Examining The Relationship Between Fishery Recruitment, Essential Benthic Habitats And Environmental Drivers In Exmouth Gulf
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$514,056.00
Summary
Stock status in the EGPMF is assessed by monitoring fishery-independent and fishery-dependent catch rates (used as indices of recruitment and spawning stock levels) relative to specified reference points. However, in recent years factors other than the spawning stock index appear to be responsible for low levels of prawn recruitment. Given recent indications that the distribution and abundance of seagrass habitats may influence prawn recruitment there is a need to better understand the rela .... Stock status in the EGPMF is assessed by monitoring fishery-independent and fishery-dependent catch rates (used as indices of recruitment and spawning stock levels) relative to specified reference points. However, in recent years factors other than the spawning stock index appear to be responsible for low levels of prawn recruitment. Given recent indications that the distribution and abundance of seagrass habitats may influence prawn recruitment there is a need to better understand the relationship between prawn recruitment, environmental conditions and habitats. Understanding these relationships is required to clarify the uncertainty around stock fluctuations and improve stock assessments. The information is also required so that management can be more cognisant of the impacts of environmental conditions on annual recruitment variability and implement adaptive management strategies, such as altering seasonal arrangements, to prevent overfishing.
Similarly, the recent MSC assessment of the EGPMF fishery has highlighted the need to clarify the uncertainty in fishery independent surveys and stock assessments including the influence of environmental factors on indices, and collect environmental and habitat data to detect changes in risk to habitat due to fishing including ongoing monitoring of critical habitat types.
Therefore, the development of broad scale fishery specific, cost effective monitoring techniques is essential to assess and monitor the association between critical fish habitats, environmental drivers and prawn recruitment. These techniques need to be developed at appropriate temporal and spatial scales to allow for early intervention of appropriate management measures, such as adjusting spatial and temporal closures, to ensure the long term sustainability of stocks and maintain MSC certification. Given that recruitment in a number of the State’s other invertebrate fisheries appears to be influenced by environmental drivers developing techniques to understand these relationships is a critical component of ensuring the management of WA’s fisheries resources is based on robust science.
Objectives: 1. Collate and review historical, satellite, habitat and environmental data for the Exmouth Gulf and Shark Bay ecosystems to identify factors that may influence recruitment. 2. Assess the ability of different techniques, at various spatial and temporal scales, to identify, assess and monitor critical fish habitat and environmental conditions which may affect recruitment patterns of prawns into the Exmouth Gulf Prawn Managed Fishery 3. Collect local environmental and productivity data to assess the feasibility of collecting broad scale data remotely. 4. Develop a cost effective monitoring program for critical fish habitat and environmental drivers which allows the development of mitigation measures to assist in alleviating poor recruitment events. Read moreRead less
Developing A Positive Cultural Attitude Towards The Capture And Release Of Sharks And Rays
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$358,968.00
Summary
Recently, PIRSA Fisheries and Aquaculture (PIRSA F and A) identified the need to develop a recreational fishery- and research-supported program that combines new communication strategies and evidence-based CoP development to disseminate information relevant to supporting the management of recreational fisheries for sharks and rays. The priority identified was to improve education and awareness among the recreational fishers in relation to ethical capture, handling and release practices for shark ....Recently, PIRSA Fisheries and Aquaculture (PIRSA F and A) identified the need to develop a recreational fishery- and research-supported program that combines new communication strategies and evidence-based CoP development to disseminate information relevant to supporting the management of recreational fisheries for sharks and rays. The priority identified was to improve education and awareness among the recreational fishers in relation to ethical capture, handling and release practices for sharks and rays. Examples of this approach were undertaken in the United States (NOAA), Australia (TAFI and SARDI) and Hawaii (NOAA), where recreational groups have contributed to research activities to assess PRS and use the information to educate other fishers about specific issues related to fisheries for shark species. This proactive approach could be applied to shark and ray species that are priorities for management and taken as bycatch, or targeted by recreational and gamefishing anglers across southern Australia. Correspondence with research colleagues in Victoria and NSW, and fishery stakeholders, identified a need to review, improve and rationalise guidelines for capture, handling and release of sharks and rays, and highlighted data gaps for key species. A field-based quantitative study of the PRS of selected target priority species will be designed during a workshop in 2019, led by SARDI and CSIRO, with support of a linked FRDC-funded project (2018-042) in Victoria (Monash University). The overarching aim is to inform the development of capture, handling and release guidelines and CoPs for sharks and rays that apply to the range of fishing situations across southern Australia. The SARDI and Monash-based projects address region-specific needs and will co-manage the workshop (See suppl. letter). This will include engagement between government agencies, NGOs, and fishers to understand the relative susceptibilities of target species to handling, and expected impacts of gear configuration on PRS. Research outcomes of the broader project will be coupled with public and fishery feed-back strategies (e.g. expansion of a tagging program) to address the management and perception issues.
Objectives: 1. Facilitate a national workshop to identify priority species and operational factors to investigate during studies aimed at informing sustainable recreational fisher practices for sharks and rays. 2. Use web-supported telemetry technology, and direct engagement of recreational fishers to collect post-release survival data on the priority species within a structured case-study framework. 3. To support positive and sustainable cultural attitudes towards sharks and rays through the production of evidence-based educational material to inform sustainable recreational fisher practices. Read moreRead less
Best Practice And Policy In Abalone Stock Enhancement, Restocking And Translocation
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$41,802.00
Summary
Stock enhancement and restocking of marine species is an ever-evolving field given the development of new technology and pressures put on species by factors such as fishing, environment and disease. In Australia there have been several large-scale experimental abalone projects conducted, primarily in NSW and WA, with promising results and conclusions. However, these research projects have cost just over $1.7 million and none of the outcomes have translated into commercial-scale abalone stock enh ....Stock enhancement and restocking of marine species is an ever-evolving field given the development of new technology and pressures put on species by factors such as fishing, environment and disease. In Australia there have been several large-scale experimental abalone projects conducted, primarily in NSW and WA, with promising results and conclusions. However, these research projects have cost just over $1.7 million and none of the outcomes have translated into commercial-scale abalone stock enhancement, restocking or translocation. Even so, there is still considerable and continuing interest in stocking where stocks are so depleted as to render recovery without intervention impossible. The question is therefore, why do very few ideas/proposals progress to R&D projects and none have progressed to commercialisation?
This project will review abalone stocking in Australia and jurisdictions current strategic direction and management policies. Through this, potential roadblocks to the commercialisation of abalone stocking in Australia, such as government policy, scientific research, aquaculture practices, genetics and biosecurity/disease will be investigated. At present there is no formal abalone stocking programmes being conducted in Australia, even with the stock declines present in numerous fisheries. However, several major projects have been proposed and the interest in stocking as a fisheries management tool has remained high with substantial investments made. A national approach to abalone stocking will allow regulatory bodies to decide on appropriate stocking programmes and for industry to have confidence in the benefits for the fishery. Objectives: 1. Detailed review of abalone stocking in Australia and current jurisdictional policies. 3. Develop a national approach to abalone stock enhancement, restocking and translocation. Read moreRead less
Best Practice And Policy In Abalone Stock Enhancement, Restocking And Translocation
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$41,802.00
Summary
Stock enhancement and restocking of marine species is an ever-evolving field given the development of new technology and pressures put on species by factors such as fishing, environment and disease. In Australia there have been several large-scale experimental abalone projects conducted, primarily in NSW and WA, with promising results and conclusions. However, these research projects have cost just over $1.7 million and none of the outcomes have translated into commercial-scale abalone stock enh ....Stock enhancement and restocking of marine species is an ever-evolving field given the development of new technology and pressures put on species by factors such as fishing, environment and disease. In Australia there have been several large-scale experimental abalone projects conducted, primarily in NSW and WA, with promising results and conclusions. However, these research projects have cost just over $1.7 million and none of the outcomes have translated into commercial-scale abalone stock enhancement, restocking or translocation. Even so, there is still considerable and continuing interest in stocking where stocks are so depleted as to render recovery without intervention impossible. The question is therefore, why do very few ideas/proposals progress to R&D projects and none have progressed to commercialisation?
This project will review abalone stocking in Australia and jurisdictions current strategic direction and management policies. Through this, potential roadblocks to the commercialisation of abalone stocking in Australia, such as government policy, scientific research, aquaculture practices, genetics and biosecurity/disease will be investigated. At present there is no formal abalone stocking programmes being conducted in Australia, even with the stock declines present in numerous fisheries. However, several major projects have been proposed and the interest in stocking as a fisheries management tool has remained high with substantial investments made. A national approach to abalone stocking will allow regulatory bodies to decide on appropriate stocking programmes and for industry to have confidence in the benefits for the fishery. Objectives: 1. Detailed review of abalone stocking in Australia and current jurisdictional policies. 3. Develop a national approach to abalone stock enhancement, restocking and translocation. Read moreRead less
A South Australian Gulfs And Coastal Ecosystem Model To Optimise Multi-species Fisheries Management In A Changing Environment
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$218,932.00
Summary
The SA State Government has made a commitment to reform the Marine Scalefish Fishery (MSF) that aims to provide long-term sustainability of key stocks for both recreational and commercial fisheries, and unlock the industries economic potential. The key reforms include a voluntary buy-back scheme targeting the removal of at least 30% of commercial licences and the introduction of new zoning and quota management regulations. The timeframe for the reforms will be determined in consultation with the ....The SA State Government has made a commitment to reform the Marine Scalefish Fishery (MSF) that aims to provide long-term sustainability of key stocks for both recreational and commercial fisheries, and unlock the industries economic potential. The key reforms include a voluntary buy-back scheme targeting the removal of at least 30% of commercial licences and the introduction of new zoning and quota management regulations. The timeframe for the reforms will be determined in consultation with the industry. Details on the implementation strategy have yet to be developed, but will need to be underpinned by extensive stakeholder consultation and backed by research that provides confidence that among the approaches considered, those chosen will best deliver the intent of the reforms.
This project aims to develop an SA Gulfs and Coastal ecosystem model to provide a Management Strategy Evaluation (MSE) tool to assess and optimise a range of reform scenarios. The project will link in closely with FRDC 2017/014 (Informing structural reform in the MSF), utilising many of its key outputs, including time series of spatial distribution of catch and effort, social-economic performance, and reform implementation scenarios. This project also will extend the investigation by integrating environmental time-series data to evaluate changes in productivity over time, identified as a potential factor in declining fisheries catches in the GSV ecosystem (FRDC 2013/031). Identifying the causes of productivity loss and its impact on fish production are important to resolve, especially in the context of the MSF reforms. Ultimately, the project aims to provide decision support tools to assess and evaluate the performance of diverse fisheries management strategies, and how these may perform under varying production regimes. Such an approach will provide a platform to evaluate and optimise the effectiveness of management strategies, and help ensure the fishery reforms achieve their key objectives.
Objectives: 1. Develop an SA Gulfs and Coastal Ecosystem model to provide a MSE tool to inform and optimise multi-regional management, quotas for multi-species fisheries and multi-sector harvest strategies 2. Use the model to run scenarios to assess, evaluate and optimise Marine Scalefish Fishery reform options 3. Assess potential production loss issues, and evaluate how different MSF reform options may perform under different future production scenarios Read moreRead less
Integrating Recreational Fishing Information Into Harvest Strategies For Multi-sector Fisheries
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$444,676.00
Summary
Integration of recreational fishing (RF) into harvest strategies (HS) is necessary for many fisheries in Australia, to account for catches that can equal or exceed commercial catch for some key species and to address biological and experiential objectives of the RF sector. Both the Productivity Commission’s report Marine Fisheries and Aquaculture (2016) and the ICES Report from the Working Group Recreational Fishing Surveys (2018) recommend formal integration of RF into stock assessments and har ....Integration of recreational fishing (RF) into harvest strategies (HS) is necessary for many fisheries in Australia, to account for catches that can equal or exceed commercial catch for some key species and to address biological and experiential objectives of the RF sector. Both the Productivity Commission’s report Marine Fisheries and Aquaculture (2016) and the ICES Report from the Working Group Recreational Fishing Surveys (2018) recommend formal integration of RF into stock assessments and harvest strategies. Failure to do so puts sustainable management goals and legislated state and Commonwealth fisheries requirements at risk.
Equitable and quantitative inclusion of RF in harvest strategies is rare. This stems from a traditional focus on the commercial sector and budgetary challenges involved with representatively sampling RF. It is therefore unclear: 1) what types of RF data and monitoring best service stock assessments, (2) which data also track indicators of recreational objectives (often related to the fishing experience), and (3) how to integrate harvest strategy components for multiple sectors. The need to address these knowledge gaps was highlighted by the FRDC priority research call in 2018 - “Integrating recreational fishery data into harvest strategies for multi-sector fisheries in New South Wales”. NSW provides an important test case for addressing issues around RF integration that are faced by most jurisdictions.
Harvest strategy development for multi-sector fisheries requires a transparent and defensible process due to complexities in addressing diverse objectives and apprehension among stakeholder groups. Structured workshops that use easily-understandable, interactive decision support tools and involve independent experts and stakeholder representatives are likely to provide best outcomes. ‘FishPath’ is a leading harvest strategy decision support tool and “bottom up” engagement philosophy that allows experts and stakeholders to interactively contribute to harvest strategy development in a transparent workshop setting. However, it requires additional development in recreational and multi-sector contexts.
Objectives: 1. Obtain information on recreational fishing objectives and facilitate improved understanding among recreational fishers of the role of harvest strategies. 2. Identify types of recreational fishing data and monitoring that provide reliable measures of both the biological and experiential performance of fished populations. 3. Interrogate and extend the FishPath decision support software tool to better characterise and integrate recreational fishing information into harvest strategy development for multi-sector fisheries. 4. Develop guidelines and recommendations for the integration of recreational fishing information into harvest strategies for multi-sector fisheries. 5. Develop draft harvest strategies for key multi-sector fisheries using outcomes from Objectives 1-4. Read moreRead less
Fisheries Biology Of Western Australian Salmon: Improving Our Understanding Of Population Dynamics In South Australia To Enable Quantitative Stock Assessments And Improved Fisheries Management
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$246,454.00
Summary
There is opportunity for the WA Salmon Fishery in SA to expand into emerging national and international seafood markets, and the possibility that the stock may be more heavily exploited in the future. Given the shared nature of the resource among commercial, recreational, Charter Boat and indigenous sectors, it is important that appropriate management is place to ensure that any expansion of the fishery does not compromise the overall sustainability of the resource. This includes ensuring the sp ....There is opportunity for the WA Salmon Fishery in SA to expand into emerging national and international seafood markets, and the possibility that the stock may be more heavily exploited in the future. Given the shared nature of the resource among commercial, recreational, Charter Boat and indigenous sectors, it is important that appropriate management is place to ensure that any expansion of the fishery does not compromise the overall sustainability of the resource. This includes ensuring the species remains one of the premier inshore sportfish for recreational anglers in SA.
The current level of biological information that exists for WA Salmon is dated (Malcolm 1960; Cappo 1987) and largely focuses on the coastal component of the stock in SA. Contemporary information on the fine-scale population structure and fisheries biology of the WA Salmon stock in South Australian waters is needed to enable improved assessment of stock status and fisheries management and inform appropriate resource sharing among sectors.
The current ‘sustainable’ status assigned to WA Salmon stock in SA is predominantly based on commercial catch and effort data integrated with limited information from the recreational and Charter Boat sector. Given the importance of WA Salmon to recreational fishers and the capacity for the commercial sector to increase production there is a need to develop a fishery-independent means of assessing the relative abundance to enhance future assessments of stock status and assess whether the current management arrangements for the commercial sector is appropriate.
Given the multi-sectoral use of the resource and SA’s government commitment to maintaining quality recreational fishing opportunities; providing greater certainty for industry; and ensuring the continued supply of commercially harvested premium seafood, there is a need to develop a representative steering committee that is committed to achieving the objectives, outcomes, adoption and extension of this project. Objectives: 1. Describe fine-scale population structure and fisheries biology of the Western Australian Salmon in South Australia, including inshore and offshore components of the stock. 2. Assess the feasibility of using innovative remote sensing techniques (aerial surveys) to determine relative abundance of WA Salmon. Read moreRead less
Nuffield Australia Farming Scholarship To Study Practices In The Fishing Industry
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$322,000.00
Summary
The Nuffield Scholarship program relates to the 'People' section of FRDC's RD&E program, needed to attract and advance people who will lead fishing and aquaculture towards a sustainable and profitable future. The FRDC has taken a strong role in this area, facilitating access to leadership development for all sectors of fishing and aquaculture.
Unlike many capacity building programs that place focus on working within communities in their own environments, Nuffield Australia seeks to bre ....The Nuffield Scholarship program relates to the 'People' section of FRDC's RD&E program, needed to attract and advance people who will lead fishing and aquaculture towards a sustainable and profitable future. The FRDC has taken a strong role in this area, facilitating access to leadership development for all sectors of fishing and aquaculture.
Unlike many capacity building programs that place focus on working within communities in their own environments, Nuffield Australia seeks to break the cycle of everyday life in primary production. The approach is to organise and facilitate international study tours that allow participants to break away from their normal routine and gain a global perspective on how other producers around the world operate their businesses and apply leadership in their industry.
A Nuffield Scholarship targets young primary producers who are already on the leading edge of production practices and technology uptake in their respective communities in Australia. The program is necessary to further enhance those individuals’ skills, elevate their status as role models and innovative leaders amongst their own broader community, thus having a ripple effect that goes far beyond their immediate participation.
Objectives: 1. To build the capacity of the fisheries industry to overcome the challenges of a global and internationally competitive environment through the provision of FRDC support for five Nuffield Farming Scholarships over the next five years. Read moreRead less
Development Of A Sustainable Scallop (Ylistrum Balloti) Fisheries Enhancement Program For Western Australia: Preliminary Feasibility Study
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$920,050.00
Summary
A substantial rise in future demand for seafood is forecast with ocean fishery productivity projected to decline by up to 50% in some fisheries due to ecological disruptions. A key challenge therefore will be maintaining fishery productivity. Shark Bay and the Abrolhos Islands scallop fisheries are prime examples - following the extreme marine heat wave of 2011 lost income from these fisheries is estimated at $53 million GVP, or $155 million including multipliers.
The integration of aq ....A substantial rise in future demand for seafood is forecast with ocean fishery productivity projected to decline by up to 50% in some fisheries due to ecological disruptions. A key challenge therefore will be maintaining fishery productivity. Shark Bay and the Abrolhos Islands scallop fisheries are prime examples - following the extreme marine heat wave of 2011 lost income from these fisheries is estimated at $53 million GVP, or $155 million including multipliers.
The integration of aquaculture and wild fisheries is becoming increasingly recognised as a tool for enhancing fishery productivity (Taylor et al, 2017). Re-stocking and stock enhancement following recruitment failure could lead to faster fishery recoveries, and also be used to supplement natural recruitment to provide a more consistent and higher yield harvest from year to year. Development of supply chains for scallops into domestic and overseas high-value live markets requires consistent supply. Due to climatic variability and highly variable natural recruitment there is an urgent need to investigate scallop stock enhancement using hatchery-produced juveniles in WA.
A key element for success will be the development of reliable, efficient and scalable seed production systems, which will be based on previous research findings integrated novel, contemporary shellfish production technology. During this project, 16 million cultured scallop spat are planned to be released. The annual yield of scallops from the Rottnest SWF Zone A is 25 to 50 tonnes (whole scallop weight), or approximately 250,000 - 500,000 scallops assuming an average weight of 0.100 kg/whole scallop. This Project aims to release on average 8 million spat each year of the Project (600,000, 1,500,000 and 6,000,000 of 10mm, 5mm and 2mm spat respectively), which could contribute 45,000 hatchery-produced scallops to the catch each year assuming 2.50%, 1.00% and 0.25% of 10mm, 5mm and 2mm spat released respectively were captured, increasing yield by 8.3 – 16.6 % in the annual production, demonstrating the feasibility of scallop stock enhancement.
Objectives: 1. Develop and validate genetic tools to determine parentage / origin of scallops and measure genetic diversity 2. Develop hatchery and nursery protocols for consistent production of scallop spat 3. Develop strategies and methodologies for scallop spat deployment and stock enhancement sampling; measurement of seeded scallop spat survivorship; assessment of effect of spat size at deployment on survival rates; duration of growth to market size; determine impact of enhancement Read moreRead less
Quantifying Post-release Survival And Movement Of Snapper (Chrysophrys Auratus): Informing Strategies To Engage The Fishing Community In Practices To Enhance The Sustainability Of An Important Multi-sector Fishery
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$395,517.00
Summary
PIRSA Fisheries and Aquaculture and SA’s Research Advisory Committee identified the need for cross-sectorial research to support the future management and recovery of SA’s Snapper stocks. Recently, the SA Government announced a three-year closure of Snapper fishing, and a package of research needs were identified, including to gain an understanding of the effects of barotrauma and sector-specific fishing methods on the survival of released Snapper. The key priority identified was to better under ....PIRSA Fisheries and Aquaculture and SA’s Research Advisory Committee identified the need for cross-sectorial research to support the future management and recovery of SA’s Snapper stocks. Recently, the SA Government announced a three-year closure of Snapper fishing, and a package of research needs were identified, including to gain an understanding of the effects of barotrauma and sector-specific fishing methods on the survival of released Snapper. The key priority identified was to better understand the factors that explain PRS, to identify practical strategies to mitigate post-release mortality, and subsequently use that information to improve awareness among all fishing sectors. Particularly emphasis was placed on the recreational and commercial fishers in relation to capture, handling and release practices in cases where under-sized (
Objectives: 1. Quantify release rates of Snapper across the commercial, charter boat and recreational sectors of South Australia’s Marine Scalefish Fishery. 2. Determine rates of post release survival for line-caught Snapper using conventional and electronic tags. 3. Evaluate fishing practices that minimise barotrauma in line-caught Snapper. 4. Develop improved understanding of Snapper movement patterns through an extensive community supported tagging study. 5. Develop guidelines for community-driven tagging activities 6. Engage with the key fishing sectors to develop a Code-of-Practice that promotes responsible fish-handling practices, humane-treatment, and harm-minimisation for Snapper. Read moreRead less