Growth Of Pearl Oysters In The Southern And Northern Areas Of The Pearl Oyster Fishery And Examination Of Environmental Influences On Recruitment To The Pearl Oyster Stock
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$143,482.00
Summary
Objectives: 1. To determine growth rates of pearl oysters in the Lacepede Channel and Exmouth Gulf areas 2. To utilize the existing and new knowledge of time lags between spatfall and recruitment to the fishery and the period of vulnerability to fishing to carry out analyses of possible environmental influences on recruitment
Industry Survey Of The 1997 Eastern Gemfish Season
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$144,564.00
Summary
In 1997 1,000t will be allocated amongst the South East Trawl fishery, individual allocations will vary from over 100t down to 100s of kg. These allocations will allow some targeted fishing for gemfish but operators will also have to manage their individual allocations to cover their anticipated bycatch of gemfish as they fill quotas for other species. This management of bycatch will bias reported commercial catch rates in 1997 preventing comparison with historic trends and the updating of the ....In 1997 1,000t will be allocated amongst the South East Trawl fishery, individual allocations will vary from over 100t down to 100s of kg. These allocations will allow some targeted fishing for gemfish but operators will also have to manage their individual allocations to cover their anticipated bycatch of gemfish as they fill quotas for other species. This management of bycatch will bias reported commercial catch rates in 1997 preventing comparison with historic trends and the updating of the stock assessment developed by EGAG during 1996.
Consequently EGAG considered that another Industry Survey in 1997 is needed for two principal reasons: 1. To provide catch rate data which is representative of targeted gemfish fishing. 2. To ensure timely provision of high quality data for stock assessment during September and October 1997.
However having decided on the need for the 1997 survey EGAG considered that two other lesser needs could be addressed for little additional expense. These are: A. to understand targeting patterns in the SEF and their impact on stock assessment and B. the influence of oceanographic factors on the South East Fishery. Objectives: 1. Catch and effort and length-frequency data for targeted eastern gemfish fishing during the 1997 season will supplied in Excel spreadsheets will be supplied to EGAG before 1 September 1997. 2. The targeting practices of four survey vessels; Charissa, Marina Star, Illawara Star and Santa Rosa II during the 1997 season will be documented and analysed in relationship to previously reported targeting patterns. 3. The relationship between gemfish aggregations and oceanographic features during 1997 will be documented and analysed. 4. The feasibility of using multi-frequency acoustics to measure the size of gemfish aggregations will be analysed. Read moreRead less
Tactical Research Fund: To Explore Ways To Engage Successfully With The Indigenous Community On Fisheries R&D Issues
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$23,830.00
Summary
FRDC have conservatively described engagement with the indigenous community as challenging. Indigenous fishing is one of three core topic areas within the current FRDC priority areas and, despite significant opportunity, has received limited interest from the target market.
This project aims to develop and test guidelines for engagement with indigenous applicants and to test the current FRDC funding application process for its "user-friendliness" to this target audience.
Tes ....FRDC have conservatively described engagement with the indigenous community as challenging. Indigenous fishing is one of three core topic areas within the current FRDC priority areas and, despite significant opportunity, has received limited interest from the target market.
This project aims to develop and test guidelines for engagement with indigenous applicants and to test the current FRDC funding application process for its "user-friendliness" to this target audience.
Testing the guidelines for engagement will involve people with limited experience with indigenous communities supported by more experienced team members. It is also hoped that FRDC staff will participate in the testing phase. Objectives: 1. To explore ways to engage successfully with the indigenous community 2. To develop guidelines for engagement with the indigenous community 3. To build capacity amongst Course 16 of the Australian Leadership Program to effectively engage with the indigenous community 4. To build capacity with FRDC staff to effectively engage with the indigenous community Read moreRead less
Elicitation and Integration of Expert Information for Natural Resource Management with a Focus on Water. Australia's natural resource management requires integrating information from many sources, including survey data and community and expert opinion. We aim to develop statistical methods to formally combine this information and apply them to better management of our crucial resource, water. The project contributes significantly to Australia's international obligations, and government agency an ....Elicitation and Integration of Expert Information for Natural Resource Management with a Focus on Water. Australia's natural resource management requires integrating information from many sources, including survey data and community and expert opinion. We aim to develop statistical methods to formally combine this information and apply them to better management of our crucial resource, water. The project contributes significantly to Australia's international obligations, and government agency and regional group science-based decision-making.
Outcomes include increased fundamental knowledge in statistics, technology transfer and improved decision-making capacity for natural resource management.
The project builds on strong existing collaborations between academic and industry partners and provides foundation for future funded projects.
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Measuring and presenting uncertainty in complex natural resource monitoring programs. This project addresses Australia's key research goal of An Environmentally Sustainable Australia, priority goals of Water, Soil and Climate, and the theme of Complex Systems.Through improved capability in making data-based decisions and true sharing of university and government agency expertise, the project will enhance Australia's ability to better manage its natural resources, meet national and international ....Measuring and presenting uncertainty in complex natural resource monitoring programs. This project addresses Australia's key research goal of An Environmentally Sustainable Australia, priority goals of Water, Soil and Climate, and the theme of Complex Systems.Through improved capability in making data-based decisions and true sharing of university and government agency expertise, the project will enhance Australia's ability to better manage its natural resources, meet national and international environmental commitments, and address national demands for quality science underpinning decisions about natural resource managementRead moreRead less
Climate, Vegetation and Fire in the Australian Paleomonsoon: An investigation using paleodata synthesis, contemporary observations and model experiments. This investigation of the history and development of the Australian monsoon will provide much needed information for the prediction of future climatic changes in the Australasian region and beyond. Furthermore, our work will elucidate the impact of current north Australian fire regimes on the strength of the Australian monsoon that is so critic ....Climate, Vegetation and Fire in the Australian Paleomonsoon: An investigation using paleodata synthesis, contemporary observations and model experiments. This investigation of the history and development of the Australian monsoon will provide much needed information for the prediction of future climatic changes in the Australasian region and beyond. Furthermore, our work will elucidate the impact of current north Australian fire regimes on the strength of the Australian monsoon that is so critical to the environment and economy of the north Australian region, a region that produces wealth for Australia out of proportion to its population. The work has important policy implications for water and fire management in Northern Australia and is significant to aboriginals, pastoralists and other community groups.Read moreRead less
Molecular biosignatures for isolating pollution problems in aquatic ecosystems using macroinvertebrate bioindicators. Aquatic ecosystems are under increasing threat by human activities. This has been further exacerbated by drought and climate change. In the future, understanding the major factors impairing aquatic ecosystems will be a vital part of sustaining water resources. This project develops new molecular tools to better monitor and assess aquatic pollution. We will develop a new high-tech ....Molecular biosignatures for isolating pollution problems in aquatic ecosystems using macroinvertebrate bioindicators. Aquatic ecosystems are under increasing threat by human activities. This has been further exacerbated by drought and climate change. In the future, understanding the major factors impairing aquatic ecosystems will be a vital part of sustaining water resources. This project develops new molecular tools to better monitor and assess aquatic pollution. We will develop a new high-tech deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) approach to identify insect indicator species and combine this with a field-based microcosm method that uses local aquatic insects to isolate pollution effects from other impacts. This proposal will facilitate fast identification of pollution problems and provide the water industry with an innovative means to assess pollution and monitor remedial actions.Read moreRead less
Sustainability Of The Rock Lobster Resource In South-eastern Australia In A Changing Environment: Implications For Assessment And Management
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$651,086.00
Summary
Declining catches in the Western Zone of Victoria, the Southern Zone of South Australia, and the NW region of Tasmania have been observed over the past 4–5 years. These areas have always been the most productive and most important part of the south-eastern rock lobster fishery, and the declines in observed CPUE do not align with median predictions from each State’s stock assessment models. The lobster fishery in each State is managed primarily with output controls using Total Allowable Catches d ....Declining catches in the Western Zone of Victoria, the Southern Zone of South Australia, and the NW region of Tasmania have been observed over the past 4–5 years. These areas have always been the most productive and most important part of the south-eastern rock lobster fishery, and the declines in observed CPUE do not align with median predictions from each State’s stock assessment models. The lobster fishery in each State is managed primarily with output controls using Total Allowable Catches determined by stock assessment modelling. CPUE is used by the model as a proxy for lobster abundance and the observed trend may be caused by below average recruitment. However, catch rates may also be driven by exogenous changes in catchability influenced for example by environmental effects, fleet dynamics, fisher behaviour, or rock lobster behaviour. Hence, there is a pressing need to determine whether the observed falling CPUE represents an apparent decline in relative abundance caused by reduced catchability or an actual decline caused by reduced recruitment, reduced growth, or increased natural mortality, or a combination of these factors. Importantly, what are the implications for future assessments and what monitoring and management strategies are most robust in the face of these uncertainties. Objectives: 1. Undertake initial evaluation of catch and effort data for a selection of vessels (or skippers) for CPUE standardisation and undertake spatial analysis of rock lobster to depict annual CPUE trends within discrete regions standardised for effects of vessel (or skipper), season, and spatial cell defined by grid-cell and depth range. 2. Extend CPUE analyses to test for and standardise for, where feasible, the effects of oceanographic variables such as bottom temperature, dissolved oxygen, currents, and wave strength using available data from the Bonney Coast and then test the applicability of these results to western Tasmania and determine additional data requirements for extending the analyses to this region. 3. Apply various analyses such as within-season depletion models and each State’s stock assessment models using available catch and effort data, other monitoring data, and tag release-recapture data to explore variation in annual estimates of catchability and recruitment through time. 4. Investigate evidence for temporal trends in lobster recruitment across the three States, examine evidence of a declining trend since 2003, and examine relationships between yearly environmental signals, and the yearly puerulus index to yearly environmental signals. 5. Undertake growth analyses of available tag release-recapture data to explore variation in annual estimates of growth through time. 6. Undertake stock assessment modelling to explore the sensitivity of biomass projections to altered values of catchability, recruitment, and growth, and, if necessary, make appropriate corrections to components of the stock assessment models. 7. Undertake management strategy evaluation, testing stock assessments and exploring implications of alternative assumptions for catchability, recruitment, and growth. Read moreRead less
Optimising biodegradation and removal of organic and inorganic pollutants in wastewater using constructed wetlands. The urgency of water recycling is dictated by drying climate and rapid expansion of population in Australia. Constructed wetlands are environmentally-benign way to purify wastewater by removing inorganics and facilitating biodegradation of organic pollutants, thus producing recycled water that can be used in a variety of fit-for-purpose applications. This project will produce a dec ....Optimising biodegradation and removal of organic and inorganic pollutants in wastewater using constructed wetlands. The urgency of water recycling is dictated by drying climate and rapid expansion of population in Australia. Constructed wetlands are environmentally-benign way to purify wastewater by removing inorganics and facilitating biodegradation of organic pollutants, thus producing recycled water that can be used in a variety of fit-for-purpose applications. This project will produce a decision-support system for optimising wetland performance in removing inorganics and biodegrading organic pollutants from wastewater, thus enhancing water recycling and reuse in this drying continent of ours.Read moreRead less