Implementation Of Fishery Independent Surveys For The Southern And Eastern Scalefish And Shark Fishery
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$3,349,385.50
Summary
Catch and effort data obtained from commercial logbooks is the primary source of information used as an index of abundance for most SESSF species. The assumption underlying this is that commercial catch rates change in a linear fashion with abundance. This assumption, however, has little independent support for many SEF species and is frequently criticised by industry and scientists alike. One of the most significant problems with commercial CPUE data in the SEF is that fishers modify their fish ....Catch and effort data obtained from commercial logbooks is the primary source of information used as an index of abundance for most SESSF species. The assumption underlying this is that commercial catch rates change in a linear fashion with abundance. This assumption, however, has little independent support for many SEF species and is frequently criticised by industry and scientists alike. One of the most significant problems with commercial CPUE data in the SEF is that fishers modify their fishing practices to suit quota availability and market demands. Also, many fishermen only put the retained catch in logbook data, not the total catch. Furthermore, the influence of environmental conditions on fish availability also reduces the effectiveness of CPUE as an index of abundance. Low or bycatch TACs also prevent catch rate data being used as an index of abundance.
Implementation of a fishery independent survey is the most cost-effective and feasible means to get an independent index of abundance for the suite of SESSF species.
Recognising this, the SESS Fishery Assessment Group (SESSFAG) has placed highest priority on the need to implement fishery-independent methods for surveying relative abundance of SESSF fish stocks. Objectives: 1. Review the current fishery independent surveys that are operating in the SESSF and determine their efficacy and potential for use in a multi-species survey. Determine which survey methods are most suitable for the main species in the SESSF. 2. Design a suite of cost-efficient fishery independent surveys that will meet the needs of the fishery in providing indices of abundance for most major species in the SESSF. Determine the most practical way of undertaking the surveys and gain broad stakeholder acceptance of the survey design. 3. Determine the cost structure for the surveys and how funding and research quota will be allocated. 4. Undertake a full one-year trial of the survey design. Review the results of the survey with respect to cost-efficiency, practicality and provision of high quality (precise) indices of abundance and modify the design accordingly. 5. Implement a long-term (5-10 year) survey program that can be progressively funded by industry under standard CRIS Policy Read moreRead less
Despite legislation requiring that the preservation of saltmarshes be considered prior to developments that could harm their ecological integrity, saltmarshes continue to be destroyed and altered. Part of the rationale for encouraging the conservation of saltmarshes has been their assumed importance as fish habitat, especially for juveniles of economically important species (Hyland & Butler 1989). This role needs demonstrating, with a view to strengthening demands that saltmarsh habitat be ret ....Despite legislation requiring that the preservation of saltmarshes be considered prior to developments that could harm their ecological integrity, saltmarshes continue to be destroyed and altered. Part of the rationale for encouraging the conservation of saltmarshes has been their assumed importance as fish habitat, especially for juveniles of economically important species (Hyland & Butler 1989). This role needs demonstrating, with a view to strengthening demands that saltmarsh habitat be retained in the face of increasing urbanisation.
Apart from direct loss of saltmarshes through urban development in southeast Qld and northern NSW, several other human activities are destroying or degrading saltmarshes. Anthropogenic changes to saltmarshes can result in loss of vegetation through changes in drainage regimes and salinity levels (Ruiz et al. 1993). While maps have been produced showing loss of saltmarshes in subtropical Australia (Hyland & Butler 1989), loss of vegetation from extant marshes has not been catalogued, despite the massive changes in drainage regimes, modification of marshes to control mosquitoes, grazing by stock, and use of marshes by off-road vehicles.
Debate about the role of vegetation in structuring fish communities of intertidal and subtidal habitats other than saltmarshes has been based on numerous comparisons of vegetated and unvegetated habitats (eg. in seagrass meadows, Connolly (1994b,c) and mangroves). In these habitats vegetated areas tend to have higher abundances and greater species richness. No attempt has been made in Australia to consider the role of vegetation in determining fish abundances on saltmarshes.
This proposal takes the first step towards determining the importance of saltmarsh habitat to fisheries by examining whether fish directly use inundated saltmarsh flats and whether vegetation plays a role in determining how many fish go there. Objectives: 1. To determine which fish species, in what abundance, directly use saltmarsh flats in subtropical east coast waters 2. To compare the use by fish of vegetated (saltcouch) and unvegetated (saltpan) habitats on the marsh flats 3. To make clear recommendations to managers of fisheries and the environment about the impacts on fisheries of human activities affecting saltmarsh habitat, and advise on the direction of future research Read moreRead less
Establishing Ecosystem-based Management For The South Australian Sardine Fishery: Developing Ecological Performance Indicators And Reference Points To Assess The Need For Ecological Allocations
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$799,999.00
Summary
Provisions of the Commonwealth Environment and Biodiversity Conservation Act require strategic assessment and, if necessary, mitigation of the ecological effects of fishing, including trophic impacts.
The strategic assessment of the South Australian pilchard fishery identified the need to measure and minimize the impacts of the fishery on the “broader ecosystem” and “to review the current ecological management objectives, management strategies and performance indicators”.
Provisions of the Commonwealth Environment and Biodiversity Conservation Act require strategic assessment and, if necessary, mitigation of the ecological effects of fishing, including trophic impacts.
The strategic assessment of the South Australian pilchard fishery identified the need to measure and minimize the impacts of the fishery on the “broader ecosystem” and “to review the current ecological management objectives, management strategies and performance indicators”.
However, operational ecological performance indicators and mitigating strategies have not yet been established for any pelagic fishery in Australia, and there is no agreed scientific framework for establishing these tools.
In recognition of - 1) the high profile of the SA pilchard fishery (as Australia’s largest pelagic fishery); 2) the important ecological role of pilchards in the Flinders Current Ecosystem; 3) the high economic value and conservation significance of the region’s marine predators; 4) and the sophisticated (single-species) stock assessment procedures and management arrangements that have been established, members of the South Australian pilchard fishery have identified the need to establish “world’s best practices” for managing the potential ecological impacts of the fishery. In response to this need, fishers have invested $620K to assess the role of pilchards in the Flinders Current Ecosystem and to begin to develop ecological performance indicators and reference points for their fishery.
Currently, there is no scientific framework to assess whether the management arrangements that have been established for the SA Pilchard Fishery are sufficiently conservative to ensure that fishery is managed according to the principles of ESD (i.e. that fishing does not significantly affect the status of other components of the ecosystem, Fletcher et al. 2002).
In recognition of the large data sets and extended timeframes that are needed to establish and assess ecological performance indicators and reference points for pelagic fisheries, members of the South Australian pilchard fishery have also agreed to invest a further $310K (cash) to support the additional ecological research that is outlined in this proposal.
This project addresses the pressing need to develop a scientific framework for establishing ecological performance indicators and reference points for pelagic fisheries. The focus on the SA pilchard fishery is necessary, as such a large and complex undertaking could only be contemplated in large and valuable fishery that has sophisticated stock assessment procedures and management arrangements in place, and can thus afford to allocate significant resources to support the establishment of an ecosystem-based management system.
This project is needed to refine the management plan for Australia’s largest fishery to include ecological perfomance indicators and reference points and to ensure that research and management systems for the fishery correspond with, or exceed, world’s best practice by incorporating scientifically-based approaches for assessing and, if necessary, mitigating, the fishery's potential trophic impacts.
Projects such as this are needed to maintain Australia’s position as the world leader in the ecosystem-based management of fisheries. Objectives: 1. To identify species of key marine predators that consume significant quantities of sardines and could potentially be used to assess the need for ecological and/or spatial allocations in the SA pilchard fishery. 2. To identify population parameters for these key marine predators, such as measures of foraging and/or reproductive success, that are likely to be affected by changes in the distribution and abundance of sardines, and which could potentially act as ecological performance indicators for the fishery. 3. To examine the spatial and temporal scales at which these performance indicators vary in order to develop reference points that could be used to assess the need (if any) to establish ecological allocations in the fishery. 4. To use the results of this study to revise the managment plan and establish cost effective systems for ongoing monitoring and assessment of the ecological effects of the SA sardine fishery. Read moreRead less
Workshop To Establish National Protocol For Monitoring Loss Of Seagrass Habit Of Significance To Commercial Fisheries
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Summary
Objectives: 1. Identify the most appropriate techniques to monitor seagrass abundance at a range of spatial scales. 2. Formulate a coordinated program to monitor loss ... 3. Publish proceedings for use in related studies of the consequences of seagrass loss for commercial fisheries
Effects Of Trawling Subprogram: Quantifying The Effects Of Trawling On Seabed Fauna In The Northern Prawn Fishery
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$500,846.00
Summary
Assessment of the effects of fishing and its environmental impacts are key research areas identified as high priority for Australia’s fisheries management and funding agencies. Australian fisheries are now being required to demonstrate their environmental sustainability through an Environment Australia assessment process. This requirement is being driven by new legislation such as the EPBC Act and by industry through the need for meeting standards for certification e.g. accreditation by the Mari ....Assessment of the effects of fishing and its environmental impacts are key research areas identified as high priority for Australia’s fisheries management and funding agencies. Australian fisheries are now being required to demonstrate their environmental sustainability through an Environment Australia assessment process. This requirement is being driven by new legislation such as the EPBC Act and by industry through the need for meeting standards for certification e.g. accreditation by the Marine Stewardship Council. To date there has been no study of the effects of trawling on the seabed invertebrate communities in the NPF. A CSIRO-QDPI study of the impacts of trawling on inter-reef seabed communities in the northern GBR (Poiner et al. 1998) showed that in inter-reefal areas, trawling caused an overall depletion of seabed fauna of between 5 to 20% for each trawl and the effect was cumulative. However, this inter-reef seabed is not typical of most prawn trawl grounds, which are muddier and have a different fauna. The CSIRO-QDPI study recommended that a future study should quantify the response of soft-sediment fauna to trawl disturbance. This proposal aims to do this and addresses NPF High Priority Research Areas: Effects of fishing (improved efficiency in fishing gear and techniques in order to reduce bycatch and discarding and environmental impacts on the benthos). Some sectors of society recognize prawn trawling as one of the main extractive activities in tropical seabed areas of Australia, and there is an increased pressure to limit its perceived impacts. However, if these practices are to continue, how do we ensure that the effects of trawling on the seabed are sustainable? It is imperative to evaluate conservation and management options for the seabed and develop indicators for the status of the seabed and impacts of the fishery. In order to achieve this, we need to know:
-The fine-scale spatial extent of the fishing effort within the NPF -The mortality rates of different species of seabed fauna under different fishing impact intensities. -The rate of recovery of impacted seabed fauna. -The likely response of the seabed fauna under different management options. This project will address these questions. The compilation and mapping of the available VMS data will provide an accurate depiction of the overall combined fishing effort over the whole of the fishing grounds. The repeat trawl experiment will provide estimates of trawl-induced mortality rates of various seabed fauna. The recovery of these species will be monitored at 6-monthly intervals for 2 years after the repeat trawl experiment. These data will be incorporated into the Trawl Impacts Model and the responses of seabed fauna to a variety of management options will be modeled. Data derived in this project will enable us to increase confidence in the outputs of the model and provide more soundly based advice to managers. However, a future complimentary project to characterise the seabed fauna over broader geographic regions, including a range of fishing effort would be needed to increase and expand our confidence in the predictions from the model for the whole of the NPF.
Objectives: 1. Determine the spatial and temporal extent of overall fishing effort at a fine scale trawl effort (~1 nm resolution) using VMS data (up to 2002) for the entire NPF. 2. Measure the rate of depletion of seabed organisms following exposure to known trawling intensities in experimental plots in two regions within the GoC. 3. Measure the rate of recovery of seabed biota for two years following the depletion experiment. 4. Use an NPF trawl simulation model to evaluate alternative options for achieving environmental and fisheries objectives. Read moreRead less
Ecological Risk Assessment For Effects Of Fishing On Habitats And Communities
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$120,425.00
Summary
The risk-based ERAEF approach to assessing impacts from fishing underpins strategic assessment for AFMA-managed fisheries, and is also crucial in the AFMA ERM process.
The ERAEF methodology uses a hierarchical approach to estimate risk from fishing activities. Level 1 (SICA) in the hierarchy has been applied to all Commonwealth fisheries across all five components (target species, bycatch and byproduct species, TEP species, habitats, and ecological communities). The Level 2 PSA species ....The risk-based ERAEF approach to assessing impacts from fishing underpins strategic assessment for AFMA-managed fisheries, and is also crucial in the AFMA ERM process.
The ERAEF methodology uses a hierarchical approach to estimate risk from fishing activities. Level 1 (SICA) in the hierarchy has been applied to all Commonwealth fisheries across all five components (target species, bycatch and byproduct species, TEP species, habitats, and ecological communities). The Level 2 PSA species and habitat assessment tools have already been developed and applied for a subset of fisheries in the Stage 2 ERAEF project. In the proposed project we will assist in the development of a framework for ERA to ERM for habitats identified as high risk from the existing analyses, look to integrate the ERAEF results with other projects focusing on habitat impacts (FRDC 2003/021). Level 1 (SICA) in the hierarchy has been applied to all Commonwealth fisheries across all five components (target species, bycatch and byproduct species, TEP species, habitats, and ecological communities). The Level 2 PSA species and habitat assessment tools have already been developed and applied for a subset of fisheries in the Stage 2 ERAEF project. In the proposed project we will assist in the development of a framework for ERA to ERM for habitats identified as high risk from the existing analyses, demonstrate this using worked examples from the SESSF (or GAB), and a fishery that is relatively data poor such as the WDWT. We will also complete the development of the community component methodology. Objectives: 1. Provide a framework for the ERA to ERM for the ERAEF Level 2 Habitat assessment approach 2. Complete the development of the ERAEF Level communities (ecosystems) approach Read moreRead less
Rebuilding Abalone Populations To Limit Impacts Of The Spread Of Urchins, Abalone Viral Ganglioneuritis And Other External Impacts
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$340,000.00
Summary
Local abalone populations can be severely depleted by a range of impacts, including loss of habitat from the spread of sea urchins, diseases such as AVG and Perkinsus, environmental change and theft. Many of these impacts have been increasing for over a decade, although impacts of sea urchins on abalone and reef habitats in the last 5 years have been spreading in eastern Victoria, and appear related to climate change. Similarly, impacts remain from the spread of AVG through western Victoria.Local abalone populations can be severely depleted by a range of impacts, including loss of habitat from the spread of sea urchins, diseases such as AVG and Perkinsus, environmental change and theft. Many of these impacts have been increasing for over a decade, although impacts of sea urchins on abalone and reef habitats in the last 5 years have been spreading in eastern Victoria, and appear related to climate change. Similarly, impacts remain from the spread of AVG through western Victoria.
There is evidence that production from commercial abalone fisheries continues to be reduced by the ongoing increase in external impacts to local abalone populations. While tools have been developed at a small-scale to help recover abalone populations, there is a strong need to investigate, implement and assess these at a larger scale to be able to minimise further impacts and recover productivity of abalone populations.
VicFRAB this year rated its highest priority to facilitate the investigation of translocating abalone to address declines caused by urchins and disease. Similarly, the NSW DPI strategic research plan identifies a priority to "determine methods to restore depleted reefs of abalone through techniques such as transplants, habitat rehabilitation and reseeding". The ACA Strategic Plan also details actions to plan and support remedial action to reduce the impact of pests, disease and theft on abalone.
The ongoing spread of impacts to local abalone populations is having a broad impact on shallow reef habitats. Small-scale research has demonstrated the potential of recovery techniques, but have not been implemented at a broad scale to actually attempt to recover lost productivity. This project will address the need to investigate the scaling up of recovery techniques, and their costs and long-term benefits, in an attempt to recovery lost productivity from abalone populations in south east Australia. Objectives: 1. Identify and prioritise sites and strategies for assessment to recover shallow reef habitat and productive abalone populations 2. Assess strategies for recovery of shallow reef habitats and productive abalone populations. 3. Develop a business plan to guide ongoing future actions and strategies to extend the project outputs and rebuild abalone populations. Read moreRead less
Quantifying The Exposure, Protection And Recovery Of Seafloor Habitats In Spencer Gulf To Prawn Trawling
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$314,535.00
Summary
An independent review (FishListic Pty Ltd. 2019) identified knowledge gaps that need to be addressed for the SGPF to have a successful re-assessment of their MSC certification. The review found that detailed information was needed on the percentage of key seafloor habitat types within and outside the trawl footprint.
The review highlighted the need to visually monitor the SGPF’s associated habitats to address knowledge gaps of habitat extent, regeneration, detailed mapping, sensitivity ....An independent review (FishListic Pty Ltd. 2019) identified knowledge gaps that need to be addressed for the SGPF to have a successful re-assessment of their MSC certification. The review found that detailed information was needed on the percentage of key seafloor habitat types within and outside the trawl footprint.
The review highlighted the need to visually monitor the SGPF’s associated habitats to address knowledge gaps of habitat extent, regeneration, detailed mapping, sensitivity and understanding of gear impacts. Specific knowledge gaps are: a) the presence/extent of sponge and rhodolith habitats currently in medium to high-intensity trawl areas; b) regeneration of sponge and rhodolith habitats previously subjected to high-intensity trawling; c) post-capture survivability of rhodolith pavement; and d) impact of gear on specific habitats.
The MSC Fisheries Standard for Habitats (PI 2.4) requires explicit assessment of the fishery’s impact on commonly encountered habitats, vulnerable marine ecosystems (VMEs) and minor habitats. While VMEs are not currently designated in Spencer Gulf, the common, sensitive and minor habitats associated with the SGPF need to be evaluated. Data are needed on the amount of exposure of these habitats to prawn trawling in Spencer Gulf, as well as on their protection and recovery, to determine their status.
In order for the SGPF to maintain its status as one of the world’s best managed prawn trawl fisheries and retain its social licence to operate, the requirements of MSC Principle 2: Habitat (2.4) need to be addressed. Seafloor habitat types found within the trawl grounds need to be visually monitored, described, quantified, and impacts from prawn trawling assessed.
New understanding of the spatial and temporal distribution of key habitats and impacts from fishing in the context of the entire Spencer Gulf is needed to protect fisheries resources and the environment that supports them, and for integrated ecosystem-based management to be implemented in the future.
Objectives: 1. Estimate the proportion of key seafloor habitats (namely sponge gardens, rhodolith pavements and seagrass) and selected by-catch species that occur inside and outside the SGPF trawl footprint; 2. Quantify the spatial distribution of cumulative trawl intensity and time-since-trawled across Spencer Gulf; 3. Quantify the exposure and protection of seafloor habitats and by-catch species to trawling; 4. Estimate the potential regeneration timeframes of key seafloor habitats and assess their current status. Read moreRead less
Development And Evaluation Of Community Based Monitoring Programs For Coastal Ecosystems And Fisheries Habitats
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$261,442.00
Summary
Nationally the general public is developing a greater awareness about matters that relate to natural resource management and particularly the accelerating rate of degradation of coastal marine environments. However, concomitant knowledge and information that would enable the community to take a more overt role in supporting the management of these resources does not match this awareness.
There is therefore, a growing need to equip the community with relevant skills and knowledge about c ....Nationally the general public is developing a greater awareness about matters that relate to natural resource management and particularly the accelerating rate of degradation of coastal marine environments. However, concomitant knowledge and information that would enable the community to take a more overt role in supporting the management of these resources does not match this awareness.
There is therefore, a growing need to equip the community with relevant skills and knowledge about coastal ecosystems. The development of these skills will empower local communities and enable them to take an active role both in community based monitoring and advocacy leading in turn to improved management outcomes at local, state and national levels.
Coastal reefs provide an ideal vehicle for the development of such community based programs. These reefs are important in the provision of both food and habitat for many fisheries species and are also sites that receive high visitation rates for recreational fishing, diving and related activities. Importantly, reef systems close to metropolitan areas around Australia (and particularly the metropolitan coast of Adelaide) are degraded due to a combination of factors including waste water disposal, storm water runoff, over-fishing, invasive species and increased sediment mobility (particularly due to associated seagrass losses).
Effective mitigation and rehabilitation strategies can only be developed if managers are informed about the causal linkages between putative impacts and habitat degradation. By developing community-based programs to monitor and evaluate the status of reefs, we can make substantial progress in addressing this need .
Whereas monitoring activities need to be ongoing to provide the best opportunity for early problem detection, marine research is profoundly expensive. The use of well-trained community volunteers will provide an effective way to augment the efforts of other agencies and thus increase overall coverage of coastal ecosystems. Objectives: 1. To develop a better knowledge and understanding of coastal reef ecosystems through:* Identification of appropriate indices for assessment and development of survey methodologies* Application of these methodologies to obtain baseline and time scale data for coastal reef ecosystems which is relevant to the needs of key management agencies including SA Water, EPA, and DEH. 2. To foster community ownership and participation in monitoring and assessment:* Through the development of training and education packages* By encouraging and mobilising community participation 3. To develop a credible assessment program:* Through the process of training, testing and accreditation of all participants* By undertaking scientifically rigorous evaluation of the community monitoring program. Read moreRead less
Assessment Of The Impacts Of Seal Populations On The Seafood Industry In South Australia
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$380,000.00
Summary
The last 25 years have seen a 3.5 fold increase in the population size of New Zealand fur seals (NZFS) in SA, which now number over 85,000 individuals. This recovery may continue for a further 15-30 years, and the level at which populations may stabilise is unknown. New haul-out sites and breeding colonies are establishing across the State, some in close proximity to finfish aquaculture, and major commercial and recreational fishing areas. In addition, an Australian fur seal population has recen ....The last 25 years have seen a 3.5 fold increase in the population size of New Zealand fur seals (NZFS) in SA, which now number over 85,000 individuals. This recovery may continue for a further 15-30 years, and the level at which populations may stabilise is unknown. New haul-out sites and breeding colonies are establishing across the State, some in close proximity to finfish aquaculture, and major commercial and recreational fishing areas. In addition, an Australian fur seal population has recently established in SA and has more than doubled in the last five years. There is also growing concern from the seafood and ecotourism (little penguins, giant cuttlefish) industries and the community that fur seals are overabundant and that their populations and impacts need to be managed. As a consequence of this broad industry and public concern, this project was listed as one of the priority areas for investment by the SAFRAB.
Most of the seals that interact with fisheries, aquaculture and ecotourism are juvenile and sub-adult males that restrict their feeding the shelf waters; however the diet and foraging behaviour of this part of the population is poorly understood. Little is also understood about the potential competitive interactions between the three species of seals that may be limiting the recovery of the threatened Australian sea lion. The project aims to investigate the diets and foraging distributions of seals in SA’s gulf and shelf waters to assess the importance of commercial fish and finfish aquaculture species in their diet. Trophic modelling will be used to assess the impact of consumption on current and future seafood production, and industry questionnaires and consultation will be used to assess the economic impact and the degree and nature of interactions between seals and finfish aquaculture, fisheries and marine ecotourism industries.
Objectives: 1. Determine the importance of commercial and recreational fish and fin-fish aquaculture species in diets of seals 2. Determine the spatial distribution of foraging and consumption effort of fur seals relative to important fin-fish aquaculture and commercial and recreational fishing areas 3. Estimate the impacts of consumption by seals, and the implications of increasing populations on the future biomass of commercially and recreationally important marine taxa on seafood and marine ecotourism industries 4. Estimate the costs to the fin-fish aquaculture industry from stock losses, deterrent methods and maintenance requirements associated with seal interactions 5. Assess perceptions of the economic impacts of operational and trophic interactions with seals on seafood and on other species such as little penguin, giant cuttlefish and the potential ecological displacement of Australian sea lions from increasing fur seal populations Read moreRead less