Predicting And Assessing Recruitment Variation - A Critical Factor For The Management Of The Mother-of-pearl (Pinctada Maxima) Fishery In WA
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$346,257.50
Summary
Historically, total allowable catches (TAC) of respective zones in the pearl oyster fishery have been changed in response to significant fluctuations in the previous year’s catch rate (catch per unit effort). These changes, however, have been influenced by factors other than variations in stock abundance, e.g. as changes in available technology or variations in fishing efficiency due to weather conditions or water clarity.
In order to make more reliable projections on future catch and ....Historically, total allowable catches (TAC) of respective zones in the pearl oyster fishery have been changed in response to significant fluctuations in the previous year’s catch rate (catch per unit effort). These changes, however, have been influenced by factors other than variations in stock abundance, e.g. as changes in available technology or variations in fishing efficiency due to weather conditions or water clarity.
In order to make more reliable projections on future catch and effort there is a need to move away from reliance on retrospective catch data. In order to do this, information supplied to decision makers should include: 1) the size structure (length frequency) of past catches; 2) information on the abundance of pre-recruits (piggyback spat); 3) information on important environmental variables affecting stocks; and 4) other factors affecting catch rate such as water clarity and the use of new technology (e.g. GPS).
A recommendation from Project No. 95/41 states: "The relationship between "piggyback" spat settlement, environmental effects and recruitment to the fishery which can be used to forecast increases/decreases in abundance should be developed. This enables changes to quota to be forecast to allow forward planning in pearl seeding and farm operations."
A framework for the collection of this data is needed, as pearl oyster fisheries have large fluctuations in recruitment over time, and management needs to base quota decisions on the presence or absence of emerging year classes. Collection of this data will give a more stable signal on the "health" of the fishery and allow more confident predictive assessments to be made. Objectives: 1. To establish set protocols for piggyback spat sampling within the pearl oyster fishery and develop a database for the storage of data collected. 2. To establish set protocols for length frequency sampling within the pearl oyster fishery and develop a database for the storage of data collected. 3. To establish a database of factors affecting catch rate. 4. To examine links between spat sampling data set, environmental factors and the abundance estimates for the pearl oyster fishery. Read moreRead less
Developing Innovative And Cost-effective Tools For Monitoring Recreational Fishing In Commonwealth Fisheries
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$174,997.69
Summary
Population growth in coastal cities, increasing tourism-based fishing, increasing effectiveness of searching (GPS) and capture (tackle) technologies, and competition for more accessible inshore fish species have contributed to an increasing number of recreational fishers travelling further offshore to target Commonwealth-managed species such as billfishes, tunas and shelf species. Griffiths and Pepperell (2006) documented that recreational fishers in Australia interact with over 1164 taxa of fis ....Population growth in coastal cities, increasing tourism-based fishing, increasing effectiveness of searching (GPS) and capture (tackle) technologies, and competition for more accessible inshore fish species have contributed to an increasing number of recreational fishers travelling further offshore to target Commonwealth-managed species such as billfishes, tunas and shelf species. Griffiths and Pepperell (2006) documented that recreational fishers in Australia interact with over 1164 taxa of fish and may have a significant interaction with 20 Commonwealth fisheries. However, the current extent of recreational fishing impacts on these species are poorly known. Consequently, in 2006 ComFRAB identified this significant knowledge gap as a high research priority.
The long-term sustainability and equitable sharing (resource allocation) of Commonwealth-managed fish species is dependent upon good fisheries management. Management decisions are ultimately guided by accurate stock assessments that integrate all possible fishing mortality sources, which include commercial, recreational and indigenous fisheries. However, due to the low interaction between recreational fishers and Commonwealth-managed species in the past, the management of recreational fishing has largely been the responsibility of the states.
Numerous recreational fishing surveys have been undertaken in coastal, estuarine and freshwater systems by state fisheries agencies, focusing on local issues or a subset of species. However, the complexity and expense of collecting broad-based recreational catch and effort data for offshore species in Commonwealth waters has seen the problem addressed in very few instances, mainly by opportunistic surveys by state fisheries agencies at fishing tournaments. As a consequence, long-term information on recreational catches of Commonwealth-managed species is currently inadequate for inclusion in stock assessments. Therefore, a more concerted effort is required to monitor recreational fishing in Commonwealth fisheries. This will provide important information to guide management in order to ensure the sustainability and equitable allocation of fish resources shared by recreational and commercial sectors.
Objectives: 1. Undertake a comprehensive review of the global literature relating to the existing methods used to monitor recreational fishing, which may be transferable to Commonwealth fisheries 2. Develop innovative operational and statistical tools for collecting, integrating and analysing recreational fisheries data, for the purpose of integration into stock assessment and to support resource allocation in Commonwealth fisheries 3. Recommend a cost-effective and statistically robust long-term recreational fisheries monitoring program for Commonwealth fisheries Read moreRead less
A Practical Guide To ITQs For Fishery Managers And The Fishing Industry
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$125,877.00
Summary
Significant problems have emerged in the design and implementation of ITQ systems both in Australia and worldwide. For example, although ITQs were introduced more than five years ago in the South East Fishery (SEF) there is continuing dissatisfaction with the scheme. A recent review by the South East Fishery Adjustment Working Group (1996) pointed out that 'the implementation process from boat units to Individual Transferable Quotas (ITQs) was appallingly handled ...'; and that 'since 1992 there ....Significant problems have emerged in the design and implementation of ITQ systems both in Australia and worldwide. For example, although ITQs were introduced more than five years ago in the South East Fishery (SEF) there is continuing dissatisfaction with the scheme. A recent review by the South East Fishery Adjustment Working Group (1996) pointed out that 'the implementation process from boat units to Individual Transferable Quotas (ITQs) was appallingly handled ...'; and that 'since 1992 there have been at least eight internal or public reviews into various aspects of the SEF, as well as several litigation and AAT decisions'.
Similar difficulties with the implementation of ITQs have been experienced in state managed fisheries. A current example is the proposed introduction of ITQs in the Tasmanian crayfish fishery. This proposal has met with significant industry resistance which has resulted in the announcement of a review by the Tasmanian Legislative Council Select Committee. Overseas fisheries have suffered similar problems. For example, the ITQ system introduced into the Canadian halibut fishery has been sucessfully challenged in court with respect to the approach taken to allocation.
A number of the problems experienced to date, such as ineffective and costly monitoring, discarding and dissatisfaction with allocations can be related to the improper design and implementation of ITQ systems as opposed to difficulties intrinsic to ITQs.
Despite the above mentioned difficulties in implementing and operating ITQ systems, there is a strong and growing focus on the use of these management instruments. If implementation mistakes of the past are not to be repeated, a compilation of the practical experiences of ITQs and analysis of the operational difficulties experienced would be useful. What is needed is a non-theoretical, easily understood, operational guide to ITQs.
References
South East Fishery Adjustment Working Group (1996), 'Report to the Minister of Resources and Energy of the South East Fishery Adjustment Working Group', Canberra. Objectives: 1. Compilation of operational ITQ experiences in Australia and selected other countries 2. Analysis of the practical difficulties faced in the implementation and operation of ITQs 3. Develop guidelines to assist fishery managers and industry in the implementation of ITQ systems Read moreRead less
Predicting The Impact Of Hook Decrements On The Distribution Of Fishing Effort In The ETBF
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$130,865.00
Summary
AFMA recently announced the completion of amendments to the ETBF management plan, and the call for applications for statutory fishing rights. These fishing rights, and the effort allocation of effort that accompanying them, will be managed using Spatial Area Factors (SAFs). SAFs are multipliers that translate the actual amount of fishing effort expended, e.g. in thousands of hooks, into the amount of effort units that are taken off an SFR holders allocation. The intent of these SAFs is to all ....AFMA recently announced the completion of amendments to the ETBF management plan, and the call for applications for statutory fishing rights. These fishing rights, and the effort allocation of effort that accompanying them, will be managed using Spatial Area Factors (SAFs). SAFs are multipliers that translate the actual amount of fishing effort expended, e.g. in thousands of hooks, into the amount of effort units that are taken off an SFR holders allocation. The intent of these SAFs is to allow spatial management of the fishery, by providing incentives for fishing in areas with low SAFs and disincentives in areas with high SAFs. If used effectively, these SAFs may provide a mechanism for reducing many of the management conflicts in the fishery, such as catch of seabirds and turtles, local depletion of target stocks, and under-exploitation of high seas areas. However, in order to effectively apply the SAFs, AFMA will need to be able to determine the motivational effect of the SAF on fishermen's location choices. Moreover, the SAFs will affect the total allowable effort (TAE) that is actually realized in the fishery in a given year, so not only will they affect individual fishers, they will also affect the performance of the fishery as a whole. It will be critical to be able to make some predictions about how the realized TAE will change, based on the structure of the SAFs in order to weigh alterative management options prior to implementing them. Finally, a move from TAEs to TACs and ITQs will substantially affect the structure of the fishery. Although we will not directly address those changes in this proposal, the behavioral models developed in this project would be rapidly adaptable to a TAC/ITQ system, and could form a basis for informing management as to the potential effects. Objectives: 1. Develop a statistical (multivariate logit) model to predict the distribution of fishing effort in the ETBF 2. Develop a process (a state-dependent behavioral) model of effort allocation for an input managed fishery with individual effort allocations 3. Evaluate the impact of a series of SAF scenarios on the distribution of fishing effort in the ETBF using statistical and state-dependent behavioral models Read moreRead less
Industry Survey Of The 1996 Eastern Gemfish Season
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$211,271.00
Summary
Objectives: 1. The primary objective of this proposal is to carry out a trawl survey which will provide an index of abundance of spawning eastern gemfish. This index will be compared directly to earlier data allowing current assessments to be updated. This survey and the index it derives may form a central part in an ongoing gemfish monitoring programme. The survey should be practical, cost-effective, have wide industry acceptance, and be capable of implementation during the 1996 winter sp ....Objectives: 1. The primary objective of this proposal is to carry out a trawl survey which will provide an index of abundance of spawning eastern gemfish. This index will be compared directly to earlier data allowing current assessments to be updated. This survey and the index it derives may form a central part in an ongoing gemfish monitoring programme. The survey should be practical, cost-effective, have wide industry acceptance, and be capable of implementation during the 1996 winter spawning season. 2. A subsidiary and minor objective of this proposal is to collect calibrated digital acoustic data concurrently with the surveys. These acoustic data will be provided to Tony Koslow of CSIRO to assist in the design of a feasibility study of acoustic surveys of the gemfish run. If the research approach recommended by the workshop on gemfish research and stock assessment, held at AFMA during April 1996, is successful, these acoustic data may eventually be analysed to become the first in a new time series of acoustic indices of gemfish stock abundance. This second objective adds $26,694 to the cost of the project. It is not central to the proposal and funding bodies could choose to delete this segment of the proposal without threatening the integrity of the first objective. The aim of this second objective is to cost effectively support CSIRO in developing a proposal to investigate the feasibility of developing acoustic surveying techniques for gemfish. Read moreRead less
A Data Management And Reporting System And Temporal And Spatial Analysis Of Historical Catch Records In The SA Abalone Fishery
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$136,752.00
Summary
Objectives: 1. To develop a data managment and reporting system as detailed in B4 Objectives of the Project Application forming part of this Agreement 2. Produce a historical analysis of catch and effort data as detailed in B4 Objectives of the Project Application forming part of this Agreement
Resolution Of Taxonomic Problems And Preparation Of A User-friendly Identification Guide To Whole Fish And Fillets For South East Fishery "quota Species"
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$236,561.00
Summary
Objectives: 1. To determine the true species composition of SEF "quota species" based on AFMA's requirements and industry's requests for clarification as to which species constitute quota species 2. To prepare a definitive identification guide to the SEF quota species and their close relatives 3. To include within this guide a means of identifying fillets of these species based on their protien fingerprints
Use of Interval Arithmetic and GRID Computing in Computational Molecular Science: Bounding Errors and Locating Global Minima. Catastrophic failure of the Ariane 5 rocket in 1996 and the inability of Patriot missile systems to reach their targets during the 1991 Gulf war were both attributed to numerical computing errors. Less dramatic, but in a similar vein, this project aims to study the numerical stability of contemporary computational molecular science applications. The focus will be on linea ....Use of Interval Arithmetic and GRID Computing in Computational Molecular Science: Bounding Errors and Locating Global Minima. Catastrophic failure of the Ariane 5 rocket in 1996 and the inability of Patriot missile systems to reach their targets during the 1991 Gulf war were both attributed to numerical computing errors. Less dramatic, but in a similar vein, this project aims to study the numerical stability of contemporary computational molecular science applications. The focus will be on linear scaling electronic structure codes, methods that are critical to the study of nano- and bio-materials, and are therefore of great importance to our economic future and medical well being. The project will build expertise within Australia in the area of interval arithmetic, an area that is currently poorly represented.Read moreRead less