Marine Reserves as Fisheries Management Tools: A Long-term, Experimental Approach. Marine reserves, areas permanently closed to fishing, are potentially valuable fisheries management tools. Reserves may sustain fisheries external to them by containing undisturbed breeding stocks and becoming net exporters of adults and propagules. Our studies in the Philippines suggest that such benefits may only eventuate after 5-15 years of effective protection. This project will continue our long-term (17-25 ....Marine Reserves as Fisheries Management Tools: A Long-term, Experimental Approach. Marine reserves, areas permanently closed to fishing, are potentially valuable fisheries management tools. Reserves may sustain fisheries external to them by containing undisturbed breeding stocks and becoming net exporters of adults and propagules. Our studies in the Philippines suggest that such benefits may only eventuate after 5-15 years of effective protection. This project will continue our long-term (17-25 year) studies of abundance and yield at 3 established reserves, and use a replicated experiment at 3 new reserves, to test if reserves can enhance local fish biomass and catch. We will also compare effects of reserves in Australia and the Philippines.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0237912
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$200,000.00
Summary
Acoustic tracking key marine species in Tasmania using new technology. We will use new passive listening receivers and uniquely indentifiable acoustic tags to track key marine species (squid, octopus, fish and crustaceans) in Tasmania. This technology allows us to remotely track species with a level of detail previously not available. By using a large number of receivers we will build listening 'curtains'. A series of curtains will then form a multi-species listening grid. This equipment wi ....Acoustic tracking key marine species in Tasmania using new technology. We will use new passive listening receivers and uniquely indentifiable acoustic tags to track key marine species (squid, octopus, fish and crustaceans) in Tasmania. This technology allows us to remotely track species with a level of detail previously not available. By using a large number of receivers we will build listening 'curtains'. A series of curtains will then form a multi-species listening grid. This equipment will allow us to reconstruct movement between habitats, and migration routes to better understand and manage this marine ecosystem. An important feature will involve monitoring organism movements into and out of marine protected areas.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE100100059
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$100,000.00
Summary
Dual frequency identification SONAR (DIDSON) facility for sampling benthic and pelagic fish populations. Many Australians enjoy marine and freshwater resources, and we are exploiting fisheries and waterways in particular at an increasing rate. Effective management of fisheries requires understanding the abundance and behavior of fish. This facility will provide novel acoustic video technology for researchers to count fishes and sharks near weirs, under wharves or logs, and within seagrass beds. ....Dual frequency identification SONAR (DIDSON) facility for sampling benthic and pelagic fish populations. Many Australians enjoy marine and freshwater resources, and we are exploiting fisheries and waterways in particular at an increasing rate. Effective management of fisheries requires understanding the abundance and behavior of fish. This facility will provide novel acoustic video technology for researchers to count fishes and sharks near weirs, under wharves or logs, and within seagrass beds. The dual frequency identification sonar (DIDSON) will also allow accurate and standardised study of fish movements in response to floods, algal blooms or re-stocking events without disturbing the fish or their habitats. This will enhance our understanding of the top-down control by fish of aquatic ecosystems that are directly adjacent to human activity.Read moreRead less
Spatial ecology of inshore predators in tropical marine systems and implications of marine protection zones. Coastal development and threats of global climate change mean that coastal ecosystems are under increasing pressure. Developing an understanding of how coastal habitats are used by native fauna and how effective protected areas are in the preservation of these species is critical for future management and sustainable use of resources. This research will provide data for resource and fis ....Spatial ecology of inshore predators in tropical marine systems and implications of marine protection zones. Coastal development and threats of global climate change mean that coastal ecosystems are under increasing pressure. Developing an understanding of how coastal habitats are used by native fauna and how effective protected areas are in the preservation of these species is critical for future management and sustainable use of resources. This research will provide data for resource and fisheries managers that are valuable for maintenance of several sectors of the economy including tourism and commercial fishing (inshore fishing worth $23 m a year). The project is linked to a national telemetry network thus providing opportunity for national and international collaboration benefiting scientific, management and coastal communities.Read moreRead less
Population structure in the giant Australian cuttlefish - implications for management of a unique eco-tourism and fishery resource in regional Australia. A management strategy for the giant Australian cuttlefish in regional South Australia is required urgently because of potential conflict between ecotourism and fishery sectors. At present, development of a management strategy is stymied by lack of information on stock structure and movements. Analyses of variation in gene frequencies, morphom ....Population structure in the giant Australian cuttlefish - implications for management of a unique eco-tourism and fishery resource in regional Australia. A management strategy for the giant Australian cuttlefish in regional South Australia is required urgently because of potential conflict between ecotourism and fishery sectors. At present, development of a management strategy is stymied by lack of information on stock structure and movements. Analyses of variation in gene frequencies, morphometric and chemical trace element profiles in calcified structures among locations and years will enable the geographic extent of populations or stocks to be determined, including whether natal homing occurs. Such information is critical to sustainable management of the species and design of a marine protected area in the upper Spencer Gulf.Read moreRead less
Tracking squids from embryos to adults - novel approaches and new directions. Cutting edge acoustic tracking technology, combined with traditional tagging techniques and novel applications of trace element analysis, will allow for the life cycle of squid to be tracked through space and time - from embryonic stages through to spawning adults. Southern calamary earbones will be examined for evidence of elemental 'fingerprints' that reveal where they came from as hatchlings. This combined with trac ....Tracking squids from embryos to adults - novel approaches and new directions. Cutting edge acoustic tracking technology, combined with traditional tagging techniques and novel applications of trace element analysis, will allow for the life cycle of squid to be tracked through space and time - from embryonic stages through to spawning adults. Southern calamary earbones will be examined for evidence of elemental 'fingerprints' that reveal where they came from as hatchlings. This combined with tracking squid in Australia's biggest marine acoustic listening grid, will allow unprecedented resolution of squid life cycles. Commercial, recreational and managerial sectors are collaborating with this research to ensure sustainable management of this commercially important and ecologically crucial species.
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Larval Dispersal And The Design Of Marine Reserve Networks: Benefits Within And Beyond Boundaries. Most marine organisms produce tiny offspring that are dispersed unknown distances by oceanic currents. Our present strategies to manage marine resources lack this vital piece of information. This study will apply two revolutionary techniques that finally enable us to determine how far marine larvae travel. Using the team that developed these techniques, field studies will for the first time measure ....Larval Dispersal And The Design Of Marine Reserve Networks: Benefits Within And Beyond Boundaries. Most marine organisms produce tiny offspring that are dispersed unknown distances by oceanic currents. Our present strategies to manage marine resources lack this vital piece of information. This study will apply two revolutionary techniques that finally enable us to determine how far marine larvae travel. Using the team that developed these techniques, field studies will for the first time measure both retention of fish larvae within marine protected areas and dispersal of larvae to adjacent fished areas on coral reefs. This information can be directly applied to optimize the size of reserves and their spacing in marine protected area networks.Read moreRead less