The north west of Western Australia has productive commercial and recreational fisheries and extensive offshore oil and gas (O&G) infrastructure. These man-made structures support a range of demersal and pelagic fishes which are targeted by recreational and commercial fishers. As this O&G infrastructure reaches the end of its productive life, decisions on the best practice option for decommissioning must be made. The current policy for decommissioning requires complete removal. Regulators may support alternative strategies, such as leaving infrastructure in place, if risks and impacts are minimised and there are clear environmental, social and economic benefits to do so. It is thought that removal of infrastructure will decrease catch rates and have negative ecological, economic (direct and downstream) and social consequences.

At the same time as the discussion is occurring about removing O&G infrastructure, there have been large investments in constructing and installing purpose built man-made aquatic structures on the seafloor for the express purpose of enhancing the experience of recreational fishers and SCUBA divers.

There is a need to deliver critical information on: 1) the ecological, economic and social value of these man-made structures to recreational and commercial fishers and other stakeholders; 2) the attitudes of stakeholders to man-made structures; and 3) the opportunities and risks of decommissioning strategies to fishers and other groups (e.g. tourism).

Policy regarding the removal of decommissioned structures will benefit from the increased clarity that this project will provide in regards to data requirements for socio-economic models and stakeholder consultation methods. Comparative assessments of decommissioning options rely on the existence of appropriate socio-economic data, a knowledge gap this project aims to fill. An understanding of the impact of man-made aquatic structures on recreational and commercial fisheries is a global priority, and as such this project has strong international importance and relevance.

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.