Recent concern regarding the status of east coast Spanish mackerel has been expressed by both commercial and recreational sectors and fisheries biologists. Further, an assessment of the stock status of east coast Spanish mackerel is a very high priority of resource managers. A recent preliminary assessment of the east coast mackerel stock conducted by QDPI suggested high fishing pressure maybe at a limit reference point for the stock. To refine the current assessment and allow for greater certainty of future stock assessment, more fish age data combined with an extensive description of the exploitation dynamics (the methods and gears used by fishers) of the east coast stock are urgently required. A critical need exists for the documentation of the exploitation dynamics and biological characteristics (catch-at-age, catch-at-length and sex ratios) of both the recreational and commercial sectors for the major catch regions of the entire east coast where no data are currently available.

Stock assessment of Queensland Spanish mackerel is core business of the QDPI long-term monitoring program. The opportunity to collaborate and build upon this initiative of QDPI is now available. The data collected by this project collaborated with that of the long-term monitoring project would allow the age data required for stock assessment to be provided with greater certainty. Further, this project will provide data that will expand the current understanding of the exploitation dynamics of the east coast stock. Combining these project outputs with the current knowledge base will allow resource managers to proceed with changes to the current management regime, where they are required, with greater confidence than is currently available.