The southern garfish fishery scored < 60 in the MSC-RBF analysis, failing assessment with high risk of stock damage. The Productivity Susceptibility Analysis indicated this species is moderately productive with a short generation time, moderate fecundity, and broadcast spawning reproductive strategy. Southern garfish are highly susceptible to capture and damage by the fishery. As a schooling species that inhabits the surface of the water column, the risk of encountering dip net and beach seine gear is high, and there is a high risk of immature fish being captured with the school. The Consequence Analysis showed a high risk of damage across all subcomponents of assessment. A clear trend in declining CPUE is evident since a peak in 2012-13 and catch data show a reduction in average size of landed garfish, as well as a truncation of the age structure. This suggests the fishery poses a high risk of damage to stock structure and recruitment dynamics.
Productivity Attributes
Attribute
Score
Average age at maturity
1
Average maximum age
2
Fecundity
2
Average maximum size
1
Average size at maturity
1
Reproductive strategy
1
Trophic level
2
SusceptibilityAttributes
Attribute
Score
Availability
2
Encounterability
3
Selectivity
3
Post-capture mortality
3
Consequence Analysis
Vulnerable Subcomponent(s)
Score
All
<60 – Fail
More information on the Marine Stewardship Council Risk-Based Framework (MSC-RBF) Methodology is available on our MSC-RBF Assessment page.