32 results
Industry
PROJECT NUMBER • 2015-215
PROJECT STATUS:
COMPLETED

Low cost management regimes for sustainable, small low-value fisheries based on coastal inshore species

This study provides a comprehensive, process-based guidance to developing low-cost management regimes for small-scale, low-value fisheries. The approach outlined is strongly “bottom-up” in that it seeks to identify pragmatic options and provide practical advice that specifically...
ORGANISATION:
CSIRO Oceans and Atmosphere Hobart
Industry
Industry

Healthcheck Phase 2

Project number: 2016-060
Project Status:
Completed
Budget expenditure: $251,020.00
Principal Investigator: Alistair Hobday
Organisation: CSIRO Oceans and Atmosphere Hobart
Project start/end date: 29 Jan 2017 - 30 Jan 2019
:

Need

Sustainable fishing is typically used to imply sound use of a sustainable resource. Australian fisheries are recognized as world leading with regard to research and management, yet that message is still not being heard by many Australians, potentially eroding support for this industry. Recent events have shown that information about fishery performance with regard to target species is no longer sufficient for many Australians. Increasing attention in media and society-at-large is now given to a range of other fishery issues, including bycatch, economic performance, stock status and social/societal issues. Thus, for Australian fisheries, it is no longer just about catching fish - it is about a sustainable industry and management of a range of other issues. We lack a framework for transparently, independently and comprehensively reporting on these issues.
We will continue the development of a reporting framework for the status of Australian fisheries across a range of issues, as a companion to the ABARES-led stock status report (SAFS). This assessment template and the associated case studies will provide a holistic picture of the sustainability (biological, social and economic) of key Australian fish fisheries to inform the broader seafood sustainability debate. This will provide fisheries managers and other stakeholders with a clear view of successes, strengths, and challenges. We expect this template to form the basis for performance reporting on fisheries for use in other efforts such as State of Environment Reports. This work is needed to see Australian fisheries recognized more widely amongst the general public for the strong sustainability focus, and the strengths compared to other nations. This assessment will draw on a wide range of existing research and management outputs, be accessible, and through an inclusive development and consultative process, be trusted by the fishing sector and the Australian public.

Objectives

1. In consultation with fisheries stakeholders refine a broad range of criteria and indicators for reporting the status of Australian fisheries
2. Complete case studies for Australian fisheries drawn from all jurisdictions and upload to web-based application
3. Refine the pathway for linking these fishery-level reports with the stock status reports (SAFS) and handing over methods to appropriate jurisdictions for updating the reports into the future
4. With the expert group provide input into sustainability discussions relating to this project and broader national initiatives

Final report

ISBN: 978-1-4863-1241-2 online
Authors: Alistair J. Hobday Jason R. Hartog Emily Ogier Linda Thomas Aysha Fleming Sara Hornborg
Final Report • 2019-10-01 • 14.21 MB
2016-060-DLD.pdf

Summary

Sustainability is a broad and complex concept, and consideration of the diverse suite of factors involved in social, economic, ecological and governance arrangements is needed to create truly sustainable food production industries. Australian fisheries encompasses a much broader range of issues than just status of the target species. This recognition is important for the seafood industry and for stakeholders and customers nationally and internationally.
Provision of information on Australian fisheries that spans biological, economic, governance and social components is supported by the stakeholders involved in this research, consistent with international trends. Consistent comparative treatment of Australia’s national and state fisheries can allow comparisons with international fisheries.
Background
The first Healthcheck project (FRDC 2014-008) developed an approach to provide information on the performance of Australian commercial fisheries in four categories (biological, economic, governance and social) using a total of 32 indicators. The first phase also developed the mechanics to support a data repository and a draft web-portal providing the indicator data for Australian fisheries. The approach was tested on three fishery case studies which revealed some difficulty with obtaining data on all indicators, and a need for more work on the coverage of categories and indicators.
In the current project, the Healthcheck was expanded, updated, and tested on a wide range of case studies. The specific project objectives were:
  • Objective 1. In consultation with fisheries stakeholders refine a broad range of criteria and
    indicators for reporting the status of Australian fisheries.
  • Objective 2. (revised) Complete case studies for Australian fisheries drawn from alljurisdictions and upload to web-based repository.
  • Objective 3. Refine the pathway for linking these fishery-level reports with the stockstatus reports (SAFS) and handing over methods to appropriate jurisdictions for updatingthe reports into the future.
  • Objective 4. With the expert group provide input into sustainability discussions relating tothis project and broader national initiatives.
Implications for stakeholders
Community awareness and recognition of fisheries was perceived to be low based on the perceptions of the interviewed stakeholders. The Healthcheck can contribute to a broader understanding of sustainability, and illustrate the range of issues that are being addressed by fisheries and fisheries management agencies.
The Healthcheck as an information resource will provide transparency and trusted data across the spectrum of sustainability issues, for a wide range of users, including the fishing industry, fisheries managers, media, seafood certification schemes, the “informed” public, NGOs, other agencies with non-regulatory interests (e.g. Departments of Environment).
Recommendations
The remaining issues to address if the Healthcheck system were to be operational are related to Objective 3, the alignment and linking to existing data management and access.
 
Once updating and information delivery is finalised, then the number of fisheries considered can be increased. A similar prioritization as used by the SAFS approach (by value or volume) can be used to stage the work.
For this vision to be fully achieved, participatory processes that involve interested stakeholders in development of fishery assessment frameworks, prioritization of useful indicators and testing the systems for accessing and delivering the information, are needed.
This project has delivered a framework and an improved understanding of the need for broad sustainability reporting, however, without progressing to this next stage of development, the investment to date will not be fully realized.
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PROJECT NUMBER • 2011-729
PROJECT STATUS:
COMPLETED

SCRC: Tackling microbial related issues in cultured shellfish via integrated molecular and water chemistry approaches

Aquacultured species such as oysters and abalone live their entire lifecycle in seawater, and co-exist with a wide range of innocuous, pathogenic and beneficial microorganisms. Some microbes cause diseases resulting in significant losses for the farms. This study set out to provide shellfish...
ORGANISATION:
CSIRO Oceans and Atmosphere Hobart
Industry
PROJECT NUMBER • 2018-017
PROJECT STATUS:
COMPLETED

Demand Conditions and Dynamics in the Southern and Eastern Scalefish and Shark Fishery: Empirical Investigation

This final report, a collaboration between economists from CSIRO, CQU and ABARES, is the first detailed analysis of the interrelationship between fish prices on the Sydney and Melbourne fish markets. In addition, the study derived empirical estimates of the own and cross-price flexibilities for the...
ORGANISATION:
CSIRO Oceans and Atmosphere Hobart
SPECIES

Adaptive frameworks for Australian fishery observer programs: effort allocation and tools for decision support

Project number: 2005-002
Project Status:
Completed
Budget expenditure: $227,827.00
Principal Investigator: Jeffrey Dambacher
Organisation: CSIRO Oceans and Atmosphere Hobart
Project start/end date: 29 Jun 2005 - 30 Aug 2008
:

Need

Although each year millions of dollars are spent observing bycatch and assessing bycatch mitigation across Australian Commonwealth fisheries, there currently is no comprehensive analysis of observer data. For example, AFMA’s observer section compiles reports on seabird Threat Abatement Programs (TAP) containing summaries for numbers of birds caught, effort, and catch rates. While these statistics satisfy TAP reporting requirements, they nonetheless lack analysis of variation in catch rates over time, space, and among vessels. Hence understanding of why mitigation methods may or may not be working is hampered, ultimately to the detriment of industry. Also, recent analyses of observer data [1] have demonstrated a potential for predictive models based on fishing methods and oceanographic conditions to support management strategies minimising discard mortality and bycatch. Unfortunately such analyses are beyond the current scope of AFMA’s observer section, and a need exists for managers to receive and respond to information coming from observer programs in a timely manner. The need for streamlined analyses of observer data is not limited to bycatch issues alone, but extends to various management and research areas including ecological risk assessments for judging ecological sustainability, and stock assessments requiring observer data to develop calibrated analyses of standardized catch per unit effort.

A second major driver for the proposed work lies in the observation that while most fishery stakeholders agree on the need for observer programs, disagreement exists on appropriate levels of observer effort. NGO’s cite literature from within the NGO community [2] that coverage levels exceeding 50% are required to rigorously estimate bycatch, while the fishing industry argues that the capacity to pay limits what is possible. Clearly this isn’t a case of “one-size-fits-all”, and decisions on levels of observer coverage need to be framed against an array of what will sometimes be competing management objectives. We contend that this debate will benefit from a more rigorous statistical approach. Ultimately, managers require an adaptive approach that is both practical and transparent to the trade-offs involved.

This proposal addresses the needs outlined above by developing analytical and adaptive frameworks to infuse analyses of AFMA observer data into areas critical to Australian fisheries management, and supporting effective apportionment of observer effort.

---References---

[1] Dambacher, J.M., T.A. Patterson, J.S. Gunn, and T.I. Carter. 2003. Southern bluefin tuna by-catch in the Eastern Tuna and Billfish Fishery. Confidential Final Report-Project No. R00/1126. CSIRO Marine Research. Hobart.

[2] Babcock, E.A., E.K. Pikitch, and C.G. Hudson. 2003. How much observer coverage is enough to adequately estimate bycatch? Oceana, Washington DC, http://www.oceana.org/uploads/BabcockPikitchGray2003FinalReport.pdf.

Objectives

1. Develop software tools and analytical framework to support AFMA management decisions and research projects with streamlined and timely analyses of fishery observer data.
2. Develop statistical and organizational frameworks to assist in the allocation of observer effort within Australian fisheries.
3. Develop guidelines for sufficient and appropriate methods of analysis and reporting of AFMA observer data.
4. Develop an understanding of the relationship between catch rates of selected bycatch species, fishing gear and practices, and surrounding oceanographic environments.
5. Develop performance indicators and predictive models to support management of bycatch and discard mortality for sensitive or endangered species.
6. Assess quality of AFMA logbook data for bycatch species.

Final report

Author: Christian H. Moeseneder Jeffrey M. Dambacher Robert A. Campbell Fiona M. Giannini Emma K. Lawrence Alistair J. Hobday Jock W. Young
Environment
Environment
PROJECT NUMBER • 1993-237
PROJECT STATUS:
COMPLETED

Development of software for use in multi-frequency acoustic biomass assessments and ecological studies

The development of the ECHO software has enabled the collection and analysis of large multifrequency acoustic data sets. The data can now be processed in a timely manner (via overlays) to quality assure and interpret underlying acoustic characteristics in the signals. From these analyses we can...
ORGANISATION:
CSIRO Oceans and Atmosphere Hobart
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