International Travel Bursary - Elspeth Macdonald's (Scottish Fishermen's Federation) Experience With Spatial Management And The Renewable Energy Sector
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$29,700.00
Summary
Elspeth Macdonald, the CEO of Scottish Fishermen's Federation (SFF), is a key advocate for the fishing industry and has critical knowledge and experience with the spatial squeeze and the emerging offshore renewable energy sector. As such, WAFIC and the South Australian Northern Zone Rock Lobster Fishermen’s’ Association recognises an opportunity for the fishing industry and government representatives to share and learn from Scotland’s experiences. Through this exchange of knowledge, we hope to g ....Elspeth Macdonald, the CEO of Scottish Fishermen's Federation (SFF), is a key advocate for the fishing industry and has critical knowledge and experience with the spatial squeeze and the emerging offshore renewable energy sector. As such, WAFIC and the South Australian Northern Zone Rock Lobster Fishermen’s’ Association recognises an opportunity for the fishing industry and government representatives to share and learn from Scotland’s experiences. Through this exchange of knowledge, we hope to guide the development of Australian policy frameworks that encourage co-existence with commercial fisheries.
Tentatively, we are planning for Mrs Macdonald to arrive in Perth to attend high-level State Ministerial and State and Commonwealth Government meetings, before travelling to Adelaide to be a keynote speaker at the Rock Lobster Trans-Tasman Conference arranged by the South Australian Northern Zone Rock Lobster Fishermen’s’ Association and then attend a National Coordination Ocean Access Committee meeting coordinated by Seafood Industry Australia. Other potential opportunities may also be identified and discussed in the months leading up to Mrs Macdonald’s arrival. 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
Field Based Trials And Risk Assessment Of New Species To Enhance The Value Of Tropical And Subtropical Impoundment Fisheries
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$910,505.00
Summary
This project offers a significant opportunity to enhance tropical and sub-tropical impoundment fisheries in Queensland and other parts of northern Australia, by using new iconic species to diversify the fisheries and attract new anglers to stocked waterways. Accessibility to large pelagic gamefish is not easy for many anglers. Creating access to trevally in impoundments will make such species more accessible to anglers, potentially reduce the pressure on the wild fishery, and offer a unique fres ....This project offers a significant opportunity to enhance tropical and sub-tropical impoundment fisheries in Queensland and other parts of northern Australia, by using new iconic species to diversify the fisheries and attract new anglers to stocked waterways. Accessibility to large pelagic gamefish is not easy for many anglers. Creating access to trevally in impoundments will make such species more accessible to anglers, potentially reduce the pressure on the wild fishery, and offer a unique freshwater impoundment fishing experience in a protected setting. Since trevally will not breed in impoundments, their abundance can be readily managed through stocking rates.
Access to trevally in impoundments is something that anglers want. In 2006, Queensland stocking groups voted trevally as one of the top three ranked new species for development of impoundment fisheries. Published papers indicate trevally are relatively easy to produce, with production methods like those for Barramundi. The other two highly ranked species, Jungle Perch and Mangrove Jack have proved more difficult to produce in large numbers compared to trevallies, and more than 20 years of trying to develop impoundment Mangrove Jack fisheries has achieved only limited success.
Giant and Bigeye Trevally are iconic sportfish, which if stocked, have potential to increase regional tourism. Local governments have already recognised the value of angling tourism in their regions. For example, Rockhampton, Mackay and Cairns Regional Councils have all developed recreational fishing strategies to boost tourist visitation. Townsville City Council is also in the process of opening the Ross River Dam to stocking to develop angling opportunities and attract additional tourists. Trevally will offer an opportunity to create sustained angling tourism to value-add to existing fisheries in the post-pandemic period.
The only way to determine if one or both trevally species can translate into successful impoundment fisheries compatible with existing Barramundi fisheries, is to conduct comprehensive stocking trials using fingerlings and sub-adult fish. The two highest risk factors identified for trevally stocking in large near coastal impoundments are their potential to impact on prey abundance (and therefore carrying capacity) and rare and threatened species. Rare and threatened species are unlikely to be in the impounded waters dominated by Barramundi, but they could exist in impoundment tributary streams. Therefore, knowledge on whether trevally will mostly remain in the impounded waters or will tend to run upstream into tributaries is critical.
This project aims to use stocking trials to evaluate potential stocking risk factors for Bigeye and Giant Trevally, such as relative survival, growth, diet, residency, impacts on prey abundance and rare and threatened species, catchability by anglers at conservative stocking rates, and angler attitudes to and perceptions of the fishery. This project will serve as a useful case study for other diversification options in northern Australia and elsewhere. Without these trials it would be impossible to progress euryhaline trevally species as new fisheries for large, near-coastal impoundments in Australia. This project directly meets the QRAC priority of field-based trials and risk assessment of new species to enhance the value of tropical and sub-tropical impoundment fisheries.
Objectives: 1. Formalise a desk top risk assessment for stocking of Bigeye Trevally and Giant Trevally in tropical and sub-tropical impoundments. 2. Produce Bigeye and Giant Trevally fingerlings for stocking trials 3. Assess the capacity for prey species in a Barramundi dominated impoundment to support conservatively stocked numbers of Bigeye Trevally and Giant Trevally 4. Assess the potential for Bigeye Trevally and Giant Trevally to enter impoundment tributary streams where they could impact on rare and threatened species. 5. Assess relative survival, growth and diets of Bigeye Trevally and Giant Trevally in a Barramundi dominated impoundment. 6. Assess angler attitudes to trevally in Barramundi impoundments 7. Assess angler catch of Bigeye and Giant trevally in an impoundment. 8. Extend trevally fingerling production techniques to hatcheries in Queensland and other parts of northern Australia. Read moreRead less
Recreational Fishers In Tasmania: Understanding Experiences, Behaviours, Drivers, Communication Needs And Change Factors
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$183,300.00
Summary
Following several discussions with Ms Gallichan, we now have a very good understanding of the research outcomes TARFish is seeking to achieve. These are:
• A rich understanding, from a marketing perspective of the segments that make up the recreational fishing market in Tasmania. • The attitudes and behaviours (particularly recreational fishing behaviours) of these segments and the associated demographics and geographics that will enable TARFish to target those segments that have ....Following several discussions with Ms Gallichan, we now have a very good understanding of the research outcomes TARFish is seeking to achieve. These are:
• A rich understanding, from a marketing perspective of the segments that make up the recreational fishing market in Tasmania. • The attitudes and behaviours (particularly recreational fishing behaviours) of these segments and the associated demographics and geographics that will enable TARFish to target those segments that have the propensity to become TARFish members together with the associated services that would appeal to prospective members. • The extent and nature of segment usage of ‘competitors’. In this sense competitors are considered to be other recreational activities that existing and prospective TARFish members undertake such as golf, archery, etc. • The brand preferences of existing and prospective TARFish members for a selected range of products and services that will enable TARFish to build a convincing business case to attract sponsorships.
As part of our background investigations, we have reviewed a number of relevant studies with perhaps the most relevant being the ‘2017-18 Survey of Recreational Fishing in Tasmania, J.M. Lyle, K.E. Stark, G.P. Ewing & S.R. Tracey, November 2019’. We understand an update to this study is expected to commence in October 2022. There are also several similar studies that have sought to segment recreational fishing that have been done in other locations, including a market segmentation of Virginia Resident Freshwater Anglers in the US (McMullin et al. 2001), segmenting anglers by lifestyles, lake types and management preferences in Michigan (Christopher Simoes 2014), and, more locally, anglers in The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park (Kyle and Sutton 2010). Older studies such as Potts’ (1992) study on recreational boaters and Adams’ (1992) segmentation of a recreational fishing market demonstrate the usefulness of understanding recreational fishing activity via correlation analysis to more effectively enhance and manage the sector. Of particular use and relevance is the ‘Take Me Fishing’ Segmentation undertaken in 2019 that developed recreational fishing and boating profiles such as ‘Family-Focused Relaxers’, ‘Active Social Families’, ‘Uncommitted’, ‘Avid Adventurists’, ‘Lukewarm Occasionalists’ and ‘Leisure time enjoyers’ in a study that was funded by the Recreational Boating and Fishing Foundation (RBFF) in the United States. This segmentation helped to not only define key profiles but was also able to estimate growth potentials of both the fishing and boating sectors; understand substitution activities (what they were doing instead of fishing and boating, which included camping, visiting parks, picnicking or hiking), key communication preferences as well as barriers for growth, e.g., not having enough time, preferring other activities, or not having the relevant skills or expertise and feeling clueless about how to get started. This project will draw on this approach, as well as our combined years of experience in undertaking segmentation studies in other market sectors, to address FRDC’s objective to design effective social and marketing approaches and communication strategies to support sustainable fisheries management.
It is clear to us that TARFish is seeking a ‘marketing’ outcome as opposed to an academic treatment to meet the business objectives of TARFish. Our considered opinion based on years of experience in undertaking similar studies, is that our proposed market segmentation, using the methodology, described below will deliver on the outcomes TARFish is seeking. It is cost effective and provides a robust evidence-base for decision making.
The first step for the project will be to host an inception meeting with the consulting team and any other key stakeholders (e.g. members of TARFish board) to establish and agree on the project scope and goals, including refining and defining the intended outcomes as listed outcomes.
The remainder of the method is broken down into the following steps/activities, which is inclusive of several mid-project workshops to meet with and debrief with key members of the team and ensure the project is on track to meet the required objectives (and/or to problem solve any issues, including identifying new opportunities, that arise during the course of the study):
Stage 1. Inception meeting with project investigators and any other identified key stakeholders [All team – including consulting and client groups]. This first meeting is important to crystallise the research objectives and ensure the project is aligned with TARFish business priorities and strategies.
Stage 2. Literature Review [Jane Gallichan, Hudson Howells, Action Market Research,]. The scope of any additional desktop research will be discussed and agreed at the inception meeting. A review of the IMAS reports and any other background information will be conducted, including identifying access to additional databases (e.g. recreational fishing licence holders) and/or fishing/tourism association, clubs and societies.
Stage 3. Workshop 1 and Primary Research Phase 1 – Survey of TARFish members and initial backbone segmentation [Jane Gallichan, Hudson Howells & Action Market Research with input from Power Stats]. Finalise quantitative questionnaire and gain access to sample of licence holders subsequent to feedback from project steering committee, including a workshop to review and discuss the attitudinal statements that will inform the backbone segmentation
Stage 4. Workshop 2 and Primary Research Phase 2 – Survey of Recreational Fishers in Tasmania and expanded segmentation. [Jane Gallichan, Hudson Howells & Action Market Research, Power Stats]. Present results of initial backbone segmentation and gain input and review on these before getting underway with wider recreational fishers’ survey.
Stage 6. Draft report on results of client surveys [Hudson Howells, Action Market Research, with input from Jane Gallichan].
Stage 7. Finalise report after feedback from wider client team [Hudson Howells, Action Market Research, with input from Jane Gallichan].
Objectives: 1. Review available data on fisher preferences and behaviour including observations of fisher responsesto changed availability of recreational opportunities 2. Understand current drivers and emerging trends in behaviours of recreational fishers 3. Develop segment (profiles) of recreational fishing industry in Tasmania across type and avidity 4. Produce map of interactions/overlaps between different recreational fishing segments (fishers,activities, regions, species) and articulate available opportunities for growth or substitution 5. Report on barriers to change, preferred communication channels, and benefits of recreational fishingto different recreational fishing segments 6. Ensure methodology is robust and easily repeatable 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
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
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
The use of nudges as a local government environmental policy instrument. This project aims to design and rigorously test a range of behavioural nudges to improve the environmental behaviour of residents in the ACT, with a focus on adoption of low carbon technologies and the use of public transport. In partnership with the ACT Government, the proposal leverages recent research on cognitive biases to develop novel interventions and evaluate their effects via randomised controlled trials. Expected ....The use of nudges as a local government environmental policy instrument. This project aims to design and rigorously test a range of behavioural nudges to improve the environmental behaviour of residents in the ACT, with a focus on adoption of low carbon technologies and the use of public transport. In partnership with the ACT Government, the proposal leverages recent research on cognitive biases to develop novel interventions and evaluate their effects via randomised controlled trials. Expected outcomes include new concepts for citizen-government interactions; advanced knowledge in public policy and behavioural economics; a new statistical programming tool; new methods to optimise policy and practice; and positive environmental and economic impacts for local governments and individuals.Read moreRead less