Systematic Revision Of The Australian Fishes Of The Family Pomadasyidae
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Summary
Objectives: 1. Study the fishes of the family Pomadasyidae in the scientific collection of the Australian Museum Sydney & the National Museum Melbourne
The development of the Fishnames project has been an ongoing concern for industry and the Fisheries Research Development Corporation.
The terms of reference (ToR) have been developed and wll be provided to workshop participants for consideration and feedback. The ToR include:
1) Report that details recommended changes to the objectives of the Fishnames process.
2) Changes to the Fishnames process.
3) The composition of the Fishnames committee.
4) Brie ....The development of the Fishnames project has been an ongoing concern for industry and the Fisheries Research Development Corporation.
The terms of reference (ToR) have been developed and wll be provided to workshop participants for consideration and feedback. The ToR include:
1) Report that details recommended changes to the objectives of the Fishnames process.
2) Changes to the Fishnames process.
3) The composition of the Fishnames committee.
4) Brief ‘user friendly’ summary of the project and outcomes suitable for publication on the FRDC website. Objectives: 1. Recommend changes to the objectives of the Fishnames process. 2. Chang to the Fishnames process. 3. The composition of the Fishnames committee. 4. A brief ‘user friendly’ summary of the project and outcomes suitable for publication on the FRDC website Read moreRead less
Validating A Defensible And Robust Method For Data Collection, Species Composition And Reporting The Harvest Of Protected Coral Species From The Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$24,000.00
Summary
The Queensland Coral Fishery (QCF) operates within the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park. It operates under quota within a Total Allowable Catch (TAC). Catch is recorded in two categories. “Specialty Coral” and “Other Coral”. Specialty Coral quota constrains the collection of CITES corals to sustainable levels.
Globally regarded as one of the best managed coral fisheries, social acceptability of wild-harvest aquarium fisheries constantly challenges the existence of the QCF. This challenge ....The Queensland Coral Fishery (QCF) operates within the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park. It operates under quota within a Total Allowable Catch (TAC). Catch is recorded in two categories. “Specialty Coral” and “Other Coral”. Specialty Coral quota constrains the collection of CITES corals to sustainable levels.
Globally regarded as one of the best managed coral fisheries, social acceptability of wild-harvest aquarium fisheries constantly challenges the existence of the QCF. This challenge is partway met by ensuring catch reporting in the QCF sets global standards for accuracy and transparency. Major reforms introduced to catch reporting in 2016 for the QCF raise these standards further. The reporting reforms will underpin assessments of ecological risk and environmental performance, the CITES non-detriment finding, and to maintain national and international market access.
The new measures now require the reporting of total actual weights for CITES corals, however it does not account for the weight of substrate attached to the actual coral when collected, which is typically removed after landing. Industry successfully advocated that trimmed substrate should not be allocated to Specialty Coral quota and that 25% of the weight should be allocated to Other Coral. This allows the true value and accurate weight of Specialty Coral quota to be realized and the total weight accounted for in the TAC. However the 25% figure is based solely on industry experience and requires independent validation. To ensure reporting is both accurate and has potential application to other fisheries, validating the quantum of trimmed substrate is critical. This project will provide this validation.
It is important that the proportion of trimmed substrate is validated through an independent scientific study for the following reasons:
• Continued social acceptance of the QCF. • Fisheries Queensland, and the Commonwealth Department of the Environment and Energy require that the trimmed substrate proportion is based on independent scientific data. • The proportion must be fairly applied to all QCF collectors for quota equity purposes (ie. it represents the current fishery and is not unfairly biased to any individual or region). Objectives: 1. Determine a statistically robust sample size 2. Determine the geographical pattern of port unloads in the Queensland Coral Fishery from the most recently completed quota year 3. Determine the proportion of samples to be undertaken in various ports such that the sample is representative of collection in the fishery 4. Determine the trimmed substrate percentage of the total weight of the Specialty Coral component of the unload, as it was reported to Fisheries Queensland 5. Determine the average percentage across all samples 6. Submit final report by 30 April 2017 Read moreRead less
Rapid Assessment Of Sustainability For Ecological Risk Of Shark & Other Chondrichthyan Bycatch Species Taken In The SSF, SENTF, SETF And GABTF
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$526,169.00
Summary
Commonwealth managed fisheries must all be strategically assessed by the Minister for Environment and Heritage, under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999. The requirements for assessment are set out in this Act and that Minister has advised AFMA that strategic assessment reports must, as part of their terms of reference, address the ecological sustainability guidelines, which were initially prepared for Schedule 4 of the Wildlife Protection Regulation of Exports and ....Commonwealth managed fisheries must all be strategically assessed by the Minister for Environment and Heritage, under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999. The requirements for assessment are set out in this Act and that Minister has advised AFMA that strategic assessment reports must, as part of their terms of reference, address the ecological sustainability guidelines, which were initially prepared for Schedule 4 of the Wildlife Protection Regulation of Exports and Imports Act 1982 (WP(REI) Act).
In addition, through the Standing Committee on Fisheries and Aquaculture, all Australian Commonwealth and State fisheries ministers have endorsed the National Policy on Fisheries Bycatch, which includes sharks and other chondrichthyans. The Commonwealth has recently released its bycatch policy, which builds on the endorsed National Policy on Fisheries Bycatch and commits the Commonwealth to developing a Bycatch Action Plan for each major Commonwealth fishery by 31 March 2001. Bycatch Action Plans have now been published for the SFF and SENTF, the SETF, and the GABTF.
Australia is a signatory to the International Plan of Action for the Conservation and Management of Sharks (IPOA-Sharks), which was ratified by the United Nations Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) Committee of Fisheries during February 1999. As a signatory, Australia is obliged to develop a National Plan of Action for the Conservation and Management of Sharks (NPOA-Sharks). AFFA established a Shark Advisory Group to prepare a Shark Assessment Report and to develop the Australian NPOA-Sharks. The Group includes representatives from all key government and non-government stakeholder groups, including shark specialists. Progress on development of the Report and Australia's NPOA-Sharks was reported to the FAO Committee of Fisheries during February 2001.
All of these initiatives require considerably more data for their full implementation. An AFMA funded project titled Ecological Risk Assessment for Commonwealth Fisheries, scheduled to finish by 31 August 2003, is under way to develop appropriate methods for risk assessment. The present project proposal is designed to address the data requirements for shark and other chondrichthyan species in the SSF, SENTF, SETF, and GABTF and to apply the agreed methods of ecological risk assessment developed through the ERA Project to these species.
Objectives: 1. Quantitatively categorise bycatch species of shark and other chondrichthyans taken in the SSF, SEF, and GABTF on the basis of ‘relative biological productivity’. 2. Semi-quantitatively categorise chondrichthyan bycatch species taken in these fisheries on the basis of ‘capture vulnerability’ determined from catchability, selectivity and availability to the fishery based on presently available data. 3. Semi-quantitatively determine diets of chondrichthyan bycatch species taken in these fisheries from analysis of stomach contents analyses to contribute to establishing their positions in marine food chains. 4. Resolve taxonomic uncertainties of various chondrichthyan species. 5. Undertake assessment of sustainability for ecological risk of each chondrichthyan bycatch species through the application of rapid assessment techniques developed through the AFMA funded project titled Ecological Risk Assessment for Commonwealth Fisheries. Read moreRead less
A Program To Develop A Consensus As To "marketing" Names Of Fish Throughout Australia And To Publicise To The Trade And To The Public These "marketing" Names
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Summary
Objectives: 1. Enable production of a list of Australian and imported commercial fish, showing the scientific names, local names in each State and a suggested marketing name for each variety
Develop And Promote The Australian Fish Names Standard (AS-SSA 5300) And Ensure Reaccreditation As A Standards Development Organisation
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$123,936.00
Summary
Use of standard Fish Names achieves outcomes that are consistent with the aims of industry and governments: 1. Reduced mis-reporting improves fisheries monitoring, stock assessment and sustainability. 2. Reduced confusion over fish names increases efficiency in seafood marketing, consumer confidence and industry profitability. 3. Improved accuracy in trade descriptions and labelling enables consumers to make more informed choices when purchasing seafood and reduces the potential for ....Use of standard Fish Names achieves outcomes that are consistent with the aims of industry and governments: 1. Reduced mis-reporting improves fisheries monitoring, stock assessment and sustainability. 2. Reduced confusion over fish names increases efficiency in seafood marketing, consumer confidence and industry profitability. 3. Improved accuracy in trade descriptions and labelling enables consumers to make more informed choices when purchasing seafood and reduces the potential for misleading and deceptive conduct. 4. Improved traceability results in more efficient management of seafood related public health incidents (including recalls) and food safety.
The commitment to standardizing Fish Names in Australia has been undertaken since the late 1970s. Strategic investments by the FRDC and SSA leadership on standardizing Fish Names culminated in the development of the Australian Fish Names Standard AS-SSA 5300-2007(AFNS).
Public and consumer confidence is vital to the well being of Australia’s seafood industry. Standard Fish Names remove confusion, strengthen consumer confidence, create market efficiency, underpin effective fisheries monitoring and improve management of food safety.
The AFNS contains agreed names for over 600 commercially important domestic and imported species of fish, and over 4,000 other domestic fish species. The process of assigning these agreed names involved the expertise of several of the world’s best fisheries taxonomists and other key stakeholders.
Development of the AFNS is underpinned by rigorous procedures agreed to by government, industry and other stakeholders and which are administered by SSA and its Fish Names Committee.
SSA is one of only 5 Standards Development Organizations (SDO) accredited by Standards Australia.
SSA has ongoing commitments to Standards Australia (including annual accreditation and audit costs) which must be met to maintain its accreditation as an SDO. Failure to do so will result in the Australian Fish Names Standard ceasing to exist and all files, etc passed on to Standards Australia.
Objectives: 1. 1. Ensure FRDC is accredited by Standards Australia as a Standards Development Organisation. 2. Continually improve the Australian Fish Names Standard AS SSA 5300 and underlying procedures to meet market, regulator and stakeholder needs and expectations. 3. Review and update Fish Names Procedures to incorporate improvements identified in the annual Standards Australia audit and feedback from stakeholders. 4. Improve the Fish Names website including the graphic design, usability and SEO (www.fishnames.com.au) 5. Provide a Fish Names Hotline service to support the adoption of standard fish names. 6. Promote the usage of Australian Standard Fish Names to the broader seafood industry. 7. Development of an alternative funding mechanism for the Administration of the Australian Fish Names Standard. 8. Undertake activities to further promote the uptake of fish names as agreed with FRDC (additional objective). Read moreRead less
Upgrade Of National Fisheries Database To Include Images An Common Names Of Australian Fishes
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$315,422.00
Summary
Management decisions should be based on good quality data. Any steps taken to improve an inadequate baseline will eventually improve data quality and the subsequent cost effectiveness of obtaining these data. Any part of the baseline where confusion can arise should be identified and improved as soon as possible. The fisheries coding system knees to be enhanced to improve its functionality to clarify names and assist users when obtaining or vetting fish data. It will also prove an important ....Management decisions should be based on good quality data. Any steps taken to improve an inadequate baseline will eventually improve data quality and the subsequent cost effectiveness of obtaining these data. Any part of the baseline where confusion can arise should be identified and improved as soon as possible. The fisheries coding system knees to be enhanced to improve its functionality to clarify names and assist users when obtaining or vetting fish data. It will also prove an important baseline for a variety of other industry uses. The resources are presently available to improve this baseline and these may not be available in the future. It also coincides with a period of activity whereby the names our seafood will be standardised and legislated. The project is timely and should be completed now.
In addition to the commercial fishing industry, fish names are frequently referred to by an extremely broad variety of groups including administrators, aquarists, editors, educators, lawyers, legislators, recreational fishermen, scientists, seafood consumers and writers. The need for a standard list of common names of Australian fishes was eloquently flagged by eminent Australian scientist, Gilbert Whitley, some thirty years ago (see attached excerpt from his paper, appendix 4). A national nomenclatural standard covering all Australian fishes is long overdue - no such standard presently exists for secondary commercial any bycatch species. CAAB has now been adopted as the industry wide coding system but would be considerably more useful if it contained standardised common name information and an image of each species.
The unavailability or inconsistency use of common names of fish has created a problem for all sectors of the seafood industry. It has also led to serious confusion when interpreting catch return sheets and fisheries data based on common names. Even the guidelines of this application form (ie Project title and identification) request the use of the approved marketing mane of each species. However, most secondary commercial and almost all bycatch species have not been allocated a single approved common name.
Whereas the process of establishing single names for the main commercial species has been contentious, it is likely to be much simpler for the remaining fishes. If approached properly, the task only needs to be done once. The final product should be definitive work on the common names of Australian fishes requiring minimal alteration in the future.
The recently published Australian Seafood Handbook has created many enquiries from governmental and commercial groups wanting to gain access to images held in the CSIRO fish image library. However, in it s present form, this image collection cannot be accessed cost effectively.. The bulk of the collection is in celluloid format and the digital component has bot been assigned to a search and retrieval oriented database. Hence, it is presently grossly under utilised. A logical step is to digitise the collection and make the images freely available on the CAAB website, simultaneously improving accessibility and making CAAB more user friendly. Objectives: 1. To compile a draft list of common names of all Australian fishes for consideration by the Fish Names Committee and other stakeholders groups. 2. To scan and database high quality, digital images of Australian commercial and bycatch fishes and demonstrate their value in product promotion through associate websites and posters. 3. To upgrade the fisheries coding system website (CAAB) to include common names and images of Australian, fishes, enabling both easy and free access by industry. Read moreRead less
Upgrade Of National Fisheries Database To Include Images An Common Names Of Australian Fishes
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$17,693.64
Summary
Management decisions should be based on good quality data. Any steps taken to improve an inadequate baseline will eventually improve data quality and the subsequent cost effectiveness of obtaining these data. Any part of the baseline where confusion can arise should be identified and improved as soon as possible. The fisheries coding system knees to be enhanced to improve its functionality to clarify names and assist users when obtaining or vetting fish data. It will also prove an important ....Management decisions should be based on good quality data. Any steps taken to improve an inadequate baseline will eventually improve data quality and the subsequent cost effectiveness of obtaining these data. Any part of the baseline where confusion can arise should be identified and improved as soon as possible. The fisheries coding system knees to be enhanced to improve its functionality to clarify names and assist users when obtaining or vetting fish data. It will also prove an important baseline for a variety of other industry uses. The resources are presently available to improve this baseline and these may not be available in the future. It also coincides with a period of activity whereby the names our seafood will be standardised and legislated. The project is timely and should be completed now.
In addition to the commercial fishing industry, fish names are frequently referred to by an extremely broad variety of groups including administrators, aquarists, editors, educators, lawyers, legislators, recreational fishermen, scientists, seafood consumers and writers. The need for a standard list of common names of Australian fishes was eloquently flagged by eminent Australian scientist, Gilbert Whitley, some thirty years ago (see attached excerpt from his paper, appendix 4). A national nomenclatural standard covering all Australian fishes is long overdue - no such standard presently exists for secondary commercial any bycatch species. CAAB has now been adopted as the industry wide coding system but would be considerably more useful if it contained standardised common name information and an image of each species.
The unavailability or inconsistency use of common names of fish has created a problem for all sectors of the seafood industry. It has also led to serious confusion when interpreting catch return sheets and fisheries data based on common names. Even the guidelines of this application form (ie Project title and identification) request the use of the approved marketing mane of each species. However, most secondary commercial and almost all bycatch species have not been allocated a single approved common name.
Whereas the process of establishing single names for the main commercial species has been contentious, it is likely to be much simpler for the remaining fishes. If approached properly, the task only needs to be done once. The final product should be definitive work on the common names of Australian fishes requiring minimal alteration in the future.
The recently published Australian Seafood Handbook has created many enquiries from governmental and commercial groups wanting to gain access to images held in the CSIRO fish image library. However, in it s present form, this image collection cannot be accessed cost effectively.. The bulk of the collection is in celluloid format and the digital component has bot been assigned to a search and retrieval oriented database. Hence, it is presently grossly under utilised. A logical step is to digitise the collection and make the images freely available on the CAAB website, simultaneously improving accessibility and making CAAB more user friendly. Objectives: 1. To compile a draft list of common names of all Australian fishes for consideration by the Fish Names Committee and other stakeholders groups. 2. To scan and database high quality, digital images of Australian commercial and bycatch fishes and demonstrate their value in product promotion through associate websites and posters. 3. To upgrade the fisheries coding system website (CAAB) to include common names and images of Australian, fishes, enabling both easy and free access by industry. Read moreRead less
BCA - Resolution Of Taxonomic Problems And Preparation Of A User-friendly Identification Guide To Whole Fish And Fillets For South East Fishery "quota Species"
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$5,981.05
Summary
Objectives: 1. To determine the true species composition of SEF "quota species" based on AFMA's requirements and industry's requests for clarification as to which species constitute quota species 2. To prepare a definitive identification guide to the SEF quota species and their close relatives 3. To include within this guide a means of identifying fillets of these species based on their protien fingerprints