Growing Calls to Review South Australian Snapper Closure as Fishers Report Big Numbers
Seven years after the South Australian Snapper Closure was introduced, many fishers argue the species is no longer in recovery mode — it’s thriving.
Originally introduced as a three-year measure to rebuild depleted stocks in the West Coast, Spencer Gulf and Gulf St Vincent/Kangaroo Island fishing zones, the closure is now on track to remain in place for almost eight years, with no reopening expected before July 2027.
PIRSA says the latest extension is based on scientific advice and ongoing concerns about stock recovery.
But not everyone is convinced.
Port Hughes Fishing Charters operator, Tom Hams, “says the snapper ban has turned into an absolute circus — the main act, PIRSA.
“Talk to anyone actually out on the water (not sitting behind a desk), and they’ll tell you the same thing — snapper are everywhere,” he said.
“You drop a line and they’re on it before you can even think. But instead of listening to the people who are actually out there every day, you just keep doubling down on the same garbage decisions.”
He’s concerned that high snapper numbers could put pressure on other fish stocks recovering from the algal bloom.
Calls for a Trial Reopening
Narungga MP Chantelle Thomas said she was increasingly hearing concerns that the scientific data used to justify the closure did not align with what fishers were experiencing on the water.
She is questioning whether spawning ground surveys were accurately reflecting snapper numbers, saying reports from fishers suggested large numbers of fish were being encountered outside the areas being monitored.
Ms Thomas also raised concerns about the impact of snapper on other species, suggesting growing numbers could be affecting local ecosystems, particularly following restrictions on southern calamari fishing.
She’s calling for a trial reopening of the fishery, arguing it would provide a responsible way to test stock recovery while delivering a much-needed boost to tourism and regional economies.
A senior spokesperson from PIRSA said while snapper stocks in the Gulf St Vincent and Spencer Gulf were showing signs of recovery prior to the harmful algal bloom’s onset, the full impact of the bloom on snapper stocks is still being investigated.
They said the latest extension of the snapper fishing closure was based on advice from South Australian Research and Development Institute (SARDI) and the results of stock assessments undertaken through the State Government’s Snapper Science Program.
“Further biomass surveys and stock assessments are planned to occur in the next 12 months which will further inform the status of snapper stocks.”
The Narungga MP said addressing the snapper closure would be one of the first issues she raises with Primary Industries Minister Clare Scriven in Parliament.
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