THE NSW Government has released a draft mulloway harvest strategy and is inviting fishos to submit feedback.
The draft NSW Mulloway Harvest Strategy brings together key decision-making tools – including
scientific monitoring, assessment, and management options – into a single decision-making
framework to support rebuilding stock levels and sustainable harvest.
Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) deputy secretary Fisheries
and Forestry, Sean Sloan, said mulloway is an iconic species for recreational, commercial and
Aboriginal fishers, however populations in NSW have been depleted since the early 2000s.
“As a prized species in NSW, the future sustainable management of mulloway depends heavily on
balanced and scientifically informed management to ensure it continues to be available for both
future generations of fishers and the broader community,” Sloan said.
“Harvest strategies are the best way we can ensure that all stakeholders—fishers, the government,
and the community—have clear guidance on how our fisheries will be managed, fostering
transparency and confidence in the decision-making process.”
Sloan said the proposal provides an equal share of catch to the commercial and recreational
sectors, also taking account Aboriginal cultural harvest. Commercial and recreational catch will be
managed using options most appropriate to each sector, in order to ensure catch remains within the sectors equal share of total catch.
“The NSW Mulloway Harvest Strategy aims to rebuild mulloway stocks to sustainable levels,
ensuring great recreational fishing opportunities, a steady seafood supply, a thriving commercial
fishing industry, and continued protection for Aboriginal cultural fishing practices,” Sloan said.
“Rebuilding of Mulloway stock can only be acheived by having good data and effective management of total catch, which will be supported by the harvest strategy.
“The harvest strategy has been designed to rebuild Mulloway stocks to staged rebuilding targets,
using an approach that takes account of existing knowledge gaps, and incorporates new data as it
becomes available.”
DPIRD is also undertaking a five-year $1.3 million study, supported with funding from the Fisheries
Research and Development Corporation and NSW Recreational Fishing Trust, to reduce existing
knowledge gaps about mulloway.
Sloan said the project, in conjunction with the University of Sunshine Coast, is focussed on
refining our understanding of fisheries stock assessment information surrounding population
structure, reproduction, age structure and post-release survival of Mulloway.
“This study will build on the primary stock assessment data provided through the commercial sector and funded by the Commercial Fishing Trust – this work is an important investment to secure the future health of Mulloway and its ongoing management,” Sloan said.
“The results of the study will support the continued refinement of the Mulloway stock assessment
into the future and underpin the finalised NSW Mulloway Harvest Strategy.
“I would encourage all fishers, who currently fish for Mulloway or would like the thrill of fishing for
them in the future, to consider the draft harvest strategy and management options and provide your feedback to DPIRD through the online form.”
The draft NSW Mulloway Harvest Strategy has been developed by an expert stakeholder working
group and has been endorsed by the commercial and recreational fishing advisory councils.
All feedback will be considered by the NSW Mulloway Harvest Strategy Working Group and the
government to finalise the harvest strategy and management framework.
The public have until 11.59pm 25 May 2025 to provide their feedback on the draft NSW Mulloway
Harvest Strategy and management options at https://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/fishing/harvest-
strategies/have-your-say-draft-nsw-mulloway-harvest-strategy-and-management-options
For more information about harvest strategies in NSW, visit
https://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/fishing/harvest-strategies
