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)
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.
Final report
Sustainable Fishing Families: Developing industry human capital through health, wellbeing, safety and resilience
By developing an evidence-based health and safety training program for Australian fishing communities, this project meets the needs of the commercial wild-catch and aquaculture industry identified in FRDC’s RD&E Program 3, ‘Communities’ and particularly theme 10, which promotes resilient and supportive communities who are able to adapt to the social impacts of change in industry business environments.
The project will address a national need, identified by VicFRAB, to better understand the social and economic contribution of commercial fisheries, by identifying and addressing potential losses incurred through the poor health and wellbeing of the industry’s human capital.
Fishers tend to work in rural and remote communities, which means they have higher rates of mortality, disease and health risk factors than urban dwellers, further impacted by reduced access to primary health care services. Fishers are at particular risk of certain kinds of illnesses (eg. skin and diet-related), as well as injury (fatality rates are more than double those in the agricultural sector). Mental health concerns are higher than average in the fishing industry, exacerbated by uncertainties within the industry including often high debt and insecurity of tenure and licencing. While both women and men are at risk, 86.9% of fishers are male, a factor placing them at greater risk of suicide.
Fisher ‘attitudes’ also impact health, such as the culture of self-reliance, particularly among males. This may make fishers resilient, but also makes them less likely to adopt preventative health practices or to use health services, and they will usually wait longer before seeking medical assistance, particularly for issues of chronic poor mental health.
The Sustainable Fishing Families project will benefit fishing families’ health, safety and resilience by promoting a self-awareness of the value of the industry’s human capital, and building their health capacity.
Final report
Project products
Quantifying inter-sectoral values within and among the Indigenous, commercial and recreational sectors
In developing the 2020-25 Strategic Plan, FRDC identified five outcomes and associated enabling strategies, including Outcome 4: Fair and secure access to aquatic resources. In developing Outcome 4, FRDC realized that it did not have a shared appreciation of the different beliefs and values that underpin perceptions of fairness and security. Furthermore, it was acknowledged that such values differ within and between different sectors of the fishing and aquaculture sector and can be the source of tension and conflict.
The FRDC is therefore seeking to understand contrasting and complementary values among Indigenous, commercial, and recreational fishing sectors. The proposed project will provide valuable information towards building trust across the industry through an improved understanding of the social, economic and ecological values within and among the three sectors. It will also provide FRDC with the basis for monitoring progress towards the achievement of Outcome 4.
The primary objective of the project is to collect, analyse and report on the values held by the Indigenous, commercial and recreational sectors. Findings from the project will be used to inform resource management and support for fair and secure access to aquatic resources. The findings will also be valuable to regulators’ through an enhanced understanding of values across the different sectors leading to more efficient and effective consultation processes.
Final report
This study indicated that values (i) do not “neatly” align to the different industry sectors; and (ii) do not differ based on the different industry sectors. However, the Q-methodology analysis indicated that there were five distinct groups based on how values were ranked.
Across the five distinct groups the top four complementary values were: (1) fishing is environmentally sustainable, (2) accountability for industry participants who break the rules, (3) having access to fish and fishing, and (4) access to the ocean/sea. Environmental sustainability was the highest ranked value even among the sub-group that was dominated by economic type values (sub-group B), suggesting that even for productivity-based research and development (R&D), the focus should be on R&D that drives productivity and/or profitability improvements without reducing/ compromising environmental sustainability. Environmental sustainability is also key driver of production and there seem to be general appreciation of its importance across the fishing sectors.
Valuing Victoria's Wild-catch fisheries and aquaculture industries
A study which measures the contribution of Victorian wild-catch and aquaculture fisheries to community wellbeing will meet multiple needs:
• Generate detailed, spatially-defined knowledge on the economic and social contributions of fisheries to community wellbeing, and elicit where contributions could be enhanced
• Inform government (local, state) of the importance of fisheries and likely impacts of policy or management decisions on regional and metropolitan communities
• Enhance community engagement and support for fisheries through demonstrating the benefits that flow from professional fishing and aquaculture sectors into communities
Audience: 1) industry representative organizations; 2) government; 3) general public. Currently, very little data exists about the economic and/or social benefits of professional fisheries to communities in Victoria. Existing data only calculate total value of production (beach/farm gate price x volume), and the number of business owners or fisheries employees identified in the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) Census. There is no reporting of the multiplier effects in communities of having businesses based there, through service industries or seafood product going into markets. The lack of sophisticated information about the contributions of professional fishing puts the industry as a group at a disadvantage compared to competing resource users which do have such reporting and have been persuasive in negotiations.
Information on social contributions dovetails with economic contributions to build a picture of the overall contributions fisheries make. This can help address the lack of community support for fisheries and consumer influence on the regulatory environment, which has grown to constitute a threat to the continued viability of fisheries. While information generated via this project will not fix the problem – relationships between industry and community must be improved via sustained, strategic engagement – credible data on the social and economic contributions commercial fisheries make to Victoria is useful for boosting the industry’s ‘social license to operate’.
Final report
External review of independent data validation options, uses and opportunities
Introduction
Independent data validation in commercial fishing is becoming more commonplace in Australia. Fisheries in Australia provide a significant income to the country, and play an integral role in our food security, livelihoods, and social lives. Challenges such as overfishing, illegal and unreported fishing, bycatch and interactions with threatened, endangered, or protected species, provide hinderances to fully sustainable fishing. The increasing demands on the marine environment for energy production, marine protected areas, and recreational use are leading management of fisheries in Australia to be spatially based. Currently, some jurisdictions in Australia (e.g. Queensland, Tasmania, Australian Fisheries Management Authority), have already introduced independent data validation programs. The aim of these programs is, on the surface, to improve the quality, reliability, and transparency of fisheries data in Australia. However, there is considerable distrust from commercial fishers regarding a) data collection methods; b) the use of collected data; c) the legality of both collecting, and storing data; d) the cost of installing and running the systems – both financial and physical; e) ongoing maintenance of systems; f) the reliability of data from the systems, and g) whether the data are actually going to be used for their intended purpose.
Recognising the need for greater transparency in fisheries data, and the general distrust of these systems, this project aims to provide an external review of data validation options, uses, and opportunities within Australia.
Objective
The primary objective of this project is to address industry stakeholders’ concerns regarding the reliability and transparency around the collection, use, and storage of independent fisheries data validation methods. This will be achieved by conducting a comprehensive, and systematic review of independent data validation (IDV) processes both within Australia, and globally. The review will then allow us to evaluate IDV mechanisms, legal implications around IDV, and economic considerations of various IDV methods, including whether any value-add opportunities exist. The project will provide outputs that will allow for efficient choice of relevant data validation options for particular fisheries in Australia, while outlining the pros and cons for relevant methods. The results will enhance confidence for commercial fishers, and fishery managers around choosing the best data validation options for their fishery.
Methods
1) Systematic literature review to determine available independent data validation methods
We will research and compile a comprehensive list of independent data validation methods (IDV) that are available currently, and in the future through a systematic literature review. The systematic literature review will cover peer-reviewed literature and relevant reports published globally in the last 10 years. The review will examine existing technologies, methodologies, and best practices in IDV used in relevant industries (not just limited to fisheries), and present a summary of current best practice, and likely additions in the future to IDV. The review will include information on the potential add-on possibilities associated with IDV methods – which will be expanded upon in (4). The review will equip industry stakeholders with the knowledge to fully understand the range of options in IDV, and those most suitable for their fishery.
2) Stakeholder consultation – strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT)
Within the project we will conduct an extensive survey across a diversity of fishers across Australia (including those that have already implemented IDV, and those that have not), to gather insight into the perceptions of independent data validation (IDV). Through this SWOT analysis, we will identify the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats associated with current IDV mechanisms from the perception of industry, and map this to the published literature in point (1). This will allow us to address concerns from industry and identify those concerns that are representative of IDV globally. This analysis will serve as a foundational understanding of the industry's readiness and receptiveness towards adopting IDV and provide industry with independent information relating to their concerns.
3) Review of legal implications for IDV implementation, including case studies
Alongside the systematic literature review in (1), we will conduct a thorough review of Australian legislation relating to IDV. This will include both publicly available legal documents, and information regarding internal policy documents from governmental departments. The review will include fisheries legislation and policy, data ownership, data licencing, data storing, and Freedom of Information requests that have occurred within the context of fisheries data relating to IDV. Some of industry’s concerns regarding IDV relate to how the data will be used outside of a fisheries context, and we will ensure that our legislative review includes advice regarding data use. The review will provide information on Australian legislation relating to IDV, and data collection, storage and sharing.
4) Assessment of value-add opportunities
Building upon the findings from (1-3), we will assess the value-add opportunities presented by adopting IDV. This assessment will include a financial model similar to the one in the report “Challenges, Opportunities, and Costs of Electronic Monitoring” that was published by The Environmental Defence Fund in 2016 [REF] that will provide industry with a tool to investigate the costs and benefits of adopting various IDV methods. Additionally, we will explore how IDV can contribute to improved market access, stakeholder relationships, and sustainability credentials for fisheries businesses, alongside the potential of improved data quality from fisheries. Our work will build on our planned literature and legal review of independent data validation (IDV) and provide potential ‘value-add’ opportunities for commercial fishers, based on the information in the review. Some potential benefits may include:
• Increased or improved market access (where IDV can demonstrate aspects of sustainable fishing practices required by, for example, sustainability labels such as the Marine Stewardship Council Certification).
• Potential for selling or distribution of data to researchers / third parties (depending on data owners.
We will include updated outcomes and outputs from the project as detailed below, and will look to refine these with the Professional Fishers Association of New South Wales, commercial fishers, and the Steering Committee.
5) Best Practice Guidelines
We will provide industry and fisheries resource managers with a Best Practice Guideline relating to IDV as a formal result from the steps (1-4) above.
6) Engagement with Industry Stakeholders
Throughout the project, we will actively engage with industry stakeholders through workshops, focus groups, and one-on-one consultations to discuss project findings. This engagement will provide a platform for dialogue, collaboration, and knowledge sharing, fostering a sense of ownership and commitment among stakeholders towards implementing IDV practices. We will facilitate target outreach efforts engaging with industry associations, peak bodies, government agencies, and non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and other interested parties on the project progress.
Fishing and Aquaculture Workforce Capability Framework
Measuring non-commercial fishing catches (traditional fishing) in the Torres Strait in order to improve fisheries management and promote sustainable livelihoods
Following the initial groundwork to assess community support and approaches for a non-commercial fishery monitoring program in the Torres Strait (Bedford et al 2021 - https://www.pzja.gov.au/sites/default/files/final_report_-_monitoring_the_non-commercial_catch_in_torres_strait_update_06042021.pdf ), the following five steps were proposed:
1. Community consultation and sign on (engaging community re support for the suggested monitoring method).
2. Assess self-reporting web-based tool/APP platform design and development options (including data collection and storage options), through co-design with communities and Government to meet stakeholder needs.
3. Develop self-reporting web-based tool/APP platform, database and data flow infrastructure.
4. Community rollout – pilot (in some communities).
5. Community rollout – full-scale (to all communities).
The Torres Strait Scientific Advisory Committee (TSSAC) recommended that steps 1 and 2 (above) be undertaken first and they form the scope of this proposal.
As also noted in the TSSAC committee meeting of June 2021, the project was an initiative of the quota working group subcommittee of the Torres Strait Regional Authority Board, and identified as a priority by the Traditional Inhabitants (https://www.pzja.gov.au/sites/default/files/tssac_79_meeting_record_final.pdf). In particular, by ‘improving estimates of non-commercial catch of commercial species to inform stock assessment and set sustainable catch levels, as well as determine the catch sharing between the sunset sector, and how much to allocate for community consumption, in order to protect Traditional non-commercial catches and help ensure sustainable management.’
As noted in the ‘Opportunity’ section of this proposal, this project help fill a range of needs for Torres Strait communities, including:
• More accurate assessment of the Recommended Biological Catches of commercial species from all sources of fishing in the Torres Strait
• Reliable assessments of ongoing catches from the substantial non-commercial sectors in the Torres Strait, including knowledge of future change in catches that may be due to pressures from fishing, coastal industry, climate change, other ecosystem regime change
• Stronger ownership of marine resource management by Torres Strait communities, including ownership of non-commercial catch information, and supported by improved knowledge of the temporal and spatial dynamics of non-commercial catches.
The previous project also concluded that a non-commercial fishery monitoring program would have the best chance of success by gaining broad and committed acceptance by local communities and their leaders, with a strong co-design component. The need for this level of consultation was re-iterated by Traditional Inhabitants in several PZJA fishery management fora, including the TSSAC. This project is designed to meet that need.
The proposed project aligns strongly with the Torres Strait Fisheries Strategic Research Plan (https://www.pzja.gov.au/sites/default/files/tssac_srp_2018-2022_post_tssac_final.pdf). In particular:
• Theme 1: Protecting the Torres Strait marine environment for the benefit of Traditional Inhabitants; which is based on improving effective management of fishery stocks in order to support Traditional Inhabitant social and economic needs; which is an expectation of the improved fishery data outputs from the project.
• Theme 2: Social and Economic Benefits; which promotes social and economic benefits for Traditional Inhabitants from Torres Strait fisheries; for example, through increased capacity required to manage the program and increased knowledge of any future changes in catches through space and time in the Torres Strait.
• Theme 3: Technology and Innovation; which promotes the development of technology to support the economic, environmental and social benefits from the fishing sector.
This research project is co funded by the Australian Fisheries Management Authority of the Australian Government. Project co- investigators are Kenny Bedford, David Brewer and Timothy Skewes.
Final report
The long-term sustainability of all fisheries in the Torres Strait region requires reliable catch data from all sectors, including commercial and non-commercial (traditional and recreational). This data is not only a priority for managing key commercial species, such as Spanish Mackerel (Scomberomorus commerson), coral trout (Plectropomus spp) and Tropical (Ornate) Rock Lobster (Panulirus ornatus), also caught by traditional and recreational sectors, but also for the many other traditionally fished species that communities rely on. Commercial fisheries have management programs in place and data contributes to assessments that are central to management decisions. However, fish catches from the traditional and recreational fishery sectors are largely unquantified, except for some historic snapshot surveys and are either currently not monitored, or only in a very limited way. Torres Strait Islanders have expressed concern for their traditional fisheries and the need to protect them to ensure food security needs. Monitoring traditional fishing catches from both traditional and recreational fishing sectors has also been identified as a high priority in numerous Protected Zone Joint Authority (PZJA) fisheries committees over recent years. This project aimed to contribute knowledge to support a future monitoring program to address these data gaps.
The project presents two primary recommendations. The first applies to the development and support of a pilot program for a bespoke traditional fishing app in the Torres Strait (separate from the recreational fishery program); and the second, to support concurrent promotion of the Queensland Government recreational fishing monitoring app (currently using the Qld fishing 2.0 app) program to monitor the Torres Strait recreational fishery.