The changing marketplace and production profile of rock lobster internationally dictates that the Australian rock lobster industry applies state of the art technology in management, research and development, if we are to maintain a competitive position and grow the value of the limited resource.
At present no vehicle exists to allow industry an effective interchange of ideas or to consider leading edge research and development from around the globe. Essentially the Australian lobster i ....The changing marketplace and production profile of rock lobster internationally dictates that the Australian rock lobster industry applies state of the art technology in management, research and development, if we are to maintain a competitive position and grow the value of the limited resource.
At present no vehicle exists to allow industry an effective interchange of ideas or to consider leading edge research and development from around the globe. Essentially the Australian lobster industries operate in isolation, disjointed by State borders.
The Tri-State Southern Rock Lobster Conference has historically seen ad hoc attempts made to bring industry together. The conference has evolved into a quasi national event with representatives from most States and New Zealand in attendance, although the primary focus on the jasus edwardsii lobster remains a deficiency.
An outcome of the most recent Tri-State Conference, was a call for a National Lobster Conference including all States and species not covered, to establish a forum for industry Australia wide to make a start at building a national focus on management, marketing, development and problem solving.
At present information flow in these areas are localised trickles at best and the industry has a responsibility to upgrade its role in information exchange. Objectives: 1. Provide an International Class Lobster Industry Congress 2. To Ensure a Financially Viable Event Read moreRead less
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
Driving Innovation In Environmental Performance In The Queensland Fishing Industry
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$80,000.00
Summary
Environmental performance will be one of the most important drivers of future fishing industry profitability. There is a growing recognition amongst the industry's grass roots that long-term profitability will require maintainence of existing resource and market access - access that is only possible with improved environmental performance and demonstrated triple bottom line sustainability.
Projects that assist in motivating and demonstrating continual improvement in the industry's envi ....Environmental performance will be one of the most important drivers of future fishing industry profitability. There is a growing recognition amongst the industry's grass roots that long-term profitability will require maintainence of existing resource and market access - access that is only possible with improved environmental performance and demonstrated triple bottom line sustainability.
Projects that assist in motivating and demonstrating continual improvement in the industry's environmental performance are clearly within industry's interest, and will assist in increasing community and consumer confidence in the sustainability of wild capture fisheries.
Methodologies to assist in motivating and demonstrating continual environmental improvement in the seafood industry have been the subject of significant investment at the policy level but remain largely unimplemented on the ground at broad scale. This project aims to roll out 'green chooser' (FRDC 2000/146) derived EMS methodologies across two broad scale pilot project areas both subject to a high degree of community scrutiny (Moreton Bay, Cairns inshore fishery). In doing so the project will 'road test' the existing green chooser EMS model and refine it where necessary to ensure it is relevant to the needs of grass roots industry.
In addition, improvement of incentives for adoption of best practice will greatly assist industry environmental performance while providing significant opportunities to reduce management and compliance costs. In the long-term, the project aims to improve overall industry profitability by assisting Queensland fishers demonstrate the benefits of low cost and high performance co-management arrangements.
For collaborative agencies involved fisheries regulation there is a strong recognition that EMS can provide reform mechanisms which are industry driven. Further, for these agencies the project provides an alternate tool to demonstrate that state (e.g. QFS), national and international (e.g. Environment Australia) sustainability obligations are being met. Moreover, the proposed project can offer relevant agencies the opportunity to further streamline, co-ordinate and integrate parallel programs (incl. extension & compliance) at fisher level. These needs are reflected in the high number of collaborative agencies involved in the project.
The recently released mid-review findings of the Seafood Industry Training Package Review recommend a stronger emphasis on environmental awareness and promotion of ESD and environmental management throughout the training package - a need which is also reflected in the Seafood Training Australia’s Strategic Training Plan for 2001-2002.
The proposed project can operationally deliver QFIRAC and FRDC priorities, as envisaged by the FRDC's Environmental Management Systems Initiative (FRDC Project 2000/084). FRDC, in creating its EMS initiative has allocated funds to ensure the persons employed under this initiative and associated industry champions are appropriately trained for their roles. The proposed project can further value add and extend both current (e.g. FRDC 2002/303) and previous research investments (e.g. FRDC 2000/146). Objectives: 1. To develop and implement two EMS projects for industry participants that will have utility for the fishing industry throughout Queensland. 2. To further refine the existing Green Chooser EMS methodology with a focus on identifying and overcoming any impediments to on-ground implementation. 3. To improve awareness of the triple-bottom line benefits of EMS amongst both the seafood industry and broader community in the pilot regions. 4. To provide EMS project officers, industry champions and industry participants with the necessary knowledge and skills to optimally carry out their roles and responsibilities. 5. To establish a grass roots culture amongst pilot regions of continual improvement in environmental performance, and to motivate the development of an industry-driven framework to demonstrate ongoing improvements in environmental performance post the life of the project. Read moreRead less
Review Of Fishery Resource Access And Allocation Arrangements Across Australian Jurisdictions
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$106,640.00
Summary
In 2010, the Australian Fisheries Managers Forum (AFMF) listed fisheries access and allocation as one of the top priority policy issues to be addressed. Subsequently, FRDC formed a working group to examine possible approaches to access and allocation issues to assist fisheries managers as they undertook their associated policy development around allocation matters. They produced a report on the principles and guidelines for fisheries resource access and allocation, highlighting impediments to ....In 2010, the Australian Fisheries Managers Forum (AFMF) listed fisheries access and allocation as one of the top priority policy issues to be addressed. Subsequently, FRDC formed a working group to examine possible approaches to access and allocation issues to assist fisheries managers as they undertook their associated policy development around allocation matters. They produced a report on the principles and guidelines for fisheries resource access and allocation, highlighting impediments to optimising fisheries resource access and allocation in Australia and the RD&E issues requiring investment. Seven years on, there has been a lot of developments in this area in the various jurisdictions. To assist guide FRDC's future RD&E investment on these issues, the Board requested a review of the current state of fishery resouce access and allocation across the various jurisdictions.
Objectives: 1. Define the elements (i.e. units to which resource access is allocated) of access and allocation 2. Review available information and provide examples of allocation and access in Australian fisheries jurisdictions and other industries 3. Describe the tools available for access and allocation and how they are implemented in each jurisdiction 4. Identify jurisdictional gaps and differences and recommend potential tools / options to fill those gaps Read moreRead less
A Review Of Current Research Needs Of The South East Trawl Fishery
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$22,000.00
Summary
Objectives: 1. Review the current research planning and selection porocesses for the SETF; assess the effectiveness of the industry input to these processes and, if necessary, recommend changes to achieve more effective industry involvement. 2. Review the current SEF Research Plan (from an industry perspective) and suggest future industry research requirements based on discussions with industry, fishery managers, researcher, Environment Australia, relevant NGO's and funding agencies. ....Objectives: 1. Review the current research planning and selection porocesses for the SETF; assess the effectiveness of the industry input to these processes and, if necessary, recommend changes to achieve more effective industry involvement. 2. Review the current SEF Research Plan (from an industry perspective) and suggest future industry research requirements based on discussions with industry, fishery managers, researcher, Environment Australia, relevant NGO's and funding agencies. In particular, this assessment should identify emerging environmental issues, requiring strategic research and research that may be required to assist the fishery in gaining environmental accreditation. 3. In light of increasing demands for research, recommend appropriate funding sources and strategies with a view to assisting the industry to gain maximum leverage from its research expenditure. Read moreRead less
Valuing WA Smaller Commercial Fisheries Across The Supply Chain
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$149,681.00
Summary
The proposed study will produce information about the supply-chain economic contribution of selected small scale fisheries in Western Australia, as well as a method that can be applied to making these estimates for other fisheries.
The proposed approach includes making three separate estimates of the supply-chain contribution of selected fisheries using three different levels of information: (1 – minimal cost) published fishery production data and a regional economic model that describe ....The proposed study will produce information about the supply-chain economic contribution of selected small scale fisheries in Western Australia, as well as a method that can be applied to making these estimates for other fisheries.
The proposed approach includes making three separate estimates of the supply-chain contribution of selected fisheries using three different levels of information: (1 – minimal cost) published fishery production data and a regional economic model that describes inter-regional flows using published statistical data, (2 – minimum consultation) the same as 1 but also including a workshop with key stakeholders to inform the assumptions, and (3 – maximum data) the same as 2 but also collecting primary data from businesses along the supply-chain. As such, the estimates produced for the selected fisheries using approach 3 will be of high quality and the recommended method described in the guidelines will be informed by a comparison of the cost and performance of undertaking the analysis using each level of information.
Three approaches to obtain supply chain data will be utilised and compared in this project. Below summarises the set of data sources within each approach.
Minimal cost approach Fishery production statistics: Published production statistics (State of the Fisheries 2020/21*) or data request to DPIRD Fishery financials and employment: Published profiles (if available) or matched fisheries (as per 2017-210) Supply-chain flows: Analysis of regional input-output tables, taken as given Supply-chain financials and employment: Analysis of regional input-output tables
Minimal consultation approach Fishery production statistics: Published production statistics (State of the Fisheries 2020/21*) or data request to DPIRD Fishery financials and employment: Published profiles (if available) or matched fisheries (as per 2017-210) Supply-chain flows: Estimated by workshop with stakeholders, starting from input-output table estimates Supply-chain financials and employment: Analysis of regional input-output tables
Maximum data approach Fishery production statistics: Published production statistics (State of the Fisheries 2020/21*) or data request to DPIRD Fishery financials and employment: Primary data Supply-chain flows: Primary data Supply-chain financials and employment: Primary data
* Newman, S.J., Wise, B.S., Santoro, K.G. and Gaughan, D.J. (eds) 2021, Status Reports of the Fisheries and Aquatic Resources of Western Australia 2020/21: The State of the Fisheries, Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, Western Australia.
Key to estimating the supply-chain flows for the low-data approaches, we will apply the direct coefficients from input-output tables within our RISE models to the value of each fishery to estimate the value of each node of the supply chain for each fishery. The input-output model tells us for each dollar of sales from the fishing sector there are sales to other sectors (i.e. processing, wholesale trade, retail trade, food services). Subsequently, those sectors also have sales to other sectors. By applying these coefficients in sequence we can estimate the value of each node of the supply chain. Data for input-output models are held by BDO and ultimately sourced from publications by ABS, RBA, ATO and other public organisations.
Under the minimal consultation approach, we will refine the supply-chain map developed under the minimal cost approach by eliciting judgement by key stakeholders. These stakeholders will have an idea of the size of the supply chain nodes and will be able to confirm or adjust the values according to their knowledge.
Under the maximum data approach, we will interview businesses along the supply chain in order to collect data to value each supply chain node. We will elicit the value of each business and the number and size of businesses at each node. Information on the number and approximate size of businesses at each supply chain node will be sought from industry participants at the workshop. Contact details for businesses willing to be involved in the interview process with also be sought at the workshop.
Objectives: 1. To recommend a method to map and value the supply chain of small scale fisheries in WA and to estimate the economic contribution at each node of the supply chain, including options for addressing gaps in data availability. 2. To develop an extension to the Australian Fisheries and Aquaculture Industry 2017/18 Practitioner Guidelines, for assessing supply chains and economic contributions of small-scale fisheries. Read moreRead less
Resource Sharing In Australian Fisheries Workshop - Progress To Date, Lessons Learnt And Next Steps Towards A Harmonised Approach
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$11,750.00
Summary
There is an urgent need to reflect on the current state of fisheries resource sharing in Australia and how it can meet future demands. Over the past 20 years individual Australian jurisdictions have developed and implemented resource sharing arrangements. These generally apply to commercial and recreational fisheries, and in some cases indigenous cultural fishers. The resource sharing arrangements stem from the objectives of fisheries legislation in Australia which is based on the principles o ....There is an urgent need to reflect on the current state of fisheries resource sharing in Australia and how it can meet future demands. Over the past 20 years individual Australian jurisdictions have developed and implemented resource sharing arrangements. These generally apply to commercial and recreational fisheries, and in some cases indigenous cultural fishers. The resource sharing arrangements stem from the objectives of fisheries legislation in Australia which is based on the principles of ESD that include consideration of all fishery resource users in the management of fisheries. Understandably when management resources are limited the focus is on those having the greatest impact on fish stock which for most species is the commercial sector, and sometimes the recreational sector. The use of OCS provisions in fisheries legislation was both an effort to simplify commercial fisheries management and reduce the need to have resource sharing arrangements. While this was largely successful it has run its course due to the value of commercial rights ($billions) that have now accrued under current OCS agreements making it almost impossible to make further significant changes. Alongside these developments a component of the recreational fishing sector has been increasing its range and capacity to catch fish using larger boats and technology similar to that employed by some commercial fishers. This has led to traditionally commercial species being accessed by recreational fishers with growing concerns from the former sector about their fishing future. Various policies and statutes have been implemented by the states/NT in an effort to allocate the shares of a fish stock. This has become easier as a growing number of fish stocks are subject to TACs with the commercial fishers subject to ITQs and recreational fishers to increasingly stock-specific possession limits. Despite this those states/NT who have implemented resource sharing have experienced its contentious, costly and drawn out nature, and are only starting to confront stocks which cross both jurisdictions and fishing sectors. It is time to reflect on experience to date and find the best way to manage fisheries resource sharing in the future. Objectives: 1. To find common ground on resource sharing across Australian jurisdictions and consider the benefits of working towards a harmonised approach. 2. If objective 1 achieved, hold conversations with AFMF and leaders in various fishery stakeholder groups to determine the next steps Read moreRead less
Development Of An Ecosystem Approach To The Monitoring And Management Of Western Australian Fisheries
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$576,428.81
Summary
There are currently no standard techniques that can be used to assess whether fishing has had significant impacts on ecosystem structure. The current round of EPBC assessments has demonstrated that a more robust assessment of ecosystem impacts will be required when the next application for export exemption is submitted in five years time. It is vital for WA's export fisheries that the types of changes in exploitation and/or environment that could cause marked changes in ecosystem structure are ....There are currently no standard techniques that can be used to assess whether fishing has had significant impacts on ecosystem structure. The current round of EPBC assessments has demonstrated that a more robust assessment of ecosystem impacts will be required when the next application for export exemption is submitted in five years time. It is vital for WA's export fisheries that the types of changes in exploitation and/or environment that could cause marked changes in ecosystem structure are identified, the types of data necessary to assess whether such changes are occurring are determined, and cost-effective methods are developed to provide information on the level of ecosystem changes that have occurred.
Having appropriate techniques to assess whether fishing within a region is significantly modifying the ecosystem is seen as a national priority. At a recent workshop held by the Research Committee of the Australian Fisheries Managers Forum (AFMF) it was concluded that different types and levels of analysis are likely to be needed for different purposes and it would be “inappropriate to abandon any particular approach prematurely”. Given the potential costs associated with the collection of new or additional data at an ecosystem level, it is imperative that attempts are made to see if existing datasets, such as those currently maintained by fisheries agencies on catch and effort, are suitable for this purpose and to apply modelling approaches, such as those developed in FRDC 2000/311, to these refined datasets.
Completing routine ecosystem-level assessments will only be feasible when tools are available to simplify the complex process of analysing the multi-sector, multi-species databases that are present in WA (and most jurisdictions). There is a need, therefore, to identify and test a variety of statistical methods using these datasets to determine if any are suitable for detecting shifts in ecosystems or community structure. Objectives: 1. Test the robustness of statistical procedures to identify impacts of multi-sector fishing on community composition using existing fishery data. 2. Assess the level of change in community composition in each bioregion of WA during the previous 30 years. 3. Identify key data to which ecosystem structure and management strategies are most sensitive and which should be collected in the future. 4. Identify critical changes in exploitation and/or environment that would impact marine ecosystems markedly. 5. Identify areas where more detailed research and/or monitoring are needed. Read moreRead less
The Right Conversations - Identifying Optimal Stakeholder Engagement And Evaluation Practices For Fisheries
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$69,250.00
Summary
Improved seafood industry engagement with its stakeholders/communities remains a high priority for the Fisheries Research & Development Corporation (FRDC) to address low rates of societal acceptance and/or support. The FRDC recognises that social support for the seafood industry relies heavily on members’ improving their understanding of people’s views about the industry, and on building more trusting relationships with those people - especially those with direct influence on resource access dec ....Improved seafood industry engagement with its stakeholders/communities remains a high priority for the Fisheries Research & Development Corporation (FRDC) to address low rates of societal acceptance and/or support. The FRDC recognises that social support for the seafood industry relies heavily on members’ improving their understanding of people’s views about the industry, and on building more trusting relationships with those people - especially those with direct influence on resource access decisions. In addition to being more effective ‘engagers’, the industry also needs to be able to evaluate how effective their engagement activities are and how they can continually build community trust. Towards that end, the FRDC commissioned a range of projects focusing on building the seafood industry’s capacity for effective stakeholder/community engagement (e.g. Ogier & Brooks 2016, FRDC 2014/301, 2011/525; Ham 2010, 2001/310), long term industry leadership (e.g. FRDC 2011/410), and adaptation and well-being (e.g. 2012/402) - all of which are necessary for the industry to build social support.
However, it remains unclear how and to what extent industry members are using these and other resources to help them ‘engage’ with their stakeholders/communities. It is believed that there are obstacles that can limit industry members’ use of these resources and their general engagement practices, including:
1. Industry members not seeing the full relevance or need for engagement; 2. Industry members perceiving ‘engagement’ as marketing and/or product promotion; 3. Industry members lacking the necessary expertise, capability and capacity in engagement; 4. Lack of knowledge and information about the comparative effectiveness of various engagement activities and strategies, particularly in a fisheries context; and 5. Ineffective extension of existing information (e.g. unsuitable formats).
This Project is designed to explore how and to what extent these and other barriers keep the seafood industry from making substantive progress towards building greater stakeholder and community trust.
Objectives: 1. Conduct desktop research to ascertain the range of factors influencing (primary) industry’s use of available and best practice engagement strategies, tools and practices. 2. Identify examples of effective and accessible processes for designing and evaluating targeted engagement strategies (for primary industries, including fisheries). 3. Identify means for industry to assess the effectiveness of engagement activities (evaluation) to give confidence in their investments 4. Share project findings with the primary audience (the Human Dimensions Program and seafood industry leaders). 5. Improve understanding of key barriers to the seafood industry’s adoption of existing best practice models and methods of engagement. 6. Improve applicability of existing engagement resources for seafood industry to increase their capacity to effectively engage with its stakeholders and communities. Read moreRead less
Mapping The Distribution And Movement Of Gulper Sharks, And Developing A Non-extractive Monitoring Technique, To Mitigate The Risk To The Species Within A Multi-sector Fishery Region Off Southern And Eastern Australia
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$911,796.00
Summary
There are some very clear needs arising both prior to and potentially following decisions about listing gulper sharks. These include:
1. The need to identify areas of remaining populations of gulper sharks, particularly on the east coast of Australia (Tasmania to northern NSW) and out onto the seamounts in the Tasman and Coral Seas. (Identifying these areas will help identify suitable areas for protection from further fishing, and to some extent will help determine whether current closu ....There are some very clear needs arising both prior to and potentially following decisions about listing gulper sharks. These include:
1. The need to identify areas of remaining populations of gulper sharks, particularly on the east coast of Australia (Tasmania to northern NSW) and out onto the seamounts in the Tasman and Coral Seas. (Identifying these areas will help identify suitable areas for protection from further fishing, and to some extent will help determine whether current closures off Eastern Tasmania and Wollongong are appropriately located).
2. The need to determine movement rates and ranges occupied by gulper sharks, particularly into and out of closed areas. (This information would provide evidence to determine whether the current size and location of closures is appropriate).
3. The need to develop monitoring techniques that use non-lethal sampling to follow trends in abundance over time and between areas. Such techniques should be cost effective (ideally involving industry), provide sufficient resolution to detect change, and would form a key plank in a rebuilding strategy for gulper sharks should they be listed. The need for non-lethal sampling methods follows directly from concerns about the already highly depleted state of these species in key parts of their range.
Objectives: 1. Map the current distribution of gulper sharks in eastern Australia 2. Measure the rates of movement of gulper sharks in and out of closed areas 3. Develop non lethal methods for long term monitoring of gulper shark populations 4. Provide early results (that integrate field results with existing knowledge) for evaluation by the EPBC listing (TSSC) process, and for an overarching implementation strategy to underpin the development of a long-term stock rebuilding plan Read moreRead less