Integrated approach to improving stock assessment of Black Jewfish

Current stock assessment of Black jewfish in the Northern Territory relies on outputs from a Stock Reduction Analysis based on assumed stock-recruitment relationships and catch-and-effort information. However, this information links poorly with actual catches demonstrating a need for more robust, fishery-independent data on population abundance and size-structure for Black jewfish. This project will examine a range of environmental variables and physiological parameters from sampled fish to identify the key drivers of productivity and recruitment for Black jewfish. It will also collect fishery-independent data on the abundance and size-structure of Black jewfish populations using high-resolution sonar, with a view to developing a monitoring methodology to support the coastal line fishery harvest strategy.