Present in Australian waters from Shark Bay in Western Australia to Sydney in New South Wales (Ref. 6390). They frequently form mixed shoals with L. erythropterus. Juveniles tend to inhabit shallow inshore waters and larger fish live in deeper waters (Ref. 27260, 27264). Also Ref. 37816.

Stock structure: A study (Ref. 27432) involving allozyme and mitochondrial DNA analysis of L. malabaricus has provided evidence of three stocks (North West Shelf, Gulf of Carpentaria and east coast of Queensland) existing across northern Australia, with little mixing or exchange of genes through the Torres Strait (Ref. 27432). However, more detailed work is required to confirm the proposed stock structure (Ref. 27432).

Commercial fishery: In Western Australia and the Northern Territory, saddle-tail snapper are caught by demersal and semi-pelagic otter trawls, traps, droplines, and deepwaters handlines (Western Australia). In Queensland, they are also longlined. The fisheries operate all year. Saddle-tail snapper are more commonly caught by trawling in northern waters.

Saddle-tail snapper are harvested by demersal otter trawling for fish on the North West Shelf, Timor Sea and Arafura Sea. They are the principal target species of domestic trawlers in the Arafura Sea and Timor Sea (Ref. 28010), and historically (1930s (Ref. 27275) to 1991) for Taiwanese and Thai pair trawl and stern trawl fleets fishing in northern Australia.

Sea perch (mainly 'redfish') were a dominant group of fishes in Thai and Taiwanese trawler catches in the Arafura Sea and Timor Sea, comprising up to 30% of the total catch; and between 1985 and 1987 on the North West Shelf, sea perch were the third most important fish group taken by demersal foreign trawling. The highest catches of 'redfish' per unit of effort by the foreign fleets in the period 1980-90 were achieved in the Arafura Sea and retained catches of 'redfish' per unit of effort by Taiwanese (and some Thai) trawlers of 100-150 kg/hour were common in the Timor Sea and higher in the Arafura Sea. The 'redfish' catch was dominated by saddle-tail snapper (70% by weight) and red snapper (24% by weight).

Saddle-tail snapper are targeted by the domestic Northern Fish Trawl Fishery which as of 1993, operated in depths of 50 m offshore from prawn grounds in the Arafura Sea only, with vessels based at Gove and Karumba. Juvenile saddle-tail snapper are also a bycatch of the Northern Prawn Fishery.

Lutjanus malabaricus was the most abundant fish caught in night trawls, and was a significant component of day trawls, in a 1994 (Ref. 9700) survey of demersal fish of the Gulf of Carpentaria (Ref. 27432).

Saddle-tail snapper are caught in the Great Barrier Reef Reef Line Fishery as well as in east Queensland coastal waters. The Fishery operates all year between Torres Strait to south of the Swain Reefs and into Moreton Bay, with most of the catch being taken between Cardwell and Mackay (Ref. 27260). There are seasonal peaks in catch and effort - especially during the period August - October (Ref. 27260).

'Redfish' on the Great Barrier Reef are targeted primarily at night. Handlines, large, deck-mounted, hand-operated reels and bottom set longlines are used, and baits include squid, oily fish and lower quality reef fish (Ref. 27262).

As of 1993, the saddle-tail snapper catch in Queensland has increased.

Saddle-tail snappers are also targeted in the Western Australian Trap and Line Fishery, though not in very large quantities.

Sea perch as a whole are marketed either gilled and gutted, whole or as fillets, as fresh chilled or frozen product. Northern Territory and Queensland sea perch are marketed locally (eg in Darwin, and on the Reef island and tourist resorts) and in Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne.

Recreational fishery: In the Northern Territory, saddle-tail snapper are commonly caught inshore and on artificial reefs.

Recreational fishing on the Great Barrier Reef is carried out by small vessels (from 3 m long) working inshore reefs and larger charter vessels working the more remote outer reefs. Recreational landings of 'redfish' on the Great Barrier Reef are about the same as the commercial catch from the Reef.

The record size for sea perch in Australian waters is 17.6 kg, from Western Australia (Australian Anglers Association records).

Resource status: Lutjanids comprised 20-30% of the fish biomass in the mid-shelf area of the North West Shelf (115°30' and 118°30' E) during the 1960s and early 1970s (Ref. 28006). By 1983 however, they comprised less than 10% of the biomass following a period of intensive fishing by Taiwanese trawlers (Ref. 28006).

Saddle-tail snapper stocks in the Northern Fish Trawl Fishery were assessed in 1991 (Ref. 28010) and 1992. Stock biomass was estimated from research surveys and a yield-per-recruit analysis was used to derive sustainable yield estimates. The 1992 estimate of sustainable yield for the Arafura region was 3000-8000 t for saddle-tail snapper and 4000-10000 t for 'redfish' (including Timor snapper, L. timorensis). The large ranges of the yield estimates are due to various uncertainties in the assessment including lack of information on growth and mortality and uncertainty in the biomass estimates.

In 1990, Queensland fishers considered that the 'redfish' and emperor resources in the Reef Line Fishery were in decline (Ref. 27262). Generally, the decline was concentrated very close to the coast, away from major commercial fishing activity on the Great Barrier Reef coral reefs - except possibly for Cairns (Ref. 27260). The catch rates and the size of reef fish caught by the offshore charter boat fleet on the Reef since 1963 until 1992 have remained fairly stable (Ref. 27260).

Museum: LPPL JIF57, from North West Cape to Darwin (Ref. 5978).