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People development program: 2010 FRDC International Travel Bursary: Dr Andrew Levings: Australia – USA Science and Technology Exchange - Deep Sea Crabs

Project number: 2008-314.18

Project Status:

Completed

Budget expenditure: $6,000.00

Principal Investigator: Andrew Levings

Organisation: A and C Levings

Project start/end date: 19 May 2010 - 29 Dec 2010

Contact:

FRDC

TAGS

Need

The University of Maine has requested advice about crab tagging and the application of tags manufactured by Hallprint Pty Ltd (South Australia) for study of the red crab (Chaceon quinquedens), a slow growing species for which there is a limited entry fishery. The fishery has recently been MSC certified for exemplary environmental performance. The crab tag manufactured by Hallprint was developed by the applicant Dr Andrew Levings, during FRDC project 93/220 and has proven to be extremely durable, as demonstrated by recent recaptures of tagged giant crabs after 15 years at large; and is ideal for long lived crab species.

The crystal crab (Chaceon albus) fishery in Western Australia is based on a similar species and is caught at similar depths to C. Quinquedens. Western Australian Deep sea crab fishermen have expressed an interest in obtaining information about the pathway taken by the New England fishermen to MSC certification and the harvest technologies of this fishery.

There is also a need to extend the results of research to new generation WA deep seas crab fishermen and encourage them to continue to assist research by reporting recaptures of tagged crabs.

Objectives

1. Disseminate knowledge at the University of Maine on the use of Australian manufactured crab tags and meet with world leaders in crustacean research to discuss current work on lobsters and crabs.

2. Assist the University of Maine's red crab research project by joining a post-graduate student on a 10 day industry-sponsored tag/ release voyage.

3. Observe harvest methods in the red crab fishery

4. Observe the MSC process in practice and by discussion obtain fishermen’s views on the merit of this certification in the context of an environmentally conscious market place and the imperative to achieve sustainable harvesting

5. Disseminate the knowledge gained through objects 3 and 4 to West Australian deep sea crab fishery stakeholders.

Final report

Author: Andrew Levings

PROJECT NUMBER • 2008-314.17

PROJECT STATUS:

COMPLETED

People Development Program: 2009 FRDC International travel bursary - Paul Hardy-Smith

ORGANISATION:

Panaquatic Health Solutions Pty Ltd

TAGS

People Development Program: 2009 FRDC International travel bursary Mark Oliver

Project number: 2008-314.16

Project Status:

Completed

Budget expenditure: $6,000.00

Principal Investigator: Mark Oliver

Organisation: Australian Aquaculture Support Services Pty Ltd

Project start/end date: 2 Aug 2009 - 30 Nov 2009

Contact:

FRDC

TAGS

Need

The World Aquaculture Society has been was founded in 1969 and is active in over 100 countries and boasts over 3000 members. It has a history of running conferences throughout the world for many years and they have been proved extremely beneficial for the aquaculture community as a whole. It is understood by the Principle Investigator that individual sessions devoted solely to aquaculture/fisheries training and education has been rare or non-existent in the past. This conference provides an excellent opportunity to bring education and training into the spotlight. It is envisaged that type of environment will lay the foundations for meaningful engagement other educational and training institutions, government and non government organisations and commercial enterprises.

Objectives

1. Gain up to date knowledge of aquaculture education and training techniques utilised throughout the Asia Pacific region.

2. To build a suite of professional relationships with other aquaculture educators and trainers throughout the Asia Pacific region.

3. To represent the aquaculture educators and trainers of Australia in a professional manner

4. To gain up to date knowledge of various aquaculture techniques that can ultimately be disseminated to the Australian aquaculture education and training community and their students.

Final report

Author: Mark Oliver

People Development Program: 2009/2010 FRDC International travel bursary - John Keane

Project number: 2008-314.15

Project Status:

Completed

Budget expenditure: $5,289.24

Organisation: University of Tasmania (UTAS)

Project start/end date: 30 Jun 2009 - 29 Jun 2010

Contact:

FRDC

TAGS

Need

Determining links between spawning dynamics, as well as the early life history, of small pelagic fishes and oceanographic processes off south-eastern Australia is needed to strengthen the understanding of stock structure, basic biology, and the impacts of various environmental influences on the target species in the Commonwealth Small Pelagic Fishery. Little information is known about bio-physical links in this region, despite studies worldwide showing that oceanographic processes play a critical role in determining recruitment success of small pelagics and influence population dynamics as a whole. Furthermore, global climate change models predict that a strengthening of the East Australian Current (EAC), the largest influence on marine ecosystems in south-eastern Australia, will result in the region being most vulnerable to climate change. As a result, it is essential to understand how EAC dynamics influence small-pelagic fish stocks before any predictions of the influence of climate change can be made.

The opportunity exists to further explore data acquired during a previous ichthyoplankton study to establish links between the early life history stages of small pelagic fishes and ocean currents off south-eastern Australia. However, to fully develop hypotheses on such linkages, it is vital to obtain the latest information on large scale marine systems, ecological models and theories regarding transport, advection, dispersal and retention processes. Such opportunity to gather such information exists with a workshop and conference dedicated to connectivity in marine fish populations in July 2009. Attendance at this workshop would be highly beneficial in discussing and developing theories and hypothesis regarding links between the early life history of small pelagic fishes and oceanographic processes, as well as predicting possible effects of imminent climate change within south-eastern Australia.

Objectives

1. To determine links between larval dynamics of small pelagic fishes and oceanographic features off south-eastern Australia.

2. To source the latest knowledge on connectivity between the early life history of fish and oceanographic processes.

3. To develop hypotheses regarding the influence of oceanic processes associated with the East Australian Current on the spawning dynamics and early life history stages of small pelagic fishes, and propose likely changes to the stock under imminent climate change predictions.

Final report

People Development Program: 2009 FRDC International travel bursary Ben Chuwen

Project number: 2008-314.14

Project Status:

Completed

Budget expenditure: $6,000.00

Organisation: Murdoch University

Project start/end date: 30 Jun 2009 - 30 Dec 2009

Contact:

FRDC

TAGS

Need

The Australian fishing industry requires the development of people that will assist in ensuring the sustainability of Australia’s fish resources. Such development must include aspects that will enhance leadership capabilities, industry capacity and the transfer of knowledge throughout the sector. One of the most important aspects of fisheries biology is the ageing of fish for use in fisheries management plans. This is a rapidly expanding area of research and leading scientists convene each 4-5 years to present and discuss recent developments in this field, with the 4th International Otolith Symposium to be held in Monterey, California in August 2009. Murdoch University’s Centre for Fish and Fisheries Research is Western Australia’s peak fisheries research training centre and thus it is necessary for staff to continue to be skilled in the most up-to-date techniques and methodology to enable the centre’s high calibre training to continue. My attendance at the 4th International Otolith Symposium is thus important not only for personal professional development, but also for the development of future fisheries researchers in Western Australia.

Objectives

1. 1. To further develop the capacity of an early-career fisheries research scientist.

2. 2. To enhance the scientific capacity of the Australian fishing industry.

Final report

Final Report • 2017-09-29 • 4.88 MB

Collaborative partnership for farming and fishing health and safety

Project number: 2008-313

Project Status:

Completed

Budget expenditure: $250,000.00

Principal Investigator: Ken Moore

Organisation: AgriFutures Australia

Project start/end date: 28 Mar 2008 - 30 Jun 2012

Contact:

FRDC

TAGS

Need

About 150 persons die from non–intentional injury each year on Australian farms. Between 300 and 350 male farmers and farm workers die a traumatic death from all causes each year. The mortality rate in Australian farming is approximately four times that of the all-industries rated (19.5 per 100,000 employees compared to 5.5 per 100,000 employees) (Durey and Lower, 2004).
The rate of workers compensation claims from agriculture, forestry and fishing in 2001-2002 was 27 per thousand employees. There are about 4,500 claims each year made by workers in the agricultural and horticultural industries. Also self employed farmers are not obliged to report injuries so that the incidence reported may be an underestimate.
In the four years 1989-1992 a total of 55 people were fatally injured while involved in work related fishing industries (NOHSC, 1999). Between 1991 and 2001 a total of 16 professional fishermen drowned as a result of falling or being washed from commercial fishing vessels in Victorian waters.
Available statistics indicate that there is a higher rate of suicide among rural populations generally, and farmers in particular. For example, in the period 1988 to 1997, 921 suicides were identified for farm managers and agricultural labourers (Page & Fragar, 2002). The ABS reports that between 1988 and 1998, the suicide rate was up to 17 per 100,000 persons per year in rural areas, compared to 12-13 per 100,000 in the capital cities.
The health status and determinants of health (e.g. death rates, income etc) are generally worse in rural and remote areas than in metropolitan areas. There is a need to identify factors that contribute to this discrepancy, particularly as it is likely to apply to farmers and fishers.
There is a prevailing opinion that many farm and fishing injuries and deaths are preventable.

Objectives

1. To improve the physical health of farming and fishing workers and their families

2. To improve the mental health of farming and fishing families

3. To improve the safety environment and work practices in farming and fishing industries

Final report

Author: Ken Moore

2008-313-DLD.pdf

Summary

The Collaborative partnership for farming and fishing health and safety is funded by RIRDC, the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing, Grains Research and Development Corporation, Fisheries Research and Development Corporation, Sugar Research and Development Corporation and Cotton Research and Development Corporation.

The key target audiences for health and safety information are business owners, managers and employees, who with their families live on Australian farms and in fishing communities.

The key target audiences for health and safety information are business owners, managers and employees, who with their families live on Australian farms and in fishing communities.

Thirty projects have been completed.

PROJECT NUMBER • 2008-312

PROJECT STATUS:

COMPLETED

Fostering a partnership between FRDC and MDCA to improve communication of research to the community

ORGANISATION:

Marine Discovery Centre Henley Beach

TAGS

SPECIES

Black Deepsea Cardinalfish

Greenlip Abalone

Flounders

Tactical Research Fund: Moving to a common vision and understanding for equitable access for indigenous, recreational and commercial fishers:- Northern Territory fishing and seafood industry delegation to New Zealand

Project number: 2008-311

Project Status:

Completed

Budget expenditure: $60,550.00

Principal Investigator: Chris E. Calogeras

Organisation: Northern Territory Seafood Council (NTSC)

Project start/end date: 29 Jan 2008 - 30 Jun 2009

Contact:

FRDC

TAGS

Resource Access And Allocation

Indigenous

Community

Need

The ‘Blue Mud Bay’ Court decision found that waters over Aboriginal land are the same as ‘land’ under the Aboriginal Land Rights Act (ALRA) with similar access requirements. This means that ownership of the intertidal zone (including the waters) rests with the indigenous land trusts. This is significant as land granted under the ALRA encompasses over 80% of the NT coastline.

As a result of the decision, existing Fisheries legislation was ruled invalid in the area. Awaiting the High Court appeal, permits under the ARLA have been issued by the NLC to allow fishing to continue in line with previous conditions under the Fisheries legislation.

Traditional owners, commercial and recreational fishers are now actively discussing long-term options and solutions to this situation. If the appeal fails, the NLC offered a 12-month transition period whilst a satisfactory resolution is reached.

This is a unique situation in Australian fisheries and there is significant opportunities to discuss how best to progress the issues at Industry level. It was considered prudent to make contact with people who have extensive experience in incorporating indigenous fishing rights into the fabric of the day to day operations and management of fishing activities and to discuss possible implications arising from future proposals by NT Industry groups. A fact-finding trip, with a view to meeting and discussing issues with a range of groups in NZ, was considered the best course of action.

The trip will enable stakeholders to become aware of best practice resource management use that takes into account indigenous participation in commercial operations, along with recreational use of fish stocks.

The timing of the trip is critical to allow the delegation’s findings to be considered during the decision-making period immediately following the High Court ruling.

Objectives

1. To allow key fishing industry stakeholder groups in the NT to meet with representatives in NZ who have extensive experience in dealing with and incorporating indigenous fishing rights and access into broader fisheries management arrangements

2. To gain an understanding of how to incorporate indigenous participation in best practice fisheries resource management that takes into account indigenous commercial operations, along with recreational use of fish stocks, monitoring, compliance and enforcement issues.

3. To identify benefits, pitfalls, and other key issues arising from formally acknowledging indigenous fishing rights

4. To reach an agreed stakeholder position on future directions for indigenous participation in the NT fishing Industry

5. Prepare a final report to FRDC detailing outcomes from the delegations investigations

Final report

ISBN: 978-0-646-51122-1

Author: Chris Calogeras