Ithy - Unveiling Australia's Oceanic Giant: A Deep Dive into the SESSF Fishery

The Southern and Eastern Scalefish and Shark Fishery (SESSF) stands as one of Australia's most significant and complex fishing operations. This profile delves into its multifaceted nature, covering its vast geographical reach, the diverse species it targets, the intricate management framework that governs it, its economic contributions, and the ongoing efforts to ensure its ecological sustainability. As a cornerstone of Australia's seafood industry, the SESSF's operations and management are of critical importance.

Key Highlights of the SESSF

Expansive Operational Area: The SESSF covers nearly half of the Australian Fishing Zone (AFZ), extending from southern Queensland, around Tasmania, and across to Cape Leeuwin in Western Australia, encompassing diverse marine ecosystems.
Complex Multi-faceted Fishery: It is a multi-sector, multi-species, and multi-gear fishery, targeting a wide array of scalefish and shark species using methods like trawling, longlining, and trapping.
Robust Management Framework: Managed by the Australian Fisheries Management Authority (AFMA), the SESSF operates under a comprehensive plan employing Total Allowable Catches (TACs), scientific advice from expert groups, and adaptive strategies to balance economic viability with ecological sustainability.

Foundations of the SESSF: An Overview

The SESSF is a cornerstone of Australia's Commonwealth-managed fisheries, characterized by its large scale and operational diversity. Understanding its origins and fundamental structure is key to appreciating its current role and challenges.

Vast Horizons: Geographical Scope and Establishment

The SESSF's management area is one of the largest under Commonwealth jurisdiction, covering a significant portion of Australia's southern and eastern marine territories. It operates in Commonwealth waters, typically from 3 nautical miles offshore to the 200 nautical mile limit of the AFZ, and also includes waters of several Australian states (South Australia, Victoria, Tasmania) under Offshore Constitutional Settlement arrangements.

Established in 2003, the SESSF was formed through the amalgamation of several pre-existing fisheries. These included the South East Trawl Fishery, Great Australian Bight Trawl Fishery, Southern Shark Non-Trawl Fishery, and South East Non-Trawl Fishery. This consolidation aimed to create a more cohesive and efficient management structure for these interconnected resources.

A fishing vessel, typical of those participating in the SESSF, navigating Australian waters.

A Fishery of Many Faces: Multi-Sector, Multi-Species, and Multi-Gear

The SESSF is inherently complex due to its multi-faceted nature. It comprises multiple fishing sectors, each often specializing in particular areas or target species. It is also a multi-species fishery, meaning a wide variety of fish and shark species are commercially harvested. This diversity necessitates sophisticated management approaches to ensure that no single species is overexploited. Furthermore, it is a multi-gear fishery, with operators employing a range of fishing methods, including demersal otter trawling, mid-water trawling, Danish seine, longlines (droplines, auto-longlines), gillnets, and traps. Each gear type has different selectivity characteristics and potential environmental impacts, which must be managed accordingly.

The Lifeblood of the Fishery: Target Species and Biodiversity

The SESSF targets a rich assortment of marine life, reflecting the biodiversity of Australia's southern and eastern waters. Managing this diversity sustainably is a primary objective.

Prized Catches: Commercially Important Species

A significant number of species are commercially targeted within the SESSF, with 34 species managed under Total Allowable Catches (TACs). Some of the key commercial species include:

Blue-eye Trevalla (Hyperoglyphe antarctica)
Pink Ling (Genypterus blacodes)
Orange Roughy (Hoplostethus atlanticus)
Gemfish (Rexea solandri)
Flathead species (e.g., Tiger Flathead - Neoplatycephalus richardsoni)
Various deepwater sharks and dogfish
Bigeye Ocean Perch (Helicolenus barathri)
Blue Grenadier (Macruronus novaezelandiae)

The species harvested range from those found in shallower coastal waters to deep-sea environments, including species associated with seamounts and continental slope habitats.

Managing Diversity: A Multispecies Approach

The multispecies nature of the SESSF presents unique management challenges. Fishing operations often catch multiple species simultaneously. Therefore, management strategies must consider the varying vulnerabilities and stock statuses of different species to prevent the overexploitation of less resilient stocks while allowing for the sustainable harvest of more abundant ones. This requires species-specific catch limits and tailored management strategies.

Charting the Course: SESSF Management and Regulatory Framework

A robust and adaptive management framework is essential for the long-term sustainability of a fishery as complex as the SESSF. This framework involves multiple bodies, plans, and tools.

The Guiding Hand: Australian Fisheries Management Authority (AFMA)

The SESSF is managed by the Australian Fisheries Management Authority (AFMA), a Commonwealth statutory authority. AFMA's role is to manage Commonwealth fisheries resources on behalf of the Australian community, ensuring ecological sustainability and maximizing the net economic returns to the Australian community from the management of these fisheries.

The Rulebook: Management Plans and Key Tools

The primary legislative instrument governing the fishery is the Southern and Eastern Scalefish and Shark Fishery Management Plan 2003. This plan outlines the objectives for the fishery and the measures by which these objectives are to be achieved.

Total Allowable Catches (TACs) and Quotas

The cornerstone of SESSF management is the setting of Total Allowable Catches (TACs) for key commercial species. TACs represent the total weight of a species that can be caught in a fishing year (typically May 1st to April 30th). These TACs are allocated to eligible fishers as Individual Transferable Quotas (ITQs), which are shares of the TAC that can be bought, sold, or leased. For example, the Blue-eye Trevalla TAC for the 2024-25 fishing year was set at 263 tonnes, with specific sub-limits for seamount stocks.

Effort Controls, Closures, and Gear Restrictions

In addition to output controls like TACs, AFMA employs input controls. These include:

Limited Entry: The number of vessels or operators allowed to participate in certain sectors of the fishery is restricted.
Gear Restrictions: Regulations specify the types of fishing gear that can be used, how they can be configured (e.g., mesh sizes in trawl nets), and where they can be deployed. This helps to reduce bycatch and impacts on habitats.
Spatial Closures: Specific areas may be closed to fishing, either permanently or seasonally, to protect vulnerable marine ecosystems (VMEs) like seamounts, critical habitats for juvenile fish, or areas with high concentrations of protected species. The SESSF management area includes several Australian Government marine parks.
Prohibited Species: Certain species are fully protected and cannot be retained if caught.

Voices of Expertise: Advisory Groups (RAGs & MACs)

AFMA's decision-making is informed by scientific and stakeholder advice from several key groups:

Resource Assessment Groups (RAGs): These groups (e.g., South East RAG (SERAG), Shark RAG (SharkRAG), Great Australian Bight RAG (GABRAG), and SESSFRAG) consist of AFMA managers, fisheries scientists, industry members, economists, and representatives from environmental non-government organisations. RAGs provide advice and recommendations on stock assessments, the status of fish stocks, scientific analyses, economic status, and the impact of fishing on target, non-target, and Threatened, Endangered, and Protected (TEP) species and habitats.
Management Advisory Committees (MACs): Groups like the South East MAC (SEMAC) and the Great Australian Bight MAC (GABMAC) translate RAG recommendations and other stakeholder input into practical management advice for AFMA.

Navigating Change: Adaptive Management and Sustainability

The SESSF employs an adaptive management approach. This means that management strategies are regularly reviewed and adjusted based on new scientific information, stock assessments, environmental conditions, and fishery performance. The overarching goal is to ensure the long-term biological sustainability of fish stocks, minimize environmental impacts, and achieve economic efficiency. This includes implementing harvest strategies that aim to maintain stocks at or rebuild them to levels that can produce maximum sustainable yield (MSY) or maximum economic yield (MEY).

Protecting the Ecosystem: Bycatch and Environmental Safeguards

Minimizing the impact of fishing on the broader marine environment is a key focus. Strategies are in place to reduce bycatch (the incidental capture of non-target species) and interactions with TEP species, such as marine mammals (e.g., Australian sea lions), seabirds, and protected sharks. Measures include gear modifications, operational practices, and spatial management. For instance, the Australian Sea Lion Management Strategy monitors and mitigates interactions within the fishery.

Keeping Watch: Stock Assessment and Monitoring Mechanisms

Effective management of the SESSF relies heavily on comprehensive monitoring of fishing activities and regular assessment of fish stock health. This scientific underpinning allows for informed decision-making regarding catch limits and other management measures.

Eyes on the Ocean: Comprehensive Monitoring Programs

The SESSF utilizes an extensive suite of monitoring programs to gather data on fishing operations and their impacts. These include:

Catch Documentation: Skippers are required to maintain detailed logbooks recording their catch (species and quantities), effort (time spent fishing, gear used), and location of fishing activities.
Vessel Monitoring Systems (VMS): All SESSF vessels are fitted with VMS, which automatically transmit the vessel's position, course, and speed to AFMA, allowing for real-time tracking of fishing activity and compliance with spatial closures.
Observer Programs: AFMA deploys scientific observers on a proportion of SESSF vessels. Observers collect independent data on catch composition (including bycatch and discards), biological samples (e.g., length, weight, otoliths for age determination), interactions with TEP species, and compliance with regulations.
Port Sampling and Biological Sampling: Data is also collected from landed catches at ports, including species identification, length, and weight measurements, contributing to stock assessments.

Sorting the catch on deck: a common sight in the SESSF, highlighting the variety of species encountered.

Science-Backed Decisions: The Role of Stock Assessments

Stock assessments are scientific evaluations of the status of fish stocks. For major SESSF species, these assessments are conducted regularly using sophisticated population models. These models integrate various data sources, including catch and effort data, observer data, fishery-independent surveys, and biological information (e.g., growth rates, natural mortality, recruitment). The outputs of stock assessments provide estimates of current stock biomass relative to target and limit reference points, and inform recommendations for TACs.

Enhancing Knowledge: Improving Data for Robust Management

Continuous efforts are made to improve data quality and collection methods. This includes refining stock assessment models, incorporating new technologies, and addressing data gaps, particularly for data-poor or low-value species where comprehensive assessments can be challenging. Recent initiatives have also focused on cost-effective data collection strategies to better understand the economic performance of the fishery.

SESSF Performance Snapshot: A Comparative View

To provide a visual representation of the SESSF's key attributes, the following radar chart compares the fishery against a generalized profile of an 'Average Large Fishery'. The SESSF scores reflect its significant geographic coverage, high species diversity, substantial economic output, complex management structure, strong emphasis on sustainability measures, and intensive scientific oversight. The 'Average Large Fishery' provides a hypothetical baseline for appreciating the SESSF's specific characteristics. Scores range from 1 (Low) to 5 (High), with all plotted data points being 2 or greater to ensure clarity away from the chart's origin.

This chart visually underscores the SESSF's high standing in terms of geographical scale and management intricacy, alongside its significant biodiversity and economic importance. The commitment to sustainability and reliance on scientific input are also highlighted as key operational facets.

The Daily Catch: Operational Details of the SESSF

The SESSF's operations are diverse, reflecting its multiple sectors and the variety of species targeted. Understanding these operational facets provides insight into the fishery's day-to-day functioning.

Sector by Sector: Understanding Fishery Operations

The SESSF is divided into several distinct sectors, primarily based on gear type and/or geographic area. The main sectors include:

Commonwealth Trawl Sector (CTS)

This is the largest sector by volume, primarily utilizing demersal otter trawl gear. It targets a wide range of demersal (bottom-dwelling) and bathyal (deep-slope) fish species, including Blue Grenadier, Pink Ling, and Flathead.

Gillnet Hook and Trap Sector (GHTS)

This sector employs gillnets, longlines (including auto-longlines and droplines), and traps. It targets various scalefish and shark species. The shark gillnet component specifically targets species like Gummy Shark. Hook methods are used for species like Blue-eye Trevalla and Pink Ling.

Great Australian Bight Trawl Sector (GABTS)

This sector operates in the Great Australian Bight, west of the main CTS fishing grounds. It primarily uses trawl gear and targets species such as Deepwater Flathead and Bight Redfish.

There was also an Eastern Catchment Development Trawl Sector (ECDTS), though it reported no catch in the 2022-23 season.

Tools of the Trade: Fishing Gears and Methods

As mentioned, a variety of fishing gears are permitted in the SESSF, each suited to different target species and habitats:

Demersal Otter Trawling: Involves towing a net along the seabed.
Mid-water Trawling: Towing a net through the water column, not in contact with the seabed.
Danish Seine: A net that encircles fish, with long ropes herding them into the net.
Gillnets: Stationary nets that entangle fish by their gills.
Droplines/Longlines: Lines with multiple baited hooks, set either vertically (droplines) or horizontally (longlines).
Traps: Cages set on the seabed to capture fish or crustaceans.

Management measures often include specifications for these gears to improve selectivity and reduce environmental impact, such as minimum mesh sizes in trawl nets or escape panels in traps.

By the Numbers: Catch Statistics and Trends

The SESSF is the largest Commonwealth fishery in terms of the quantity of catch. In the 2022–23 fishing season, the total landings were 17,199 tonnes. This was distributed as follows:

Commonwealth Trawl Sector (CTS): 13,012 tonnes
Gillnet Hook and Trap Sector (GHTS): 2,554 tonnes
Great Australian Bight Trawl Sector (GABTS): 1,632 tonnes

Catch levels for individual species and overall fluctuate based on TACs, stock status, environmental conditions, and market factors.

SESSF Key Statistics and Management Features

The following table summarizes some of the core characteristics and management elements of the Southern and Eastern Scalefish and Shark Fishery, offering a quick reference to its scale, governance, and operational focus.

Feature	Description
Managing Authority	Australian Fisheries Management Authority (AFMA)
Geographic Scope	Waters off southern Queensland, around Tasmania, to Cape Leeuwin in Western Australia; covering almost half of the Australian Fishing Zone (AFZ).
Primary Management Tools	Total Allowable Catches (TACs), Individual Transferable Quotas (ITQs), gear restrictions, spatial closures, limited entry, prohibited species.
Key Sectors	Commonwealth Trawl Sector (CTS), Gillnet Hook and Trap Sector (GHTS), Great Australian Bight Trawl Sector (GABTS).
Annual Landings (2022-23)	17,199 tonnes (total for SESSF).
Key Advisory Bodies	Resource Assessment Groups (RAGs: SERAG, SharkRAG, GABRAG, SESSFRAG), Management Advisory Committees (MACs: SEMAC, GABMAC).
Main Species Categories	Scalefish (e.g., Blue-eye Trevalla, Pink Ling, Orange Roughy, Blue Grenadier, Flathead), Sharks (e.g., Gummy Shark).
Establishment Year	2003 (through amalgamation of several previous fisheries).
Management Plan	Southern and Eastern Scalefish and Shark Fishery Management Plan 2003.

This table highlights the structured approach to managing a fishery of such complexity and ecological significance, emphasizing the blend of scientific input, regulatory controls, and defined operational sectors.

Economic Waves and Social Tides: The SESSF's Impact

The SESSF is not just an ecological entity but also a significant economic and social contributor to Australia, particularly to communities in the south-eastern states.

Fuelling the Economy: Gross Value of Production and Market Role

Historically, the SESSF has had the highest Gross Value of Production (GVP) among Commonwealth fisheries. For example, in the 2019–20 financial year, its GVP was $86 million, representing 20% of the total GVP of all Commonwealth fisheries. It is a key provider of high-quality fresh fish to Australian domestic markets, especially in Sydney and Melbourne. The economic performance can fluctuate due to factors like changing TACs, stock rebuilding efforts, market demand, and operating costs.

Supporting Communities: Employment and Regional Benefits

The fishery supports direct employment for fishers and crew, as well as indirect employment in related sectors such as seafood processing, transport, marketing, and gear supply. It plays a vital role in the regional economies of many coastal towns in Victoria, Tasmania, South Australia, and New South Wales.

Market Connections: Price Dynamics and Distribution

The SESSF supplies major domestic fish markets, and research has been conducted into the integration between these markets (e.g., Sydney and Melbourne Fish Markets). Understanding these market dynamics, including price formation and distribution channels, is important for assessing the economic health and efficiency of the fishery. The economic objectives within SESSF management aim to maximize net economic returns to the Australian community, which involves considering both the value of the catch and the costs of fishing.

Navigating a Sea of Complexity: The SESSF Mindmap

The Southern and Eastern Scalefish and Shark Fishery (SESSF) is a multifaceted system. This mindmap provides a visual overview of its core components, illustrating the interconnectedness of its geographical scope, target species, management structures, operational sectors, economic significance, and prevailing challenges. It helps to conceptualize how these different elements interact to define the SESSF.

mindmap root["SESSF System Profile"] id1["Overview"] id1a["Geographic Scope
(QLD to WA, ~50% AFZ)"] id1b["Multi-Sector Fishery"] id1c["Multi-Species Fishery"] id1d["Multi-Gear Fishery"] id1e["Established 2003"] id2["Management & Regulation"] id2a["AFMA (Managing Authority)"] id2b["SESSF Management Plan 2003"] id2c["Key Tools"] id2c1["Total Allowable Catches (TACs)"] id2c2["Individual Transferable Quotas (ITQs)"] id2c3["Gear Restrictions"] id2c4["Spatial Closures"] id2d["Advisory Bodies"] id2d1["Resource Assessment Groups (RAGs)"] id2d2["Management Advisory Committees (MACs)"] id2e["Adaptive Management"] id3["Target Species & Biodiversity"] id3a["Scalefish"] id3a1["Blue-eye Trevalla"] id3a2["Pink Ling"] id3a3["Orange Roughy"] id3a4["Gemfish"] id3b["Sharks"] id3b1["Gummy Shark"] id3b2["School Shark (conservation dependent)"] id3c["34 TAC Species"] id4["Operational Details"] id4a["Sectors"] id4a1["Commonwealth Trawl Sector (CTS)"] id4a2["Gillnet Hook & Trap (GHTS)"] id4a3["Great Australian Bight Trawl (GABTS)"] id4b["Fishing Gears"] id4b1["Trawls (Demersal, Midwater)"] id4b2["Longlines (Droplines)"] id4b3["Gillnets"] id4b4["Traps"] id4c["Monitoring"] id4c1["Logbooks, VMS, Observers"] id5["Economic & Social Impact"] id5a["High Gross Value of Production (GVP)"] id5b["Domestic Seafood Supply"] id5c["Regional Employment"] id5d["Market Dynamics (Sydney/Melbourne)"] id6["Challenges & Future Directions"] id6a["Stock Status (some overfished/rebuilding)"] id6b["Climate Change Impacts"] id6c["Bycatch Reduction (TEP species)"] id6d["Managing Data-Poor Species"] id6e["Habitat Protection (VMEs)"] id6f["Research & Strategic Plans"] id7["Sustainability Focus"] id7a["Ecological Viability"] id7b["Economic Profitability"] id7c["Social Objectives"]

This mindmap illustrates that the SESSF is not just about fishing; it's a complex interplay of ecological systems, regulatory frameworks, scientific research, economic drivers, and societal considerations, all of which must be carefully balanced for its continued success and sustainability.

Horizon Scan: Challenges and Future Directions for the SESSF

Despite its robust management, the SESSF faces ongoing and emerging challenges that require continuous adaptation and research to ensure its long-term health and productivity.

Addressing the Past: Historical Overfishing and Stock Recovery

Some fishing grounds within the SESSF have experienced historical overfishing, leading to declines in certain fish stocks. Management actions, including significant TAC reductions and spatial closures, have been implemented to allow these stocks to recover. While progress has been made for some species, others remain in a rebuilding phase, requiring ongoing cautious management.

The Climate Factor: Adapting to Environmental Change

Climate change poses a significant potential challenge to the SESSF. Warming waters, changes in ocean currents, and ocean acidification can affect species distribution, abundance, and productivity. For instance, differential levels of depletion observed between eastern and western stocks for some species may partly reflect climate influences alongside regional fishing pressures. Research is ongoing to understand these impacts and incorporate climate considerations into management strategies.

The Data Dilemma: Managing Information-Limited Species

While many key SESSF species are well-studied, challenges remain in managing data-poor or low-value species for which comprehensive stock assessments are difficult or costly to undertake. AFMA has implemented improvements in data collection protocols for these fisheries, but ongoing efforts are needed to ensure that even these less-understood components of the ecosystem are managed sustainably.

Charting the Future: Research Priorities and Strategic Goals

Future directions for the SESSF focus on enhancing its ecological sustainability, economic efficiency, and social benefits. AFMA's strategic research plans (e.g., SESSF Five Year Strategic Research Plan 2021–2025) outline priorities such as:

Cost-effective data collection and monitoring technologies.
Improving stock assessments and understanding of ecosystem dynamics.
Minimizing environmental impacts, including bycatch and habitat effects.
Optimizing socio-economic outcomes from the fishery.
Using Management Strategy Evaluations (MSEs) to test alternative harvest control rules and their trade-offs.

The fishery continues to evolve, adapting its management arrangements to new scientific information and changing environmental and economic conditions.