Interactive and updatable maps of Queensland’s key fishing areas, closed waters and port and marina infrastructure, documenting the timing and basis for fishing closures
There is a need for fisheries data on catch/effort across all fisheries to be centralised and visualised. Closures that restrict access to fish resources, particularly fishing hot spots, need to be explained. Fishery data for Queensland tends to be unavailable to the public and when accessed it is fishery-specific. For the public, the lack of available data on fishing distribution and limits to access has led to uninformed debate that erodes the social licence of fishing, particularly commercial fishing because it is assumed Industry is unregulated and protective measures are not in place.
Visualization and metadata information will centralize and make available Queensland-wide spatial data. Furthermore, there is a need for detailed background information to enhance the value of these data to researchers and public users: linked to provide historical perspective on the implementation of each Queensland closure and the sequence of change. For this initiative to succeed, we emphasise public access to all users.
In 2014, this project would be cost effective as it would integrate into an existing database: the CSIRO Australian Marine Resource Spatial Management Atlas. The Atlas will accumulate an Australia-wide coverage of marine spatial management and provide free infrastructure for a detailed state-orientated initiative.
A repository for these data will enable spatial visualisation and analysis of key data (Kitsiou et al. 2002, Rodriguez et al. 2009). This would be useful for mediating the impact of infrastructure placement in locations adjacent to high fishing effort and areas closed to fishing. Future researchers will use the data via GIS and spatial analyses to consider alternative spatial management options, test specific scientific hypotheses and evaluate performance of current management. Cumulatively, the creation or expansion of port facilities (for example) potentially affects the distribution of fishing effort along sections of the Queensland coast.
Final report
Integrating fishing industry knowledge of fishing grounds with scientific data on seabed habitats for informed spatial management and ESD evaluation in the SEF
The SEF fishing industry, particularly the trawl sector, has a need to be proactive in the face of growing community attention to trawling based on its potential to modify benthic habitat and threaten biodiversity values. This need is focussed by the timetable for the regional marine planning process (the end of 2001 for the SEF region), as well as to meet provisions under Schedule 4 of the Wildlife Protection (Regulation of Experts and Imports) Act and the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act. Without solid information or a developed industry position regarding the spatial management of its fishing grounds, the fishing industry will have minimal ability to engage in this process as active partners.
The SEF fishing industry holds strong beliefs about the importance of particular seabed habitats for is continued profitability (Prince, Baelde and Wright FRDC 71/114) and has a need to develop a mature relationship with the National Ocean's Office and Environment Australia. This relationship and the information formailsed by this project will enable the industry to have input in the near-term to the Regional Marine Planning process and to certify their seafood products for expertation under the Wildlife Protection Act.
The outcomes of this project will have direct relevance t:
advancing AFMA's legislated aims of sustaining biological production and economic efficiency
seeking certification for inclusion on Schedule 4 of the Wildlife protection Act
attaining ESD accreditation in the longer term
responding to the near term needs of participating in the process of developing Environment Australia's South East Regional Marine Plan.
The finely detailed and annotated maps to be generated by this project will provide a template on which the distribution of fishing effort and catches can be plotted, and will form the basis of industry proposals to introduce a spatial management to their fishery. Without these maps and the process supported by this project there is a risk that uninformed spatial management of fishing effort would contribute neither to conservation goals nor the fishing industry and could be to the detriment of both. Moreover, inappropriate spatial management would be counter-productive to ESD planning for the SEF.