15 results
Communities
PROJECT NUMBER • 2019-074
PROJECT STATUS:
CURRENT

Engagement for Success: evaluation of engagement events to inform industry management strategies

This user-friendly tool helps you choose the most suitable engagement activities based on your specific goals, target audience, and resources. By considering factors like budget and expertise, the tool suggests effective strategies to connect with your community....
ORGANISATION:
OceanWatch Australia Ltd
Environment
Communities

Tactical Research Fund: Effectiveness of larger mesh size in reducing the capture of juvenile target species in select NSW ocean beach seine operations

Project number: 2008-036
Project Status:
Completed
Budget expenditure: $32,805.00
Principal Investigator: Dave Cranston
Organisation: OceanWatch Australia Ltd
Project start/end date: 30 Mar 2008 - 1 Dec 2008
Contact:
FRDC

Need

This application is an industry initiative aimed at reducing the incidental bycatch of juvenile target species encountered in ocean deployed beach seines. This project will not only empower industry members with instilled confidence in their gear, but also assist in addressing the potential conflict between the two user groups.

There is genuine concern regarding the capture of significant proportions of juveniles whilst targeting migratory schools of bream, tarwhine and luderick predominantly; when using currently legislated beach seine net specifications.

A beach seine net can be divided into three 3 main sections: anterior wings, posterior wings and the bunt/codend. Current legislation prescribes a maximum mesh size of 86, 65 and 65mm respectively for these sections.

Recently, (Wooden, unpublished) investigated the use of alternate net configurations and the use of morphological data in ocean and estuary deployed beach seines. In brief the study indicated:
(i) Current configurations of NSW beach seines are inappropriate for maximizing size selectivity for nearly
all retained species,
(ii) Morphological data can be used to predict and trial appropriate mesh sizes to reduce
bycatch and
(iii) No significant physical or physiological damages resulted from juvenile bream escaping from a
modified beach seine with a mesh size of 102mm (in simulated laboratory experiments).

Anecdotal information from numerous sources on landings of juveniles in conventional beach seine gears, identifies the need for further research on certain gear components of the ocean beach seine fishery. Proposed investigations (beach seine net constructed entirely of 102mm mesh) aim to further improve size selectivity and eliminate the unwanted capture of juvenile target species.

The research proposed in this application clearly relates to the vision of the fishery and directly addresses many objectives listed under Goal 1 & Goal 2 of the FMS and addresses FRDC’s high priorities responding to strategic challenge 1.

Objectives

1. 1. To examine and quantify the effectiveness of larger than prescribed mesh size in reducing the capture of juveniles in ocean beach seine operations targeting ground-fish species.
2. 2. Provision of information that support management decisions for the long term benefit of the resource and users.

Final report

ISBN: 978-0-9750797-4-4
Author: Dave Cranston

Reducing plastics in the Australian seafood industry - Phase 1

Project number: 2004-410
Project Status:
Completed
Budget expenditure: $5,000.00
Principal Investigator: Anissa Lawrence
Organisation: OceanWatch Australia Ltd
Project start/end date: 29 Jun 2005 - 20 Apr 2007
Contact:
FRDC

Need

Given the current trend by groups such as Planet Ark, local councils, DEH and other industries it is important that
the seafood industry is aware of the options/alternatives available for reducing plastics and is seen to be operating
as a responsible industry. Internationally, particularly in the EU, there is also a drive to reduce plastics and other
non-recyclable materials such as polystyrene. There is no forward planning in the Seafood industry to cover this
issue and because of the environmental damage that can be caused by plastics it is essential that some
background work be done to assess the current position and to create some viable alternatives.

Objectives

1. To undertake a desktop study to review where plastics are used within the Australian Seafood Industry (post harvest) and whether potential alternatives/substitutes are available.

Final report

ISBN: 0-9757286-1-X
Author: Anissa Lawrence
Environment
PROJECT NUMBER • 2003-063
PROJECT STATUS:
COMPLETED

Adoption of an environmental management systems by NSW commercial estuary fishers and oyster farmers

This project has provided estuary fishers and oyster farmers across NSW with an opportunity to develop an Environmental Management System (EMS), based on ISO 14001 Environmental Management Systems for their businesses. The main driver for each group to develop an EMS was primarily improving...
ORGANISATION:
OceanWatch Australia Ltd
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