There is a need for a consolidated national report on the status of key wild catch Australian fish stocks, focusing on commercial and recreational target species. One pitfall of guides like the Australia’s Sustainable Seafood Guide is their focus on entire species, without considering differences among stocks within each species. Consequently, a poor status determination for one stock can result in a poor status determination for all stocks of that species regardless of whether or not the other stocks are healthy. Government can avoid this pitfall by clearly articulating the status of individual fish stocks. Australia’s different jurisdictions have demonstrated their capacity to work constructively together to achieve common goals (e.g. joint stock assessments for shared stocks). However, the current differences in scope, depth, terminology and benchmarking in jurisdictionally based Fishery Status Reports make it difficult to readily compare the status of stocks across jurisdictions and build a coherent national status of key species.

The National Fishery Status Reports would not be promoted as an eco-labelling guide but rather as a government produced instrument designed to simplify comparison of the status of key wild capture fish stocks around Australia both within and among jurisdictions. This information would be available for the general public, policy makers and industry to make informed decisions in relation to the actual health of various stocks. The reports would also provide an important and accurate information source for international organisations (e.g. FAO). The process of producing these reports will improve communication between the jurisdictions, leading to a better understanding of the status determinations made by each jurisdiction and how these compare. One of the main outcomes already achieved from the recent jurisdictional planning workshops is the convergence on a common system of benchmarking and terminology for use across jurisdictions.

The release of the first SAFS reports in 2012 demonstrated the value and impact of national fisheries reporting. In order to build on this and establish a strategic, longer-term legacy it is critical that the process is evaluated and the next edition planned. The current proposal is critical to developing the mechanisms needed to establish the reports as on-going and build towards the broader elements of national fisheries status reporting.

This proposal builds on the investment in the inaugural reports, facilitating feedback from end-users and those directly involved in production. It also provides a forum for agreeing on processes for the second edition of the SAFS reports (tentatively scheduled for 2014) and future companion reports that will contribute to establishing national fishery status reporting.

While the initial reports focused on target species, there is a longer term need to build reporting frameworks on other aspects of Ecologically Sustainable Development (ESD), such as the effects of fishing on the marine environment, economic performance, governance and/or social good. Elements of this are already underway through complementary projects, and this proposal will identify and focus on the key gaps.

Complimentary projects with a national focus on fisheries include:

2010/061 ‘Development of a national harvest strategy framework’ (PIRSA)
2013/023 ‘Develop a draft Australian Standard for responsible fishing on vessels to improve public perception of the commercial fishing industry’ (SSA)
2012/746 ‘Seafood CRC: preliminary investigation of internationally recognised Responsible Fisheries Management Certification’ (Sydney-Fish-Market)
2013/024 ‘Professionalising industry - NSW pilot’ (Oceanwatch)
2011/513 ‘Status of key Australian fish stocks reports’ (ABARES)
Review of the Commonwealth policy on fisheries bycatch (DAFF)
Review of the Commonwealth Harvest Strategy Policy (DAFF)
2010/046 ‘Improving the Management of Bycatch: Development and Testing of Standards for the Effective Mitigation of Bycatch in Commonwealth Fisheries’ (ABARES)
2010/040 'National social objectives and indicators guide' (FRDC)