More Australian mahi will be on the market soon after the Commonwealth and the Western Australian Fisheries Minister agreed to increase the number of that species that can be landed and sold from 10 to 200 per trip for commercial seafood operators in the Western Tuna and Billfish Fishery (WTBF).
“The Australian Fisheries Management Authority (AFMA) has assessed mahi mahi as low risk at current catch levels through its rigorous Ecological Risk Assessment process and has since been working with WTBF operators and Western Australia to increase the number of mahi mahi that can be landed and sold,” the organization said in a statement.
The Commonwealth and Western Australian Fisheries Minister changed the mahi number after consultation with the Western Australian Fisheries Industry Council (WAFIC) and Recfishwest.
“The increased catch per trip limit will have little impact on the overall fishing mortality of mahi mahi since most of the fish caught are dead when the fishing gear is hauled on board,” AFMA said. “Rather than waste these fish unnecessarily there will now be more of these popular eating fish available for Western Australian seafood lovers.”
However, AFMA will continue to closely monitor catch levels from the mahi fishery.
