Adapt Or Fail: Risk Management And Business Resilience In Queensland Commercial Fisheries
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$350,000.00
Summary
Change is inevitable, whether it be management, environmental, or economic change. Improving how industries cope with and adapt to change becomes increasingly important as rates and cumulative impacts of change escalate. Some commercial fishing operators are better able to cope with, and adapt to change than others. In part this is due to the inherent capabilities of some individuals to cope with change, learn, plan, and manage risk – elements we can measure through resilience frameworks (Marsha ....Change is inevitable, whether it be management, environmental, or economic change. Improving how industries cope with and adapt to change becomes increasingly important as rates and cumulative impacts of change escalate. Some commercial fishing operators are better able to cope with, and adapt to change than others. In part this is due to the inherent capabilities of some individuals to cope with change, learn, plan, and manage risk – elements we can measure through resilience frameworks (Marshall and Marshall, 2007). Other differences relate to access to adaptation options, which may rely on factors such as business structure, diversity of operation, access to information and financial capacity. We do not yet know the specific role such factors play in improving adaption options and hence resilience.
What we do know is that more resilient operators are better able to cope with change and adapt to it, and that these operators are less likely to seek compensation when change occurs (Sutton and Tobin 2012). Given these findings, it is vital that we identify factors that improve access to and uptake of adaption options, and that factors constraining uptake of these options are identified. We need to develop appropriate communication tools that relate to the nature of risks faced by fishing operations depending on their current behaviour and business structure, options for change, and access to / uptake of information. We also need to assess possible management options which could reduce some constraints on adaptation and hence increase resilience.
This proposal meets QFRAB priority #2 (business models in relation to resilience), and FRDC’s “Resilient and supportive communities” Strategic Challenge.
Objectives: 1. Document the current diversity and develop typologies of business models and operation types employed across all commercial fisheries on Queensland's east coast 2. Explore the current adaptation options for different business model types regarding risks associated with economic, management and environmental changes 3. Document the common constraints affecting uptake of adaptation options between and across business model types 4. Provide information tools regarding adaptation options for different business model types to fishers and managers, to enable the improvement of adaptive capacity and hence resilience Read moreRead less
TSGA IPA: Comparative Susceptibility And Host Responses Of Endemic Fishes And Salmonids Affected By Amoebic Gill Disease In Tasmania
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$227,357.00
Summary
Atlantic salmon aquaculture in Tasmania continues to expand with production exceeding 25000 tonne for 2007-08 representing a 10000 tonne increase over the last five years. Directly employing over 1200 people (26), the Tasmanian industry is well placed for further growth due to its proximity to Asian markets. Tasmania’s climate provides ideal temperatures for Atlantic salmon production resulting in fast growth, substantially reducing the time to harvest (compared to European producers). The Tasma ....Atlantic salmon aquaculture in Tasmania continues to expand with production exceeding 25000 tonne for 2007-08 representing a 10000 tonne increase over the last five years. Directly employing over 1200 people (26), the Tasmanian industry is well placed for further growth due to its proximity to Asian markets. Tasmania’s climate provides ideal temperatures for Atlantic salmon production resulting in fast growth, substantially reducing the time to harvest (compared to European producers). The Tasmanian salmon industry plans to double production in the next five years, an ambition that may be problematic considering that current sites are nearly fully developed. New farming zones may need to be established in less sheltered waters (26), further from land and away from freshwater sources. Future reliability on FW sources in conjunction with the current high costs for treating AGD demonstrates a clear need for providing cost effective, efficacious alternatives that reduce the reliance upon freshwater resources. Progressing to alternative treatment strategies for AGD has proven elusive and (according to the recent AGD research review) has been attributed to fundamental knowledge deficiencies of host-pathogen interactions and epidemiology.
This proposal aligns specifically with TSGA R&D priorities within the fish health tactical development area those being “AGD-Epidemiology/Patho-biology” and “AGD-Comparing the response/mechanisms of salmon to native fish”. The proposed research also aligns with the TSGA’s “areas of interest” for 2011 specifically “AGD-comparing response between salmon and trout”.
Objectives: 1. Determine the susceptibility of sea-cage associated endemic fishes to amoebic gill disease in comparison to Atlantic salmon 2. Investigate the comparative host responses of Atlantic salmon and rainbow trout naive and previously exposed to amoebic gill disease. Read moreRead less
Investigate Oceanographic And Environmental Factors Impacting On The ETBF
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$500,000.00
Summary
As specified in the FRDC call for proposals, there is a need for AFMA, its advisory committees and the ETBF industry to gain a much stronger understanding of past, current and potential future oceanographic and environmental impacts upon (i) the spatial and temporal distribution and level of ETBF catches, catch rates, fishing effort and fish sizes (particularly those indicators used in the ETBF harvest strategy), and (ii) the interactions between focal species in the ETBF with domestic (e.g. rec ....As specified in the FRDC call for proposals, there is a need for AFMA, its advisory committees and the ETBF industry to gain a much stronger understanding of past, current and potential future oceanographic and environmental impacts upon (i) the spatial and temporal distribution and level of ETBF catches, catch rates, fishing effort and fish sizes (particularly those indicators used in the ETBF harvest strategy), and (ii) the interactions between focal species in the ETBF with domestic (e.g. recreational) and international fisheries. We have established relationships with regional partners, and pending endorsement, which will allow comprehensive collation of catch and tracking data for the focal species, such that habitat models for the whole region can be developed. This will permit hypotheses about movement of fish cohorts into the Australian region, and movements of these fish within the Australian EEZ to be tested.
This proposed research is needed to ensure the effectiveness (note, the ETBF already has a developed HS) and further development of appropriate management arrangements, including harvest strategies and resource sharing arrangements. It will complement current genetic research into stock structure and connectivity, with implications for harvest strategies and potentially Australia’s position on key management issues and approaches being considered or developed in the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC). By collating data from the countries in the south-west Pacific Ocean and New Zealand regions, we will seek to understand patterns in regional abundance. Importantly, this project will provide insights into potential long term changes in the ETBF that may result from climate change, and deliver forecasting capability on seasonal and decadal time scales. We will identify the influence of any large scale oceanographic drivers on availability of these key species in Australian waters, such as the strength of the East Australia Current, or the teleconnections resulting from ENSO events.
Objectives: 1. Enhance AFMA and industry understanding of influence of climate-ocean system drivers upon the spatial and temporal variability of key ETBF species. 2. Develop and deliver predictive models at seasonal and decadal time scales to assist management and industry planning 3. Provide operational forecasts of habitat distribution for Australia and the regional partners within the life of the project 4. Inform harvest and allocation discussions at national and international scales Read moreRead less
Tactical Research Fund: Forecasting Spatial Distribution Of SBT Habitat In The GAB
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$75,000.00
Summary
This project is needed to support improved operational planning in the SBT purse-seine fishery in response to recently observed changes in fish distribution. A historical baseline of fish and ‘optimal’ habitat distribution is first needed to assess future changes. An understanding of likely fish location is important in planning fishing operations and will also be of benefit to the aerial survey (AS) design and data interpretation. The AS juvenile abundance index is used in the adopted managemen ....This project is needed to support improved operational planning in the SBT purse-seine fishery in response to recently observed changes in fish distribution. A historical baseline of fish and ‘optimal’ habitat distribution is first needed to assess future changes. An understanding of likely fish location is important in planning fishing operations and will also be of benefit to the aerial survey (AS) design and data interpretation. The AS juvenile abundance index is used in the adopted management procedure for SBT to set global quotas (within the CCSBT).
In the 2012 fishing season, SBT movement through the Great Australian Bight (GAB) seemed very rapid, and with SBT distribution further to the east, resulting in less than 15% of purse-seine catches being taken from fishing grounds commonly used in the previous 20 years. Rapid movements of surface schools and the presence of fish in unusual locations make fishing operations costly and unpredictable; the pontoon towing speed precludes rapid vessel response, so vessels need to be positioned prior to SBT arrival. Improved understanding of fish distribution/movement in the GAB will allow evaluation of the adequacy of the current AS design, and inform improvements to the design/analysis if required.
Forecasts of environmental conditions (lead times < 4 months) will allow operators to use their existing knowledge of fish behaviour to better plan fishing operations in any year, not just unusual years. Forecasts of fish habitat (if successful) will further aid this planning and improve strategic fishing skills, leading to increased efficiency/profitability. Seasonal forecasts are also a stepping stone to understanding longer term climate change, but at a business-relevant time-scale.
The project aims to use existing data and modelling techniques from previous projects funded under broader public good research programs; however, previous projects have not developed the tactical forecast products proposed here.
Objectives: 1. Historical analysis of archival tag data in the GAB to generate habitat preferences 2. Now-casts of habitat distribution based on habitat preferences 3. Forecasts of ocean variables on a monthly time scale 4. Forecasts of SBT habitat distribution in the GAB Read moreRead less
El-Nemo SE: Understanding The Biophysical Implications Of Climate Change -project 1 & 2
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$160,613.00
Summary
The eastern and south eastern Australian marine waters have been identified as being the most vulnerable geographic area to both climate change impacts and overall exposure in Australia. These changes are expected to have significant implications in the region. Information on physical changes expected in south-eastern Australia are currently available only through Global Climate Models that provide coarse spatial scales of 1-2 degrees (latitude & longitude). They currently provide almost no ....The eastern and south eastern Australian marine waters have been identified as being the most vulnerable geographic area to both climate change impacts and overall exposure in Australia. These changes are expected to have significant implications in the region. Information on physical changes expected in south-eastern Australia are currently available only through Global Climate Models that provide coarse spatial scales of 1-2 degrees (latitude & longitude). They currently provide almost no information at the scale of coastal upwelling, eddies and fronts which are important factors driving oceanic productivity. These models currently predict global changes in a range of physical variables both in the atmosphere and in the ocean for the 20th (hindcast mode) and 21st (forecast mode) centuries and are currently used in IPCC projections. Further refined modelling of physical drivers in this region is required to understand drivers at scales relevant to fisheries and aquaculture for driving productivity, distribution and abundance of species. While a number of national (Bluelink) and regional finer-resolution ocean models exist for the SE region (Baird et al model, NSW; Huon Estuary model, Tas; SAROM, SA), in this project outputs from two (Bluelink and SAROM) will be used to inform predictions on biomass, productivity and distributions of key fishery species. Objectives: 1. A. Extract variables from Bluelink and GCM’s for fishery regions around the SE 2. A. Validate variables derived from the Bluelink model against the IMOS and other historical data 3. A. To complete development of SAROM and validation against the IMOS and historical data for the February 2008 - March 2010 period 4. A. Compare the predictions of the two models to each other and to GCMs 5. B. Derive, extract and examine of model outputs on derived variables, including acidification levels in the SE region. 6. B. Provide these data in written and visual format to the biological and review teams for consideration Read moreRead less
NPF industry, AFMA management and CSIRO are concerned about declines in both spatial and the overall productivity of NPF tiger prawn fishery in recent years. It is thought that these declines are environmental/climate change - not fishing effort - driven. As well, stakeholders recognise that the NPF tiger prawn stock assessment model, whilst a 'cutting edge' model when first developed, has a number of deficiencies which are impacting on the model performance and impeding on the ability of the ....NPF industry, AFMA management and CSIRO are concerned about declines in both spatial and the overall productivity of NPF tiger prawn fishery in recent years. It is thought that these declines are environmental/climate change - not fishing effort - driven. As well, stakeholders recognise that the NPF tiger prawn stock assessment model, whilst a 'cutting edge' model when first developed, has a number of deficiencies which are impacting on the model performance and impeding on the ability of the fishery to meet it's management objectives/ legislative requirements, the effective implementation of the tiger prawn harvest Strategy and Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) certification at risk. When the NPF tiger prawn stock assessment model was developed, the ability to conduct spatially-structured, environmentally or socio-economically based stock assessments was limited due to a lack of appropriate data (e.g. survey information) and computational requirements. whilst improvements to the model have been made over time, the NPRAG noted in February 2022 there has been a significant amount of work that has been undertaken that could enable a significant, if not a fundamental change to the model currently used. The extension of these activities through the workshop will enable discussion on the potential to better integration of these additional components and other new methods available to incorporate spatial and climate change considerations into the assessment model. The project will also assist the NPRAG and NORMAC to respond to the AFMA Commission's request for climate change impacts are considered at future by all RAGs and MACs .
Objectives: 1. To improve the biological and economic performance of the Northern Prawn Fishery (NPF) by identifying:• concerns and trends regarding the productivity of the Tiger Prawn Fishery• deficiencies in the Tiger Prawn stock assessment model/s and data collection framework that impede the NPF meeting management objectives • key projects that will address the deficiencies above to improve the Tiger Prawn stock assessment model/s Read moreRead less