Status of the NSW commercial yabby fishery

Abstract

Commercial yabby harvesting in NSW is a relatively small industry with few operators, but effort is likely to be expanded once the new fishery begins. As yet a complete assessment of the current NSW yabby fishery has not been made. The fishery is difficult to assess due to the paucity of data on the ecology and production of yabbies in natural waters, the inadequacy and limited spatial extent of past CPUE figures, and the extreme variability of the resource. Despite this several issues have been identified as potentially important to the development of management guidelines for the new fishery Fisheries Research in New South Wales Research at NSW Fisheries is based at a number of locations, including Cronulla, Port Stephens, Narrandera and Grafton. Studies cover Commercial fisheries, Recreational fisheries and Aquaculture. Research is also completed for conservation issues in coastal and riverine areas. The major role of research conducted by NSW Fisheries is to provide information upon which relevant Fisheries Management policies and strategies are developed, monitored and assessed in terms of the Department’s obligations under the NSW Fisheries Management Act, 1994.