Distribution, Abundance And Population Dynamics Of Beachworms (Onuphidae) In Queensland/NSW And The Impact Of Commercial And Recreational Fishing
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$70,469.96
Summary
1. Demand for baitworms presently exceeds supply. 2. The number of worm gathering licences is currently frozen. However potential wormers can set themselves up to earn an apparently good income with only a relatively small capital investment. In combination 2. will probably lead to substantial future pressure for allocation of new worm gathering licences. Without any real knowledge of what might be a sustainable harvest, such allocations should be resisted. 3. No estimates of the recrea ....1. Demand for baitworms presently exceeds supply. 2. The number of worm gathering licences is currently frozen. However potential wormers can set themselves up to earn an apparently good income with only a relatively small capital investment. In combination 2. will probably lead to substantial future pressure for allocation of new worm gathering licences. Without any real knowledge of what might be a sustainable harvest, such allocations should be resisted. 3. No estimates of the recreational beachworm fishery have been made. Anecdotal evidence indicates that this fishery is very substantial and is largely unregulated. No good management protocols can be set in place unless valid estimates of professional and recreational fishing effort have been made and related to the worm populations and their ability to sustain harvesting. Objectives: 1. To determine where and why beachworms are located on QLD/N.S.W. surf beaches 2. To determine how the various onuphid species that make up the beachworm fishery are distributed relative to each other and in time 3. To determine if levels of commercial and recreational fishing effort relate to the yield and sustainability of the fishery 4. To make recommendations for management of the fishery based on an evaluation of catch and effort data and research of the biology of the worms Read moreRead less
Increasing The Marketability Of Commercial Northern Shark By Eliminating The Incidence Of Tough Flesh
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$74,439.00
Summary
Objectives: 1. To increase the marketability and value of the two major commercial species of northern shark by eliminating the incidence of toughness of flesh
A 25 Year Catch And Effort Time Series Database For The East Coast Otter Trawl Fishery
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$47,638.24
Summary
Objectives: 1. Establish a detailed and comprehensive time series catch and effort database for the east coast Otter Trawl Fishery for the period 1969-present. 2. Provide a statistically valid sample of trawl fishing operations on the east coast since 1969. 3. Provide historic baseline data for industry, management and research to assess the fishery and to provide suitable data for future stock assessment and modelling type research.
Estimating The Recreational Catch Of The Blue Swimmer Crab In The South-west Of Western Australia
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$80,380.00
Summary
The recreational and commercial components of the blue swimmer crab fishery need to be managed jointly to ensure that the total catch is sustainable. The proposed research will provide important catch and effort information on the recreational sector by season and location. Data is not available for the Peel-Harvey Estuary and Swan River recreational fisheries and this study is required to address this shortfall. Objectives: 1. To estimate annual landings of blue swimmer crab ma ....The recreational and commercial components of the blue swimmer crab fishery need to be managed jointly to ensure that the total catch is sustainable. The proposed research will provide important catch and effort information on the recreational sector by season and location. Data is not available for the Peel-Harvey Estuary and Swan River recreational fisheries and this study is required to address this shortfall. Objectives: 1. To estimate annual landings of blue swimmer crab made by recreational fishers on the coast and in major estuaries between Cape Naturaliste and Perth, Western Australian. Specifically:- Estimate recreational catch from (a) Geographe Bay, (b) Warnbro Sound, (c) Cockburn Sound using historical boat ramp and beach recreational survey data.- Estimate recreational catch and effort from unsurveyed estuaries (Swan and Peel-Harvey). Note: the Leschenault Estuary is being done by an independent study.- Compile a table of commercial and recreational catch share for Geographe Bay, Warnbro Sound, Cockburn Sound, Peel Harvey Estuary, Swan Estuary and Leschenault Estuary. Read moreRead less
Dynamic Modelling Of Socio-economic Benefits Of Resource Allocation Between Commercial And Recreational Use
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$154,200.00
Summary
Fisheries management (and stakeholders) at both State and national level do not have a well defined and documented framework and tested tool that is capable of modeling the way that changes in key variables impact on commercial and recreational relative use values over time and how this in turn affects socially optimum allocations through time. As a consequence,fisheries management is not well placed to be confident that decisions taken today are consistent with long term socially optimal outcom ....Fisheries management (and stakeholders) at both State and national level do not have a well defined and documented framework and tested tool that is capable of modeling the way that changes in key variables impact on commercial and recreational relative use values over time and how this in turn affects socially optimum allocations through time. As a consequence,fisheries management is not well placed to be confident that decisions taken today are consistent with long term socially optimal outcomes.
In looking for a framework and set of tools to evaluate resource allocation options and to measure socially optimal allocations for the purposes of satisfying legislative, including ESD, objectives, decision makers have expressed a need for: (1) a more general dynamic framework to look at optimal resource allocation through time . (2) a socio-economic analytical framework with a consistent methodology and additional set of tested tools that explicitly take into account variables impacting on the optimization of socio-economic benefits from commercial and recreational uses through time; (3) practical guidance in the application of the dynamic framework and advanced methodologies to address inter-sectoral related resource-sharing issues over time; and (4) additional supporting methodologies and tools for WA Fisheries Department (and other fisheries Agencies throughout Australia) to use in the development of an integrated coastal fisheries management initiative that will provide a consistent framework for socio-economic analysis in addressing inter-sectoral resource allocation options over time.
Objectives: 1. The development of a general framework that provides a theoretical basis for identifying key variables that impact on commercial and recreational use values over time 2. The documentation of a robust dynamic model capturing the significant variables that impact on these values over time and how these impact on socially optimum resource allocation through time and which allow simulations of the optimal resource allocations over time. 3. The demonstration of the application of the dynamic framework and model through three case studies associated with the current FRDC supported socio-economic valuation project (2001/065). This will advance the outputs from project 2001/065 in a logical, consistent and stepwise way Read moreRead less
Assessing The Efficiency Of Alternative Pot Designs For The Southern Rock Lobster (Jasus Edwardsii) Fishery
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$253,399.00
Summary
This project is an industry lead initiative aimed at investigating the potential for alternative pot designs to increase catch efficiency. All Southern Rock Lobster fisheries within Australia are now managed under total allowable commercial catches (TACCs). As a consequence, these fisheries are not regulated by controlling capture efficiency or fishing effort, so improving the catch efficiency of commercial fishing operations offers an opportunity to substantially improve net economic return wit ....This project is an industry lead initiative aimed at investigating the potential for alternative pot designs to increase catch efficiency. All Southern Rock Lobster fisheries within Australia are now managed under total allowable commercial catches (TACCs). As a consequence, these fisheries are not regulated by controlling capture efficiency or fishing effort, so improving the catch efficiency of commercial fishing operations offers an opportunity to substantially improve net economic return with minimal risk of compromising management effectiveness. Currently in South Australia, Southern Rock Lobster are captured with pots designed in line with State fishing gear regulations. However, alternative pot designs may have the potential to increase fleet efficiency through increased catch rates, thereby lowering overall operating costs. In order to assess the relative capture efficiency of alternative pot designs and any impacts to bycatch, catches per potlift of (i) legal size lobster (ii) undersized lobster (iii) spawning lobster; and (iv) bycatch need to be determined. In addition, if alternative pot designs are adopted, given the use of legal-size catch rate as the principal input to harvest strategy decision rules, legal size catch rate estimated from the alternative pots will need to be calibrated with that estimated from pots currently used in the fishery. If relative capture efficiency varies with overall catch rate, this will need to be estimated and subsequently incorporated, into new harvest strategy decision rules. Objectives: 1. Assess the catch efficiency of alternative pot designs for capturing Southern Rock Lobster through CPUE indices of (i) legal sized lobsters (ii) undersized lobsters (iii) spawning (ovigerous) female lobsters and (iv) primary bycatch species. 2. For one alternative pot design proposed by industry, develop and apply methods to calibrate alternative pot design raw CPUE for use in harvest strategy decision rules. Read moreRead less
Comparison Of The Engineering And Catching Performance Of Existing Prawn Trawls In The Spencer Gulf Prawn Fishery To Three New Prawn Trawl Designs
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Summary
Objectives: 1. Measure the engineering of six prawn trawl designs. 2. Investigate the change in drag & spread using different sized otterboards, the emphasis of the trials being reduced drag & increased performance in net opening
The WA Trap And Line Fishery On The North West Shelf
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Summary
Objectives: 1. Monitoring of the WA trap and line fishery on the NW Shelf to provide information base for future management of the fishery; 2. provide information to assess rehabilitation of multi-species stocks fished until recently.
The Methodical Introduction Of High Strength Netting To The Prawn Trawling Industry In Queensland
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$106,900.00
Summary
The Australian Fishing Industry requires assistance in becoming a more efficient user of energy. Fishing with trawl gear expends more fuel per kg of fish landed compared to passive methods such as longlining and trap fishing. In all cases however, rising fuel prices impinge on the profitability of the operations, and ultimately put their viability in jeopardy; this has reach a critical situation for many trawl operators in Australia. This project to implement high strength netting and .... The Australian Fishing Industry requires assistance in becoming a more efficient user of energy. Fishing with trawl gear expends more fuel per kg of fish landed compared to passive methods such as longlining and trap fishing. In all cases however, rising fuel prices impinge on the profitability of the operations, and ultimately put their viability in jeopardy; this has reach a critical situation for many trawl operators in Australia. This project to implement high strength netting and demonstrate the positive outcomes for the prawn trawling industry has the intention of reducing the fuel used by fishing enterprises and shifting the industry towards a more economically viable and environmentally sustainable position. Specifically, research is required to document and define the difficulties/problems associated with using high strength netting in prawn trawling applications and develop solutions for its successful implementation; followed by quantification of the nett benefit achieved. This contributes to the R&D plans and strategies of all advisory bodies to the FRDC, since they contain high priority goals to achieve FRDC’s planned outcome for Industry Development, that: "The commercial sector of the Australian fishing industry is profitable, internationally competitive and socially resilient".
Objectives: 1. For commercial netting of 50mm nominal mesh size, measure and compare the dimensional, mechanical and hydrodynamic characteristics of 1.65mm twisted PE (24 ply), 1.0mm twisted Spectra and 1.1mm braided Dynema. 2. Compare the engineering and catching performance of three dual-rig prawn trawling systems; each configured to be compatible (“optimal”) respectively to the three netting types under investigation. Read moreRead less