*

Trumpeter Whiting (2023)

Sillago maculata

  • Matt Broadhurst (New South Wales Department of Primary Industries)
  • Marlee Jesson-Kerr (Department of Agriculture and Fisheries, Queensland)

Date Published: June 2023

Toggle content

Summary

Trumpeter Whiting occur along the eastern Australia coastline from northern Queensland to southern New South Wales. The species' biological-stock structure is unknown. Trumpeter Whiting is classified as a sustainable stock in New South Wales but is undefined in Queensland.

Photo: Sydney Fish Market

Toggle content

Stock Status Overview

Stock status determination
Jurisdiction Stock Stock status Indicators
New South Wales New South Wales Sustainable

Commercial catch and CPUE, and length and age

Queensland Queensland Undefined

Catch

Toggle content

Stock Structure

Trumpeter whiting occur along the east coast of Australia from Lizard Island, Queensland to Narooma, New South Wales [Kailola et al. 1993]. The species is most abundant in southern Queensland, and especially Moreton Bay [Maclean 1971; Weng 1983, 1986], but the biological-stock boundaries remain unknown. Separate assessments of Trumpeter Whiting have been done in Queensland and New South Wales [Burchmore et al. 1988; Coull et al. 1995; Melville and Connolly 2003; Kendall and Gray 2009; Krück et al. 2009].

Here, assessment of stock status is presented at the jurisdictional level—Queensland and New South Wales.

Toggle content

Stock Status

New South Wales

Trumpeter Whiting occur throughout New South Wales estuaries (with juveniles favouring seagrass areas and shallow habitats, while adults are common down to approximately 30 m), although commercial fishing effort is focused mostly between the Myall Lakes and Lake Illawarra [Gray and Kennelly 2003]. Up to 80% of the total commercial catch comes from hauling and seine nets, with the remainder bycaught by prawn trawlers in the Hawkesbury River [Gray et al. 1990]. Commercial catches peaked at 78 tonnes (t) in 1990–2000, and then declined to between 10 and 20 t in the past decade. The decline in commercial catches mirrors a contraction of fishing effort, including closures in previously exploited estuaries (such as Botany Bay and Port Jackson), and fewer operators in remaining estuaries. Consequently, commercial catch rates have remained low, but fairly consistent over the past few years. 

A bag limit of 20 whiting (all species combined) provides some control over recreational effort, but there is no legal size for Trumpeter Whiting which often manifests as low rates of release at approximately 20–37% of the total catch [West et al. 2015; Murphy et al. 2020; Murphy et al. 2022]. The most recent estimate of the recreational harvest of Trumpeter Whiting in New South Wales (assuming correct species identification by anglers) was approximately 22,890 fish during 2019–20 [Murphy et al. 2022]. This estimate was based on a survey of recreational fishing licence (RFL) households, which comprised at least one person with a long-term (one or three year) fishing licence, but also included other fishers within the household. Similar surveys of RFL households were done in 2013–14 and 2017–18, during which an estimated 123,580 and 31,562 Trumpeter Whiting were recreationally harvested. Using mean weights of fish from Henry and Lyle [2003], these numbers equate to approximately 7 and 27 t.

Few Australian studies have assessed population parameters for Trumpeter Whiting, and there are no current estimates of mortality, although fishing mortality in New South Wales would have decreased due to reducing commercial fishing effort. Further, prior to the major reductions in commercial effort, Kendall and Gray [2009] revealed no changes in the population structure of Trumpeter Whiting in two central New South Wales estuaries over an eight-year period (1997–2004). Historical length-frequency data show no declines in mean sizes [Kendall and Gray 2008].

Spawning occurs during spring and summer and appears to be somewhat protracted, possibly reflecting water temperatures and with concomitant differences between estuaries [Burchmore et al. 1988; Kendall and Gray 2009]. Like other whiting species, female Trumpeter Whiting have indeterminate fecundity and probably spawn multiple times over summer [Kendall and Gray 2009]. Size-at-age data derived from otoliths suggest Trumpeter Whiting grow quite quickly, with both sexes reaching mean sizes of maturity at approximately 15–19 cm FL, and at 1–3 years. Maximum sizes have been estimated at up to 25 cm FL and are slightly larger among females, which also live longer (12 vs 9 years). Kendall and Gray [2003] estimated catches in two central New South Wales estuaries at mostly 2–4 years old. The above evidence indicates that the biomass of the New South Wales stock is unlikely to be depleted, that recruitment is unlikely to be impaired, and that the current level of fishing mortality is unlikely to cause the stock to become recruitment impaired. 

On the basis of the evidence provided above, the New South Wales management unit is classified as a sustainable stock.

Queensland

Trumpeter Whiting are found throughout Queensland, mostly in deeper bays, estuaries and mangrove creeks [Maclean 1971; Weng 1983, 1986; Williams 2002]. The species is a minor commercial by-product species and popular with recreational fishers. Commercial harvests have been intermittent since logbook reporting commenced in 1988–89. Trumpeter Whiting were mainly harvested by prawn trawlers [Williams 2002], with catches peaking at > 500 t in the early 1990s. However, management changes to the East Coast Trawl Fishery in 2000 prohibited retaining any whiting species, restricting commercial harvests to incidental net and line catches, and reducing average annual catches to < 3 t since 2002. Seasonal and spatial closures are also in place to limit the bycatches of Trumpeter Whiting in Moreton Bay. Estimates of recreational harvests since 2000 show decreasing catches with approximately 50% less Trumpeter Whiting reported during 2019–20 (28 t) than during 2010–11 (56 t) [Teixeira et al. 2021]. Recreational harvests are restricted by a possession limit of 50 fish, although there is no minimum legal size.

There are no sustainability concerns for Trumpeter Whiting, but there is insufficient evidence to confidently classify the status of this stock. On the basis of the evidence provided above, the management unit in Queensland is classified as an undefined stock.

Toggle content

Biology

Trumpeter Whiting biology [Burchmore et al. 1988; Kendall and Gray 2009]

Biology
Species Longevity / Maximum Size Maturity (50 per cent)
Trumpeter Whiting

12 years, 25 cm FL

1–3 years; 14.6 to 19.2 cm FL

Toggle content

Distributions

Distribution of reported commercial catch of Trumpeter Whiting

Toggle content

Tables

Fishing methods
Queensland New South Wales
Commercial
Line
Net
Haul Seine
Otter Trawl
Various
Recreational
Hook and Line
Handline
Indigenous
Various
Handline
Commercial
Haul Seine/Beach Seine
Charter
Handline
Management methods
Method Queensland New South Wales
Charter
Bag limits
Fishing gear and method restrictions
Licence
Limited entry
Possession limit
Spatial closures
Commercial
Fishing gear and method restrictions
Gear restrictions
Harvest Strategy
Individual transferable quota
Limited entry
Seasonal or spatial closures
Spatial closures
Vessel restrictions
Indigenous
Customary fishing management arrangements
Recreational
Bag limits
Bag/possession limits
Fishing gear and method restrictions
Gear restrictions
Licence
Seasonal or spatial closures
Spatial closures
Catch
Queensland New South Wales
Commercial 5.30t
Indigenous Unknown Unknown
Recreational 28 t (2019–20) 7 to 27 t

Queensland – Indigenous (Management Methods). For more information see: https://www.daf.qld.gov.au/business-priorities/fisheries/traditional-fishing

Queensland – Commercial (Catch). Queensland commercial and charter data have been sourced from the commercial fisheries logbook program. Further information available through the Queensland fisheries summary report: https://www.daf.qld.gov.au/business-priorities/fisheries/monitoring-research/data/queensland-fisheries-summary-report

Queensland – Recreational fishing (Catch). Data are based at the whole of Queensland level and derived from statewide recreational fishing surveys. Where possible, numbers have been converted to weights (t) using best known conversion multipliers. Conversion factors may display regional or temporal variability. In the absence of an adequate conversion factor, data are presented as abundances.

New South Wales – Recreational (Catch). Henry and Lyle [2003]; West et al. [2015]; Murphy et al. [2020]; Murphy et al. [2022].

New South Wales – Indigenous (Management Methods). (https://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/fishing/aboriginal-fishing

Toggle content

Catch Chart

Commercial catch of Trumpeter Whiting - note confidential catch not shown

Toggle content

References

  1. Burchmore, J.J., Pollard, D.A., Middleton, M.J., Bell, J.D., Pease,B.C. (1988). Biology of four species of whiting (Pisces: Sillaginidae) in Botany Bay, New South Wales. Australian Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research 39, 709–727.
  2. Coull, B.C., Greenwood, J.G., Fielder, D.R. and Coull, B.A. (1995) Subtropical Australian juvenile fish eat meiofauna: experiments with winter whiting Sillago maculata and observations on other species. Marine Ecology Progress Series 125, 13–19.
  3. Gray, C.A, McDonnall, V.C. and Reid, D.D. (1990). Bycatch from prawn trawling in the Hawkesbury River, New South Wales: Species composition, distribution and abundance. Australian Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research 41, 13–26.
  4. Gray, C.A. and Kennelly, S. (2003). Catch characteristics of the commercial beach-seine fisheries in two Australian barrier estuaries. Fisheries Research 63, 405–422.
  5. Henry, GW and Lyle, JM 2003, The national recreational and indigenous fishing survey. Australian Government Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Canberra, Australia. ISSN 1440–3544.
  6. Kailola, P. J., Williams, M.J. Stewart, P.C., Reichelt, R. E., McNee, A. and Graive, C. (1993). Australian Fisheries Recourses. Canberra, Australia. Vol. Australian Fisheries Resources pp.18-320 (Bureau of Resource Sciences, Fisheries Research and Development Corporation; Brisbane).
  7. Kendall, B.W. and Gray, C.A. (2009). Reproduction, age and growth of Sillago maculata in south-eastern Australia. Journal of Applied Ichthyology 25, 529–536.
  8. Krück, N.C., Chargulaf, C.A., Saint-Paul, U. and Tibbetts, I. (2009). Early post-settlement habitat and diet shifts and the nursery function of tidepools during Sillago spp. recruitment in Moreton Bay, Australia. Marine Ecology Progress Series 384, 207–219.
  9. Maclean, JL, 1971, The food and feeding of winter whiting (Sillago maculata Quoy and Gaimard) in Moreton Bay. Proceedings of the Linnean Society of New South Wales, 96, 87–92.
  10. Melville, A.J. and Connolly, R.M. (2003). Spatial analysis of stable isotope data to determine primary sources of nutrition for fish. Oecologia 135, 499–507.
  11. Murphy, JJ, Ochwada-Doyle, FA, West, LD, Stark, KE and Hughes, JM 2020, The NSW Recreational Fisheries Monitoring Program - survey of recreational fishing, 2017/18. NSW DPI - Fisheries Final Report Series No. 158.
  12. Murphy, JJ, Ochwada-Doyle, FA, West, LD, Stark, KE, Hughes, JM and Taylor, MD. 2022. Survey of recreational fishing in NSW, 2019/20–Key results. NSW DPI - Fisheries Final Report Series No. 161.
  13. Teixeira, D, Janes, R, and Webley, J 2021, 2019–20 Statewide Recreational Fishing Survey Key Results. Project Report. State of Queensland, Brisbane.
  14. Weng, HT, 1983, Identification, habitats and seasonal occurrence of juvenile whiting (Sillaginidae) in Moreton Bay, Queensland. Journal of Fish Biology, 23(2), 195–200.
  15. Weng, HT, 1986, Spatial and temporal distribution of whiting (Sillaginidae) in Moreton Bay, Queensland. Journal of Fish Biology, 29(6), 755–764.
  16. West, LD, Stark, KE, Murphy, JJ, Lyle, JM and Doyle FA 2015, Survey of recreational fishing in New South Wales and the ACT, 2013/14, Fisheries Final Report Series.
  17. Williams, LE 2002, Queensland's fisheries Resources - Current condition and recent trends 1988 - 2000, Department of Primary Industries Queensland., Brisbane.

Downloadable reports

Click the links below to view reports from other years for this fish.