Western Australian salmon have been recorded from as far north as Eden in New South Wales to Kalbarri in Western Australia. Their distribution includes Bass Strait and the waters around Tasmania (Ref. 27296).

Stock structure: Australian salmon were originally considered to be 1 species, Arripis trutta. However, studies in the early 1980s revealed genetic evidence of reproductive isolation between eastern and western popualtions (Ref. 27969).

Commercial fishery: Western Australian salmon are fished commercially in inshore waters of western and central Victoria; in South Australia in Streaky Bay, the South Australian gulfs, Kangaroo Island and Victor Harbour; and the southwest of Western Australia from Busselton to Doubtful Bay.

Western Australian salmon are harvested primarily by beach seining or bottom set gillnetting. In South Australia most of the catch is taken using a modified purse seining technique in which fishers operate in shallow waters behind the surf line (Ref. 27977). Large fish are also taken on trolling gear and there is some beach seining and gillnetting of juveniles.

The major fisheries are in or near spawning areas, and they target fish undergoing pre-spawning or post-spawning migrations. These fisheries are seasonal: September to May in Western Australia. Catches of juvenile Australian salmon are made throughout the year in South Australia, Victoria and Tasmania. Some fish are also taken in South Australian sea garfish and mullet (Mugilidae) catches.

Aircraft and land-based spotters are, or have been, used to locate schools of Australian salmon. Beach seine fishers rely on cliff-top spotters to locate schools of fish. In South Australia, spotter aircraft direct purse seine fishers in the placement of their nets. Australian salmon are sold as whole, fresh fish, or canned for human consumption or pet food, or used for rock lobster (Jasus species) bait. The highest demand for Australian salmon is for use as rock lobster bait; eg between 1983 and 1986 about 85% of the South Australian catch was used for this purpose. Prices for Australian salmon vary Australia wide depending on the end use. Fish for local fresh fish markets fetched the highest prices.

Recreational fishery: Australian salmon are taken by recreational anglers throughout their ranges. They are especially popular with beach and rock anglers (Ref. 27996) and smaller fish are sometimes netted. In Victoria, Australian salmon are targeted by shoreline fishers and by boat-based trolling. The most common method is the use of pilchard bait on linked hooks although metal casting lures are also used. According to the Australian Anglers Association, the largest recorded Australian salmon is a 9.4 kg fish caught in South Australia in 1973.

The size of the recreational catch in South Australia as of 1993, had been estimated to be hundreds of t annually. Angler catch rates vary greatly depending on locality (Ref. 27996).

Resource status: As of 1993, the Australian salmon fishery in Western Australia was believed to be fully exploited, while the South Australian fishery was under-fished.

Western Australian salmon populations are vulnerable to the effecs of over-exploitation (Ref. 27977) as they are characterised by high natural mortality, strong schooling habits, and the fish are often caught before their first spawning. The South Australian catch has declined since the 1970s, mostly through a reduction in the number of large purse seine operators. A 1984-86 estimate put the fishable population in South Australia at 3600 to 6000 t (Ref. 27996).

Also Ref. 2156, 2657.