28 February 2007  

There is a complex set of economic and weather drivers affecting the supply of reef fish in the local market that are not related to the Zoning Plan.    

Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority Executive Director John Tanzer said fishermen themselves had cited escalating fuel costs, crew availability and rough weather as reasons for the smaller catches.

“In the past few weeks, the average wind speed has been 24 knots which is very rough,” Mr Tanzer said.

“In addition, coral trout is currently a prime target among reef fishermen when they can get out and nearly all of the catch goes to export as live fish because it attracts a much higher price than the local fillet market is prepared to pay.

“Over fishing of most other reef areas around the region means that the Great Barrier Reef is becoming increasingly targeted by importers to the expanding Chinese markets so it is just as well the protection measures are in place.   

“Other reef fish such as red throat emperor and Spanish mackerel aren’t attracting the same high prices as coral trout and therefore fishermen are not targeting them.

“Currently a fisherman might get  $15 a kilo for a Spanish mackerel and $20 for a red throat emperor compared to up to $60 a kilo for live coral trout, depending on the Hong Kong market.

“Barra season has just opened and reasonable supplies are coming in and are being locally sourced but these are not part of the reef fishery.”

Mr Tanzer said the Zoning Plan and other management strategies were not driving the current shortage of reef fish on the local market.

“The protection measures in place in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park are designed to ensure fisheries are safeguarded for the long term,” he said.

“Scientific research shows ‘no take’ areas are improving the Reef’s fisheries, which augurs well for the future of fishing in the Marine Park.

“Coral trout and stripey sea perch have been found to have increased as much as two times in Green Zones since July 2004.”