PROJECT NUMBER
•
2022-176
PROJECT STATUS:
CURRENT
ORGANISATION:
Australian Research Data Commons (ARDC)
27 results
PROJECT NUMBER
•
2023-084
PROJECT STATUS:
CURRENT
ORGANISATION:
Primary Industries Education Foundation Australia (PIEFA)
Measuring non-commercial fishing catches (traditional fishing) in the Torres Strait in order to improve fisheries management and promote sustainable livelihoods
Project number:
2022-045
Project Status:
Current
Budget expenditure:
$234,002.20
Principal Investigator:
Natasha Stacey
Organisation:
Charles Darwin University (CDU)
Project start/end date:
28 Nov 2022
-
27 Jun 2024
Contact:
FRDC
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.
1. Collate and review existing and new information about the potential options for a non-commercial fishery monitoring program as recommended by Bedford et al. (2021)
2. Assess the level of community need and support (or otherwise) for a non-commercial fishery monitoring program through a comprehensive and equitable community consultation and participation process throughout Torres Strait and Northern Peninsula Area communities
3. Develop cost and performance options for a non-commercial fishery monitoring program and its components (e.g. self-reporting web-based tool/APP platform
data management, storage and access
complimented surveys) to allow for an assessment of value (e.g. meeting needs, ease of use, maintenance and data use in stock assessments)
Final report
Authors:
Kenny Bedford
David Brewer
Timothy Skewes and Natasha Stacey
Final Report
•
2024-12-31
•
4.61 MB
2022-045-DLD.pdf
Traditional fishing in the Torres Strait Region has, and continues to be, important for livelihood sustainability for all Torres Strait Islander communities, providing a source of kai kai or food, nutrition and other social, cultural and spiritual benefits. Protection of the marine environment and maintenance of traditional activities, such as traditional fishing, are key pillars of the Torres Strait Treaty (1985).
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.
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.
Project products
Attracting the next generation - Primary Industries Education Foundation Australia Membership 2022-2023
Project number:
2022-073
Project Status:
Current
Budget expenditure:
$52,550.00
Principal Investigator:
Luciano Mesiti
Organisation:
Primary Industries Education Foundation Australia (PIEFA)
Project start/end date:
20 Oct 2022
-
13 Jul 2023
Contact:
FRDC
Engaging with and educating the next generation is challenging and competitive, given the range of opportunities available to teachers and students in terms of topics, development opportunities and careers locally, nationally and globally.
Providing awareness, access and support to educators and students is critical to attracting and retaining people across fishing and aquaculture. Through curriculum aligned resources and aligned interventions, activities and experiences, FRDC can spark the curiosity and also provide access to a range of people in fishing and aquaculture through partnering with PIEFA.
This project builds on the strong relationship with PIEFA to conduct research to understand the current level of engagement, barriers and opportunities to position fishing and aquaculture with students and educators. This research will position FRDC for success through utilisation of established, trusted channels and networks. Providing opportunities to showcase the wide variety careers through interactive activities and self directed learning provides the fishing and aquaculture community a direct connection with the next generation.
PIEFA provides a mechanism to showcase fishing and aquaculture, and food and fibre more broadly in Australian schools.
This includes accessing multiple platforms, newsletters, exclusive invitations to members meetings and PIEFA AGM. Invitation to 2023 PIEFA Conference and events.
1. Understand and improve teacher awareness, confidence and knowledge to effectively implement food and fibre education in Australian schools
2. Utilise and leverage trusted, valued PIEFA networks and channels
3. Food and fibre education resources are accessible and are accessed by a growing number of Australian schools
4. Inform and engage with a national strategic framework that supports schools awareness and delivery of food and fibre education and careers
5. Food and fibre education initiatives and messages in the wider media and industry spheres are identified and shared between PIEFA and FRDC
PROJECT NUMBER
•
2020-121
PROJECT STATUS:
COMPLETED
Indigenous Branding in the Fishing and Seafood Industry - Economic Creation and Capture
This project was commissioned by the Indigenous Reference Group (IRG), an advisory committee to the Fisheries Research and Development Corporation (FRDC). The report provides professional advice to the IRG regarding the potential for economic impacts from branding by Australian and international...
ORGANISATION:
Ridge Partners
TAGS
PROJECT NUMBER
•
2018-005
PROJECT STATUS:
CURRENT
ORGANISATION:
Department of Agriculture and Fisheries (NT)
SPECIES
PROJECT NUMBER
•
2018-115
PROJECT STATUS:
COMPLETED
National tropical oyster aquaculture workshop - Darwin 2018
The first national workshop on tropical oyster aquaculture was held in Darwin on 22 to 23 October, 2018 at the Waterfront Campus of Charles Darwin University (CDU). The workshop brought together representatives from Aboriginal communities, industry, government agencies, and Australian and...
ORGANISATION:
Department of Agriculture and Fisheries (NT)
SPECIES
PROJECT NUMBER
•
2023-017
PROJECT STATUS:
COMPLETED
ORGANISATION:
Flinders University
TAGS
PROJECT NUMBER
•
2022-080
PROJECT STATUS:
CURRENT
ORGANISATION:
Seafood Industry Australia (SIA)
PROJECT NUMBER
•
2021-021
PROJECT STATUS:
CURRENT
ORGANISATION:
Ellipsis Editing
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