West Australian dhufish is one of the major targets of the commercial line fishery in the West Coast Bioregion (which runs from Black Point, east of Augusta, to the Zuytdorp Cliffs, north of Kalbarri).
Most commercial fishing for dhufish is done in the West Coast Demersal Scalefish (Interim) Managed Fishery – in 2010, 54 tonnes of dhufish, with a commercial value of almost $1 million, was taken in this fishery. Other fisheries in the West Coast Bioregion took 16 tonnes of dhufish.
Stock assessments in recent years showed overfishing of dhufish was occurring. We put management measures in place in response to this. As a result, the commercial dhufish catch has been reduced to below 50 per cent of the catch in the region in 2005/06, meeting management objectives.
The current status of the stock of West Australian dhufish is ‘recovering’. The next assessment is due early in 2013.
Commercial catch 2010
| All commercial fisheries in the West Coast Bioregion |
< 450 tonnes |
421 tonnes |
70 tonnes |
Figure not available |
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| West Coast Demersal Scalefish (Interim) Managed Fishery |
408 tonnes |
340 tonnes |
54 tonnes |
$909,000 |
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