Measuring tailor to keep our fisheries sustainable
by Department of Primary Industries 21 Sep 01:11 UTC
Measuring tailor to keep our fisheries sustainable © Department of Primary Industries
Each year, Fisheries Queensland monitors recreational and commercial tailor catches to better understand this important species. We measure fish size, determine gender, and collect otoliths (ear bones) to reveal their age.
A 35 cm tailor is usually about 2 years old, while a 75 cm "greenback" averages 5 years. Last season's oldest fish was 7 years! This data helps us track population trends and support sustainable fisheries.
We've already measured over 5,000 fish and collected 350+ otoliths this season. The final round of sampling on K'gari (Fraser Island) will be from 28 September to 3 October. Spot us on the beach and get involved by letting us measure your catch or by donating frames.
We'd also like to acknowledge all fishers, recreational and commercial who contribute to the success of this monitoring program.
Together, we can ensure healthy wild-caught seafood for generations to come.