9 results
Industry
PROJECT NUMBER • 2017-019
PROJECT STATUS:
COMPLETED

Freshwater fish attracting structures (FAS): Evaluating a new tool to improve fishing quality and access to fisheries resources in Australian impoundments

This document has been compiled from various sources and, to the authors’ knowledge, represents the best advice currently available regarding the use of fish attracting structures to improve recreational angling in Australian impoundments. Although the principles outlined in this document may...
ORGANISATION:
Department of Primary Industries (QLD)
TAGS
Tourism
Stock Assessment
Social Science
Social Science
Recreational Fishing
SPECIES
Silver Perch
Golden Perch
Australian Bass
Freshwater Catfish
Murray Cods
Communities
PROJECT NUMBER • 2018-189
PROJECT STATUS:
COMPLETED

NCCP: Socio-economic impact assessment and stakeholder engagement

The present study, undertaken by University of Canberra, was developed to investigate the potential to engender support for the recommendations included in the NCCP byassessing potential impacts of carp control on different groups, and ensuring key stakeholders are able to access, understand and...
ORGANISATION:
University of Canberra
TAGS
Tourism
Stakeholder
Social Science
Social Science
Recreational Fishing
SPECIES
European Carp
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Enhancing the understanding of the value provided to fisheries by man-made aquatic structures

Project number: 2018-053
Project Status:
Completed
Budget expenditure: $376,840.06
Principal Investigator: Euan S. Harvey
Organisation: Curtin University
Project start/end date: 29 Apr 2019 - 19 Mar 2020
Contact:
FRDC
TAGS
Social Science
Social Science
Recreational Fishing
Rac Wa
Policy

Need

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.

Objectives

1. To develop conceptual qualitative, semi-quantitative and quantitative models for describing the socio-economic values and decide what information is needed to give stakeholders an understanding of the value of manmade aquatic structures in the marine environment.
2. To collate a list and description of the manmade aquatic structures in the marine environment in Western Australian and the associated social, economic and biodiversity data.
3. To collect and collate data on four manmade aquatic structures in the marine environment and develop and compare the costs and benefits of qualitative, semi-quantitative and quantitative models.
4. To develop a decision support system or framework for undertaking socio-economic evaluations of manmade aquatic structures which can be used throughout Australia and guide end users on how to develop qualitative, semi-quantitative and quantitative models depending on their information requirements.

Final report

ISBN: 978-0-646-84171-7
Author: Euan Harvey
Final Report • 20.59 MB
2018-053-DLD.pdf

Summary

In 2018, the state’s recreational and commercial fishers (represented by the peak bodies Recfishwest and WAFIC) commissioned a program of research as part of a Fisheries Research Development Corporation project aimed at documenting the social and economic values and benefits that stakeholders obtain from MMS in Western Australia. These structures include shipwrecks, artificial reefs, break walls, structures associated with harbours, jetties, marine navigation markers, and O&G infrastructure such as platforms, wells, and pipelines.
During 2019 and 2020 the researchers undertook seven online surveys which focussed on understanding the social and economic benefits and values that recreational and commercial fishers, divers and other users gained from using MMS in Western Australia. This was complemented by eleven focus groups which included representatives from the commercial and recreational fishers, but also the Oil and Gas (O&G) sector, regulators (state and federal), conservation, non-government organisations (NGOs), scientific sectors, and the general community. The researchers used data to develop five case studies representing a range of different structures and end users. These case studies focussed on inshore Thevenard Island subsea O&G infrastructure (incorporating recreational fishing), Woodside’s Echo Yodel offshore subsea O&G infrastructure (incorporating commercial fishing), the Exmouth Integrated Artificial Reef (recreational fishing), the Exmouth Navy Pier (diving tourism), and the iconic Busselton Jetty in Southwestern Australia, which is used for tourism, by recreational fishers, divers, swimmers and many other stakeholders. A guidebook was produced outlining the different methods of identifying social and economic values, along with the types of data required, and the approaches to collecting this data. The guidebook also outlines the advantages, disadvantages and resource needs for each method. A database of the MMS in Western Australia was also compiled and made accessible online.
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Environment
Environment

World Recreational Fishing Conference 10 Melbourne 19-23rd February 2023

Project number: 2021-131
Project Status:
Completed
Budget expenditure: $210,000.00
Principal Investigator: Cameron Westaway
Organisation: Victorian Fisheries Authority (VFA) Queenscliff
Project start/end date: 21 Jun 2022 - 25 May 2023
Contact:
FRDC
TAGS
Recreational Fishing
Conference

Need

Hosting the WRFC in Melbourne will provide a unique opportunity to build capacity and leadership in the Australian recreational fisher, scientific and management communities, and develop skills in modern technology and methods. It will increase participation in recreational fishing by showcasing Victoria’s and Australia’s fishing and tourism experiences to leading and influential recreational fishing stakeholders from across the world.
The event is expected to attract hundreds of international visitors from at least 20 countries, as well as thousands of recreational fishers and fishing experts from across Victoria and Australia.
Hosting this major event requires support from key recreational fishing stakeholder groups. We would like to seek FRDC’s financial support to assist with operating costs including venue hire (Melbourne Convention Centre), guest speakers, advertising and promotion, and other logistics expenses for the WRFC.

Objectives

1. To deliver a successful World Recreational Fisheries Conference 10 which explores the challenges of recreational fishing in a changing world
shares the latest science, managment and stakeholder knoweldge
promotes inclusion and cooperation amongst diverse stakeholders and fosters best practice to maintain recover andprotect the worlds recerational fisheries.

Final report

Author: Cameron Westaway
Final Report • 2023-05-01 • 5.09 MB
2021-131-DLD.pdf

Summary

The Victorian Fisheries Authority (VFA) was announced to host the next World Recreational Fishing Conference (WRFC) to be held in 2023 in Melbourne. The WRFC is the world’s most prominent gathering of the recreational fishing community and is held every three years for researchers, recreational fishers, angling organisations, governments worldwide to meet and exchange knowledge on hot topics in recreational fishing. The Victorian bid was prepared in partnership with recreational fishing organisations including VRFish and FutureFish Foundation, Women in Recreational Fishing Network (WIRF) and Australian Recreational Fishing Foundation (ARFF). The objective of hosting was to run a high standard international conference which attracted hundreds of Australia’s and the world’s best recreational fisheries scientists, managers and leaders to Melbourne to share and extend their knowledge to their peers and to inspire world’s best practice and increase participation in recreational fishing. FRDC’s specific objective was to deliver a successful WRFC which explores the challenges of recreational fishing in a changing world, shares the latest science, management and stakeholder knowledge, promotes inclusion and cooperation amongst diverse stakeholders and fosters best practice to maintain recover and protect the worlds recreational fisheries. 

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