

——Ballagh, AC, Begg, GA, Murchie, CD & Currey, LM 2008, ‘Harvest patterns and effort dynamics of Indigenous and non-Indigenous commercial sectors of the eastern Torres Strait reef line fishery’, Continental Shelf Research, vol. 28, pp. 2117–28.