227 results
Environment
PROJECT NUMBER • 2020-065
PROJECT STATUS:
CURRENT

Indicators for density and biomass of exploitable abalone – developing and applying a new approach

The objectives of this project are to use the Victorian Western Zone (WZ) abalone fishery to develop and evaluate a new approach to calculating abalone density and biomass indicators from the combination of three information sources. The three information sources are: i. ...
ORGANISATION:
Western Abalone Divers Association (WADA)
TAGS
Survey
Stock Assessment
Resource Access And Allocation
Fishing Gear
Fishing Effort
SPECIES
Blacklip Abalone
Greenlip Abalone
Brownlip Abalone
People

Improving and promoting fish-trawl selectivity in the Commonwealth Trawl Sector (CTS) and Great Australian Bight Trawl Sector (GABTS) of the Southern and Eastern Scalefish and Shark Fishery (SESSF)

Project number: 2019-027
Project Status:
Completed
Budget expenditure: $776,141.00
Principal Investigator: Matt K. Broadhurst
Organisation: Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (NSW)
Project start/end date: 29 Jul 2020 - 29 Sep 2024
Contact:
FRDC
TAGS
Rac Cmwth
Innovation
Fishing Gear
Environmental Impact
Economic

Need

It is very clear that fishing-technology research to improve resource harvesting is a priority need for the future sustainability of fish trawling in Australia. The issue is quite poignant, considering that over the past 15 years, there has been a massive reduction in the total number of trawlers in Australia, and lower profits among remaining operators struggling to remain viable. Innovative modifications and refinements to existing systems that improve selectivity and reduce environmental impacts and costs are an urgent priority to ensure economic viability. Such developments are difficult to achieve by individual fishers without quality research, development and extension that is adequately resourced.

More specifically, there is a clear need to maintain progress towards developing innovative, high-priority technological modifications to fish trawls in the CTS and GABTS that mitigate sustainability issues while maintaining target catches at existing levels. Equally important, ratified designs then need to be tested across fleets to encourage adoption and refinement as a precursor to eventual legislation. Ultimately, satisfying these needs will contribute towards improving the social licence and economic return of trawl fisheries in the SESSF, while helping to ensure their ongoing sustainability and address what remains one of the most controversial issues facing bottom trawling.

Objectives

1. Review the available domestic and international literature and data, and consult with a project stakeholder committee (comprising representatives of the CTS, GABTS, NSW PFA and AFMA) to prioritise modifications to be formally assessed for their utility in minimising bycatch, while maintaining target catches among trawls used in the CTS and GABTS.
2. Based on the outcomes of 1 above, assess the utility of existing and new modifications to trawls for minimising bycatch, while maintaining target catches in the CTS and GABTS.
3. By providing strong economic incentives through improved efficiencies, and via applied extension activities, encourage the wide-scale voluntary adoption and ongoing exploration of appropriate best-practice technologies that cumulatively reduce bycatches, while maintaining target catches in the CTS and GABTS.

Final report

ISBN: 978-1-76058-820-5
Author: Matt K Broadhurst
Final Report • 2024-11-18 • 21.33 MB
2019-027-DLD.pdf

Summary

This project sought to produce the first-ever review of technical options for improving fish-trawl selectivity around the planet and then use this information to address a deficit in experimental work quantifying the utility of industry-developed and new selective-gear modifications in the Commonwealth Trawl Sector (CTS) and Great Australian Bight Trawl Sector (GABTS) of the Southern and Eastern Scalefish and Shark Fishery (SESSF). The work was completed during a four-year collaboration (from September 2020) between the New South Wales Department of Primary industries (NSW DPI), Fishwell Consulting, the Australian Fisheries Management Authority (AFMA), Commonwealth Scientific and Industry Research Organisation (CSIRO), South East Trawl Fishing Industry Association (SETFIA) and the Great Australian Bight Industry Association (GABIA). Ultimately, by highlighting regional industry efforts and identifying and validating the benefits of new options to reduce one of the most controversial issues facing bottom trawling, the project contributes towards improving the social licence and economic return of trawl fisheries in the SESSF, and supports ongoing Australian research into technological solutions to ensure fishery sustainability.
Environment
Adoption
Blank
Adoption
PROJECT NUMBER • 2018-049
PROJECT STATUS:
COMPLETED

A Better Way to Fish: testing the feasibility of tunnel net ‘fish trap’ gear in North Queensland

This study found that tunnel nets are technically feasible in this location. In spite of the weather conditions, the fishing gear remained intact and successfully captured significant numbers of marketable fishes. Importantly, SOCI species were released alive and in excellent condition, as were...
ORGANISATION:
James Cook University (JCU)
TAGS
Threatened Endangered Protected Species
Sustainability
Stakeholder
Rac Qld
Policy
SPECIES
King Threadfin
Blue Threadfin
Diamondscale Mullet
Sea Mullet
Striped Perches
Environment
PROJECT NUMBER • 2021-089
PROJECT STATUS:
COMPLETED

Climate resilient wild catch fisheries

This report outlines the impending need for the fishing industry to reduce GHG emissions by 2030. Over 8 months, the project evaluated alternative fuels' potential to cut emissions, recognising challenges in regulatory stimulus and incomplete research. Among numerous options, certain solutions...
ORGANISATION:
Seafood Industry Australia (SIA)
TAGS
Climate Resilience
Climate Mitigation
People
PROJECT NUMBER • 2023-102
PROJECT STATUS:
CURRENT

Capability & Capacity: 2024 Electric & Hybrid Marine Expo North America and Conference

I believe the value that bursary recipients received from attending the Electric and Hybrid Expo was valuable in a number of ways. The networking opportunity for the younger members was valuable as they all shared experiences and were a little removed from what was happening on a global stage for...
ORGANISATION:
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation (FRDC)
TAGS
Innovation
Climate Resilience
Capacity Building

Capability and Capacity: Innovation bursaries and conference sponsorship

Project number: 2023-106
Project Status:
Current
Budget expenditure: $184,730.10
Principal Investigator: Sally Roberts
Organisation: Fisheries Research and Development Corporation (FRDC)
Project start/end date: 11 Jan 2024 - 29 Apr 2026
Contact:
FRDC
TAGS
Innovation
Education
Conference
Communications
Capacity Building

Need

This project provides opportunities to be exposed to innovation, build and develop capability and capacity, connect with innovation networks and generate new contacts. These opportunities will demonstrate benefits of being in innovation space for new entrants from fishing and aquaculture through encourage and enabling participation. The project aims to stimulate collaboration and increase the visibility of "getting into innovation", potentially increasing ideas to feed into future investment lanes and possibly more adoption. This includes exposing fresh minds to spark novel ideas who are unaware of opportunities and/or may experience barriers to participate.

The skills and capabilities required to intervene in complex systems need to be developed to capitalise on new systems and processes. This includes mechanisms to engage stakeholders to focus, priorities and invest in capability and capacity development locally and nationally. EvokeAg is a flagship event, focused on showcasing and stimulating innovation through connecting people with each other and to knowledge, information and

$75,000 sponsorship (includes exhibition stand and furniture, printing and 5 x 2024 tickets (2025 & 2026 details tbc) over 3 years
$110,000 bursaries ($6k - conference and side event tickets, flights, accommodation, travel incidentals) - allows for 18 full bursaries over 3 years OR a mixed level of support (e.g. partial bursary, alternative innovation event)

Objectives

1. Support up to 16 people to attend EvokeAg (or similar) during the project
2. Enable global, local, connection and collaboration across innovation and emerging sectors
3. Increase FRDC's visibility of providing capability and capacity development enabling innovation
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