Michelle Daw, Yorke Peninsula Country Times

Gulf St Vincent should be used to trial new approaches to managing commercial and recreational fishing, says YP Country Times fishing columnist Greg James.

In the wake of new fishing restrictions introduced in response to the algal bloom, Mr James said the crisis presented an opportunity to move beyond bag and boat limits, to help ensure sustainable fish stocks for the future.

Gulf St Vincent: a test case for fisheries reform?

Primary Industries and Regions South Australia recreational and commercial fishing restrictions for Gulf St Vincent and Spencer Gulf zones took effect on November 1, and will apply until June 30, 2026, subject to scientific review.

All commercial fishing is banned in the Gulf St Vincent zone, while 50 per cent reductions apply to bag and boat limits for recreational and charter boat fishing.

In the Spencer Gulf zone, there is a 50 per cent reduction in bag and boat limits for recreational and charter boat fishing, applying to calamari, garfish, blue crabs and King George whiting.

Commercial fishing in Spencer Gulf remains unaffected, as are the state’s commercial sardine, abalone and rock lobster fisheries.

Prawn fisheries are operating as normal, with a temporary November-December spawning closure in parts of northern Gulf St Vincent and existing restrictions on snapper will be extended until June 30, 2027.

Mr James, a passionate recreational fisher who has also worked in commercial fishing, described the restrictions as a “knee jerk reaction”.

“The management of the fishery needs to be completely rejigged in light of the algal bloom,” he said.

“PIRSA are locked into this bag and boat limit scenario and so their only response that they can do because they haven’t rejigged the fishery is to cut limits.

“You can’t have a best managed fishery in the world if you’ve got a snapper season closed for seven years.

“That just flies in the face of a common-sense argument.

“Their intent is good, but I think they’re devoid of any real solutions.”

Mr James said the SA Government should temporarily close Gulf St Vincent to all fishing, allowing fish stocks to rebuild, and then introduce zone-based fishing limits for various species.

“Gulf St Vincent, with the trouble it’s in, that gives us a chance to remodel that fishery,” he said.

“It’s got almost zero fish.

“If the commercial fishers can’t catch anything there, the recreationals won’t.”

He said zone fishing limits — used in countries such as New Zealand and Canada and around the Mediterranean — could better reflect current local circumstances for each species, unlike SA’s existing statewide limits that apply across diverse coastal environments.

This model would require fishers to launch and return from the same location, supported by increased compliance officers and possibly volunteers to monitor adherence.

“It’s a much more responsive and adaptive way to manage fisheries than having set limits across the entire state,” Mr James said.

He proposed reinstating recreational fishing reinstated in Gulf St Vincent, followed by a gradual return of commercial fishing, based on the health of fish stocks.

“I would also propose a buyout of commercial fishing licences over, say, five years, so those fishers aren’t left high and dry,” he said.

“In that time, the state government could utilise their knowledge of the marine environment and the species to help rebuild the stocks.

This article appeared in Yorke Peninsula Country Times, 25 November 2025.