Northern Zone Rock Lobster (Jasus edwardsii) fishery stock assessment 2015/16.

This stock assessment determined the status of South Australia's Northern Zone Rock Lobster Fishery (NZRLF) through analysis of data from several long-term monitoring programs. The performance Indicators in the current harvest strategy are not linked to a definition of stock status. Consequently, this assessment used a weight-of-evidence method to determine stock status using me National Fishery Status Reporting Framework (NFSRF). Assessment of the NZRLF relies heavily on an from the commercial listing sector through mandatory catch and effort logbook reporting. Catch per wilt effort (CPUE) of legal and undersized (pre-recruit) lobsters are the main of legal and pre-recruit abundance. Fishery model out also contribute to the assessment. The total allowable commercial catch (TACC) in the NZRLF is 296 t reflecting recent reactions in both the inner and Outer sub-regions. In 2019 (I.e. 1 November 2019 to 31 October 2020), the Inner was impacted by me COVID-19 market closure in late January of 2020. The impact was a reduction in catch in February/March 2020 (21 t) where normally up to 100 t is landed. Consequently. me 2019 TACC (296 t) was not fully taken with a reported catch of 253 t (236 t Inner sub-region: 17 t Outer sub-region: 86% of TACC). Effort in 2019 was 304.040 potlifts. the third lowest on record. In 2019. zonal legal-sized CPUE (November-April) was 0.89 kg/potlifts, reflecting a 16% increase from 2016 (0.77 kg/potlifts) shim Increases observed across broad spatial scales in all major Marine Fishing Areas (MFAS) of the Inner. Despite COVID-19 impacts. there was no change In CPUE between 2018 and 2019. The logbook-derived pre-recruit rides (PRI) the 2019 was 0.20 undersized/potlifts reflecting a marginal decrease from 2018 (0.21) undersized/potlifts but remaining above Me draft harvest strategy trigger reference pant (TrRP) of 0.16 undersize/potlift. The time taken for pre-recruits to enter the fishable biomass is estimated to be approximately one year. Model outputs Indicate long-term declines in lobster biomass but with increases over the last tree seasons. in 2019, the estimates ranged from 1, 200 to 1,700 t equating to exploitation rates of 13 to 21%. the lowest on record. Despite recent increases, egg production on the fishery remains low with 2019 estimates equating to 10 to 15% or unlisted levels. The performance of the Outer lob-region of the fishery remains uncertain. The catch level of 17 t makes assessment difficult in 2019, however, catch rates in MFAs 7 and 8, two key catch areas, remain dose to historical lows. There is now evidence to indicate tint the status of the NZRLF stock has improved over the last two seasons in response to TACC reductions. Specifically: (i) catch rates have Increased by 16% with improvements in fishery performance observed across broad spinal acmes: (ii) biomass has increased and exportation rates are at historical lows: and (iii) the PRI is above the TrRP. As a result, Cased co a weight-of-evidence approach. me NZRLF stock is classMed as 'sustainable' at the current TACC of 296 t. This means that me current fisting mortally is being adequately controlled to avoid the stock becoming recruitment impaired.