BlueWater Boats & Sportsfishing – July 2019

W

hile Australia is revered as one of the

world’sbestbiggamefishingdestinations,

the overall productivity of its continental

waters is considered relatively low. To

explainwhatthismeans,let’slookat theoceanographic

drivers that generate productivity in the oceans and

explorehowAustralia’smarinebiomasscompareswith

othercountries.We’llalsoconsiderwhatallthismeans

for Australia’s fisheries management and its game

fishingopportunities.

AUTHOR:AUSTRALIANFISHERIESMANAGEMENTAUTHORITY(AFMA)

PHOTOGRAPHY:AFMA;TIMSIMPSON;ALMCGLASHAN;ALAMY

AUSTRALIAISDIFFERENT

Australia’s environment is unique in many ways,

and its oceanography is no different. Australia is

the only continent that has warm water currents

flowing down both coasts. This is great for seaside

holidaymakers and game fishing as it brings warm

watera considerabledistancedownfromtheequator.

However, this does not make ideal conditions for

highlyproductivemarineenvironments.

Australia is also a relatively dry continent and by

A baitball of

cowanyoung found

on the continental

shelf drop-off near

Port Stephens.

In Australia’s

comparatively poorly

productive waters, the

nutrients to feed such

a school originate with

phytoplankton that

feed on the deep-water

nutrients raised to the

surface by upwellings.

AUSTRALIA’S OCEAN

PRODUCTIVITY

THE REALITY OF

Considering the many game fishing world records it produces, you might think Australia

is one of the most fish-rich nations of all. However, the reality is surprisingly different,

as the Australian Fisheries Management Authority (AFMA) explains.

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