Tactical Research Fund: Reference Points For The Queensland Scallop Fishery
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$30,984.70
Summary
Reference points are essential for the effective management of any large fishery. The spatially complex nature of scallop fisheries makes the construction of robust reference points difficult. FRDC project 1999/120, "Reference point management and the role of catch-per-unit-effort in prawn and scallop fisheries", concluded that "new types of data are essential to improve the accuracy of stock assessments, such as spatial indices of abundance collected through fishery independent sampling and VMS ....Reference points are essential for the effective management of any large fishery. The spatially complex nature of scallop fisheries makes the construction of robust reference points difficult. FRDC project 1999/120, "Reference point management and the role of catch-per-unit-effort in prawn and scallop fisheries", concluded that "new types of data are essential to improve the accuracy of stock assessments, such as spatial indices of abundance collected through fishery independent sampling and VMS", and that "more accurate and robust reference points may exist using these data". FRDC project 2006/024, "Harvest strategy evaluation to optimise the sustainability and value of the Queensland scallop fishery", made effective use of both these data types to answer questions about the optimal timing of spatial closures and other management strategies. The proposed TRF project will build on this work by completing the path to adoption of the recommendations contained in the 2006/024 report, and noted by the FRDC external reviewer (review attached). In particular this will involve using the already constructed HSE framework to devise and test robust reference points.
In order to adopt the recommendations from FRDC project 2006/024 in the current review of management arrangements for the fishery, Fisheries Queensland requires this additional work on sustainability reference points. This work on the sustainabililty reference points is required to be completed by August 2010 with a final report available no later than September 2010. Objectives: 1. Propose and construct a set of reference points for the scallop fishery (e.g. target and limit effort) 2. Test the reference points in the (already constructed) MSE framework, i.e. what levels for the reference points perform best in terms of the sustainability and profitability indicators Read moreRead less
Tactical Research Fund: Assessing The Technology Transfer And People Skills Requirements For The Introduction Of Mullet Processing On The East Coast Similar To Shark Bay Frozen Sea Mullet Fillets
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$13,104.00
Summary
Clearly the commercial fishers cannot contiune to catch mullet and only get 1980 prices. This is not economically viable. Mullet is a greatly under rated table fish and the opportunity to value add and present a product for the consumer that is ready to cook, packaged tastefully with several cooking options on the packaging is seen as a logical step.
The work that the Geraldton Fish Market has put into this is substanital and if the members of the CPFA can capitalise on this and adopt t ....Clearly the commercial fishers cannot contiune to catch mullet and only get 1980 prices. This is not economically viable. Mullet is a greatly under rated table fish and the opportunity to value add and present a product for the consumer that is ready to cook, packaged tastefully with several cooking options on the packaging is seen as a logical step.
The work that the Geraldton Fish Market has put into this is substanital and if the members of the CPFA can capitalise on this and adopt the technology and methods than we are learning from others within the industry.
We have to do something to improve the returns for the fishers otherwise we will not have a mullet meshing fishery and there is every likelihood that we will not attract the next generation of fishers as it will not be viable. Objectives: 1. Investigate and assess the adoptiveness of the frozen mullet fillet product from Shark Bay for the Clarence River 2. Identify ALL of the steps in the WA process and project these for the potential for a similar product for the Clarence. Read moreRead less
Tactical Research Fund: Topping Up The "Crystal Bowl" For Barramundi
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$62,000.00
Summary
Application 2010/018: A "Crystal Bowl" for Barramundi was submitted to the FRDC 2010 round. While the application was rejected the Board indicated it was sympathetic to the approach described and suggested further discussion with Recfishing Research in the development of any future application. It is proposed that a further application be developed for the FRDC 2011 round addressing the issues raised by the Board.
The "Crystal Bowl" concept will underpin any move to regional management ....Application 2010/018: A "Crystal Bowl" for Barramundi was submitted to the FRDC 2010 round. While the application was rejected the Board indicated it was sympathetic to the approach described and suggested further discussion with Recfishing Research in the development of any future application. It is proposed that a further application be developed for the FRDC 2011 round addressing the issues raised by the Board.
The "Crystal Bowl" concept will underpin any move to regional management which is dependent on fine scale data collection on Barramundi in the Fitzroy River system and remains pivotal to the further development of the concept.
Data collected will also be used as baseline data for two coal port developments proposed by Xstrata for the Fitzroy River. These proposals are in their early stages. One proposal at Balaclava Island at the mouth of the river could impact on Barramundi and Threadfin spawning grounds and the other to barge coal down the Fitzroy River will significantly disrupt fishing activities. Discussions are underway with consultants for Xstrata to establish a monitoring program however this is unlikely to commence until the project are approved.
The data required is commercial catch, recreational catch and recruitment. Also required are the environmental conditions including connectivity of wetland lagoons, river flows and rainfall.
Data on commercial catch is available from Fisheries Queensland. CapReef, a community based monitoring program, has collected data on recreational catch since 2007 and recruitment since 1999. A further application for the "Crystal Bowl" will not be submitted until November 2010 and if approved would not commence until around June 2011. Objectives: 1. Collection of commercial catch and recreational catch data for the Fitzroy River in 2010-11 2. Collection of Barramundi recruitment and environmental data for the 2011 recruitment season from January to April 3. Use of that data in the development of commitment to local or regional management among local stakeholders and as baseline data for estimating the impact of proposed coal port developments for the Fitzroy River Read moreRead less