The HIMI and MI PTF fisheries have experienced contrasting trends in catch rates in recent years, that are reportedly not stock related. There is strong interest from industry and managers in determining the extent to which biophysical drivers influence these trends. This proposal will address this by quantifying the relationships between fishery specific environmental, ecological and economic variables using state-of-the-art spatiotemporal modelling techniques. The analysis will identify relationships between key variables under a variety of environmental conditions, that will be used to produce probabilistic maps of catchability to enhance the efficiency of this quota-managed fishery. In future collaborations with FRDC 2018-133, the catchability model developed here will be used to identify the likely response of the fishery to future environmental scenarios derived from CSIRO climate models.

This project will provide the fishing industry and fishery managers with a more contemporary understanding of the relationships between environmental, ecological and economic drivers of PTF catch rates in the HIMI and MI fisheries. If relationships can be established between oceanography, dynamic habitats and catch rates then a real time monitoring program could be developed to aid in catch efficiency.

FRDC is currently funding a complementary FRDC funded project Impact of environmental variability on the Patagonian Toothfish (Dissostichus eleginoides) fishery (FRDC 2018-133). Through consultation with the project leaders, Dr Nicole Hill and Dr Stuart Corney from the University of Tasmania (UTAS), synergies between the two projects have been identified, and it is clear what unique benefits this proposed project will deliver. These links are described in greater details under the method sections of this proposal.