The ecological risk assessment process recently undertaken jointly by AFMA and CSIRO has identified that sharks generally, are high priority species which require focussed management attention. In the Southern and Eastern Scalefish and Shark Fishery (SESSF) this is particularly the case for upper slope Southern and Eastern gulper sharks (including Harrison’s dogfish and Southern dogfish) which have been found to be severely depleted and have been nominated as threatened species under the EPBC Act. AFMA is now developing management responses to address these identified ecological risks, and there are a number of complimentary processes currently underway. These include the bycatch working group in the SESSF, which is currently preparing a bycatch work plan to be developed and implemented during 2008. AFMA is also establishing an expert shark and ray (Chondrichthyan) working group to develop appropriate management responses for these species across all fisheries. There is also a small working group in the South East Trawl Fishery (SETF) which is looking closely at the deepwater shark species of the lower slope and additional work is being undertaken to provide immediate management recommendations in relation to Harrison’s dogfish in particular. However, despite these various initiatives, there is a need to review available information on the upper slope gulper sharks (including species other than just Harrison’s dogfish) to improve understanding of levels of interaction and to provide advice on future management options.

The Exmouth Gulf Prawn Fishery from 2008 will become a single operator fishery with M.G. Kailis Gulf
Fisheries Pty. Ltd., operating all licenses and trawlers in the fishery. An opportunity exists to assess the
value of Co-Management for the management for the fishery and for progressing certification under the Marine Stewardship Council through a ‘local self management’ governance model that reports to a locally based community advisory committee. This new direction in fisheries management is anticipated to improve flexibility in real time management, and reduce the burden on the Department of Fisheries for management, research and especially compliance and legislative action. Any self governance must also facilitate reporting of key performance indicators to meet and gain acceptance of fisheries managers and meet longer term reporting needs of the EPBC Act and the Marine Stewardship Council and the broader community.

The case study will provide a strategy for progressing the ‘local’ management of other Western
Australian fisheries, where the catch interaction with other sectors is minimal or where resource shares have been determined for competing sectors. The case study will also provide directions for legislation amendments to WA Legislation necessary to support co-management changes.

This work needs to be immediately undertaken as cabinet approval is being sought from the WA Government for amendments to the Fish Resources Management Act. There is limited time opportunity (about 12 months as drafting proceeds) for the case to be made to government for changes to legislation. Additionally the availability of the Principal Investigator beyond this window of opportunity cannot be guaranteed.