Have your say on mulloway

Department of Primary Industries (DPI) Acting Commercial Fisheries Director, Doug Ferrell, said mulloway have been assessed as an overfished species and a recovery program is required to help rebuild the population to a sustainable level.

"All fishing sectors that impact on mulloway have a role to play in assisting with the recovery of the species," Dr Ferrell said.

"Given the importance of mulloway to all fishers, the government is committed to providing an opportunity for everyone to have their say on the proposed management arrangements.

"Various options have been developed with input from recreational, commercial, conservation and indigenous stakeholders, as well as fisheries scientists and managers who formed part of a mulloway resource planning group.

"This group came together to come up with a range of alternative management actions that would promote the recovery of mulloway stocks while minimising economic and social impacts."

Dr Ferrell said that a program to support mulloway is strongly supported by all parties involved and a public consultation period is an important step to ensure the best overall option is implemented.

"Reducing fishing pressure on mulloway stock is a challenge as the fish are caught throughout their lives in many habitats by many different fisheries," Dr Ferrell said.

"All of the options are outlined in a discussion paper available on the DPI website and I encourage anyone with an opinion on the management of this important species to have their say via the online submission form before October 16, 2012."

To find out more about the Mulloway Recovery Program or make an online submission follow the links from www.fisheries.nsw.gov.au.

Photo of 30kg mulloway taken in the Hawkesbury River, and second shot of 20kg mulloway in Sydney Harbour, courtesy of Craig McGill from Fishabout Tours.