National Social And Economic Survey Of Recreational Fishers 2019
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$1,233,987.00
Summary
Currently there is a lack of national scale, consistent and robust data on the motivations and behaviours of recreational fishers, and lack of robust data on the social and economic contribution of recreational fishing. Where many commercial fisheries have regular collection and estimation process for economic data, this is not the case for recreational fishing in most of Australia. This lack of data also includes behaviour and motivations and how they are changing. These data are useful for inf ....Currently there is a lack of national scale, consistent and robust data on the motivations and behaviours of recreational fishers, and lack of robust data on the social and economic contribution of recreational fishing. Where many commercial fisheries have regular collection and estimation process for economic data, this is not the case for recreational fishing in most of Australia. This lack of data also includes behaviour and motivations and how they are changing. These data are useful for informing discussions on resource allocation and in understanding and managing recreational fisheries more generally. If these data are to be used to inform governments and the general public, there is a need to make sure it is collected in a robust way that is representative of the Australian population. Large scale representative data sets are often expensive to acquire and as a result do not get undertaken regularly. One off surveys only provide useful data for any particular point in time, but understanding trends can often be more useful. This study aims to implement and test methodologies to provide a robust and representative sample, while trying to reduce costs to allow for more regular data gathering. To do this requires addressing another need: that of testing new survey methodologies for collecting data from recreational fishers that enables assessment of social and economic contribution. Recreational fishing surveys traditionally use probability based phone or mail surveys, however both methods are experiencing rapid decline in response rates and representativeness. It is expected that going into the future, online surveys that use a range of appropriate recruitment methods will be the most common survey method. There is a need to invest in establishing robust approaches to using these methods, and in understanding how their findings differ to those of traditional probability based surveys. Objectives: 1. Assess social and economic contribution of recreational fishing using multiple methods, including direct and flow-on economic benefits, and market and non-market benefits 2. Identify which approaches to recruiting survey participants and completing surveys produce the most representative and robust results 3. Recommend most appropriate and cost effective survey method to use to track change social and economic aspects of recreational fishing in Australia over time Read moreRead less
Assessing The Benefits Of Sea Urchin Processing Waste As An Agricultural Fertiliser And Soil Ameliorant
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$199,996.00
Summary
The primary need of this project is to facilitate a profitable Longspined Sea Urchin fishery to move the industry away from subsidies. A large-scale sustainable fishery is seen as the most feasible and sustainable way to apply downward pressure on the rapidly expanding Sea Urchin population in Tasmania. Longspined Sea Urchin populations have grown to some 20 million (5,500 tonnes) and have resulted in 15% of the Tasmania East Coast reefs becoming unproductive urchin barren, up from 3% 15 years ....The primary need of this project is to facilitate a profitable Longspined Sea Urchin fishery to move the industry away from subsidies. A large-scale sustainable fishery is seen as the most feasible and sustainable way to apply downward pressure on the rapidly expanding Sea Urchin population in Tasmania. Longspined Sea Urchin populations have grown to some 20 million (5,500 tonnes) and have resulted in 15% of the Tasmania East Coast reefs becoming unproductive urchin barren, up from 3% 15 years ago.
Subsides for the Longspined Sea Urchin harvest commenced in 2016 and in the last 3 years some $500,000 has been spent. This initiated significant investment in the industry to facilitate export market establishment and resulted the 2019 harvest reaching an excess of 550 tonnes, now Tasmania’s 3rd largest wild fishery by weight. However, the industry needs to move away from subsides and waste utilisation is seen a viable option to turn a current financial cost (estimated at $80,000 in 2019 to dump 400 tonnes of waste generated) into an income stream.
FRDC 2016-208 highlighted the significant potential of sea urchin waste utilisation in the agricultural industry and called for commercial upscaling of trials. This project is designed to meet that need. Based on this, the Abalone Industry Reinvestment Fund (AIRF) has committed to providing $538,686 in kind to initiate the project. This whole of project application is to allow multi-season agricultural trials of waste products to obtain scientifically and industry meaningful results, allow testing on perennial crops (such as cherries) and to employ a dedicated post-doctoral researcher on the project.
In the push for sustainably produced food, agricultural industries are demanding alternative nutritional sources to synthetic fertilisers. Urchin waste is comprised of two major parts: gut waste - a nitrogenous rich liquid which can be converted in a stable drench or spray and; shell waste – a calcium and boron rich solid which can be dried and powdered for use as a soil ameliorant. As such this fisheries enhancement project will additionally for fill this agricultural need.
Objectives: 1. To develop commercial scale processing equipment of sea urchin waste. 2. Determine the nutrient composition and plant bioavailability of nutrients from two high throughput waste streams: liquid gut waste and dried powdered shell waste 3. Evaluate the agronomic benefits of liquid gut waste as a frost retardant in perennial tree cropping (cherries) 4. Evaluate the agronomic benefits of powdered shell waste as a soil ameliorant in a wide range of annual and perennial cropping systems 5. Undertake a cost benefit analysis comparing fertiliser products (foliar sprays and/or soil conditioners) from this work to other products on the market to assess if the products are commercially viable Read moreRead less
Evaluation Of A Smart-phone Application To Collect Recreational Fishing Catch Estimates, Including An Assessment Against An Independent Probability Based Survey, Using South Australia As A Case Study
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$1,000,000.00
Summary
There is need to collect accurate and robust information on recreational fishing levels to inform fisheries management. Recreational fishing estimates are critical to ensure sustainable harvest of community owned fisheries resources. In South Australia, established Fishery Management Plans are in place and recreational catch must be monitored to ensure that the sector is operating within its allocated shares of the resource. Recent changes to the availability of traditional sampling frames and s ....There is need to collect accurate and robust information on recreational fishing levels to inform fisheries management. Recreational fishing estimates are critical to ensure sustainable harvest of community owned fisheries resources. In South Australia, established Fishery Management Plans are in place and recreational catch must be monitored to ensure that the sector is operating within its allocated shares of the resource. Recent changes to the availability of traditional sampling frames and shifts in the way the people communicate mean that it is becoming increasingly cost-prohibitive to undertake surveys using the established methodology. There is a need to re-evaluate how recreational fishing catch and effort is assessed and to develop revised survey methodologies using the latest survey tools and techniques.
Smartphone applications may provide a cost-effective method to collect information on recreational catch. However, as most apps are self-selected, sampling is non-probability based and it is not possible to calculate confidence intervals or margins of error. There is a need to compare app-based data with traditional phone-diary surveys to compare estimates and evaluate the accuracy of the results measured relative to independent population benchmarks. The outputs from this project will provide valuable information to other jurisdictions who have existing apps or are looking to implement an app.- based survey
Objectives: 1. To design and implement a survey of South Australian recreational fishers to determine participation and catch and effort levels for key species. 2. To evaluate the differences and in recreational catch estimates from smart-phone applications and traditional phone diary surveys. 3. To explore whether smart-phone applications can be feasibility integrated into future recreational fishing surveys. 4. To measure the accuracy of catch estimates from smart-phone applications relative to independent population benchmarks. 5. To outline the policy and regulatory needs and implications of implementing a smart phone based reporting app. Read moreRead less
Assessing Egg Oiling As A Long Term Management Tool For Overabundant Silver Gull Populations Interacting With Southern Bluefin Tuna Aquaculture Operations
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$560,056.00
Summary
Agencies responsible for management of the aquaculture industry in collaboration with industry stakeholders are committed to incorporating principles of Ecologically Sustainable Development (ESD) into aquaculture regulatory processes (Fletcher 2004). One of the key objectives of ESD is "to protect biological diversity and maintain essential ecological processes and life-support systems". Addressing the ecological impacts of an overabundant legacy population of Silver Gulls in close proximity to ....Agencies responsible for management of the aquaculture industry in collaboration with industry stakeholders are committed to incorporating principles of Ecologically Sustainable Development (ESD) into aquaculture regulatory processes (Fletcher 2004). One of the key objectives of ESD is "to protect biological diversity and maintain essential ecological processes and life-support systems". Addressing the ecological impacts of an overabundant legacy population of Silver Gulls in close proximity to tuna operations in Port Lincoln has been identified as a priority by ASBTIA, in consultation with DEW and PIRSA, to address this ESD objective.
The project is a collaboration between resource management agencies and the tuna aquaculture industry in Port Lincoln. It seeks to expand on the research of Harrison (2010) to assess a three-year trial of Silver Gull egg oiling on selected off-shore islands near Port Lincoln and its impact on local reproductive success and population numbers of Silver Gulls. In doing so it aims to assess the efficacy of egg oiling as a possible management technique to control growth of Silver Gull populations and thereby reduce the current detrimental economic, social and environmental impacts associated with recent increases in Silver Gull numbers in the Port Lincoln region.
Information provided through the research project will inform any ongoing monitoring and management of over-abundant Silver Gull populations within the frameworks of the region's National Park Management Plans and within PIRSA Aquaculture policy objectives. The efficacy of egg oiling and indices measured in the project will also be assessed to provide guidance on any future egg oiling management intervention.
Objectives: 1. Undertake a review and Cost Benefit Analysis (CBA) of over-abundant seabird population management strategies. This will be a project Stop/Go point to assess whether egg oiling provides the best management option for Silver Gull population control, and will determine whether the project proceeds as planned. 2. Estimate Silver Gull population size and structure through counts of breeding pairs (nest) and juveniles at up to five islands near Southern Bluefin Tuna aquaculture operations. Compare estimates with historical information for population trend analyses. 3. Obtain estimates of breeding success from oiled (treated) versus non-oiled (control) Silver Gull nests for use in population modelling. 4. Quantify short term effects of egg oiling on juvenile abundance, through measurement of the ratio of juvenile to adult Silver Gulls present at Southern Bluefin tuna aquaculture farms over three years and assess this indicator's efficacy in providing evidence of egg oiling management. 5. Assess Silver Gull breeding schedules, movement and habitat use within the study area. 6. Develop population models to assess the sensitivity of Silver Gull populations to reductions in breeding success from egg oiling and inform ongoing management targets for Silver Gull population numbers. Read moreRead less
Assessing The Capacity For Sustainable Finfish Aquaculture In The Vicinity Of Seagrasses
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$478,825.00
Summary
Globally, aquaculture accounts for over 50% of fish production. However, if poorly planned, rapid expansion to meet the ever increasing demand for seafood brings with it an environmental risk associated with eutrophication and organic enrichment of the seabed, adversely affecting marine coastal ecosystems. Approximately 75-85% of the nitrogen discharged from finfish aquaculture is dissolved and dispersed to nearby habitats. A major spatial constraint on aquaculture in nearshore areas around much ....Globally, aquaculture accounts for over 50% of fish production. However, if poorly planned, rapid expansion to meet the ever increasing demand for seafood brings with it an environmental risk associated with eutrophication and organic enrichment of the seabed, adversely affecting marine coastal ecosystems. Approximately 75-85% of the nitrogen discharged from finfish aquaculture is dissolved and dispersed to nearby habitats. A major spatial constraint on aquaculture in nearshore areas around much of Australia is the potential for these dispersed nutrients to negatively affect seagrasses. Seagrasses can be sensitive to increases in nitrogen, which can lead to habitat loss. This loss can have significant environmental and economic impacts with potential losses of ecosystem services including decreases in commercial and recreational fisheries catches, increases in sand instability and erosion, reduced biodiversity, loss of nitrogen assimilation and cycling, and loss of carbon sequestration.
In other situations, small increases in nutrients may have a positive effect on seagrasses, and thus it is not clear what the consequences of aquaculture derived nutrients will be. Subsequently, we can’t robustly determine the level of finfish aquaculture that can be sustainably supported by seagrass ecosystems. There is therefore a need to develop a process to determine the likelihood of seagrass growth (or loss) due to aquaculture derived nutrient inputs. This work will develop metrics that can be used in other aquaculture developments and in long-term regional monitoring.
Clean Seas Seafood Pty Ltd are developing a new lease for the sea-cage aquaculture of 4500 tonnes of yellowtail kingfish (YTK) in the Fitzgerald Bay region. The nearshore habitats throughout the region are dominated by long-lived Posidonia seagrass. While Fitzgerald Bay was the original focus of YTK aquaculture in SA, it has not been utilised for ~10 years, essentially giving us the potential to study this system prior to the commencement of aquaculture (currently planned for ~ July 2019), as well as while production is increasing, and it thus provides an ideal case study for assessing how to sustainably farm finfish in a seagrass dominated ecosystem.
Objectives: 1. Determine cost-effective approaches to assessing the influence of finfish aquaculture derived nutrients on seagrasses, and using Fitzgerald Bay as a case study, what that influence is. 2. Develop a predictive modelling ability to estimate carrying capacity and allow scenario analysis of future aquaculture development and how it might affect seagrasses, to allow managers to make informed decisions about where to place future developments, and how much to allow existing developments to expand. 3. Use Fitzgerald Bay as a case study to document seagrass condition using a range of metrics both before the commencement of finfish aquaculture, and once production has reached a substantial level. 4. Develop a range of cost-effective indicators for monitoring the effects of aquaculture on adjacent seagrass beds. Read moreRead less
Impacts of Banned Drinkers Register Re-introduction in Northern Territory. This project aims to investigate the impact of the re-introduction of the Banned Drinker Register in the Northern Territory, where rates of alcohol-related harm are more than twenty times that seen in other Australian states.
This interdisciplinary team will use qualitative and quantitative methods across urban and remote locations to answer complex questions about policy impact.
This Project expects to provide evidence ....Impacts of Banned Drinkers Register Re-introduction in Northern Territory. This project aims to investigate the impact of the re-introduction of the Banned Drinker Register in the Northern Territory, where rates of alcohol-related harm are more than twenty times that seen in other Australian states.
This interdisciplinary team will use qualitative and quantitative methods across urban and remote locations to answer complex questions about policy impact.
This Project expects to provide evidence to inform future policy introduction and refinement. It aims to enhance Aboriginal research capacity for investigating alcohol policy.
Benefits should include world’s best evidence on the impact of supply restriction policies on treatment needs and the massive levels of harm seen in the Northern Territory.Read moreRead less
Building Industry Capacity To Lead Co-management Initiatives Within The Bass Strait Central Zone Scallop Fishery: Training Industry To Conduct Biomass Estimate Surveys
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$90,462.00
Summary
There is a need to develop capacity within industry in order to progress future co-management initiatives in the Bass Strait Central Zone Scallop Fishery (BSCZSF). Central to future co-management initiatives will be industry’s ability to collect data in a systematic and scientific manner that is robust and reliable to inform management decision making. Industry needs to be trained to coordinate and collect data. This data may also deliver cost savings when compared to the current pre-season biom ....There is a need to develop capacity within industry in order to progress future co-management initiatives in the Bass Strait Central Zone Scallop Fishery (BSCZSF). Central to future co-management initiatives will be industry’s ability to collect data in a systematic and scientific manner that is robust and reliable to inform management decision making. Industry needs to be trained to coordinate and collect data. This data may also deliver cost savings when compared to the current pre-season biomass surveys.
The unprecedented impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic have forced industry and management to review existing research and management processes to ensure the on-going viability Australia’s fishing industry. Whilst the scallop fishery has to date been largely shielded from the impacts (a seasonal effect) there is tremendous uncertainty about the coming fishing year and markets. There is now a need to re-think the data collection processes for this fishery and provide the industry with the opportunity and capacity, under a co-management approach, to cost-effectively collect data to inform management decisions.
The coming season provides the perfect opportunity for the first steps into a new co-management paradigm. The biomass in western Bass Strait waters are significant, with many in the industry saying it’s the highest in over 40 years of fishing. Based on the 2019 TAC, the maximum harvest fraction last season was less than 9% of the surveyed biomass, noting it was even lower, as the TAC remained under-caught. Furthermore AFMA have recently announced that the formal pre-season biomass estimation survey will not proceed in 2020 due the uncertainties surrounding the impacts of COVID-19.
This project will investigate industry’s capacity to coordinate in-season biomass surveys and provide the opportunity for industry to understand the requirements to undertake formal scientific studies.
Objectives: 1. Build industry capacity to lead and participate in fishery data collection projects 2. Industry coordinated data collection to inform biomass estimation of the fishery 3. Industry coordinated data collection and data analysis to inform decision making and develop co-management arrangements Read moreRead less
Estimating The Biomass Of Fish Stocks Using Novel And Efficient Genetic Techniques
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$494,794.00
Summary
The effective management of fisheries resources implicitly requires accurate abundance estimates. But, even after more than a century of effort, this prerequisite need remains one of the greatest challenges facing fisheries scientists. Traditional methods of estimating abundance include parametric and empirical approaches that often rely on extensive time-series of size-at-age data (e.g. from otoliths). Acquiring these data can be expensive and therefore restricted to species that are most econo ....The effective management of fisheries resources implicitly requires accurate abundance estimates. But, even after more than a century of effort, this prerequisite need remains one of the greatest challenges facing fisheries scientists. Traditional methods of estimating abundance include parametric and empirical approaches that often rely on extensive time-series of size-at-age data (e.g. from otoliths). Acquiring these data can be expensive and therefore restricted to species that are most economically important or of conservation concern. Due to the cost of independent sampling, indicators of abundance usually involve fishery-dependent data, which have numerous biases that can affect accurately quantifying population trends.
The clear need for accurate and rapid stock assessments is increasingly apparent in the current climate of competing commercial, recreational and conservation interests. Specifically, marine protected areas have been implemented across all NSW coastal bioregions and are a source of political and public contention as a result of perceived inequalities in access to (and allocation of) fisheries resources, particularly among species shared by commercial and recreational fishers. Also, recent fish kills in NSW due to hypoxic water have sparked debate over the cause of poor water quality and longer-term effects on freshwater habitats. Rapidly quantifying existing and/or changing stock abundances of key species will be essential to inform recovery actions, and advise on the sustainable exploitation of commercial and recreational species. Sampling eDNA could meet these needs by directly facilitating cost-effective biomass and/or relative abundance estimates for population assessments in NSW where fishery-dependent data are scarce or unavailable.
Objectives: 1. Assess the species-specific precision and importance of key influencing abiotic and biotic factors for determining abundances of mulloway and Murry cod using eDNA under controlled conditions. 2. Compare the utility of eDNA against directed fishery-dependant methods for assessing relative abundances of mulloway and Murray cod across appropriate spatio-temporal scales in the wild. 3. Based on results of phase 2, determine what additional factors affect concentration of eDNA such as depth of eDNA water sampling. 4. Assess if eDNA of other selected species collected from samples obtained during 2 above, correspond to routinely collected catch-and-effort data in New South Wales. Read moreRead less
Developing A Cost-effective Monitoring Regime And Stock Assessment For Sand Flathead In Tasmania
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$703,700.00
Summary
Sand Flathead account for well over half of the total catch (by numbers) taken by marine recreational fishers in Tasmania and represent the mainstay of Tasmania's recreational fishery. Furthermore, since the recreational catch of sand flathead is more than 20 times the commercial catch, trends in commercial catch and catch rates are of little value in inferring changes in stock status. This has meant that fishery independent or novel assessment methods are required. To date, IMAS has implemente ....Sand Flathead account for well over half of the total catch (by numbers) taken by marine recreational fishers in Tasmania and represent the mainstay of Tasmania's recreational fishery. Furthermore, since the recreational catch of sand flathead is more than 20 times the commercial catch, trends in commercial catch and catch rates are of little value in inferring changes in stock status. This has meant that fishery independent or novel assessment methods are required. To date, IMAS has implemented a research program focused on sand flathead in the south-east of the state that provides a spatially restricted, perspective and semi-quantitative evaluation of stock condition. Given the significance of the species and a status of 'depleting' in the latest stock assessment report, there is a need to implement a more comprehensive stock monitoring approach throughout the state that can support the development of a spatially explicit quantitative stock assessment model. There is also a need to determine the appropriate spatial resolution to apply to the stock assessment model. As such, there is a need to understand the extent of adult movement and ontogenetic connectivity of regional sub-populations of sand flathead throughout Tasmania. In addition, by collation of biological data sets from historical studies and surveys conducted around Tasmania the extent and direction of potential changes in population size structures, and life history characteristics will be investigated. Where possible collated biological data will be used to assess spatial and temporal changes in life history characteristics to assess the implications of selective excessive fishing pressure and/or past and future climate change effects for this species. Objectives: 1. Review and collate available biological and fishery data collected on sand flathead within Tasmanian waters 2. Design, implement and assess the effectiveness of fishery dependent and fishery independent biological sample collection techniques for sand flathead 3. Determine the spatial and temporal variability of key life history characteristics and population structures of sand flathead 4. Investigate movement and connectivity of sand flathead within Tasmania 5. Develop a quantitative region-age-sex structured fishery assessment model for sand flathead 6. Identify management scenarios for consideration Read moreRead less