Developing a cost-effective monitoring regime and stock assessment for Sand Flathead in Tasmania

Sand flathead are the most commonly caught species by recreational fishers in Tasmania. Fishery independent surveys suggest relatively low abundances of legal sized fish, particularly in south-eastern Tasmania where populations are subject to heavy fishing pressure. Since the recreational catch of sand flathead is more than 20 times the commercial catch, trends in commercial catch and catch rates are of little value in inferring changes in stock status. This investment will develop fishery dependent and independent sampling techniques and collate available fishery and biological data to determine population structures of sand flathead and develop assessment and management models.