3 results
Environment
PROJECT NUMBER • 1993-238
PROJECT STATUS:
COMPLETED

Evaluation of harvesting strategies for Australian fisheries at different levels of risk from economic collapse

Management of a marine renewable resource involves selecting a trade-off between conflicting objectives related to conservation and utilization. This problem is complicated by uncertainty about the current status and productivity of the resource being managed, and hence about the implications of...
ORGANISATION:
CSIRO Oceans and Atmosphere Cleveland

Northern pelagic fish stock research

Project number: 1983-049
Project Status:
Completed
Budget expenditure: $0.00
Principal Investigator: Shirley Jeffrey
Organisation: CSIRO Oceans and Atmosphere Cleveland
Project start/end date: 28 Dec 1984 - 31 Dec 1984
Contact:
FRDC

Objectives

1. Obtain biological data on population dynamics of pelagic resources of shark, mackerel and tuna in northern Aust waters
2. use data to more effectively manage Taiwanese fishery which is supported by these resources
3. examine potential for increased Aust participation

Final report

Author: Shirely Jeffrey
Final Report • 2017-09-29 • 14.92 MB
1983-049-DLD.pdf

Summary

In 1982, CSIRO applied to the Fishing Industry Research Trust Account for funding of a joint biological investigation of northern Australian pelagic fish stocks. At that time these stocks supported a Taiwanese surface gill-net fishery based on sharks, tunas and Spanish mackerel.

During the 1970's the total annual catch taken by the Taiwanese fishery from the area between northern Australia and Papua New Guinea averaged about 25,000 tonnes live weight. With declaration of the Australian Fishing Zone (AFZ) in 1979 the fishery came under Australian jurisdiction and management measures were introduced. Simple yield estimating procedures based on the commercial catch data were used to derive an annual quota of 7,000 tonnes processed weight (about 10,000 tonnes live weight). The quota was assumed to be set at a conservative level of the potential yield. However, the only information available on the stocks at this time was some limited data on species composition together with preliminary data on size and sex distributions and reproduction of some of the shark species obtained by sampling the commercial catch through the AFZ observer program. Little information was available from inshore waters not fished by the Taiwanese and nothing was known about stock structure or the population dynamics of the main species that would allow a more scientifically defensible position to be adopted on the existing exploitation rate.

This study was initiated because of mounting government concern over the lack of research into the fishery, and because of increasing interest by industry in Australian exploitation of the resource. The program was a joint undertaking between CSIRO, the Commonwealth Department of Primary Industry and the State Fisheries of Queensland, Western Australia and the Northern Territory. The program aimed to provide information on the stock structure, migration, age and growth, recruitment and mortality of the principal species, and to examine the yield potential of the stocks and the potential for increased Australian participation in the fishery. It was particularly important to know whether the target species comprised single stocks or a number of discrete stocks across northern Australia. This information has implications for management of the foreign and domestic fisheries.

Stock identity of northern fish species

Project number: 1983-048
Project Status:
Completed
Budget expenditure: $0.00
Organisation: CSIRO Oceans and Atmosphere Cleveland
Project start/end date: 28 Dec 1986 - 31 Dec 1986
Contact:
FRDC

Objectives

1. Define unit stocks for fisheries management of northern populations of Spanish mackerel, barramundi and blacktip shark.
2. Use electrophoretic analysis of protein variation to characterise each sp, examine for stock heterogeneity, define geographical boundaries

Final report

Final Report • 1984-12-31 • 4.56 MB
1983-048-DLD.pdf

Summary

The research program supported by this grant was directed at determining the number and distribution of subpopulations or genetic stocks which contribute to Australian fisheries for barramundi, northern sharks, and narrow-barred Spanish mackerel. Starch gel electrophoresis was used to reveal patterns of genetic variation in each species.

The analysis of approximately 4,500 barramundi collected at locations from the Ord River in Western Australia to the Rockhampton area of Queensland revealed the existence of at least 14 genetically discrete stocks. The significant amount of genetic subdivision characterizing Australian barramundi indicates that fisheries regulations and management policies must be focused on individual barramundi stocks in order to be maximally effective. The number and location of reserves, possible stocking of hatchery reared fish, and selective breeding of captive barramundi should all be based upon maintaining and exploiting the naturally occurring genetic heterogeneity of barramundi populations indicated by this study.

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