Species
- Black teatfish (Holothuria whitmaei)
- Burrowing blackfish (Actinopyga spinea)
- Herrmanni curryfish (Stichopus herrmanni)
- Prickly redfish (Thelenota ananas)
- Vastus curryfish (Stichopus vastus)
- White teatfish (Holothuria fuscogilva)
Fish stock status
Although a species may be classified as sustainable under the Status of Australian Fish Stocks (SAFS) framework, this does not mean that the stock is meeting Queensland targets under the harvest strategy.
| Common name | Species | Stock | 2023 | 2020 | 2018 | 2016 | 2014 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White Teatfish | Holothuria fuscogilva | East Coast Sea Cucumber Fishery | Sustainable | Sustainable | Sustainable | Not Assessed | Not Assessed |
| Burrowing Blackfish | Actinopyga spinea | East Coast Queensland | Undefined | Sustainable | Not Assessed | Not Assessed | Not Assessed |
Black teatfish
The 2026 black teatfish stock assessment used current biological data, survey data and commercial catch data to:
- determine the sustainability of the stocks
- help inform management decisions
- inform the application of the sea cucumber harvest strategy.
The assessments used Stock Synthesis, a modelling framework that was developed by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (United States).
The assessment estimated that the black teatfish:
- north stock was between 45% and 125% of unfished levels, and most probably at around 80%
- south stock was between 73% and 138 % of unfished levels, and most probably at around 103%.
Previous report:
North stock biomass estimates and key management actions
South stock biomass estimates and key management actions
Estimated harvest
Burrowing blackfish
The 2024 stock assessments used current biological data, survey data, and commercial catch data to:
- determine the sustainability of the stocks
- help inform management decisions
- inform the application of the sea cucumber harvest strategy
The assessments used Stock Synthesis, a modelling framework that was developed by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (United States).
Bunker Reef stock
The assessment estimated that the burrowing blackfish stock at Bunker Reef was between 78% and 109% of unfished levels, and most probably at around 92%.
Biomass estimates and key management actions
Estimated harvest from 1996 to 2023
Gould Reef stock
The assessment estimated that the burrowing blackfish stock at Gould reef was between 51% and 101% of unfished levels, and most probably at around 72%.
Biomass estimates and key management actions
Estimated harvest from 2000 to 2023
Herrmanni curryfish
The 2024 stock assessment used current biological data, survey data, and commercial catch data to:
- determine the sustainability of the stocks
- help inform management decisions
- inform the application of the sea cucumber harvest strategy
The assessments used Stock Synthesis, a modelling framework that was developed by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (United States).
The assessment estimated that the herrmanni curryfish stock was between 81% and 141% of unfished levels, and most probably at around 103%.
Biomass estimates and key management actions
Estimated harvest from 2007 to 2023
Prickly redfish
The 2024 stock assessment used current biological data, survey data, and commercial catch data to:
- determine the sustainability of the stocks
- help inform management decisions
- inform the application of the sea cucumber harvest strategy
The assessments used Stock Synthesis, a modelling framework that was developed by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (United States).
The assessment estimated that the prickly redfish stock was between 73% and 116% of unfished levels, and most probably at around 91%.
Biomass estimates and key management actions
Estimated harvest from 1995 to 2023
Vastus curryfish
The 2024 stock assessment used current biological data, survey data, and commercial catch data to:
- determine the sustainability of the stocks
- help inform management decisions
- inform the application of the sea cucumber harvest strategy
The assessments used Stock Synthesis, a modelling framework that was developed by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (United States).
The assessment estimated that the vastus curryfish stock was between 65% and 124% of unfished levels, and most probably at around 87%.
Biomass estimates and key management actions
Estimated harvest from 2007 to 2023
White teatfish
The 2026 white teatfish stock assessment used current biological data, survey data and commercial catch data to:
- determine the sustainability of the stocks
- help inform management decisions
- inform the application of the sea cucumber harvest strategy.
The assessments used Stock Synthesis, a modelling framework that was developed by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (United States).
The assessment estimated that the white teatfish stock was between 67% and 115% of unfished levels, and most probably at around 86%.
Previous report:
Biomass estimates and key management actions
Estimated harvest from 1995 to 2025
Ecological risk assessment
Assessed in the Queensland sea cucumber fishery.
Management
Sea cucumber fishery:
Last updated: 10 Jul 2024