Distribution, abundance and population dynamics of beachworms (Onuphidae) in Queensland/NSW and the impact of commercial and recreational fishing

Funding Activity

Website
https://www.frdc.com.au/project/1998-132

Funding Status
Closed

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Funded Activity Summary

1. Demand for baitworms presently exceeds supply.
2. The number of worm gathering licences is currently frozen. However potential wormers can set themselves up to earn an apparently good income with only a relatively small capital investment. In combination 2. will probably lead to substantial future pressure for allocation of new worm gathering licences. Without any real knowledge of what might be a sustainable harvest, such allocations should be resisted.
3. No estimates of the recreational beachworm fishery have been made. Anecdotal evidence indicates that this fishery is very substantial and is largely unregulated. No good management protocols can be set in place unless valid estimates of professional and recreational fishing effort have been made and related to the worm populations and their ability to sustain harvesting.

Objectives:
1. To determine where and why beachworms are located on QLD/N.S.W. surf beaches
2. To determine how the various onuphid species that make up the beachworm fishery are distributed relative to each other and in time
3. To determine if levels of commercial and recreational fishing effort relate to the yield and sustainability of the fishery
4. To make recommendations for management of the fishery based on an evaluation of catch and effort data and research of the biology of the worms

Funded Activity Details

Start Date: 29-06-1998

End Date: 07-08-2004

Funding Scheme: Funding Scheme not available

Funding Amount: $70,469.96

Funder: Fisheries Research and Development Corporation

Research Topics

ANZSRC Field of Research (FoR)

There are no FoR codes available for this funding activity

ANZSRC Socio-Economic Objective (SEO)

There are no SEO codes available for this funding activity

Other Keywords

Fishing Effort | Recreational Fishing

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