A Socioeconomic Evaluation Of Three Eastern Australian Game-fishing Regions
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$337,842.00
Summary
Measures of the value of commercial fishing, such as gross value of production (GVP) and net economic returns, are available for the Eastern Tuna and Billfish Fishery (ETBF). However, there is little information on the value of the same tuna and billfish stocks to recreational fishers and the value of gamefishing to the wider community. This information is becoming increasingly important to fishery management and policy that must consider the interests of all resource users. In particular, fishe ....Measures of the value of commercial fishing, such as gross value of production (GVP) and net economic returns, are available for the Eastern Tuna and Billfish Fishery (ETBF). However, there is little information on the value of the same tuna and billfish stocks to recreational fishers and the value of gamefishing to the wider community. This information is becoming increasingly important to fishery management and policy that must consider the interests of all resource users. In particular, fishery policy and management must take into account economic and social values to resource users and the wider community.
The need for socioeconomic research is supported by Recfish Australia and the Recreational Fishing Advisory Committee (RFAC). The list of national recreational fisheries research priorities described in the Recfish Research Business Plan identifies social, health and economic benefits of recreational fishing as the first priority. FRDC recognised that there is limited knowledge of social effects on the fishing industry, including the recreational fishing sector, by setting up a Social Sciences Research Co-ordination Program. Objectives: 1. Compile a socioeconomic profile of the recreational gamefishing sector in eastern Australia. 2. Estimate the value of gamefishing to several key east Australian regional centres. Read moreRead less
Tactical Research Fund: Shark Futures - A Synthesis Of Available Data On Mako And Porbeagle Sharks In Australasian Waters - Current Status And Future Directions
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$69,533.00
Summary
The shortfin mako, longfin mako and porbeagle sharks have widespread distributions in temperate and tropical waters of all the world’s oceans. Makos are bycatch and by-product species of pelagic longline and gillnet fisheries where they are taken for their meat and high-value fins. They are also highly-prized recreational species in many regions. Makos have low productivity, typical of sharks that do not mature until reaching a large size, producing few young and where individuals are unlikely t ....The shortfin mako, longfin mako and porbeagle sharks have widespread distributions in temperate and tropical waters of all the world’s oceans. Makos are bycatch and by-product species of pelagic longline and gillnet fisheries where they are taken for their meat and high-value fins. They are also highly-prized recreational species in many regions. Makos have low productivity, typical of sharks that do not mature until reaching a large size, producing few young and where individuals are unlikely to reproduce annually. Risk assessments both nationally and in the Atlantic concluded that mako sharks are at the highest risk of all pelagic sharks. These species are listed by the IUCN as Vulnerable globally and Critically Endangered in the Mediterranean. Significant population declines in the Mediterranean Sea and the North Atlantic resulted in these species being listed under Appendix II of the Convention on Migratory Species (CMS) in 2008 and concomitant listing under Australia’s EPBC Act in January 2010. This effectively meant that the target commercial or recreational fishing for these species was prohibited in Australian waters. In May 2010 the National Recreational Mako Shark Fishery - Management Forum identified the need for a study to identify and propose cost effective ways to fill key gaps in the collective knowledge of these species. In July 2010, after considerable debate, a legislative amendment was made to allow for the recreational fishing of mako and porbeagle sharks in Commonwealth areas despite the offence provisions under the EPBC Act. Commercial targeting of these species remains an offence, however, there are exemptions where they are taken as bycatch under accredited management plans. The Federal Environment Minister also directed DEWHA/SEWPaC to work with Fisheries Managers to provide a “more comprehensive information base on mako and porbeagle sharks for the future”. This project is a direct result of these needs. Objectives: 1. Identify and collate existing data sets on mako and porbeagle sharks in Australasian waters including data on the geographic distribution and magnitude of current and historical catch (commercial and recreational), demographic parameters, behaviour, movement patterns, habitat associations, diet and trophic interactions and impacts of fishing, including who holds these data. 2. Identify and provide a national framework of coordination and cooperation for current and future research on mako and porbeagle sharks that will contribute towards improving understanding and reduce uncertainty in these parameters. 3. Identify key gaps in our collective knowledge of these species and opportunities for sustained, long-term programs for data collection. 4. Work with managers, policy makers, researchers as well as commercial and recreational sectors to identify cost-effective ways to address these gaps in a coordinated national and regional approach that aligns with the needs for management and policy. 5. Improve communication and coordination between research providers, State and Commonwealth management agencies and the recreational and commercial sectors on data collection and data synthesis for these species to facilitate cost effective science-support for management and policy decision making. Read moreRead less
Assessment Of The Impacts Of Hydro-electric Dams On Eel Stocks In Tasmania And An Evaluation And Assessment Of Mitigation Strategies
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$282,684.00
Summary
Stock enhancement strategies can be a cost-effective means of restoring or maintaining fisheries, and have proven essential in catchments with barriers to migration (Knights and White 1998). Regulation of natural river systems has obstructed eel migration in many catchments, and with the implementation of appropriate management tools such as fish passes / ladders and translocation through trapping / netting programs, restoration of stocks can be achieved. Such strategies have not only proven s ....Stock enhancement strategies can be a cost-effective means of restoring or maintaining fisheries, and have proven essential in catchments with barriers to migration (Knights and White 1998). Regulation of natural river systems has obstructed eel migration in many catchments, and with the implementation of appropriate management tools such as fish passes / ladders and translocation through trapping / netting programs, restoration of stocks can be achieved. Such strategies have not only proven successful in increasing commercial fishery yields, but also contribute to enhanced spawning stocks and increased silver eel escapements.
Hydro electric operations (dams and power generating turbines) reduce the chance of successful emigration of silver eel, especially for larger female eel (Dekker 1999), and, depending on flow and turbine type and number, may represent a major source of mortality to pre-spawning adults (Ritter et al 1997).The design of downstream passage ways and the use of non-generating periods to reduce mortality have been trialled and implemented in New Zealand, the USA and Europe, but have yet to be adopted or investigated in Australia.
The sustainability of the eel resource in Tasmania and of existing (and potentially new) commercial eel fisheries in hydro-impounded catchments will ultimately depend on the implementation of appropriate and effective mitigation strategies (passage and/or translocations) specific to both upstream and downstream migrations.
This proposed program addresses the issue of sustainability by assessing both cause and effect of impacts and various mitigation options. It is envisaged that the results and recommendations arising from this proposed study will underpin the development of an integrated management strategy for managing eel fisheries in hydro-impacted catchments with direct benefits to managers and industry alike. Results from this study could be readily transferred to other States, with coordination and dissemination through the existing Australian and New Zealand Eel Reference Group (ANZERG).
REFERENCES
Dekker, W. 1999. Effects of Transfers and Restocking of Eel. Report of the EIFAC Working Group on Eels - Denmark, September 1999. Pp13-17.
Knights, B. and E. White, 1998. An appraisal of stocking strategies for the European eel, Anguilla anguilla - In Cowx, I.G. (ed): Stocking and Introduction of Fish. Fishing News Books. Pp 121-140.
Ritter, J.A., Stanfield, M. and Peterson, R.H. 1997. The American Eel in Eastern Canada - Stock Status and Management Strategies. Proceedings of Eel Workshop January 13-14 1997, Quebec City, QC. Can. Tech. Report 2196. 174p. Objectives: 1. To assess the impacts of hydro-electric dams on eel migrations and eel population structure in Tasmania’s lakes and rivers and to assess the impact of past elver restocking practices in hydro-impounded catchments on eel populations within those catchments. 2. To assess the direct impacts of hydro-electric dams and associated operations (turbine intakes and water management practices) on adult ‘silver’ eel survival rates during their downstream spawning migrations 3. To evaluate various management tools (ladders / bypasses and passage; netting / trapping and translocation) to mitigate impacts and provide recommendations for implementation. 4. To review the management of barriers to eel migration, including overseas experience. Read moreRead less
Objectives: 1. Investigate bacteriological depuration of oysters. ; 2. Assess the effectiveness of sterilisation of the seawater to be used for depuration by ultraviolet and ozone units 3. establish their limits & optimise their use in terms of cost & bacterial destruction
SCRC: SCRC Honours Scholarship H4.2 Australian Farmed Prawns:B2B And B2C: A Gender Comparison Of Perceptions Of Relationship Marketing (Dr Leone Cameron; Student Hannah O'Brien)
Synthesis Of Existing Data On The Early Life History Of Southern Australian Finfish
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$371,905.00
Summary
Managers need to know the level of regional connectivity of fisheries resources in order to manage them both equitably and sustainably. Managers need to know where the source populations are for the fisheries that they manage, over what area they recruit and what the levels of variability in recruitment are likely to be.
There are two critical areas as well as a number of basic biological issues that this proposal addresses.
(i) Stock structure: Stock assessment and management ....Managers need to know the level of regional connectivity of fisheries resources in order to manage them both equitably and sustainably. Managers need to know where the source populations are for the fisheries that they manage, over what area they recruit and what the levels of variability in recruitment are likely to be.
There are two critical areas as well as a number of basic biological issues that this proposal addresses.
(i) Stock structure: Stock assessment and management cannot sensibly proceed without knowledge of what the structure of the stock is. Yet for 12 of the 17 species listed in the SEF strategic plan and 30 of the 38 species of southern Australian finfish listed in the 1993 BRS/FRDC funded Fisheries Resources Atlas, information on stock structure is identified as either lacking or inadequate. Some of the major determinants of stock structure are where fish spawn, how many spawning areas there are, how far and to what extent are eggs and larvae transported and mixed between regions and over what areas do fish recruit. We continue to use proxies for this information (eg genetics, morphormetrics, microchemistry) because it has previously been both difficult and expensive to look at such early life history processes directly.
(ii) Environmental variability: The biological systems with which resource managers work and the physical environment to which these systems are integrally linked are inherently variable. Physical circulation and its variability is undoubtedly a driving force for recruitment processes and the extent to which resources are connected between regions. We are continually reminded that recruitment for many fish in southern Australia is highly variable, shows links to environmental forcing and that these factors are poorly accounted for in the way we currently assess and manage our fisheries resources.
(iii) Critical basic biological parameters for wild fisheries and aquaculture: For many wild fisheries resources we still do not know where and when fish spawn, where are critical nursery areas, what are the pathways from spawning to nursery areas, what fish are suitable for fisheries independent biomass assessment via egg/larval surveys or acoustic assessment of spawning aggregations. The aquaculture sector needs to know how long the larval stage of prospective species is, how fast larvae grow, what they eat and what are their preferred temperature and salinity requirements to successfully plan and establish operations.
There is no one data set or project that will solve these issues but there is a common theme to all - early life history (ELH). It is no longer too hard to look at this area. Current studies under way at CSIRO lead by B. Bruce (ELH, recruitment dynamics and connectivity of southern rock lobster resources FRDC 96/107) and MAFRI lead by F. Neira (regional connectivity of King George whiting via larval transport FRDC 96/116) are already providing much of this information for those species.
The samples necessary for this project have already been collected - approximately 10,000 over the last 10 years representing some $7.5 MILLION in research and commercial vessel time. This is a sample set of National significance. Many hundreds of man-hours have already been spent sorting many of these samples. Two FRDC funded projects have been completed that (a) provide the tools necessary to identify larvae (FRDC 94/129) and (b) ensure the availability and safety of previously collected samples (FRDC 94/55). Considerable resources have been spent on gathering and sorting samples additional to those that were archived as part of FRDC 94/55 in further preparation for this project. Several years have been spent developing the skills required to marry the these biological data sets with ocean environment information.
The value and benefit of these initiatives will only be achieved when the data stored in these samples are collated, analysed and made accessible. These are the primary goals of this project. The results of this project will be of use to fisheries scientists, oceanographers, fisheries and coastal managers, water authorities, the EPA, aquaculture and the private sector (eg oil/gas companies) and will represent a significant advance in our understanding of the early life history of southern Australian fish and the dynamics of southern Australian fisheries resources.
This project derives its origin directly from high priority research needs identified under the SEF strategic plan, discussions with State fisheries institutions, recommended further research identified by several other FRDC projects and the development of the prerequisite skill and sample base over the last 10-15 years. Objectives: 1. To compile and analyse available information on the early life history (ELH) of southern Australian fish in order to provide supporting data for the regional management of fisheries resources, assessment of stock structure and assessment of environmental forcing of recruitment processes. 2. To examine the regional connectivity of fin fish resources via the dispersal of ELH stages 3. To produce an atlas of ELH data for southern Australian fin fish including information (by species) on larval distribution, water mass affinities, timing and location of spawning, larval age and growth, and larval dispersal patterns. Read moreRead less
Effects Of Trawling Subprogram: Risk Assessment And Mitigation For Sea Snakes Caught In The Northern Prawn Fishery
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$117,117.00
Summary
There is growing evidence that some sea snake species may be at risk from prawn trawling and thus meet the IUCN criteria for vulnerable or endangered status (Milton 2001). In that analysis, Milton (2001) undertook an assessment of the relative risk of trawling to sea snakes caught in the NPF. This proposal plans to extend this assessment, taking into account results from the recent TEDs and BRD research project in the NPF (FRDC project 2000/173). The The TED and BRD project found that the devi ....There is growing evidence that some sea snake species may be at risk from prawn trawling and thus meet the IUCN criteria for vulnerable or endangered status (Milton 2001). In that analysis, Milton (2001) undertook an assessment of the relative risk of trawling to sea snakes caught in the NPF. This proposal plans to extend this assessment, taking into account results from the recent TEDs and BRD research project in the NPF (FRDC project 2000/173). The The TED and BRD project found that the devices in use in 2003 (eg TEDs and Bigeye BRD) were not reducing sea snake catches or mortality. Thus, despite the introduction of BRDs to improve bycatch escapement, the majority of devices in use in 2003 had no measurable impact on sea snake catch rates. There is a need for all prawn trawl fisheries in northern Australia to further modify existing fishing practices to reduce bycatch, including sea snake catches in order to demonstrate that their impacts are sustainable. This proposal addresses the FRDC Strategic Challenge: Natural Resource Sustainability by assessing the sustainability of a key bycatch group, comparing alternate methods of increasing their survival and estimating the improvement in the effectiveness of Bycatch Reduction Devices required for sea snakes, should this be necessary.
The project will initially focus on the two species already identified by Milton (2001) to be potentially at risk. If any species proves to actually be at risk, the project will model alternative risk mitigation scenarios to identify the most feasible approach to reduce the level of risk of susceptible species to sustainable levels. This analysis will provide NORMAC with clear management choices about the most appropriate method to mitigate risks to sea snake species and demonstrate to DEH that the NPF have addressed the concerns expressed in the recent NPF strategic assessment.
Should current BRDs and fishing practices prove to be ineffective in reducing sea snake mortality and species are shown to be at risk, a second phase is planned that will target the major sources of mortailty most effectively. This mitigation work would only need to be undertaken if (1) the current BRDs are ineffective (2) recent reductions in trawl effort in the NPF have restricted trawling to areas of high abundance of the vulnerable species. These data will be collected during the work planned in this proposal and will identify the need and directions of future mitigation work.
Objectives: 1. Assess temporal and spatial trends in sea snake catch rates by collating and analysing historical data from a number of bycatch projects (extending back until the 1980s) 2. Develop semi-quantitative population models for sea snakes and quantify the risk to their populations of different fishing effort scenarios, focussing on Hydrophis pacificus and Disteira kingii. 3. Assess the performance of alternative management options and mitigation measures to reduce the risk for sea snake species identified as being at risk. Read moreRead less