2 results

International environmental instruments: their effect on the fishing industry (part 2)

Project number: 1997-149
Project Status:
Completed
Budget expenditure: $14,950.00
Principal Investigator: Martin Tsamenyi AM
Organisation: AMC Search Ltd
Project start/end date: 16 Feb 1998 - 19 Mar 1999
:

Need

The need for a second edition was seen at the outset of the original project. There have been numerous developments in the international scene and at the national level to merit an update of the document.

The original report was in great demand from within Australia and from overseas as well. It was timely and well received by a diverse range of agencies and interest groups. The fishing industry appreciated the content and were able to use it as a guide in several disputes that emerged in the period after publication. There have now been significant changes since the original report and there is need for a second edition.

The update would be supported by many agencies and fishing industry organisations who commented on the usefulness of the original report. Given the increasing political influence of the issues addressed in the report, we expect the updated report to be well received and be useful to a variety of organisations.

Objectives

1. To alter the entire preface of the original report in the light of international developments.
2. The re-examine each of the international instruments and particularly update the following
The United Nations Straddling Stocks Convention
the Jakarta mandate on Biodiversity
Development of the UN Commission of sustainable development
US domestic legislation and TEDs, import regulations etc
The FAO Code of Conduct on responsible fishing and subsequent developments
Eco-labelling/accreditation and the Marine Stewardship Council initiative.
3. Re-examine the overview of international trade instruments and their role in the international arena. (Section B in the original report). This will not be expanded, but will be updated.
4. The report will present significant changes and trends as first identified in section C of the 1995 report.
5. The final section will draw together the changes in the international scene since 1995 and propose strategic issues for the fishing industry and fisheries management.

Final report

ISBN: 0-646-3 6 8 54-0
Author: Martin Tsamenyi and Alistair McIlgorm
Final Report • 1999-01-01 • 3.58 MB
1997-149-DLD.pdf

Summary

This is the second edition of the FRDC project international environmental instruments-their effect on the fishing industry. The need for this project was identified in 1994 by the fisheries policy unit of the Department of Primary Industry and Energy (DPIE, now Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry - Australia, AFFA). The first edition of the report was published in September 1995 and was well received by a wide readership. The FRDC has subsequently initiated a second edition of the report. The objective of the second edition is to identify the changes evident in the international legislative arena and discuss the development of responses to these changes.

The second edition recognises the development of international environmental instruments and updates these conventions and associated developments. The international legislative and trade perspective is continued, though it is recognised that national environmental legislation may be more directly impacting than instruments at the international level. The second edition does not give so much emphasis to the domestic legislation of the United States and includes several more international developments. It also examines the implications for industry and government of trade and legislative developments. The second edition focuses on the implications of international environmental instruments on fishing operations and fisheries management in particular. Specific examination of domestic legislation remains outside the terms of reference of the project.

The first edition made recommendations for the Australian industry. Developments in response to international instruments are investigated and several more issues are raised for the attention of industry and policy makers. The original research report was presented to the environmental sub-committee of the Australian Seafood Industry Council, (ASIC) for discussion, feedback, and clarification of emphasis. With the second edition, we thank a panel of seafood industry representatives, nominated by ASIC, for comments on a final draft.

The project has uncovered a large volume of material in this rapidly expanding area. In this second edition we wish the issues presented here to be discussed through the whole fisheries sector as international environmental instruments will have both negative and positive implications for the Australian fishing industry.

A review of current research needs of the south east trawl fishery

Project number: 2001-314
Project Status:
Completed
Budget expenditure: $22,000.00
Principal Investigator: Paul McShane
Organisation: AMC Search Ltd
Project start/end date: 28 Sep 2001 - 30 Jun 2002
:

Objectives

1. Review the current research planning and selection porocesses for the SETF
assess the effectiveness of the industry input to these processes and, if necessary, recommend changes to achieve more effective industry involvement.
2. Review the current SEF Research Plan (from an industry perspective) and suggest future industry research requirements based on discussions with industry, fishery managers, researcher, Environment Australia, relevant NGO's and funding agencies. In particular, this assessment should identify emerging environmental issues, requiring strategic research and research that may be required to assist the fishery in gaining environmental accreditation.
3. In light of increasing demands for research, recommend appropriate funding sources and strategies with a view to assisting the industry to gain maximum leverage from its research expenditure.

Final report

Author: Paul McShane
Final Report • 2002-05-16 • 894.18 KB
2001-314-DLD.pdf

Summary

The South East Fishery (SEF) is a complex multi species fishery targeting 18 species managed under a catch quota regime.  The fishery involves both commonwealth and state agencies and is important in supplying fresh fish to tables on the eastern seaboard of Australia.  The research priority setting process for the SEF was reviewed in the context of the Fishing Industry’s expectation of enhanced opportunities for beneficial outcomes and improved administration of research and development .
The review concentrated on:
•  the consultative process linking research to management;
•  the link between the current strategic research plan and industry needs;
•  gaps in the current research strategic plan, particularly relating to the requirement of industry to undertake a strategic ecological assessment of the SEF;
•  opportunities to engage industry more effectively in SEF research.
 
Consultation with various stakeholders revealed a large number of formal consultative committees and subcommittees that introduced much bureaucratic inertia into the industry consultation process.  Emerging issues dealing with a move to ecosystem, as opposed to species, management of fisheries present new challenges to industry.  There is a need to present greater clarity in dealing with ecological management and its influence in the research priority setting process.  It is suggested that the Management Advisory Committee (MAC) assume the role of the Total Allowable Catch (TAC) subcommittee to more demonstrably separate TAC setting from the wider research needs (particularly ecological issues).  This, and the consolidation of other consultative committees would greatly reduce time spent in meetings and allow a greater focus on critical issues such as improving the TAC-setting process, addressing concerns of environmental agencies (e.g. bycatch from trawlers, impacts on the seafloor by trawlers).
 
Given the prominence of ecological/environmental issues, it is further suggested that committees dealing with common research issues be combined to provide greater cost effectiveness (in participation and in research program execution) in tackling ecological issues (e.g. identification and evaluation of ecosystem performance indicators).  As research resources are limited, there should be sharing of common needs in environmental/ecological assessment and management across participating fisheries in the region including fisheries for shark, scallops, squid, tuna, and billfish.
 
With a more effective use of time of industry participants, there should be enhanced opportunities for partnerships between research and development agencies, and the fishing industry.  In particular, there is an opportunity to harness industry capacity more effectively be extending current monitoring programs (involving industry vessels) to undertake cost-effective research.
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