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Commercial Fishery
Australian Salmon (Arripis trutta) | Trading Kahawai
Commercial Fishing for Australian Salmon:
Australian salmon or
Australasian salmon, known as kahawai in New Zealand, are
medium-sized perciform marine fish of the small family Arripidae (also spelled
Arripididae). Four species are recognized, all within the genus Arripis; they
are found in the waters off southern Australia (including Tasmania) and New
Zealand. Despite the common name, Australian salmon are not related to the
salmon (family Salmonidae) of the Northern Hemisphere; the former were named so
by early European settlers after their superficial resemblance to the
salmoniform fishes.
Australian Salmon are endemic to the Australasian region, and inhabit southern
Australian waters and also Lord Howe and Norfolk Islands, the north and south islands of
New Zealand and the Kermadec Islands.
They live in continental shelf waters and
are also found in estuaries, bays and inlets. They
school in shallow, open coastal waters and can move over reefs in depths just sufficient
to cover their bodies. Juvenile Australian Salmon are found over soft substrates in
shallow and sheltered coastal waters. They are often found over seagrass beds and in
mangrove-lined creeks. They can tolerate temperature and salinity extremes, such as
those found in the gulfs in South Australia and the Coorong. Larger fish move into
exposed coastal waters such as around rocky headlands near reefs and the surf zone.
Wild caught.
Recovery Rate
Fillets (skin on, wing off): 42% from whole Australian salmon
Australian salmon are a commercial species harvested primarily by beach seining or
bottom set gillnetting. They can also be caught using modified purse seining
techniques in which fishers operate in shallow waters behind the surf line. Large
fish are also taken on trolling gear.
Relatively long-lived
fish, Australian salmon are a favored target of recreational
fishers, and both commercial and traditional Māori fisheries.
They are also common bycatch of the snapper, mullet, trevally,
and mackerel fisheries. These species are all taken in great
numbers by way of purse seine nets and trawling. They are also
caught by skilled fishermen along the southern coastline of
Australia by beach seining. Due to declining numbers and
ever-increasing annual catch sizes, the future viability of the
Australian salmon stock has been put into question.
Scientific Name
Arripis trutta
Location
Sth QLD to TAS, across to sth WA
Season
November to May
Size
To 75 cm and 9 kg
Australian Species Code
37 344900
Taste, Texture
Strong fishy taste, firm texture.
VIDEO: Australian Salmon (Arripis Trutta):
Population structure, reproduction, diet and composition of commercial &
recreational catches in NSW (Fisheries Research AU)
Relatively long-lived
fish, Australian salmon are a favored target of recreational
fishers, and both commercial and traditional Māori fisheries.
They are also common bycatch of the snapper, mullet, trevally,
and mackerel fisheries. These species are all taken in great
numbers by way of purse seine nets and trawling. They are also
caught by skilled fishermen along the southern coastline of
Australia by beach seining. Due to declining numbers and
ever-increasing annual catch sizes, the future viability of the
Australian salmon stock has been put into question.
