Addressing uncertainties in the assessment and management of Queensland east coast Spanish Mackerel

The project aims to address uncertainties in the assessment and management of Queensland's east coast Spanish Mackerel stock. The stock assessment has raised concerns about the sustainability of the species, with declining abundance and low biomass estimates. To increase the precision of future assessments and rebuild the stock, several research gaps need to be addressed. The project aims to determine the feasibility of using a fisheries-independent method for estimating abundance, quantify the impact of shark depredation and post-release survival, improve catch and effort standardization, and assess the influence of environmental variables on abundance and recruitment variability. By addressing these research gaps, the project will contribute to more accurate stock assessments, increase stakeholder confidence, and align with the objectives of fair resource sharing and evidence-based management. It will also address the high-priority research needs identified by the Queensland Spanish Mackerel Fishery Working Group.