The report by the Institute for Marine and Antarctic Science is an aggregate of recreational and commercial catch data and biological information on fish species and is used to report on sustainable fishery targets.

For the 2017-18 season, 16 of the 19 species assessed in the report remain unchanged.

Striped Trumpeter is now classified as recovering after more than a decade of struggling numbers.

Southern Calamari has moved from a sustainable status to depleting and Southern Garfish has moved from depleting to depleted.

The report said low levels of fishing pressure may still be too high to allow stock to recover despite management actions to reduce catches over the past five fishing seasons.

The report stated flathead were of special interest as the recreational catch was more than 20 times greater than the commercial catch.

"Fishing pressure on this species remains very high, especially in the south-east, with little evidence of stock improvement despite management changes that include a size-limit increase," it said.

"As a result, this species remains classified as depleting."

The number of general scalefish commercial licences has gradually declined from almost 450 in 2001 to about 280 in 2017.

The most recent recreational fishing survey has indicated a general decline in participation.