Some issues in the management of Australiaʹs marine and coastal fisheries resources

Australiaʹs fisheries, although relatively modest by international standards, are a significant part of the national economy and have a traditional place in our culture. Most of Australiaʹs commercial fisheries are at or near full exploitation and face threats from a number of sources, including overfishing and habitat destruction. Recreational fishing continues to increase. The sustainable exploitation of fisheries is increasingly viewed within a broader context of coastal zone management. This will lead to greater emphasis being placed on the ecological basis for fisheries management and a move away from the single species/gear approach. Developing management regimes capable of coping with this complexity remains an active area of endeavour and includes considerations of the relative merits of input versus output controls, the efficacy of marine harvest refugia and the relative roles of government and industry. Allocation of fisheries resources among traditional users, and the commercial and recreational sectors is increasingly important.