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PROJECT NUMBER • 2018-070
PROJECT STATUS:
COMPLETED

Opportunities and impacts of range extending scalefish species: understanding population dynamics, ecosystem impacts and management needs

This work set out to quantify the biology and diet of three key range-shifting species in Tasmania with both recreational and commercial fishery value. The project was heavily reliant on engagement from the recreational fishing community and multiple citizen science initiatives, as well as...
ORGANISATION:
University of Tasmania
TAGS
Stakeholder
Reproduction
Recreational Fishing
Rac Tas
Population Dynamics
Environment
Environment
PROJECT NUMBER • 2021-119
PROJECT STATUS:
COMPLETED

Improving bycatch reduction strategies and escape vents in Queensland Mud Crab fisheries

The Queensland Crab Fishery is an iconic fishery, which encompasses the harvest of mud crabs (Scylla serrata, the Giant Mud Crab, and Scylla olivacea, the Orange Mud Crab) and Blue Swimmer Crabs (Portunus armatus and Portunus pelagicus), predominately using baited crab pots of various designs. The...
ORGANISATION:
Department of Primary Industries (QLD)
TAGS
Threatened Endangered Protected Species
Recreational Fishing
Rac Qld
Fishing Gear
Bycatch
SPECIES
Mud Crabs

Evaluation of a smart-phone application to collect recreational fishing catch estimates, including an assessment against an independent probability based survey, using South Australia as a case study

Project number: 2020-056
Project Status:
Current
Budget expenditure: $1,000,000.00
Principal Investigator: Crystal Beckmann
Organisation: University of Adelaide
Project start/end date: 4 Oct 2020 - 30 Sep 2023
Contact:
FRDC
TAGS
Sustainability
Survey
Recreational Fishing
Rac Sa
Modelling

Need

There is need to collect accurate and robust information on recreational fishing levels to inform fisheries management. Recreational fishing estimates are critical to ensure sustainable harvest of community owned fisheries resources. In South Australia, established Fishery Management Plans are in place and recreational catch must be monitored to ensure that the sector is operating within its allocated shares of the resource. Recent changes to the availability of traditional sampling frames and shifts in the way the people communicate mean that it is becoming increasingly cost-prohibitive to undertake surveys using the established methodology. There is a need to re-evaluate how recreational fishing catch and effort is assessed and to develop revised survey methodologies using the latest survey tools and techniques.

Smartphone applications may provide a cost-effective method to collect information on recreational catch. However, as most apps are self-selected, sampling is non-probability based and it is not possible to calculate confidence intervals or margins of error. There is a need to compare app-based data with traditional phone-diary surveys to compare estimates and evaluate the accuracy of the results measured relative to independent population benchmarks. The outputs from this project will provide valuable information to other jurisdictions who have existing apps or are looking to implement an app.- based survey

Objectives

1. To design and implement a survey of South Australian recreational fishers to determine participation and catch and effort levels for key species.
2. To evaluate the differences and in recreational catch estimates from smart-phone applications and traditional phone diary surveys.
3. To explore whether smart-phone applications can be feasibility integrated into future recreational fishing surveys.
4. To measure the accuracy of catch estimates from smart-phone applications relative to independent population benchmarks.
5. To outline the policy and regulatory needs and implications of implementing a smart phone based reporting app.

Final report

ISBN: 978-1-876007-57-7
Authors: C.L. Beckmann L.M. Durante K. Stark and S. Tracey
Final Report • 2024-08-01 • 14.49 MB
2020-056-DLD.pdf

Summary

Information on recreational catch and effort is becoming increasingly important to inform fishery stock assessment and the sustainable management of fisheries resources. As smartphone applications ('apps') become more sophisticated and widely available, they are increasingly being used to record recreational fishing activity, presenting an opportunity to collect non-probability data. However, the self-selected nature of data collection through apps introduces potential biases, necessitating comparative studies with traditional probability-based surveys to assess these biases as well as the accuracy and precision of app-based data. This study aims to compare a traditional probability-based survey with app-based data collection to compare estimates, assess bias and utility, and provide guidance for the future development of app-based data collection methods. 
 
The lack of regularly collected data that can provide a precise estimate of catch and effort for a range of species caught by recreational fishing presents significant challenges for fishery stock assessment and management. Traditional probability-based methods, for example stratified phone surveys, are regarded as providing the most robust estimates of catch and effort for recreational fisheries. However, these surveys are often expensive, conducted infrequently, and may not provide the species-specific information at the spatial and temporal scales required to inform stock assessment and effective management. Smartphone apps offer a promising complementary option for data collection due to their ability to gather large volumes of information in real-time. However, challenges arise regarding representativeness of the data, low participation due to technological barriers, engagement issues, quality control, and privacy and security concerns. This study aims to explore the effectiveness and suitability of a smartphone application for collecting data on recreational catch and effort, offering an innovative approach while considering the associated advantages and disadvantages.

 

The review of existing technologies and knowledge assets highlighted some of the challenges faced by probability-based surveys due to changing communication practices and sampling limitations. Although smartphone apps are acknowledged for their potential to engage users and collect recreational fishing data, they have limitations such as participant non-response and possible unknown biases that may affect reported catch rates and data quality. It was acknowledged that recruiting participants without a license frame is challenging, requires substantial communication investment, and that private companies may be able to advance app technology for broader user appeal. While app-based data collection is likely to complement probability-based methods, successful implementation requires validation, bias control, user-friendly design, transparency, and measures to ensure adequate recruitment and retention. Key to this is addressing concerns around privacy, security, and representativeness to encourage app adoption, which has the potential to promote the collection of near real-time data to inform fisheries assessment and management.

 
The study's findings have several implications for fisheries managers, scientists, and policymakers:
- Firstly, the study highlights the potential for using a combination of app-based data and probability-based survey data to obtain reliable and comprehensive information about the recreational fishing community.
- Secondly, stakeholders should view app-based data collection as a complementary approach to probability-based surveys.
- Thirdly, there is a need to increase the number of participants in app-based data collection to improve the accuracy of results.
 
In conclusion, this study provides recommendations for further work to improve recreational fishing data collection methods. It emphasises the importance of ongoing collaboration between stakeholders and scientists to improve the tools and techniques used to collect data. By implementing these recommendations, stakeholders can strive for more accurate, representative, and reliable data, leading to better-informed decisions concerning the sustainable management of recreational fisheries resources.

A market research-driven and co-management approach to developing an industry strategy for the SA Charter Boat Fishery

Project number: 2018-154
Project Status:
Completed
Budget expenditure: $32,840.00
Principal Investigator: Julian Morison
Organisation: BDO EconSearch
Project start/end date: 10 Jan 2019 - 29 Jun 2019
Contact:
FRDC
TAGS
Stock Assessment
Recreational Fishing
Rac Sa
Policy
Market Opportunities

Need

Industry has highlighted a need to address this declining trend through accessing new opportunities.

While the fishery is a commercial operation offering a recreational fishing platform, it is not explicitly accounted for in the process of assessing recreational or commercial fishery performance.

The need to better understand the needs and wants of the fishery’s client group (recreational fishers) and the capacity of the charter fleet to meet this demand is critical to addressing the continued decline in participation and fishery profitability.

Addressing the reasons for the ongoing decline is important if the industry is to improve its economic performance. The fishery has capacity within its resource shares for growth for a wide range of species including key species such as Snapper and King George whiting.

Notwithstanding this, there is also a need to explore and develop broader experiences for clients on charter operations other than fishing.

Evidence that the project has industry ownership and this application is strongly supported can be found in the attached letter of support from the Surveyed Charter Boat Owners & Operators Association of South Australia (SCBOOASA).

Objectives

1. Conduct a target analysis on clients who have taken a fishing charter in each area incorporating satisfaction levels, total expenditure levels and suggestions for improvements and new experiences.
2. Quantify the economic impact of the industry to different regions based on client expenditure levels
3. Identify client characteristics and attitudes to help enable the industry to understand what is important to their existing clients, boost satisfaction levels, reach more clients and expand the market
4. Assess the current capacity, willingness and desire of the charter boat fishery to meet existing and projected demand, both qualitative and quantitative.

Final report

ISBN: 978-0-646-81132-1
Author: Action Market Research Hudson Howells BDO EconSearch
Final Report • 2019-10-30 • 3.75 MB
2018-154-DLD.pdf

Summary

This project investigated the South Australian Charter Boat Fishery by conducting analyses to identify potential actions for growth to counter the declining level of activity and profitability in the industry.

The SA Charter industry has shown declining in trends in economic returns and participation, highlighted a need to address these declines through accessing new opportunities. To do this a targeted analysis was conducted on potential, current and lapsed Charter Boat clients incorporating satisfaction levels, total expenditure levels and suggestions for improvements and new experiences.

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