The Ministerial-working group has recommended a package of measures aimed at recovering spawning biomass of the inner gulf snapper stocks to take effect in 2003. In the eastern gulf, in the first year following the fishery’s re-opening, a combination of daily bag limit, ‘slot’ size limit, and an extended seasonal closure will be used in an attempt to limit the catch to 12–15 tonnes. Although 3 tonnes has been allocated to the commercial sector (based on catch history), no decision has been made in relation to allocation of the remaining 12 tonnes (approximately 4000 individual fish) between the local charter sector and independent recreational fishers. This conventional management approach may achieve the objective of sustainability but a seasonal closure (to protect spawning fish) will alter the nature of the recreational fishery and is unlikely to be popular with many visiting fishers. To overcome this, the working group has agreed to trial an alternative, output-based approach in the eastern gulf in 2004 that would allow some snapper fishing during the peak winter period while still meeting sustainability objectives. A unique opportunity therefore exists, to develop and assess an alternative management approach, i.e. capable of constraining the recreational snapper catch to a sustainable level while preserving the seasonal aspect of the fishery. The daily egg production method, used to provide estimates of adult stock size since 1997, requires considerable resources (particularly in the laboratory) and is therefore relatively expensive. There is a need to investigate the potential of an alternative, independent measure of stock size that may be incorporated into a future research framework. At a broader scale, there is a need to compare the relative advantages and disadvantages of output-based (manage to predetermined catch) and more conventional models for the management of recreational and multi-sector finfish fisheries with a major recreational component. Such information will allow improved decision-making around the choice of research and management tools for similar marine fisheries elsewhere.

Brownlip abalone (Haliotis conicopora) is the largest and possibly fastest growing abalone species in Australia. It is a characteristically unique abalone species, reaching considerably larger maximum sizes (>230 mm), than greenlip (200 mm) and displaying very cryptic behaviour within an extremely limited habitat of caves and crevices. Due to its large size and high meat yield (approx. 35% greater meat weight per length than greenlip abalone) it is extremely suitable for the lucrative wild and brand new cultured or ocean grown, whole meat export markets.

Brownlip abalone currently comprises a small, but very valuable component of the commercial wild abalone fishery in WA (annual value: $1.6 million) and since 1998, annual catches have risen by 25% to over 40 tonnes. However it is yet to be expanded in any quantities in the ocean grown or aquaculture industries. This increase in demand has caused a necessity to further explore the brownlip abalone wild, ocean grown and cultured harvest potentials.

The limitation associated with this exploration is the restriction of information on habitat, growth and mortality of wild populations and the understanding of aquaculture systems and growth rates. The extent of habitat limitation is a key unknown for this species and identification of suitable habitat allows for the potential of stock enhancement to be assessed as a fisheries management tool. Habitat enhancement and ocean grow-out through artificially created reefs could also be considered as a unique production method. Overall the brownlip abalone has marked room for expansion in a variety of production techniques to further enlarge this untapped resources’ harvest potential.