Catch, Effort and CPUE

The total commercial catch of Southern Calamari in 2020/21 was 82.2 t, a slight decline from the previous year (Figure below). Total effort also showed a slight decline from the previous year (Figure below).

Substantial regional variation is apparent in catch and effort trends for this species over the duration of the time series. Catch and effort were historically highest on the east and southeast coasts, including Great Oyster Bay. Following subsequent declines in catch and effort in these regions, catch and effort then shifted to the north coast. In 2020/21, both catch and effort declined slightly from the previous year on the northwest coast and increased on the northeast coast. Catch and effort for Great Oyster Bay, the southeast coast, and the east coast both declined in 2020/21 compared with the previous year, while data from Mercury Passage showed a slight increase in catch and a slight decrease in effort.

State-wide CPUE for the whole fishery has remained relatively stable since 1998/99 (Figure above). However, these trends mask substantial regional variation that follow generally similar patterns to those described above for catch and effort.

Estimates of recreational catches have generally been lower than commercial catches in corresponding seasons (Figure above). Estimates from the most recent two recreational fishing surveys (Lyle et al. 2014b; Lyle et al. 2019) indicate recreational landings of Southern Calamari represent >50% of commercial landings. Thus, recreational harvest is a significant or dominant component of total catches for this species.