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1. It directly addresses a NT RAC priority in the 2019 call for funding applications relating to improving sustainable yield estimates to inform stock assessment programs for undefined target species and protected species in the Offshore Net and Line Fishery. The project will support sustainable fishing practices for important commercial fisheries in the NT and the development of new commercial opportunities within these fisheries: The impacts of fishery activities on these species, either through bycatch or targeted harvest, are difficult to assess in the absence of information on population connectivity and stock structure.

2. The project will develop capacity for fisheries research and monitoring in NT waters. Genetics methods are widely applied to fisheries research and monitoring and training of an early career fisheries scientist in the application and interpretation of genetic data will be a key outcome of this project.

3. The project will provide key information to support the transition of these species from bycatch to a harvested byproduct species, including an evaluation of leading-edge genetic techniques in fisheries assessment and monitoring.

Objectives

1. To develop population connectivity model for Whitecheek and Milk Shark

2. To develop capacity for research and monitoring of shark species within the Northern Territory

3. To evaluate the utility of genetic techniques in fisheries monitoring

Final report

ISBN: 978-1-922684-78-3 (Print), 978-1-922684-79-0 (Web)

Authors: Sam Banks Amy Kirke Fernanda Alves Grant Johnson and David Crook

Final Report • 2024-10-01 • 1.08 MB

2020-036-DLD.pdf

Summary

Charles Darwin University and the Northern Territory (NT) Department of Industry, Tourism and Trade (DITT) Fisheries Division used genetic data to investigate the population structure of two small tropical shark species (Milk Shark [Rhizoprionodon acutus] and Australian Blackspot Shark [Carcharhinus coatesi]), which are caught as bycatch from commercial fisheries in the NT.

The aim of this study was to gain information on the genetic stock structure to inform the future management of these two species in the NT. This project was conducted in parallel with a PhD project investigating the biology and ecology of both species for applications to fisheries management. There is motivation by the NT Government to develop these two shark species into a commercial product. This project used genetic analysis to understand the patterns of connectivity of populations of these two shark species in NT waters and adjacent regions, including northern Western Australia and Papua New Guinea.

These two shark species that are captured as bycatch in the NT Demersal Fishery have the potential to be developed into a byproduct to add value to that fishery. A sustainable commercial harvest of these two species could greatly reduce the waste from fisheries, where they are currently abundant and caught in relatively large numbers. We address current knowledge gaps in biological information about populations of R. acutus and C. coatesi to inform the potential development of a byproduct fishery for these two species in the NT.

Genetic data from R. acutus and C. coatesi strongly suggest that each species exists as a single, highly connected population in the NT. Genetic differentiation among the sampling locations for each species was low, and genetic clustering analyses provided strong support for a single population of each species in the region. Sharks of both species captured within a single location (within 50 km of one another) were more genetically related than those further apart; however, this does not constitute evidence for multiple, spatially discrete populations of either species in NT waters. Preliminary applications of effective population size estimators were used, but further work is needed to determine if these can be used to indicate trends in abundance.

The immediate implications of our research are for fisheries scientists and managers. Our results indicate that these two shark species can be monitored and managed in the NT under the assumption that each species occurs as a single population in this region. Parasite and vertebral chemistry data collected as part of a PhD project conducted in parallel with this project suggest that, for C. coatesi, individuals may be resident within certain regions (eastern versus western NT waters) but the genetic data collected here suggest that, on a generational timescale, both species occur as highly-connected populations across in the NT region.

Our research has potential implications for commercial fishers, particularly from the NT Demersal Fishery. The information from our research will flow through to the industry by contributing to the information required to develop a byproduct fishery for the two species, by utilising bycatch and increasing economic return.

PROJECT NUMBER • 2017-098

PROJECT STATUS:

COMPLETED

Southern Bluefin Tuna: Changing The Trajectory

Life on the Line is the true story of the Southern Bluefin Tuna, its biological traits and its history of exploitation and most recently its recovery. This documentary covers how research, managers and the fishing industry - commercial and recreational have contributed to the recovering status of...

ORGANISATION:

Australian Fisheries Management Authority (AFMA)

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SPECIES

PROJECT NUMBER • 2014-028

PROJECT STATUS:

COMPLETED

Mud cockle (Katelysia spp.) stock enhancement/restoration: practical implementation and policy evaluation

This study was conducted to restore the Mud Cockle population in the Section Bank of Port River, South Australia, which had drastically decreased due to commercial fishing. Mud Cockles are important not only for commercial purposes but also for stabilizing sediment and reducing turbidity in the...

ORGANISATION:

SARDI Food Safety and Innovation

TAGS

SPECIES

PROJECT NUMBER • 2018-006

PROJECT STATUS:

COMPLETED

FRDC Resource: Development and ongoing maintenance of Australian Fish Names Standard 2019-2020

This project focuses on the ongoing development and maintenance of the Australian Fish Names Standard. Initiated by Seafood Services Australia in 1999, the Fisheries Research and Development Corporation (FRDC) took carriage of the development of the Fish Names Standard in 2013. Initial accreditation...

ORGANISATION:

Alan Snow Konsulting

TAGS

PROJECT NUMBER • 2018-020

PROJECT STATUS:

COMPLETED

Cumulative impacts across fisheries in Australia's marine environment

The world is changing more rapidly than any one individual can track. The Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (1999) (EPBC Act) requires for all human activities, such as fisheries, to be sustainable not only in isolation but in combination with other anthropogenic...

ORGANISATION:

CSIRO Oceans and Atmosphere Hobart

TAGS

PROJECT NUMBER • 2018-094

PROJECT STATUS:

COMPLETED

CRC Northern Australia - Biosecurity in northern Australian prawn aquaculture

The objectives of the Cooperative Research Centre for Developing Northern Australia (CRCNA) Improving Biosecurity in Northern Australia prawn farms (A.3.1718113) were to obtain an overview of the pathogens and the level of protection provided by the current biosecurity practices that occur in prawn...

ORGANISATION:

Australian Prawn Farmers Association (APFA)

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SPECIES

Identifying and synthesizing key messages from projects funded by the FRDC Indigenous Reference Group

Project number: 2018-183

Project Status:

Completed

Budget expenditure: $167,738.00

Principal Investigator: Leila Alkassab

Organisation: Land to Sea Consulting

Project start/end date: 31 Aug 2019 - 8 Mar 2020

Contact:

FRDC

TAGS

Need

The IRG has raised a need to synthesise the key messages from previous projects that they have supported. In order to ensure that the data and information from these projects are accessible and easily understood for various audiences (includes Indigenous, commercial and recreational stakeholders, researchers, policy makers and the general public), the IRG has identified a need to create succinct materials that can be useful to those that seek to develop policy and stimulate community driven engagement.

Objectives

1. To gain an understanding of the materials and formats that policy-makers and key fisheries organizations need in their utilization of research to develop policy.

2. To improve general stakeholder awareness of the key research findings in of FRDC and IRG projects.

3. To provide Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities with material that they can use in their engagement with government and non-government agencies.

4. To develop a succinct fact-sheets and a report that integrate the key messages of eight previous IRG projects in a user-friendly and culturally appropriate way.

Final report

ISBN: 978-0-646-82309-6

Author: Leila Alkassab

Final Report • 2020-08-01 • 492.72 KB

2018-183-DLD.pdf

Summary

What the report is about

This project identifies, synthesises and summarises the key messages of eight projects that have been funded by the Fisheries Research and Development Corporation (FRDC) and the Indigenous Reference Group (IRG) on fisheries. These key messages have been presented through a series of materials including a synthesis report, summary booklets and an infographic, all of which were developed as a way of raising awareness of the latest research findings regarding the Indigenous fisheries in Australia. They are presented in a manner that is useful and accessible to a wide-range of audiences including Indigenous communities, decision makers and other fisheries stakeholders.

The materials have specifically developed with the aim of empowering Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities by providing them with resources that they can use to engage government and non-government agencies. This project also involved a two-way learning component which entailed engaging an Indigenous student as a researcher for the duration of this project.

Background

In 2011 the Fisheries Research and Development Corporation (FRDC) and the Indigenous Reference Group (IRG) on fisheries held a national forum to discuss issues around Indigenous involvement in fishing and seafood based Research, Development and Extension (RD&E). Participants at the forum included Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people with experience or expertise in fishing, seafood, or natural resource management across Australia as well as a small number of non-Indigenous participants (Calogeras et al. 2012). In 2012, participants from the forum reviewed and endorsed the work and confirmed that the outputs and the outcomes aligned with the desires of the group. Through this process, the IRG developed a set of five priorities to guide RD&E for and about Indigenous fishing in Australia (Calogeras et al. 2012).

The FRDC-IRG have supported a number of projects focused on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander fisheries that focus on elements of the RD&E priorities (Calogeras et al. 2012). These projects have information that the IRG needs to communicate with Indigenous, commercial and recreational stakeholders, researchers, policy makers, agencies and the general public. Their findings bridge certain knowledge gaps about the Indigenous fisheries and highlight key issues and priorities of Indigenous fishing communities in terms of access and use of their fisheries.

Aims/objectives

This project was undertaken in response to the need identified by the IRG to ensure that the research findings from the previous eight projects are made accessible and easy to understand. The project consisted of the following objectives:

To gain an understanding of the materials and formats that policy makers and key fisheries organisations need in their use of research to develop policy.
To improve general stakeholder awareness of the key research findings in of FRDC and IRG projects.
To provide Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities with material that they can use in their engagement with government and non-government agencies.
To develop succinct fact-sheets and a report that integrate the key messages of eight previous IRG projects in a user-friendly and culturally appropriate way.

Methodology

The project team conducted a desk-top review of eight project reports, their appendices, conducted phone meetings with the principle investigators of each project and liaised with the IRG. Project materials were subsequently developed with the use of qualitative data analysis software NVIVO and designed through Canva, a graphic design program.

Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander artwork was used for the materials produced and where appropriate the artist engaged was from the region that the original project was for or about. An Indigenous student was also recruited as an employee of Land to Sea Consulting for the purposes of two-way capacity building.

Results/key findings

The project findings echo the key messages drawn from the eight recent FRDC-IRG projects that took place on country through participatory and ethical research methodologies. The five themes identified provide an insight into Indigenous priorities for:

Indigenous fisheries
Governance and management
Legislation and policy
Economic empowerment
Capacity building

These five themes have been developed as a way of understanding the key messages of recent FRDC-IRG research and for providing a step forward in offering fisheries stakeholders with in-depth insights into the challenges and opportunities facing the Indigenous fisheries sector. They support and align with the IRG RD&E principles and priorities while emphasising the particular findings and core assertions of the research projects analysed.

Implications for relevant stakeholders

The significance of this project lies in the materials created to communicate with Indigenous communities, fisheries managers, policy makers and other stakeholders involved in the Australian fisheries. They are short, easy-to-read and accessible versions of eight comprehensive research projects and clearly summarise their findings and synthesise their key messages.

The also provide Indigenous communities with material that they can use to engage decision makers. For policy makers and managers, they provide a synthesised and summarised version of recent research bout Indigenous fisheries from which proactive policy can be built and based upon.

Recommendations

The five key messages that have been created through the synthesis of the FRDC-IRG projects have come to shape the very core of this project. Therefore, it is ultimately inevitable that these are the same messages that must embody the recommendations of this project. They are particularly aimed at policy makers and the direction for further development in the Indigenous fisheries sector.

Project products

Brochure • 2020-08-01 • 33.17 MB

2018-183-synthesis report.pdf

Summary

Indigenous communities in Australia have utilised, shared and traded marine resources since time immemorial. These communities continue to hold strong connections and knowledge to aquatic ecosystems and biological resources, and fishing remains embedded in their cultural, social and economic lives.

Since the early stages of colonisation, the ability of Indigenous fishing communities to access their fisheries for both cultural and commercial purposes has been disrupted by external factors, including the policies and practices of the Australian state. In recent history international agreements have been put in place to protect Indigenous rights to access and manage their fisheries worldwide. The Australian government has an obligation to ensure the protection of Indigenous peoples access to their land and sea. Yet there still remains a gap in the aspirations of Indigenous community for their fisheries and formal fisheries management arrangements.

Presently, the Commonwealth, States and Territories define and recognise Indigenous fisheries through different legislation, policy and practices. In turn, there is an identified need for a comprehensive set of national principles to guide the development, implementation and monitoring of Indigenous fisheries policy across all jurisdictions.

The key messages that have been identified through the findings of recent FRDC-IRG research projects present opportunities for various levels of government to proactively assist and support Indigenous fishing communities to access and utilise their fisheries in ways that align with Indigenous aspirations.

Brochure • 4.65 MB

2018-183-Summary booklet–2012-216 Indigenous Cultural Fishing and Fisheries Governance.pdf

Brochure • 2020-08-01 • 9.97 MB

2018-183-Summary booklet-2013-017 Optimising the Management of Tropical Reef Fish through the Development of Indigenous Scientific Capability.pdf

Brochure • 2020-08-01 • 50.93 MB

2018-183-Summary booklet-2013-218 Building the capacity and performance of Indigenous fisheries.pdf

Brochure • 2020-08-01 • 42.41 MB

2018-183-Summary booklet-2014-233 Improving access for Indigenous Australians to, and involvement in, the use and management of Australia’s fisheries resources.pdf

Brochure • 2020-08-01 • 15.98 MB

2018-183-Summary booklet-2015-205 Livelihood values of Indigenous customary fishing.pdf

Brochure • 2020-08-01 • 12.26 MB

2018-183-Summary booklet-2016-201 Business opportunities and impediments for Aboriginal community development in supportive fishing industries in the Roper River to Robinson River area of the Northern Territory.pdf

Brochure • 2020-08-01 • 13.39 MB

2018-183-Summary booklet-2016-204 'Wave to Plate' establishing a market for cultural fisheries in Tasmania.pdf

Brochure • 2020-08-01 • 24.76 MB

2018-183-Summary booklet-2016-206 Business Nous Indigenous business development opportunities and impediment in the fishing and seafood industry.pdf

PROJECT NUMBER • 2022-170

PROJECT STATUS:

COMPLETED

Integrating recreational fisher experience/satisfaction into decision making

ORGANISATION:

Hudson Howells

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SPECIES

PROJECT NUMBER • 2017-047

PROJECT STATUS:

COMPLETED

Understanding environmental and fisheries factors causing fluctuations in mud crab and blue swimmer crab fisheries in northern Australia to inform harvest strategies

This project investigated relationships between environmental factors and harvests of crabs in the Gulf of Carpentaria (GoC), northern Australia. Desktop correlative analyses clearly indicated that recent fluctuations in the catches of Giant Mud Crabs in the GoC are most likely driven by...

ORGANISATION:

Department of Primary Industries (QLD)

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SPECIES