162 results
Industry
PROJECT NUMBER • 2017-103
PROJECT STATUS:
COMPLETED

The evaluation of two species, Cobia and Giant Grouper, as alternative species to farm in the WSSV affected areas of South East Queensland.

In 2016/17, the Rocky Point Prawn Farm, along with other farms in the Logan River region of south-east Queensland, was severely affected by a white spot disease outbreak caused by the exotic white spot syndrome virus (WSSV). Measures enforced to eradicate WSSV resulted in a complete loss of stock...
ORGANISATION:
Rocky Point Aquaculture Company Pty Ltd
TAGS
Rac Qld
Marketing
Disease
Consumer
Aquaculture
SPECIES
Cobia
Environment

Identifying population connectivity of shark bycatch species in NT waters

Project number: 2020-036
Project Status:
Completed
Budget expenditure: $66,430.00
Principal Investigator: Sam Banks
Organisation: Charles Darwin University (CDU)
Project start/end date: 3 Dec 2020 - 9 Dec 2021
Contact:
FRDC
TAGS
Stock Assessment
Rac Nt
Offshore
Modelling
Harvest Strategy

Need

This project is needed for three main reasons:

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. 
People
PROJECT NUMBER • 2018-055
PROJECT STATUS:
CURRENT

Developing a positive cultural attitude towards the capture and release of sharks and rays

This report summarises the outcomes of the Workshop on; prioritisation of species, identification of best-practice capture and handling, design of post-release survival studies, and development of effective communication campaigns, for developing positive behavioural change in recreational fishing...
ORGANISATION:
University of Adelaide
TAGS
Recreational Fishing
Rac Sa
Mortality
Behaviour
Audit
SPECIES
Rays
Communities
PROJECT NUMBER • 2016-251
PROJECT STATUS:
COMPLETED

Market study to assist target seafood marketing campaign to restore consumer confidence after Hunter River fishing closure due to contamination

In early September 2015 the discovery of a chemical contamination around the Williamtown RAAF base in the NSW Hunter Valley was made public The NSW Environment Protection Authority warned that chemicals perfluorooctane sulfonate ( and perfluorooctanoic acid ( had been found in surface...
ORGANISATION:
Intuitive Solutions
TAGS
Rac Nsw
Promotion
Marketing
Health And Safety
Contamination
Environment
Industry
PROJECT NUMBER • 2016-213
PROJECT STATUS:
COMPLETED

Building economics into fisheries management decision making - to utilise a suite of SA case studies

The aim of this project was to develop a set of economic analysis guidelines for use at an individual fishery level to aid harvest strategy and other fisheries management decisions. The project sought to demonstrate how economics can be incorporated in fisheries management frameworks in lower value...
ORGANISATION:
Econsearch Pty Ltd
TAGS
Rac Sa
Harvest Strategy
Fisheries Management
Economic
SPECIES
Southern Garfish
Blue Swimmer Crab
Blacklip Abalone
Greenlip Abalone
Industry
People
PROJECT NUMBER • 2018-063
PROJECT STATUS:
COMPLETED

Maximising industry representational capacity and capability through improved skills and knowledge

Twenty (20) Tasmanian seafood leaders participated in a two (2) day Australian Institute of Company Directors (AICD) course over the 30 and 31 May 2019. Courses completed were: • Governance for Directors • Finance for Directors Participants gained a better understanding of best practice...
ORGANISATION:
Seafood Industry Tasmania
TAGS
Supply Chain
Stakeholder
Rac Tas
Market Opportunities
Fisheries Management
Environment
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