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In the face of mounting pressure on Australia’s marine and freshwater ecosystems, there is a need for robust scientific information to support the sustainable development and management of our aquatic resources. The ASFB is Australasia’s premier professional association for fish and fisheries researchers. The annual science conference and associated workshop/s makes an important and tangible contribution to skill development of people involved in fish and fisheries research and management, particularly offering students and early career researchers opportunities to present their work, interact with peers and develop collaborative links. The ASFB has a strong commitment to promoting and communicating science, encouraging sustainable management practices, encouraging excellence in fisheries research, and recognizing outstanding contributions of scientists and professionals through various awards and scholarships. In addition the ASFB has recognised the need for increased international engagement in particular via increased active involvement with World Council of Fisheries Societies.
This proposal is seeking sponsorship support for the annual science conference in 2016 (Hobart), 2017 (Western Australia) and 2018 (location to be decided but possibly Victoria) and a series of conference associated awards that support student travel and recognise research excellence. The proposal addresses three people development program goals, namely (i) to encourage knowledge transfer and R&D adoption (ASFB annual science conference) and (ii) to recognise and promote achievements (ASFB student research awards) and (iii) to enhance industry leadership (bringing together a range of people for the annual conference). These activities will encourage participation and exchange of information and provide an opportunity to develop networks and collaborations with outside organisations. In addition this proposal seeks support for one senior ASFB office bearer to attend the 7th World Fisheries Congress (WFC) in Busan as part of an Australia-New Zealand team bidding to host 8th WFC in 2020.

Objectives

1. Provide a forum for researchers, managers and stakeholders to meet to discuss issues relevant to fish and fisheries science and management

2. Support, encourage and recognise achievements of early career researchers

3. Support and encourage student participation at ASFB's annual science conference and key international conferences

4. Increased international profile of ASFB via greater participation in activities of World Fisheries Council and planning for World Fisheries Congress

Handbook

Author: Australian Society for Fish Biology

Handbook • 2020-09-22 • 1.18 MB

2016-406-DLD-Appendix 5 ASFB 2019 Program.pdf

Summary

The 2019 ASFB conference was held in Canberra from 14 to 17 October, 2019 at the National Library of Australia, ACT. The conference theme of “Communicate to illuminate & inspire" encouraged the 251 delegates (including 62 students) from across Australia, New Zealand, Europe, South Africa, the USA and Fiji to find new ways to share our passion for fishes, and raise their profile among the many people who depend on them for their everyday health and wellbeing.

Project products

Handbook • 2020-09-22 • 176.29 KB

2016-406-DLD-Appendix 4 ASFB 2018 Program.pdf

Summary

The 2018 ASFB conference was held in Melbourne from 11 to 14 October, 2018 at the Rydges on Swanston, Melbourne, Victoria. The conference theme of “Science into Practice, Practice into Science” challenged and engaged delegates to explore the relationships between scientific research, natural resource management and policy formulation. In so doing, the conference celebrated our successes at the science-practice nexus.

Handbook • 2020-09-22 • 3.05 MB

2016-406-DLD-Appendix 3 ASFB 2017 Program.pdf

Summary

The 2017 ASFB conference was held at the Albany Convention Centre from 30 June to 3 July in Albany, Western Australia. The conference program was a 4-day event, with the theme of ‘Turning points in fish and fisheries’ asking delegates to share all those influential moments or developments, small or large, that changed the way they go about their fisheries research and management. The event also actively engaged the local Albany community via a free public forum and a special session partnership with the local high school students. Another key aspect of the event was the “Nurturing fish scientists” session that brought together key speakers into a discussion forum to share experiences and tips for making the most of the formative years of becoming a professional scientist or manager in our field.

Handbook • 2020-09-22 • 1.52 MB

2016-406-DLD-Appendix 2 ASFB OCS 2016 Program.pdf

Summary

The 2016 ASFB conference was held as a joint event with the OCS between 4 and 7 September at Wrest Point, Hobart, Tasmania. This was the second time that the ASFB had held its annual conference in conjunction with the OCS. The conference explored the theme of “Intersections in fish and fisheries” as well as exploring issues in gender equity and diversity through special events that highlighted the achievements of women in fish and fisheries via an opening night poster exhibition and full conference forum on gender equity in fish and fisheries on the first full conference day. A broad and comprehensive program of scientific presentations met the diverse range of interests of members of the two science societies, as did a variety of social events.

Final Report • 2020-09-23 • 866.21 KB

2016-406-DLD.pdf

Summary

The Australian Society for Fish Biology (ASFB) was founded in 1971 and is a professional, independent, non-profit, and non-aligned organisation. The Society’s objectives are to promote research, education and management of fish and fisheries and to provide a forum for the exchange of information. Annual conferences/workshops have been held each year since the Society's inception and provide a forum for scientists, managers, and industry from around Australia, New Zealand and elsewhere to meet and discuss the most recent developments in fish and fisheries science and management.

The annual science conference makes an important and tangible contribution to skill development of people involved in fish and fisheries research and management, particularly offering students and early career researchers opportunities to present their work, interact with peers, develop collaborative links and obtain new ideas. The ASFB has a strong commitment to promoting and communicating science, encouraging sustainable management practices, encouraging excellence in fisheries research, and recognising outstanding contributions of scientists and professionals through various awards and scholarships.

PROJECT NUMBER • 2019-063

PROJECT STATUS:

CURRENT

Abundance, population modelling, and potential biological removal estimates for Common Dolphins in Spencer Gulf: implications for the South Australian Sardine Fishery

ORGANISATION:

University of Adelaide

TAGS

SPECIES

PROJECT NUMBER • 2019-056

PROJECT STATUS:

COMPLETED

Assessing the population biology of Black Jewfish (Protonibea diacanthus) in Queensland

ORGANISATION:

Department of Primary Industries (QLD)

TAGS

SPECIES

Revisiting biological parameters and information used in the assessment of Commonwealth fisheries: a reality check and work plan for future proofing

Project number: 2019-010

Project Status:

Completed

Budget expenditure: $189,065.00

Principal Investigator: Karen Evans

Organisation: CSIRO Oceans and Atmosphere Hobart

Project start/end date: 16 Feb 2020 - 16 Aug 2021

Contact:

FRDC

TAGS

Need

Much effort has been placed over the last couple of decades on the development of harvest strategies, stock assessments, risk assessments and the strategic use of ecosystem models to facilitate meeting the needs of the Commonwealth’s Harvest Strategy Policy. A focus on modelling to improve fisheries management has required effort towards method development. However, little effort has been made towards revisiting and updating the biological parameters that fundamentally underpin such modelling (e.g. growth rates, age and size at maturity, natural mortality rates, dietary information, mixing rates and stock structure) and the tools or methods used to derive them. As a result, most models now rely on parameters and community dietary data derived from information collected during the 1970s-1990s, (e.g. available maturity ogives for blue-eye trevalla are over 20 years old), or information that is borrowed from other regions or species. Whether such old or borrowed values are now representative for commercial Australian fish species is unknown but many factors point to major changes occurring in our marine environment. Australian waters in the south east and south west are climate hotspots and, overall, Australian waters have warmed faster than the global average. Key components of the productivity of marine fish (growth, maturity, and recruitment) are expected to be undergoing directional changes under a changing climate and it is entirely possible that there have been changes in fundamental productivity parameters for some Australian stocks. The reliance of current assessments on what is likely to be out-of-date information leads to increased uncertainty, which propagates into management decisions. Without an understanding of any changes in biological parameters and how any change might impact assessment frameworks, determining whether current management measures are ensuring sustainability becomes highly uncertain.

Objectives

1. Identify the origin of current biological information used in assessments of species (including empirical stock assessments and ecosystem modelling efforts) carried out under the Commonwealth Harvest Strategy Policy, including the pedigree of the information (provenance, age, appropriateness of methods used).

2. Assess the implications and risks associated with using dated and borrowed information in assessments currently used for informing fisheries management, including the scale of any risks and the species for which a change in biological parameters used in assessments has the greatest impact.

3. Identify the methods that might be applied to update priority biological parameters, including a review of the efficacy and applicability of novel methods and approaches developed in recent years.

4. Articulate a work plan including appropriate sampling regimes required for updating priority biological parameters used in assessments for those species identified as being at most at risk.