Objectives: 1. To extend an ongoing study to make the work relevant to the general coastline of eastern Australia 2. To identify key degraded wetlands on the NSW coast that have the potential to be rehabilitated
FRDC Sponsorships For 24th International Seaweed Symposium 19-24 Feb 2023, Hobart
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$31,182.72
Summary
The ISS requires $150 K in sponsorship in addition to the $50 K seeding funding provided by Business Events Tasmania. To date we have a number of smaller sponsors and local aquaculture businesses supporting us through exhibitor stands.
As a Silver Sponsor, the FRDC will receive three complementary full registrations, plus conference dinner tickets, and a range of promotional materials including mention at the opening and closing ceremonies, and online visibility. Please see the attach ....The ISS requires $150 K in sponsorship in addition to the $50 K seeding funding provided by Business Events Tasmania. To date we have a number of smaller sponsors and local aquaculture businesses supporting us through exhibitor stands.
As a Silver Sponsor, the FRDC will receive three complementary full registrations, plus conference dinner tickets, and a range of promotional materials including mention at the opening and closing ceremonies, and online visibility. Please see the attached document for a full list of entitlements that the FRDC will receive.
The 5 x industry bursaries will support key people, that have been identified by the International Seaweed Symposium organizing committee, to share their knowledge and experience with Australian seaweed industry representatives. The ISS committee and the conference organizers (Conference Design) will oversee the implementation of the bursaries. Names of people identified as prospective FRDC bursary recipients are listed in the attached document.
Output & Outcomes Outputs may be knowledge, skills, process, practices, items/artefacts, publications, workshops, models, or technology that when adopted, will contribute to planned outcomes
The expected outcomes of sponsorship for the ISS are new national and international collaborations, new alliances, new ideas on how to progress the seaweed industry in Australia, identify new markets, increase investment into the Australian seaweed sector, and launch the emerging Australian seaweed industry into the global arena.
The major output from the conference is the Proceedings of the 24th International Seaweed Symposium, which is a substantial volume that contains peer-reviewed publications arising from conference presentations.
Extension
The legacy of the ISS in Tasmania, Australia, will be global recognition of seaweed research and development in this region, and the unique systems and seaweed flora that Australia has to offer. When held in regions where a seaweed industry is at an early stage (e.g. Chile 1995), the ISS has been pivotal in helping realize the full potential of the industry. Extension will, therefore, be through the transfer of new knowledge and skills that are gained at the ISS to Australian businesses and communities and raise awareness of the seaweed industry through media outlets and engagement with end-users.
This subject was suggested as an education and training priority at the Oyster Consortium meeting in Sydney March’07, was reaffirmed at the Oyster Consortium planning meeting in Hobart in September 07, and was broached again at the Shellfish Futures Conference in Hobart, Nov 07. Whilst Roy Palmer was in Rhode Island (on other business) he had a meeting with the Chair of WERA and obtained information which he put into a report that was circulated to the Oyster Consortium. WERA objectives ar ....This subject was suggested as an education and training priority at the Oyster Consortium meeting in Sydney March’07, was reaffirmed at the Oyster Consortium planning meeting in Hobart in September 07, and was broached again at the Shellfish Futures Conference in Hobart, Nov 07. Whilst Roy Palmer was in Rhode Island (on other business) he had a meeting with the Chair of WERA and obtained information which he put into a report that was circulated to the Oyster Consortium. WERA objectives are 1. Provide a forum for geneticists, physiologists, nutritionists, biotechnologists and others interested in the aquaculture of molluscan shellfish to exchange ideas and information on molluscan genetics, reproduction, pathology, brood-stock management, breeding programs, hatcheries, husbandry techniques, and restoration strategies. 2. Develop protocols for the preservation of valuable genetic material for future use by researchers. 3. Maximise and co-ordinate research efforts among scientists on the Pacific, Atlantic and Gulf coasts, USA, as well as international researchers. 4. Identify research needs for enhancement of commercial molluscan production through genetic improvement while maintaining environmental quality. 5. Evaluate different approaches for restoration of depleted stocks of native oysters. 6. Provide industry members with up-to-date research information that will lead to optimal brood-stock management and breeding programs to enhance commercial production. 7. Publish committee reports and documents.Read moreRead less
Monitoring Abalone Juvenile Abundance Following Removal Of Centrostephanus And Translocation
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$67,916.04
Summary
Blacklip abalone remain cryptic for the first 5 to 7 years of life. This life history characteristic of abalone precludes accurate monitoring of the abundance cryptic size classes (juveniles and sub-adults), creating a significant gap in our understanding of abalone population health. This also creates challenges for determining effects on recruitment related to fishing pressure, environmental change, or catastrophic events such as storms, heat waves, or disease. It also creates a significant de ....Blacklip abalone remain cryptic for the first 5 to 7 years of life. This life history characteristic of abalone precludes accurate monitoring of the abundance cryptic size classes (juveniles and sub-adults), creating a significant gap in our understanding of abalone population health. This also creates challenges for determining effects on recruitment related to fishing pressure, environmental change, or catastrophic events such as storms, heat waves, or disease. It also creates a significant delay in documenting the effects of remedial actions such as TACC reductions, reseeding, or translocation. Currently determining the effect of a particular management outcome can only be determined 5 to 7 years after an event or management action, at which point attribution of the patterns observed to the event of interest can be difficult if other events have had an effect in that period.
Developing and implementing a repeatable method of determining the abundance of cryptic abalone year classes (2+ to 4+) to enable more timely determination of management actions or acute/chronic external events is a high priority for all Australian abalone fisheries. For the Victorian Eastern Zone Abalone Fishery, there is an urgent need to assess the efficacy of the translocation activities conducted as part of FRDC project 2014-224. Objectives: 1. Test Tasmanian designed juvenile abalone collectors on Victorian Eastern Zone reef systems 2. Use juvenile collector methods to assess effect of translocation on population recovery 3. Consider broader application of juvenile collectors as a recruitment monitoring tool Read moreRead less
Empowering Recreational Fishers As Champions Of Healthy Fish Habitat
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$346,000.00
Summary
Recreational fishers are natural champions for Australian fish habitat. Taking leadership in this role is critical in the rehabilitation of the Australian recreational fishery. Fish habitat throughout Australia is in trouble. Progressive degradation of fish habitat has occurred since European settlement and continues today. Recreational fishers stand to lose significantly through diminished fisheries productivity and access if this degradation continues. The degradation of the recreational ....Recreational fishers are natural champions for Australian fish habitat. Taking leadership in this role is critical in the rehabilitation of the Australian recreational fishery. Fish habitat throughout Australia is in trouble. Progressive degradation of fish habitat has occurred since European settlement and continues today. Recreational fishers stand to lose significantly through diminished fisheries productivity and access if this degradation continues. The degradation of the recreational fishery has significant implications socially and economically. Degradation of fish habitat needs to be slowed and the big challenge is to rehabilitate what has been lost and this will bring benefits not only to recreational fishing but also to local environments and the broader community. However, these changes are not happening to the degree needed, nor will they happen, without the active support of the recreational fishing community. This was recognised by Australia's recreational fishing community who called for the development of a national fish habitat rehabilitation plan as a priority output of the 2012 National Recreational Fishing Conference and in the Keep Australia Fishing Report (Salter, 2011). In order for progress to be made, the current skills, knowledge, capability and collaboration among Australia's recreational fishing community regarding fish habitat and habitat rehabilitation must be escalated. That is the primary objective of this project which meets the Investment Priorities as identified in priority 2 for People Development – “Building Capacity within the recreational fishing community to improve fisheries productivity via delivery of fish habitat enhancement initiatives and associated R&D”. The approach to this work needs to reflect the differences in where various recreational fishing communities are in terms of their knowledge and skills, and the different ways in which fishers get information and whose information they trust. This project takes an approach that is evidence-based and specific to the recreational fishing community in Australia. Objectives: 1. Deliver activities that increase the capability of recreational fishers to define, participate, and lead activities that improve fish habitat outcomes. 2. Enhance awareness and understanding within the recreational fishing community of the primary role habitat plays in sustaining and improving fisheries 3. Prepare the recreational fishing sector’s framework and contribution to a National Fish Habitat Strategy and Action Plan Read moreRead less
Tactical Research Fund: Adapting To Change - Minimising Uncertainty About The Effects Of Rapidly-changing Environmental Conditions On The Queensland Coral Reef Fin Fish Fishery
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$74,927.00
Summary
TC Hamish (Category 5) traversed the southern Great Barrier Reef (GBR) in early March 2009, surpassing all previous storms in intensity, duration and maximum track length over reef structure. Hamish neatly bisected the major line fishing grounds of the Coral Reef Fin Fish Fishery (CRFFF), crossing the GBR east of Bowen then drifting southeast through the GBR southern section. The section of the GBR affected historically produces 70% of the annual landings taken by the commercial fleet as well as ....TC Hamish (Category 5) traversed the southern Great Barrier Reef (GBR) in early March 2009, surpassing all previous storms in intensity, duration and maximum track length over reef structure. Hamish neatly bisected the major line fishing grounds of the Coral Reef Fin Fish Fishery (CRFFF), crossing the GBR east of Bowen then drifting southeast through the GBR southern section. The section of the GBR affected historically produces 70% of the annual landings taken by the commercial fleet as well as supports significant charter businesses and recreational fishing opportunities.
Commercial fishers were first to witness structural damage caused by TC Hamish with many reefs reported as receiving extreme damage (loss of live coral). Swift response by AIMS long term monitoring confirmed these reports showing some Mackay reefs suffering reductions from >75% to <10% live coral cover.
TC Hamish may have also caused marked decreases in Sea Surface Temperature (SST) similar to TC Justin (March 1997). TC Justin was a long-lived (24 days) system with an unusually large cloud mass, which cooled SST by 40C. Anecdotally, the unseasonal water cooling depressed CPUE of coral trout, and was responsible for an anomalous northward shift in the distribution of red throat emperor.
Within two weeks of Cyclone Hamish, the commercial CRFFF fleet began adapting to the poor fishing and low CPUE in southern GBR waters, with some vessels relocating to northern unaffected fishing grounds (thereby causing potential indirect consequences for northern fishers) and others choosing to remain “tied-up” to the wharf.
A significant threat of global climate change is that the frequency of intense storms may increase. Investigating the effects of extreme weather events on fishing and associated industries is a high priority. The need also extends to exploring the adaptive ability of all stakeholder groups in circumventing the negative impacts of such events.
Objectives: 1. Use fishery independent UVC methods to estimate reef structural damage and fish abundance on the frequently sampled Effects of Line Fishing reefs. 2. Determine the real time effects of Tropical Cyclone Hamish on the catch composition and catch rates of each fishing sector within the CRFFF. 3. Investigate correlations of variant catch composition and CPUE with archived abiotic data and AIMS LTMP structural damage surveys. 4. Determine the socio-economic effects of TC Hamish on the commercial and charter CRFFF, including exploring adaptability of the fleet, vulnerability to future environmental events, and steps for reducing or mitigating this vulnerability. 5. Describe retrospectively the changes in the CRFFF catch composition and CPUE resulting from an unusually long duration storm event (Tropical Cyclone Justin, March 1997) compared with a short duration but high severity storm event (Tropical Cyclone Larry, March 2006). Read moreRead less
Utilisation Of Restored Wetlands By Fish And Invertebrates
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$148,336.12
Summary
Objectives: 1. To demonstrate whether fish and invertebrates use 'restored' wetlands. 2. To determine if the changed habitat within the wetlands sustains fish and invertebrate communities similar to other sites within the Macleay and Hunter estuaries and at sites within comparable reference estuaries. 3. To determine appropriate mechanisms for minimising the impacts of releasing low dissolved oxygen and low pH water to the estuary when the levees and floodgates are initially brea ....Objectives: 1. To demonstrate whether fish and invertebrates use 'restored' wetlands. 2. To determine if the changed habitat within the wetlands sustains fish and invertebrate communities similar to other sites within the Macleay and Hunter estuaries and at sites within comparable reference estuaries. 3. To determine appropriate mechanisms for minimising the impacts of releasing low dissolved oxygen and low pH water to the estuary when the levees and floodgates are initially breached. 4. To identify the initial rate of recovery following opening / removal of the flood mitigation works and to determine whether additional intervention is required to assist the regeneration of fish habitat. Read moreRead less
People Development Program: Visiting Expert – Paul Lumley
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$10,000.00
Summary
The ASFB, through our annual conference and network of members has a forum for exchange of information. For our 2015 conference we are proposing to support the attendance of Paul Lumley the Executive Director of the Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission (CRITFC) as a keynote speaker and organise some targeted workshops prior to the conference in Darwin (lead by NT Fisheries, Bo Carne and Charles Darwin University, Alison King) and Mildura (lead by Murray-Darling Freshwater Research Centre, ....The ASFB, through our annual conference and network of members has a forum for exchange of information. For our 2015 conference we are proposing to support the attendance of Paul Lumley the Executive Director of the Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission (CRITFC) as a keynote speaker and organise some targeted workshops prior to the conference in Darwin (lead by NT Fisheries, Bo Carne and Charles Darwin University, Alison King) and Mildura (lead by Murray-Darling Freshwater Research Centre, Lee Baumgartner & Deb Bogenhuber).
Mr Lumley has been selected as our preferred keynote based on his extensive history working with Northwest US tribes on salmon issues, particularly in the Columbia River Basin. He previously spent 17 years with CRITFC working on biological issues associated with power stations, and has also assisted in fund raising and establishing a grant program for the four Columbia River treaty tribes. Mr Lumley has indicated availability and a preliminary commitment to attend and undertake proposed workshops and present Keynote.
ASFB has a commitment to increase engagement between ASFB members and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, within the scope of the society. We recognise that to support this involves improving opportunities for Indigenous people to engage in research, fisheries management and compliance and other commercial activities. There is a great deal of interest in the ability to develop and start new commercial initiatives that maintain ongoing Indigenous interests and concerns in the fisheries management and industry and environmental rehabilitation. Australian Indigenous experience in commercial fisheries has gained momentum, and many of our members have expressed an interest in learning from International First Nations and Indigenous peoples experience.
We have in principal support for this activity through Indigenous agencies and advisory groups, including the Fisheries Research and Development Corporations Indigenous Reference Group, Northern Territory Department of Primary Industry and Fisheries, the New South Wales Aboriginal Land Council, the Murray Lower Darling Indigenous Nations. Objectives: 1. Support shared exchange of knowledge between the experiences of the Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission (CRITFC) in First Nations people involvement in Stock Enhancement and Species Restoration and Australian Indigenous communities through two targeted workshops in Darwin and Mildura. 2. Support further communication of CRITFC experiences in First Nation Peoples involvement through keynote presentation at the 2015 Australian Society for Fish Biology Conference is being held at UTS in Sydney on 11-14 October. This year it is being held in conjunction with the 5th International Symposium on Stock Enhancement and Sea Ranching. Topic 'Using indigenous fishing rights to stimulate restoration of fish populations: A case study of salmon populations in the Columbia River Basin' Read moreRead less
Seafood CRC: Factors Limiting Resilience And Recovery Of Fished Abalone Populations
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$629,083.00
Summary
Area closure is the only management action yet to be attempted to reverse the declining performance of the eastern zone abalone fishery (see Section B2). However, the socio-economic cost of closures in large areas of the fishery would be significant, and would create considerable tension among researchers and stakeholders. Importantly, area closures have not been successful as a management action to rebuild the Californian and British Columbian abalone fisheries. Therefore there is a need to ide ....Area closure is the only management action yet to be attempted to reverse the declining performance of the eastern zone abalone fishery (see Section B2). However, the socio-economic cost of closures in large areas of the fishery would be significant, and would create considerable tension among researchers and stakeholders. Importantly, area closures have not been successful as a management action to rebuild the Californian and British Columbian abalone fisheries. Therefore there is a need to identify tools to promote rapid and long term recovery, and better alternatives to full closure.
It is likely that the key factors responsible for ensuring population recovery will be the same factors that ensure populations maintain resilience. This proposal thus also meets the need to determine the most effective and efficient means of preventing future stock depletions.
Stock enhancement has been the subject of a North American symposium on rebuilding abalone stocks, and the focus of two major FRDC funded research programs (1994/005; 2001/033). Restocking of populations by releasing larvae and/or abalone seed (juveniles) was ineffective in Australia, Japan and North America, and is also prohibitively expensive. On the other hand, translocation of mature individuals may provide substantial benefits over the release of larvae and juveniles, and if successful, would be considerably more cost-effective (Tegner 2000; Campbell et al 2000). Translocation of mature abalone into depleted populations would also allow us to fast-track the recovery process.
In addition to testing translocation of mature abalone as a tool for rebuilding depleted abalone populations, there is a clear need to understand the scale of influence of a translocation exercise. For example, if we were looking to facilitate recovery along a 50km length of coastline, would translocation of animals to one location in the middle serve to seed the entire area, or would we have to translocate animals to five locations spaced 10km apart, or 50 locations at 1km apart? The scale of influence of a translocation event would therefore be a crucial component of assessing translocation as a management tool.
Understanding the key ecological processes limiting stock recovery will enable management strategies to be implemented that either remove impediments to recovery, or trigger stock recovery. The improved governance of wild fisheries addresses FRDC CHALLENGE 1: Improve the sustainability of natural resources supporting wild-catch and aquaculture.
Knowledge of recovery processes is required if the abalone fishery is to be managed sustainably, and is to continue to provide an important economic resource to Australia’s rural coastal populations. Knowledge of ecological processes such as those underpinning stock recovery are clearly identified in the Australian National Research Priorities - An Environmentally Sustainable Australia - Sustainable use of Australia’s biodiversity.
By understanding the key processes of reproductive success, recruitment and early survival, the proposed research addresses the Australian Marine Science and Technology Plan Program 1 – Understanding the Marine Ecosystem, by contributing to Objective 6 - Understand the biological processes in Australia’s oceans and Objective 7 - To understand the dynamics of Australia’s marine habitats and ecosystems. This research also addresses Program 6 – Using and caring for the Marine Environment, specifically Objective 6 - To improve the productivity and sustainability of the wild harvest fisheries, and to improve understanding of the relationships between fished stocks and the ecosystems that support them.
This project covers three of the high priority tasks in the current Tasmanian Abalone Strategic Research Plan (2005-2009): Recruitment, Stock Recovery and Stock Enhancement. The dynamics of stock recovery was identified as the highest priority research issue in 2004 by the Abalone Research Advisory Group.
References cited: Campbell A (2000) Review of northern abalone, Haliotis kamtschatkana, stock status in British Columbia. In: Campbell A (ed) Workshop on rebuilding abalone stocks in British Columbia. NRC Canada, Nanaimo, BC, pp 41-50.
Campbell A, Lucas BG, Parker G (2000) Discussion on an Experimental Approach for Northern Abalone Stock Rebuilding in British Columbia. Fisheries and Oceans Canada.
Tegner M (2000) Abalone (Haliotis spp) enhancement in California: what we’ve learned and where to from here. In: Campbell A (ed) Workshop on rebuilding abalone stocks in British Columbia. NRC Canada, Nanaimo, BC, pp 61-71. Objectives: 1. To determine the efficacy of translocation of mature abalone for stock rebuilding 2. To identify key ecological processes that limit stock recovery. 3. To quantify the scale of spillover from translocated populations. 4. Cost-benefit analysis of rehabilitated habitat Read moreRead less
Development And Evaluation Of Community Based Monitoring Programs For Coastal Ecosystems And Fisheries Habitats
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$261,442.00
Summary
Nationally the general public is developing a greater awareness about matters that relate to natural resource management and particularly the accelerating rate of degradation of coastal marine environments. However, concomitant knowledge and information that would enable the community to take a more overt role in supporting the management of these resources does not match this awareness.
There is therefore, a growing need to equip the community with relevant skills and knowledge about c ....Nationally the general public is developing a greater awareness about matters that relate to natural resource management and particularly the accelerating rate of degradation of coastal marine environments. However, concomitant knowledge and information that would enable the community to take a more overt role in supporting the management of these resources does not match this awareness.
There is therefore, a growing need to equip the community with relevant skills and knowledge about coastal ecosystems. The development of these skills will empower local communities and enable them to take an active role both in community based monitoring and advocacy leading in turn to improved management outcomes at local, state and national levels.
Coastal reefs provide an ideal vehicle for the development of such community based programs. These reefs are important in the provision of both food and habitat for many fisheries species and are also sites that receive high visitation rates for recreational fishing, diving and related activities. Importantly, reef systems close to metropolitan areas around Australia (and particularly the metropolitan coast of Adelaide) are degraded due to a combination of factors including waste water disposal, storm water runoff, over-fishing, invasive species and increased sediment mobility (particularly due to associated seagrass losses).
Effective mitigation and rehabilitation strategies can only be developed if managers are informed about the causal linkages between putative impacts and habitat degradation. By developing community-based programs to monitor and evaluate the status of reefs, we can make substantial progress in addressing this need .
Whereas monitoring activities need to be ongoing to provide the best opportunity for early problem detection, marine research is profoundly expensive. The use of well-trained community volunteers will provide an effective way to augment the efforts of other agencies and thus increase overall coverage of coastal ecosystems. Objectives: 1. To develop a better knowledge and understanding of coastal reef ecosystems through:* Identification of appropriate indices for assessment and development of survey methodologies* Application of these methodologies to obtain baseline and time scale data for coastal reef ecosystems which is relevant to the needs of key management agencies including SA Water, EPA, and DEH. 2. To foster community ownership and participation in monitoring and assessment:* Through the development of training and education packages* By encouraging and mobilising community participation 3. To develop a credible assessment program:* Through the process of training, testing and accreditation of all participants* By undertaking scientifically rigorous evaluation of the community monitoring program. Read moreRead less