Industry monitoring has identified sizeable increases in sediment loading of copper and zinc at farm sites in the Huon and D’Entrecasteaux Channel, with Cu levels in some sites exceeding existing management trigger levels (ANZECC/ARMCANZ (2000)). This is a major concern for both farmers who are reliant on antifoulant use to ensure adequate environmental conditions within pens for fish growth and stock health. While there is some evidence to suggest that paint-associated copper may be less readily bioavailable than other forms, this information is currently insufficient to warrant changes to existing guidelines. Consequently the industry needs to better define the potential for environmental impacts associated with copper contamination, and a strategy for management and remediation of these sediments needs to be developed.

There is an urgent need to understand both the consequences of copper accumulation and the conditions that affect copper build up under cages, and to incorporate this information into management practice. Specifically, we need to
i) develop management limits for sediments,
ii) determine reliable approaches for monitoring Cu bioavailability,
iii) determine the potential for natural or assisted remediation (can it occur and can it be managed),
iv) the implications of farm management practices on sediment contamination (i.e. fallowing, in situ cleaning, sediment disturbance).
This information will enable the development and implementation of comprehensive management strategies.

Climate change is manifesting in marine environments. Additional to climate variability there is documented shifts in ocean currents - temperature, behaviour and spatial impact. Biotic indications eg species changes in abundance and range suggest impacts are at a level greater than for terrestrial ecosystems and uses. Coupled with this is the common property nature of fisheries resources. Management imperatives are already upon Government and all key sectors - conservation, commercial and recreational fishery management and aquaculture.

The first two challenges are to -
a) smartly adapt to biotic changes and variations in abundance
b) foster a more flexible and responsive approach to marine management.

Climate change is a political issue - the public policy issue that has been most incompetently dealt with by Australia's political leaders. Community understanding of the complexities of climate change and how Australia should respond is varied with multiple areas for confusion and misunderstanding. Additionally, those promoting a mitigation response have been alarmist in their predictions - well beyond the science evidence.
With this confusion as to the implications of climate change and options for adaptation and mitigation strategies, informed debate is extremely difficult. The recreational fishing sector is no different to the wider community.

Given the economic and social importance of recreational fishing in Australia, there is a national need and strong regional demand for strategies and adaptation activities and management systems that respond wisely to climate change.

The second two challenges are to:
c) ensure accurate information on climate change information is available and is placed in context with other aspects such as habitat loss and water quality
d) foster knowledge and adaptation strategies from within the recreational fishing sector so that the sector can play its role in advocacy and public policy development.

The FRDC has commissioned a review of the role that existing and future genetic technologies may play in addressing critical challenges facing the exploitation of wild fisheries. Wild fisheries management has been assisted by genetic research for over 50 years, and in Australia this research has been largely funded by the FRDC. Both fisheries management and the methods of genetic analysis have changed significantly during this time. The capability of genetic technologies is ever-broadening, whilst fisheries managers must address fundamental challenges such as assessing the impact of fishing on target species and the ecosystem, as well as increasingly diverse issues such as illegal trade. Given these dynamics, as well as perceptions that communication between fisheries managers and geneticists has been poor in some cases, there is a strong need to reassess the ways in which genetic research can contribute to fisheries, and for fishery managers and researchers, industry representatives and fisheries geneticists to critically examine each other’s needs and capabilities.

There have been numerous recent reviews of the contributions of genetics to fisheries management overseas [e.g. 1, 2]. However, these reviews may be difficult to access, they do not target an industry audience, and none focus on the Australian fisheries context. An Australian-focused assessment that is based on both literature surveys as well as strong stakeholder engagement will promote clear joint understanding of the needs and capabilities of fishing industry, fisheries science and fisheries geneticists respectively. It will lead to more coordinated and consistent approaches to the application of genetic technologies in Australia, greater uptake of research outcomes, and build an enduring platform for future successes in genetic research and fisheries management.