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During the initial conceptual steering committee meeting of the Tuna Champions program it was identified, and supported by marketing specialists, to focus on a single species, in this case the SBT. If this was done well, it would minimise dilution of the messaging and improve the uptake and momentum of increased stewardship in that particular fishery. It was noted however that the messages would likely ‘spill over’ into other species, particularly other tuna species as the practices being promoted were applicable to them. Then further, that the messaging and recognition of the value of stewardship as it relates to recreational fishing practices would spill over more broadly to other species. This effect has now been realised with fishers that target other tuna species already organically sharing and promoting the message of tuna champions and more broadly, several other recreational stewardship programs have been developed or are currently in the funding or conceptual phases including Shark Mates, Snapper Stewards and a program in Tasmania promoting stewardship in the recreational fishery targeting Sand Flathead.

The recent recognition by the Federal Government of the success of the Tuna Champions program was highlighted in the commitment to fund an extension of the program announced with the launch of the 2021 Federal budget.

This funding will facilitate the need to broaden the program to the next level by increasing the scope of the project to now focus on more key tuna species in Australia, including Yellowfin Tuna and Longtail Tuna. The geographic distribution of these species and the recreational fisheries that target them will increase the breadth of the program across Australia with both these species commonly caught on the east and west coasts and Longtail Tuna caught along the top-end of Australia, including the Northern Territory.

Objectives

1. Deliver an education program and communication strategy focusing on responsible fishing practices within the recreational sector and educating grass-roots fishers on best practices around all aspects of their interactions with key tuna species in Australia.

2. Develop a research hub to facilitate ongoing recreational fisher engagement in studies pertaining to key tuna species in Australia.

3. Develop a self-funding model to ensure the long-term sustainability of Tuna Champions independent of Commonwealth government funding.

PROJECT NUMBER • 2018-091

PROJECT STATUS:

COMPLETED

Assessment of national-scale tracking of commercially important fish species

In this FRDC project, a team from Integrated Marine Observing System Animal Tracking Facility (IMOS ATF), in coordination with state and federal agencies and the Fisheries and Aquaculture Research Providers Network (RPN) met. They systematically reconfigured the IMOS ATF national network to...

ORGANISATION:

Sydney Institute of Marine Science (SIMS)

TAGS

SPECIES

Southern Bluefin Tuna

Yellowfin Bream

Black Bream

Snapper

The role of the recreational fisher in the stewardship of the Southern Bluefin Tuna fishery

Project number: 2017-123

Project Status:

Completed

Budget expenditure: $597,955.00

Principal Investigator: Sean Tracey

Organisation: University of Tasmania

Project start/end date: 29 Dec 2017 - 29 Dec 2020

Contact:

FRDC

TAGS

SPECIES

Southern Bluefin Tuna

Need

SBT is a lucrative export commodity for Australia, valued at around $130 to $150 million per year and recreational fishing is an important leisure activity for many Australians of all ages and backgrounds, with notable social and economic benefits. Therefore, there is a need to find a sustainable approach to support both the commercial and recreational SBT fishing industries. While the recognition and management of the commercial sector is well established, it is crucial to find a sustainable approach to recognise and support continued access and certainty to current and future recreational fishers.

Ultimately, there is a need to quantify the recreational harvest of SBT to satisfy Australia’s international obligations to CCSBT and the rebuilding of the SBT population. Previous FRDC funded research has assessed the most effective ways to deliver ongoing estimates of recreational harvest and the implementation of a national SBT recreational harvest survey is a commitment of the Australian Government.

Parallel to the need to quantify catch is a need to provide a targeted education program to ensure that the recreational sector understands the broader situation as it relates to SBT stocks and to foster stewardship of this iconic conservation dependant species. It is envisioned that improved stewardship and education of the recreational sector targeting SBT will facilitate responsible fishing practices in regard to reducing wastage of harvested fish, consideration of best practices in relation to fish handling to improve meat quality changing the fishery from a ‘quantity of meat’ fishery to a ‘quality of meat’ fishery, subsequently increasing catch and release rates, improved handling practices of released fish to maximise post-release survival rates and education on the need for engagement in future surveys to estimate recreational harvest. Documents such as the National Code of Practice for Recreational and Sport Fishing and the Southern Bluefin Tuna Recreational Fishery Code of Practice will be drawn on to inform this component of the program.

Objectives

1. Deliver an education program and communication strategy focusing on responsible fishing practices within the recreational sector and educating grass-roots fishers on the status of Southern Bluefin Tuna.

2. Deliver an education program and communication strategy focusing on responsible fishing practices within the recreational sector and educating grass-roots fishers about the need for, and methods to collect a harvest estimate of the recreational SBT harvest.

3. Deliver an education program and communication strategy focusing on responsible fishing practices within the recreational sector and informing grass-roots fishers on the results of the SBT recreational harvest survey.

4. Determine the impacts and success of the education and communication engagement activities delivered

Flyer

Flyer • 646.49 KB

2017-123-Tuna Champion Flyer.pdf

Project products

Article • 2023-11-21

Summary

Article: Six years on from the launchArticle: Six years on from the launch of Tuna Champions, project leader Professor Sean Tracey reflects on the success and evolution of the education campaign focused on recreational fishers and the iconic Southern Bluefin Tuna (Thunnus maccoyii)

A clearly focused project, an iconic fish species on the rise and advocacy from leaders within the recreational fishing community are key factors giving rise to the success of FRDC-funded Tuna Champions initiative of Tuna Champions, project leader Professor Sean Tracey reflects on the success and evolution of the education campaign focused on recreational fishers and the iconic Southern Bluefin Tuna (Thunnus maccoyii).

Final Report • 2023-09-01 • 83.07 MB

2017-123-DLD.pdf

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)

TAGS

SPECIES