There is increasing worldwide concern about the ecological impacts of trawling.  Reports of high levels of bycatch of fish and other species, habitat degradation, bad practices, stock depletion and perceptions of wastage and negative ecological impacts continue to fuel these concerns. 

Australia’s Commonwealth Trawl Sector (CTS) — previously known as the South East Trawl Fishery, or SETF — is a complex multi-species sector of the Southern and Eastern Scalefish and Shark Fishery (SESSF) operating across the shelf and upper slope waters in south eastern Australia.  The SESSF caught approximately 22,000 t of fish during 2007 with a gross production valued at around $96 million during the 2006–07 financial year (Morison 2008). More than 100 species of finfish and invertebrates are routinely taken in the SESSF, supplying most of the fresh fish for markets in NSW, Victoria, Tasmania and South Australia, and some product for the export market.  Onboard monitoring programs have revealed that varying, but significant levels of the catch (up to 50% by weight) are caught and discarded in the fishery.  Although some commercial species are discarded, many of the discards are comprised of small fish species with little or no commercial value.  Like other trawl fisheries, there is increasing concern about the ecological impacts of this bycatch in the CTS.  As a consequence, the Australian Fisheries Management Authority and fishery stakeholders have implemented a Bycatch Action Plan, which aims to reduce bycatch in the fishery and ensure ecological sustainability.  An important component of this Plan is a project designed to modify the trawl gear to increase the proportion of small unwanted fish that escape.  This report presents the results of that research and discusses the importance of disseminating this information to key industry stakeholders and the wider community.

There is increasing worldwide concern about the ecological impacts of trawling.  Reports of high levels of bycatch of fish and other species, habitat degradation, bad practices, stock depletion and perceptions of wastage and negative ecological impacts continue to fuel these concerns. 

Australia’s Commonwealth Trawl Sector (CTS) — previously known as the South East Trawl Fishery, or SETF — is a complex multi-species sector of the Southern and Eastern Scalefish and Shark Fishery (SESSF) operating across the shelf and upper slope waters in south eastern Australia.  The SESSF caught approximately 22,000 t of fish during 2007 with a gross production valued at around $96 million during the 2006–07 financial year (Morison 2008). More than 100 species of finfish and invertebrates are routinely taken in the SESSF, supplying most of the fresh fish for markets in NSW, Victoria, Tasmania and South Australia, and some product for the export market.  Onboard monitoring programs have revealed that varying, but significant levels of the catch (up to 50% by weight) are caught and discarded in the fishery.  Although some commercial species are discarded, many of the discards are comprised of small fish species with little or no commercial value.  Like other trawl fisheries, there is increasing concern about the ecological impacts of this bycatch in the CTS.  As a consequence, the Australian Fisheries Management Authority and fishery stakeholders have implemented a Bycatch Action Plan, which aims to reduce bycatch in the fishery and ensure ecological sustainability.  An important component of this Plan is a project designed to modify the trawl gear to increase the proportion of small unwanted fish that escape.  This report presents the results of that research and discusses the importance of disseminating this information to key industry stakeholders and the wider community.

There is increasing worldwide concern about the ecological impacts of trawling.  Reports of high levels of bycatch of fish and other species, habitat degradation, bad practices, stock depletion and perceptions of wastage and negative ecological impacts continue to fuel these concerns. 

Australia’s Commonwealth Trawl Sector (CTS) — previously known as the South East Trawl Fishery, or SETF — is a complex multi-species sector of the Southern and Eastern Scalefish and Shark Fishery (SESSF) operating across the shelf and upper slope waters in south eastern Australia.  The SESSF caught approximately 22,000 t of fish during 2007 with a gross production valued at around $96 million during the 2006–07 financial year (Morison 2008). More than 100 species of finfish and invertebrates are routinely taken in the SESSF, supplying most of the fresh fish for markets in NSW, Victoria, Tasmania and South Australia, and some product for the export market.  Onboard monitoring programs have revealed that varying, but significant levels of the catch (up to 50% by weight) are caught and discarded in the fishery.  Although some commercial species are discarded, many of the discards are comprised of small fish species with little or no commercial value.  Like other trawl fisheries, there is increasing concern about the ecological impacts of this bycatch in the CTS.  As a consequence, the Australian Fisheries Management Authority and fishery stakeholders have implemented a Bycatch Action Plan, which aims to reduce bycatch in the fishery and ensure ecological sustainability.  An important component of this Plan is a project designed to modify the trawl gear to increase the proportion of small unwanted fish that escape.  This report presents the results of that research and discusses the importance of disseminating this information to key industry stakeholders and the wider community.

There is increasing worldwide concern about the ecological impacts of trawling.  Reports of high levels of bycatch of fish and other species, habitat degradation, bad practices, stock depletion and perceptions of wastage and negative ecological impacts continue to fuel these concerns. 

Australia’s Commonwealth Trawl Sector (CTS) — previously known as the South East Trawl Fishery, or SETF — is a complex multi-species sector of the Southern and Eastern Scalefish and Shark Fishery (SESSF) operating across the shelf and upper slope waters in south eastern Australia.  The SESSF caught approximately 22,000 t of fish during 2007 with a gross production valued at around $96 million during the 2006–07 financial year (Morison 2008). More than 100 species of finfish and invertebrates are routinely taken in the SESSF, supplying most of the fresh fish for markets in NSW, Victoria, Tasmania and South Australia, and some product for the export market.  Onboard monitoring programs have revealed that varying, but significant levels of the catch (up to 50% by weight) are caught and discarded in the fishery.  Although some commercial species are discarded, many of the discards are comprised of small fish species with little or no commercial value.  Like other trawl fisheries, there is increasing concern about the ecological impacts of this bycatch in the CTS.  As a consequence, the Australian Fisheries Management Authority and fishery stakeholders have implemented a Bycatch Action Plan, which aims to reduce bycatch in the fishery and ensure ecological sustainability.  An important component of this Plan is a project designed to modify the trawl gear to increase the proportion of small unwanted fish that escape.  This report presents the results of that research and discusses the importance of disseminating this information to key industry stakeholders and the wider community.

There is increasing worldwide concern about the ecological impacts of trawling.  Reports of high levels of bycatch of fish and other species, habitat degradation, bad practices, stock depletion and perceptions of wastage and negative ecological impacts continue to fuel these concerns. 

Australia’s Commonwealth Trawl Sector (CTS) — previously known as the South East Trawl Fishery, or SETF — is a complex multi-species sector of the Southern and Eastern Scalefish and Shark Fishery (SESSF) operating across the shelf and upper slope waters in south eastern Australia.  The SESSF caught approximately 22,000 t of fish during 2007 with a gross production valued at around $96 million during the 2006–07 financial year (Morison 2008). More than 100 species of finfish and invertebrates are routinely taken in the SESSF, supplying most of the fresh fish for markets in NSW, Victoria, Tasmania and South Australia, and some product for the export market.  Onboard monitoring programs have revealed that varying, but significant levels of the catch (up to 50% by weight) are caught and discarded in the fishery.  Although some commercial species are discarded, many of the discards are comprised of small fish species with little or no commercial value.  Like other trawl fisheries, there is increasing concern about the ecological impacts of this bycatch in the CTS.  As a consequence, the Australian Fisheries Management Authority and fishery stakeholders have implemented a Bycatch Action Plan, which aims to reduce bycatch in the fishery and ensure ecological sustainability.  An important component of this Plan is a project designed to modify the trawl gear to increase the proportion of small unwanted fish that escape.  This report presents the results of that research and discusses the importance of disseminating this information to key industry stakeholders and the wider community.

There is increasing worldwide concern about the ecological impacts of trawling.  Reports of high levels of bycatch of fish and other species, habitat degradation, bad practices, stock depletion and perceptions of wastage and negative ecological impacts continue to fuel these concerns. 

Australia’s Commonwealth Trawl Sector (CTS) — previously known as the South East Trawl Fishery, or SETF — is a complex multi-species sector of the Southern and Eastern Scalefish and Shark Fishery (SESSF) operating across the shelf and upper slope waters in south eastern Australia.  The SESSF caught approximately 22,000 t of fish during 2007 with a gross production valued at around $96 million during the 2006–07 financial year (Morison 2008). More than 100 species of finfish and invertebrates are routinely taken in the SESSF, supplying most of the fresh fish for markets in NSW, Victoria, Tasmania and South Australia, and some product for the export market.  Onboard monitoring programs have revealed that varying, but significant levels of the catch (up to 50% by weight) are caught and discarded in the fishery.  Although some commercial species are discarded, many of the discards are comprised of small fish species with little or no commercial value.  Like other trawl fisheries, there is increasing concern about the ecological impacts of this bycatch in the CTS.  As a consequence, the Australian Fisheries Management Authority and fishery stakeholders have implemented a Bycatch Action Plan, which aims to reduce bycatch in the fishery and ensure ecological sustainability.  An important component of this Plan is a project designed to modify the trawl gear to increase the proportion of small unwanted fish that escape.  This report presents the results of that research and discusses the importance of disseminating this information to key industry stakeholders and the wider community.

There is increasing worldwide concern about the ecological impacts of trawling.  Reports of high levels of bycatch of fish and other species, habitat degradation, bad practices, stock depletion and perceptions of wastage and negative ecological impacts continue to fuel these concerns. 

Australia’s Commonwealth Trawl Sector (CTS) — previously known as the South East Trawl Fishery, or SETF — is a complex multi-species sector of the Southern and Eastern Scalefish and Shark Fishery (SESSF) operating across the shelf and upper slope waters in south eastern Australia.  The SESSF caught approximately 22,000 t of fish during 2007 with a gross production valued at around $96 million during the 2006–07 financial year (Morison 2008). More than 100 species of finfish and invertebrates are routinely taken in the SESSF, supplying most of the fresh fish for markets in NSW, Victoria, Tasmania and South Australia, and some product for the export market.  Onboard monitoring programs have revealed that varying, but significant levels of the catch (up to 50% by weight) are caught and discarded in the fishery.  Although some commercial species are discarded, many of the discards are comprised of small fish species with little or no commercial value.  Like other trawl fisheries, there is increasing concern about the ecological impacts of this bycatch in the CTS.  As a consequence, the Australian Fisheries Management Authority and fishery stakeholders have implemented a Bycatch Action Plan, which aims to reduce bycatch in the fishery and ensure ecological sustainability.  An important component of this Plan is a project designed to modify the trawl gear to increase the proportion of small unwanted fish that escape.  This report presents the results of that research and discusses the importance of disseminating this information to key industry stakeholders and the wider community.

There is increasing worldwide concern about the ecological impacts of trawling.  Reports of high levels of bycatch of fish and other species, habitat degradation, bad practices, stock depletion and perceptions of wastage and negative ecological impacts continue to fuel these concerns. 

Australia’s Commonwealth Trawl Sector (CTS) — previously known as the South East Trawl Fishery, or SETF — is a complex multi-species sector of the Southern and Eastern Scalefish and Shark Fishery (SESSF) operating across the shelf and upper slope waters in south eastern Australia.  The SESSF caught approximately 22,000 t of fish during 2007 with a gross production valued at around $96 million during the 2006–07 financial year (Morison 2008). More than 100 species of finfish and invertebrates are routinely taken in the SESSF, supplying most of the fresh fish for markets in NSW, Victoria, Tasmania and South Australia, and some product for the export market.  Onboard monitoring programs have revealed that varying, but significant levels of the catch (up to 50% by weight) are caught and discarded in the fishery.  Although some commercial species are discarded, many of the discards are comprised of small fish species with little or no commercial value.  Like other trawl fisheries, there is increasing concern about the ecological impacts of this bycatch in the CTS.  As a consequence, the Australian Fisheries Management Authority and fishery stakeholders have implemented a Bycatch Action Plan, which aims to reduce bycatch in the fishery and ensure ecological sustainability.  An important component of this Plan is a project designed to modify the trawl gear to increase the proportion of small unwanted fish that escape.  This report presents the results of that research and discusses the importance of disseminating this information to key industry stakeholders and the wider community.

There is increasing worldwide concern about the ecological impacts of trawling.  Reports of high levels of bycatch of fish and other species, habitat degradation, bad practices, stock depletion and perceptions of wastage and negative ecological impacts continue to fuel these concerns. 

Australia’s Commonwealth Trawl Sector (CTS) — previously known as the South East Trawl Fishery, or SETF — is a complex multi-species sector of the Southern and Eastern Scalefish and Shark Fishery (SESSF) operating across the shelf and upper slope waters in south eastern Australia.  The SESSF caught approximately 22,000 t of fish during 2007 with a gross production valued at around $96 million during the 2006–07 financial year (Morison 2008). More than 100 species of finfish and invertebrates are routinely taken in the SESSF, supplying most of the fresh fish for markets in NSW, Victoria, Tasmania and South Australia, and some product for the export market.  Onboard monitoring programs have revealed that varying, but significant levels of the catch (up to 50% by weight) are caught and discarded in the fishery.  Although some commercial species are discarded, many of the discards are comprised of small fish species with little or no commercial value.  Like other trawl fisheries, there is increasing concern about the ecological impacts of this bycatch in the CTS.  As a consequence, the Australian Fisheries Management Authority and fishery stakeholders have implemented a Bycatch Action Plan, which aims to reduce bycatch in the fishery and ensure ecological sustainability.  An important component of this Plan is a project designed to modify the trawl gear to increase the proportion of small unwanted fish that escape.  This report presents the results of that research and discusses the importance of disseminating this information to key industry stakeholders and the wider community.

There is increasing worldwide concern about the ecological impacts of trawling.  Reports of high levels of bycatch of fish and other species, habitat degradation, bad practices, stock depletion and perceptions of wastage and negative ecological impacts continue to fuel these concerns. 

Australia’s Commonwealth Trawl Sector (CTS) — previously known as the South East Trawl Fishery, or SETF — is a complex multi-species sector of the Southern and Eastern Scalefish and Shark Fishery (SESSF) operating across the shelf and upper slope waters in south eastern Australia.  The SESSF caught approximately 22,000 t of fish during 2007 with a gross production valued at around $96 million during the 2006–07 financial year (Morison 2008). More than 100 species of finfish and invertebrates are routinely taken in the SESSF, supplying most of the fresh fish for markets in NSW, Victoria, Tasmania and South Australia, and some product for the export market.  Onboard monitoring programs have revealed that varying, but significant levels of the catch (up to 50% by weight) are caught and discarded in the fishery.  Although some commercial species are discarded, many of the discards are comprised of small fish species with little or no commercial value.  Like other trawl fisheries, there is increasing concern about the ecological impacts of this bycatch in the CTS.  As a consequence, the Australian Fisheries Management Authority and fishery stakeholders have implemented a Bycatch Action Plan, which aims to reduce bycatch in the fishery and ensure ecological sustainability.  An important component of this Plan is a project designed to modify the trawl gear to increase the proportion of small unwanted fish that escape.  This report presents the results of that research and discusses the importance of disseminating this information to key industry stakeholders and the wider community.

There is increasing worldwide concern about the ecological impacts of trawling.  Reports of high levels of bycatch of fish and other species, habitat degradation, bad practices, stock depletion and perceptions of wastage and negative ecological impacts continue to fuel these concerns. 

Australia’s Commonwealth Trawl Sector (CTS) — previously known as the South East Trawl Fishery, or SETF — is a complex multi-species sector of the Southern and Eastern Scalefish and Shark Fishery (SESSF) operating across the shelf and upper slope waters in south eastern Australia.  The SESSF caught approximately 22,000 t of fish during 2007 with a gross production valued at around $96 million during the 2006–07 financial year (Morison 2008). More than 100 species of finfish and invertebrates are routinely taken in the SESSF, supplying most of the fresh fish for markets in NSW, Victoria, Tasmania and South Australia, and some product for the export market.  Onboard monitoring programs have revealed that varying, but significant levels of the catch (up to 50% by weight) are caught and discarded in the fishery.  Although some commercial species are discarded, many of the discards are comprised of small fish species with little or no commercial value.  Like other trawl fisheries, there is increasing concern about the ecological impacts of this bycatch in the CTS.  As a consequence, the Australian Fisheries Management Authority and fishery stakeholders have implemented a Bycatch Action Plan, which aims to reduce bycatch in the fishery and ensure ecological sustainability.  An important component of this Plan is a project designed to modify the trawl gear to increase the proportion of small unwanted fish that escape.  This report presents the results of that research and discusses the importance of disseminating this information to key industry stakeholders and the wider community.

There is increasing worldwide concern about the ecological impacts of trawling.  Reports of high levels of bycatch of fish and other species, habitat degradation, bad practices, stock depletion and perceptions of wastage and negative ecological impacts continue to fuel these concerns. 

Australia’s Commonwealth Trawl Sector (CTS) — previously known as the South East Trawl Fishery, or SETF — is a complex multi-species sector of the Southern and Eastern Scalefish and Shark Fishery (SESSF) operating across the shelf and upper slope waters in south eastern Australia.  The SESSF caught approximately 22,000 t of fish during 2007 with a gross production valued at around $96 million during the 2006–07 financial year (Morison 2008). More than 100 species of finfish and invertebrates are routinely taken in the SESSF, supplying most of the fresh fish for markets in NSW, Victoria, Tasmania and South Australia, and some product for the export market.  Onboard monitoring programs have revealed that varying, but significant levels of the catch (up to 50% by weight) are caught and discarded in the fishery.  Although some commercial species are discarded, many of the discards are comprised of small fish species with little or no commercial value.  Like other trawl fisheries, there is increasing concern about the ecological impacts of this bycatch in the CTS.  As a consequence, the Australian Fisheries Management Authority and fishery stakeholders have implemented a Bycatch Action Plan, which aims to reduce bycatch in the fishery and ensure ecological sustainability.  An important component of this Plan is a project designed to modify the trawl gear to increase the proportion of small unwanted fish that escape.  This report presents the results of that research and discusses the importance of disseminating this information to key industry stakeholders and the wider community.

There is increasing worldwide concern about the ecological impacts of trawling.  Reports of high levels of bycatch of fish and other species, habitat degradation, bad practices, stock depletion and perceptions of wastage and negative ecological impacts continue to fuel these concerns. 

Australia’s Commonwealth Trawl Sector (CTS) — previously known as the South East Trawl Fishery, or SETF — is a complex multi-species sector of the Southern and Eastern Scalefish and Shark Fishery (SESSF) operating across the shelf and upper slope waters in south eastern Australia.  The SESSF caught approximately 22,000 t of fish during 2007 with a gross production valued at around $96 million during the 2006–07 financial year (Morison 2008). More than 100 species of finfish and invertebrates are routinely taken in the SESSF, supplying most of the fresh fish for markets in NSW, Victoria, Tasmania and South Australia, and some product for the export market.  Onboard monitoring programs have revealed that varying, but significant levels of the catch (up to 50% by weight) are caught and discarded in the fishery.  Although some commercial species are discarded, many of the discards are comprised of small fish species with little or no commercial value.  Like other trawl fisheries, there is increasing concern about the ecological impacts of this bycatch in the CTS.  As a consequence, the Australian Fisheries Management Authority and fishery stakeholders have implemented a Bycatch Action Plan, which aims to reduce bycatch in the fishery and ensure ecological sustainability.  An important component of this Plan is a project designed to modify the trawl gear to increase the proportion of small unwanted fish that escape.  This report presents the results of that research and discusses the importance of disseminating this information to key industry stakeholders and the wider community.

There is increasing worldwide concern about the ecological impacts of trawling.  Reports of high levels of bycatch of fish and other species, habitat degradation, bad practices, stock depletion and perceptions of wastage and negative ecological impacts continue to fuel these concerns. 

Australia’s Commonwealth Trawl Sector (CTS) — previously known as the South East Trawl Fishery, or SETF — is a complex multi-species sector of the Southern and Eastern Scalefish and Shark Fishery (SESSF) operating across the shelf and upper slope waters in south eastern Australia.  The SESSF caught approximately 22,000 t of fish during 2007 with a gross production valued at around $96 million during the 2006–07 financial year (Morison 2008). More than 100 species of finfish and invertebrates are routinely taken in the SESSF, supplying most of the fresh fish for markets in NSW, Victoria, Tasmania and South Australia, and some product for the export market.  Onboard monitoring programs have revealed that varying, but significant levels of the catch (up to 50% by weight) are caught and discarded in the fishery.  Although some commercial species are discarded, many of the discards are comprised of small fish species with little or no commercial value.  Like other trawl fisheries, there is increasing concern about the ecological impacts of this bycatch in the CTS.  As a consequence, the Australian Fisheries Management Authority and fishery stakeholders have implemented a Bycatch Action Plan, which aims to reduce bycatch in the fishery and ensure ecological sustainability.  An important component of this Plan is a project designed to modify the trawl gear to increase the proportion of small unwanted fish that escape.  This report presents the results of that research and discusses the importance of disseminating this information to key industry stakeholders and the wider community.

There is increasing worldwide concern about the ecological impacts of trawling.  Reports of high levels of bycatch of fish and other species, habitat degradation, bad practices, stock depletion and perceptions of wastage and negative ecological impacts continue to fuel these concerns. 

Australia’s Commonwealth Trawl Sector (CTS) — previously known as the South East Trawl Fishery, or SETF — is a complex multi-species sector of the Southern and Eastern Scalefish and Shark Fishery (SESSF) operating across the shelf and upper slope waters in south eastern Australia.  The SESSF caught approximately 22,000 t of fish during 2007 with a gross production valued at around $96 million during the 2006–07 financial year (Morison 2008). More than 100 species of finfish and invertebrates are routinely taken in the SESSF, supplying most of the fresh fish for markets in NSW, Victoria, Tasmania and South Australia, and some product for the export market.  Onboard monitoring programs have revealed that varying, but significant levels of the catch (up to 50% by weight) are caught and discarded in the fishery.  Although some commercial species are discarded, many of the discards are comprised of small fish species with little or no commercial value.  Like other trawl fisheries, there is increasing concern about the ecological impacts of this bycatch in the CTS.  As a consequence, the Australian Fisheries Management Authority and fishery stakeholders have implemented a Bycatch Action Plan, which aims to reduce bycatch in the fishery and ensure ecological sustainability.  An important component of this Plan is a project designed to modify the trawl gear to increase the proportion of small unwanted fish that escape.  This report presents the results of that research and discusses the importance of disseminating this information to key industry stakeholders and the wider community.

There is increasing worldwide concern about the ecological impacts of trawling.  Reports of high levels of bycatch of fish and other species, habitat degradation, bad practices, stock depletion and perceptions of wastage and negative ecological impacts continue to fuel these concerns. 

Australia’s Commonwealth Trawl Sector (CTS) — previously known as the South East Trawl Fishery, or SETF — is a complex multi-species sector of the Southern and Eastern Scalefish and Shark Fishery (SESSF) operating across the shelf and upper slope waters in south eastern Australia.  The SESSF caught approximately 22,000 t of fish during 2007 with a gross production valued at around $96 million during the 2006–07 financial year (Morison 2008). More than 100 species of finfish and invertebrates are routinely taken in the SESSF, supplying most of the fresh fish for markets in NSW, Victoria, Tasmania and South Australia, and some product for the export market.  Onboard monitoring programs have revealed that varying, but significant levels of the catch (up to 50% by weight) are caught and discarded in the fishery.  Although some commercial species are discarded, many of the discards are comprised of small fish species with little or no commercial value.  Like other trawl fisheries, there is increasing concern about the ecological impacts of this bycatch in the CTS.  As a consequence, the Australian Fisheries Management Authority and fishery stakeholders have implemented a Bycatch Action Plan, which aims to reduce bycatch in the fishery and ensure ecological sustainability.  An important component of this Plan is a project designed to modify the trawl gear to increase the proportion of small unwanted fish that escape.  This report presents the results of that research and discusses the importance of disseminating this information to key industry stakeholders and the wider community.