Because of the increasing significance of silver trevally to a number of fisheries off NSW (including the trawl sector of the SEF, where it is one of 16 species managed by Total Allowable Catch) and the current lack of data on which to assess the impact of fishing on the stock, it is important to undertake research which will lead to an understanding of the current status of the stock.
There is a need to determine the basic biological parameters, including growth rates and spawning biology for use in stock assessment modeling.
In order to provide the data necessary to adequately assess the status of the trevally stock, there is a need to document the portion of the stock utilised by the various fishery sectors, and to determine the relative impacts on the stock of each sector. It is also important that a monitoring regime be established which will provide data on which to base advice for the future sustainable management of exploitation of the resource.