Multi-species (mixed) fisheries in WA are managed based on the status of ‘indicator species’. This approach seeks to manage the entire resource (all exploited species) in a given bioregion by ensuring that management responses are aligned with the most at-risk species (indicator species). This robust precautionary approach recognises that while several species are likely to be ‘targeted’, a plethora of species are landed by the gears used (e.g., trawls, traps, lines). The indicator species approach has been used to successfully alter individual effort allocations in WA to reduce or maintain the catches of indicator species as required, which has also reduced overall catches of other species in the resource and has thus allowed stocks to be maintained at or to be rebuilt to target biomass levels. To ensure that the indicator species approach is robust across all species, an assessment of the stock status of a secondary species (Epinephelus areolatus) was undertaken. Catches of E. areolatus are the largest of all epinephelids in the multispecies tropical fisheries across north-western Australia. The relative exploitation levels of E. areolatus populations was assessed by comparing values of fishing mortality (F) to standard reference points based on ratios of M. Values of F indicated that harvest rates are at an acceptable level in this region and multiple lines of evidence confirmed that current levels of F are unlikely to cause overfishing on the spawning biomass of E. areolatus in Western Australia. The sustainable harvest of E. areolatus in north-western Australia is due to the effectiveness of the indicator species management approach, and their life history traits, making them one of the few reported epinephelids to have sustained long periods of exploitation. The stock status of E. areolatus further supports the utility and robustness of the indicator species approach to management of multi-species (mixed) fisheries.