FAIRFAX Hobart correspondent Andrew Darby is correct in stating that blue warehou (trevally) was recently nominated to be considered for listing under environment law, however it is important to note that any person can nominate a native Australian species for listing.
The nomination does not mean blue warehou is at risk of extinction, only that an independent expert committee will assess its status and provide advice to the federal environment minister. We should await the outcome of this process.
The Australian Fisheries Management Authority (AFMA) has a strategy in place for blue warehou stocks to rebuild and this is available for the public on our website: www.afma.gov.au
No commercial fish species managed by AFMA has ever become extinct or will in the foreseeable future. Australia’s fisheries are regarded as “well-managed” according to many international independent reports, most recently, Charting a Course to Sustainable Fisheries – see www.chartingacourse.org
DR NICK RAYNS
EXECUTIVE MANAGER,
FISHERIES MANAGEMENT
AUSTRALIAN FISHERIES
MANAGEMENT AUTHORITY