Sustainable sea cucumbers: Torres Strait fishers land record catch of black teatfish
The 2025 fishing season for black teatfish in the Torres Strait closed at 11.59 pm on 5 March 2025, with a record catch of 19.22 tonnes.
Torres Strait fishers achieved the total in only 3 days, making this year's season the shortest since the black teatfish fishery reopened in 2023. A catch of 7.3 tonnes on Tuesday 4 March set a new record for a single day.
Torres Strait Islanders have exclusive access rights to black teatfish, which is estimated to be worth over half a million dollars to the local economy. Black teatfish is a vital source of income supporting livelihoods and the traditional way of life in the Torres Strait.
The export value of Australian sea cucumbers has risen substantially over the last decade due to declining stocks around the world, as well as demand from other countries where they are a highly desired for purported health and medicinal benefits.
Sustainable management of the black teatfish fishery was supported by daily landing and reporting of catches by licenced fishers and fish receivers.
To ensure the black teatfish are harvested in accordance with the rules, fishing was monitored by a joint patrol by the Australian Fisheries Management Authority (AFMA) and Queensland Police.
At-sea operations began on 1–2 March ahead of the season opening with AFMA and police officers patrolling the Torres Strait Protected Zone on board the Queensland Police patrol vessel W Conroy and the local private charter vessel Nekana II.
The patrol worked closely with Torres Strait fishers to support compliance with licence conditions and observed high levels of compliance. The responsibility and custodianship of traditional fishers is a key contribution to the continuing success of the fishery.
In 2023, fishing for the black teatfish was reopened on an annual basis for the first time in 20 years thanks to a concerted conservation and stock restoration effort, marking decades of work with scientists, traditional fishers, and government agencies.
For more information:
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