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Recently, (Wooden, unpublished) investigated the use of alternate net configurations and the use of morphological data in ocean and estuary deployed beach seines.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.

There is an increasing need to develop appropriate management in the Commonwealth Small Pelagic Fishery (SPF). Past spikes in the jack mackerel fishery, more recent increases in catches of redbait in Zone A of the SPF and predicted climate change impacts pose a significant threat to the ecosystem structure and function particularly in this region but more broadly throughout the whole SPF, emphasizing our need to understand the role of small pelagics in the southern Australian ecosystem.

The SPF Management Advisory Committee identified several priorities for research such as determination of stock structure and size, the role of the species in the system, harvest strategies in response to the Ministerial Direction 2005, and interactions with TEP species and bycatch. COMFRAB have called for research that will identify possible spatial management arrangements that best suit the spatial distribution of the species.

Our proposal addresses the issue of the role of small pelagics in the southern Australian ecosystem, and the potential impacts, under various types of ecosystem controls and environmental and management influences. We will also recommend an approach to developing purpose-built models to evaluate derived scenarios of management, fishery interactions and potential climate change impacts.