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Barred Javelin range from test Shark Bay in WA (possibly also ranges further south), north and east to at least Moreton Bay in QLD. Barred Javelin is assessed as sustainable in the East Coast QLD, Gulf of Carpentaria, and Northern Australia management units.

Photo credit: Northern Territory Government

Barred Javelin are widely distributed throughout the Indian Ocean to the western Pacific Ocean, ranging from the Red Sea and east coast of Africa through to southeast Asia, extending north to Taiwan and south to northern Australia. They have also been reported from the Persian Gulf. In Australia, Barred Javelin range from Shark Bay in Western Australia (possibly also ranges further south), north and east to at least Moreton Bay in Queensland.

Garrett (1997) assessed allozymes from Barred Javelin between locations along the eastern and western coasts of northern Queensland (Cape York). These data showed significant genetic differences between locations in the Gulf of Carpentaria and the Queensland east coast. The boundaries of these stocks and their relationship to populations along the western and northern coasts of Australia are not known. Due to the logistic and operational constraints of the relevant monitoring, assessment and management agencies, assessment is undertaken at the management unit level.

Here, assessment of stock status is presented at the management unit level—Northern Australia (Western Australia and Northern Territory), Gulf of Carpentaria (Queensland and Northern Territory); and East Coast Queensland.

Northern Australia

In Western Australia, Barred Javelin are not identified to the individual species level but are landed as part of the group Javelinfishes. There is currently little evidence to determine the proportion of the Javelinfish catch by species. Javelinfishes (which include the Barred Javelin) are caught primarily as a component of the multispecies Pilbara Fish Trawl (Interim) Managed Fishery within the Pilbara Demersal Scalefish Fisheries (which also includes the Pilbara Trap Managed Fishery and the Pilbara Line Fishery) and in small quantities in the Northern Demersal Scalefish Managed Fishery (NDSMF) and Gascoyne Demersal Scalefish Managed Fishery. Javelinfishes are assessed on the basis of the status of several indicator species (including, for example, Red Emperor, Rankin Cod, and Bluespotted Emperor in the Pilbara region, and Red Emperor, and Goldband Snapper in the Kimberley region) across the North Coast Demersal Resource (NCDR) that represent the entire inshore demersal suite of species occurring at depths of 30–250 m [Newman et al. 2018]. The indicator species in the Pilbara and Kimberley have been classified as sustainable. The level of risk associated with the sustainability of Javelinfishes in the NCDR is assessed as low. This assessment of Javelinfishes is supported by predictions for biomass and harvest rates from a data-limited Catch-MSY assessment model compared periodically to a median model prediction for maximum sustainable yield (MSY).

The total catch of Javelinfishes across WA over the last 10 years (2013–22) have ranged from 19.4–56.4 t, with a mean annual catch of 32.0 t. This is consistent with average catches across the previous 10 years of 35.8 t. The recreational and charter catch are considerably lower compared to the commercial catch, in the past 10 years where reliable catches estimates are available, the proportion of the total catch has averaged 1%. Analyses using a Catch-MSY model applied to data on annual catches for this species (1993–2022), demonstrate that the annual catches since 1993 remained at or below the median model estimate for maximum sustainable yield (MSY), with the exception of two periods in which it generally exceeded the upper 95% confidence limit for this MSY prediction (2004, 2006, 2008 and 2021). This is also consistent with the predicted values for biomass in recent years being below BMSY, and fishing mortality remaining below FMSY. However, it is important to recognise that Catch-MSY is a data-limited technique with relatively strong assumptions, dependent on user inputs. For this assessment, these included specified ranges for initial depletion (0.4–0.8), based on likely catches from foreign fleets, final depletion (0.15–0.7, calculated by the program based on recent catches relative to maximum recorded annual catch) and low resilience (r=0.1–0.6, consistent with species longevity, of approximately 15 years). Given consistent catch levels across multiple fisheries, current status of the indicator species for the NCDR, and catch in relation to Catch-MSY, it is considered unlikely that the biomass of Javelin fishes in Western Australia is depleted and recruitment is unlikely to be impaired.

In the Northern Territory, the Barred Javelin is the only species of javelin fish caught in any significant numbers. The commercial harvest has been very low (2 t; 10-year average) and primarily from the Demersal Fishery trawl sector. The recreational take for this species of approximately 3 t is also low [Matthews et al. 2019; Errity et al. 2022]. The above evidence indicates 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 Northern Australian biological stock is classified as a sustainable stock.

Barred Javelin biology [Garnett 1997; Szczecinski 2012]

Distribution of reported commercial catch of Barred Javelin- note confidential catch not shown.

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

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

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 – Commercial (Management Methods). Harvest strategies are available at: https://www.daf.qld.gov.au/business-priorities/fisheries/sustainable/harvest-strategy  

Western Australia – Recreational (Catch). Boat-based recreational catch is from 1 September 2020–31 August 2021. These data are derived from those reported in [Ryan et al. 2022].

Western Australia – Recreational (management methods). A Recreational Fishing from Boat License is required for the use of a powered boat to fish or to transport catch or fishing gear to or from a land-based fishing location.

Western Australia – Indigenous (management methods). Subject to application of Section 211 of the Native Title Act 1993 (Cth), and the exemption from a requirement to hold a recreational fishing licence, the non-commercial take by Indigenous fishers is covered by the same arrangements as that for recreational fishing.

Northern Territory - Indigenous (management methods). 

The Fisheries Act 1988 (NT), specifies that: “Unless expressly provided otherwise, nothing in this Act derogates or limits the right of Aboriginal people who have traditionally used the resources of an area of land or water in a traditional manner to continue to use those resources in that area in that manner.”

Commercial catch of Barred Javelin- note confidential catch not shown.

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