PROJECT NUMBER
•
2008-233
PROJECT STATUS:
COMPLETED
ORGANISATION:
Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) ABARES
9 results
Ex-post benefit-cost evaluation of R&D projects
Project number:
1993-230
Project Status:
Completed
Budget expenditure:
$100,000.00
Principal Investigator:
Padma Lal
Organisation:
Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) ABARES
Project start/end date:
28 Dec 1994
-
9 Nov 1995
Contact:
FRDC
Final report
ISBN:
0 642 23533 3
Author:
Padma Lal
Final Report
•
1995-11-20
•
7.08 MB
1993-230-DLD.pdf
Increasing demands on public funds have led to calls from governments and industry for greater accountability in research expenditures and hence a need for a systematic evaluation of the benefits from research.
The underlying rationale for government involvement in supporting fisheries research and development has been the presence of 'market failure' in research investment. That is, because individuals or private companies may not be able to gain most of the benefits of a successful research outcome, they will underinvest in research and development relative to the level that would maximise the net benefits to society.
A major objective in this study is to demonstrate the types and possible magnitudes of economic benefits that have been generated from selected research projects funded by the Fisheries Research and Development Corporation ( or its predecessor the Fishing Industry Research and Development Council) over the past decade.
Another objective is to provide feedback on the process of evaluating the benefits and costs of fisheries research and development after the findings of the research have been implemented.
PROJECT NUMBER
•
2016-246
PROJECT STATUS:
COMPLETED
Australian Fisheries and Aquaculture Statistics 2015
Outcomes achieved to date:
A reliable time series of economic data about Australia’s fishing and aquaculture industries provided to ensure well informed investment, management and policy decisions by governments, the fishing industry and the public in general.
Accurate information...
ORGANISATION:
Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) ABARES
Status of key Australian fish stocks reports and companion national fishery status reports - review of the 2012 reporting process and planning for future reports
Project number:
2012-513
Project Status:
Completed
Budget expenditure:
$66,200.00
Principal Investigator:
Matt J. Flood
Organisation:
Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) ABARES
Project start/end date:
19 May 2013
-
20 Nov 2013
Contact:
FRDC
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)
1. To document the lessons learned from the production process used for the Status of key Australian fish stocks reports 2012
2. To develop a preliminary agreed process for production of the next edition of the SAFS reports
3. To develop a preliminary agreed process for production of companion reports building towards national fishery status reporting
Final report
Assessment of seal fishery interactions in the South East Trawl Fishery (SETF) and the development of fishing practices and seal exclusion devices (SEDs) in the winter blue grenadier fishery to mitigate seal bycatch by SETF trawlers
Project number:
2001-008
Project Status:
Completed
Budget expenditure:
$287,245.00
Principal Investigator:
Richard Tilzey
Organisation:
Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) ABARES
Project start/end date:
30 Jan 2001
-
30 Jun 2005
Contact:
FRDC
With the continuing recovery in the size of Australian-based fur seal populations post-sealing, a corresponding increase in seal interactions with domestic fishing vessels is occurring and will continue. There is an urgent need to develop effective seal bycatch prevention procedures to prevent fishing operations from being severely curtailed, or closed down, under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999.
Following the 1999 winter blue grenadier season, incidental seal mortalities emerged as a major issue that threatened the continuation of this fishery; at least that part of the fishery harvested by factory trawlers. These trawlers had successfully developed the fishery, increasing the total grenadier catch from about 3000 t in 1996 to over 9000 t in 1999. The processed value of the factory trawler catch is now around $20 million per year (ASIC 2003) at first sale. The seal deaths in 1999 resulted in significant pressure from some environmental groups to prevent factory trawlers access to this fishery in 2000. This action would have caused significant loss of income in this sector and possibly jeopardised the future participation of factory trawlers in the fishery. There is a strong need for such vessels to demonstrate that seal bycatch can be reduced by adopting appropriate fishing procedures and gears.
It is also likely that pressures will be brought to bear on the ‘wet boats’ fishing for blue grenadier and possibly the rest of the SEF trawl fleet to take measures to reduce incidental seal captures. The study by Knuckey et al. (2002) indicated seal bycatch to occur virtually across the whole multi-species trawl fishery. Some of the results of the development and testing of SEDs and other mitigation measures by the factory trawlers in the targeted ‘single-species’ fishery under this project may be transferable to other vessel operators in the wider multi-species fishery, helping them to avoid many potential operational problems and costs. Increasing the effectiveness of SEDs in both reducing seal mortalities and minimising fish losses would be an important step in helping to gain wider industry acceptance of the potential use of these devices.
1. To improve the effectiveness of Seal Exclusion Devices (SEDs) in blue grenadier trawl nets in reducing seal mortalities and minimising losses of fish.
2. To assess the effectiveness of fishing techniques aimed at minimising seal bycatch.
3. To gather full biological information from all seal fatalities.
4. To achieve full observer coverage of freezer-trawler activities during the 2001 and 2002 winter grenadier fishery and monitor seal numbers around vessels and all seal-trawl interactions.
5. To gather information on seal movements/residence time in the winter grenadier fishery.
Final report
ISBN:
978-1-925983-05-0
Author:
Richard Tilzey
Final Report
•
2007-04-30
•
2.06 MB
2001-008-DLD.pdf
Introducing a Code of Fishing Practice aimed at avoiding seals appeared to halve the incidence of seal bycatch in this fishery. In SED trials, the problems of fish-loss via the SED escape hatch and net blockage via the SED grid were solved by changes in SED design. Although the effectiveness of most SED designs in reducing seal bycatch could not be quantified, the forward facing, ‘top-hatch’ SED design used in 2002 significantly lowered the incidence of seal bycatch in midwater trawl nets. Trials with this design are continuing. Some of the major factors that influence the probability of seal bycatch occurring in this fishery were delineated. Biological sampling of seal fatalities showed the dominant seal bycatch to be sub-adult male Australian fur seals habituated to foraging from trawl nets. Seal tracking studies developed a novel method of tagging seals at sea and indicated that a comparatively small and intransient sub-set of their population interacted with this fishery.
The following recommendations were made in the winter grenadier fishery: use open, forward-facing, ‘top-hatch’ SEDs (or a more effective design if one is developed) in all midwater net shots (or as directed for research purposes); continue the Code of Fishing Practice; continue the shot-by-shot recording of seal bycatch in the SEF1 logbook and maintain a level of scientific observer coverage and biological data collection; and, continue trials of the ‘top-hatch’ SED and gather more information by using underwater filming on the timing and depth–frequency of net entry by seals, and the circumstances of net entry that place seals at risk.
The following recommendations were made in the rest of the SEF trawl fleet: Priority should be given to assessing the nature and extent of seal-fishery activities across the fishery; The Code of Fishing Practice should be followed where practicable; and, At this juncture, SED use should be confined to large midwater trawl nets in areas where seals are known to be common, as more assessment of SED effectiveness is needed before extending their usage.
Project results also assisted the goal of obtaining accreditation for the SEF under a Section 33 determination under this Act.
Keywords: Blue grenadier trawl fishery, seal bycatch mitigation, Seal Exclusion Devices, Australian fur seal biology.
Project products
Australian Fisheries and Aquaculture Statistics 2022
Project number:
2023-082
Project Status:
Completed
Budget expenditure:
$60,000.00
Principal Investigator:
Robert Curtotti
Organisation:
Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) ABARES
Project start/end date:
17 Dec 2023
-
29 Jun 2024
Contact:
FRDC
Statistics on Australian fisheries production and trade seeks to meet the needs of the fishing and aquaculture industry, fisheries managers, policymakers and researchers. It can assist in policy decisions, industry marketing strategies and the allocation of research funding or priorities. The gross value of production for specific fisheries are used for determining the research and development levies collected by government.
The neutrality and integrity of GVP estimates is therefore important due to their forming the basis for research levies for each fishery. At the international level, the Department of Agriculture through the Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences (ABARES) contributes to a number of international databases. These include databases managed by the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) and the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). Information at the international level can assist in international negotiations on issues such as trans-boundary fisheries and analysis of trade opportunities.
PROJECT NUMBER
•
2003-060
PROJECT STATUS:
COMPLETED
Byproduct: Catch, economics and co-occurrence in Australias longline fisheries
The longline sector of the Eastern Tuna and Billfish Fishery (ETBF) and the Southern and Western Tuna and Billfish Fishery (SWTBF) target four main species and incidentally take over 80 other species as “bycatch”. Significant amounts of these species are often retained for sale, and...
ORGANISATION:
Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) ABARES
SPECIES
PROJECT NUMBER
•
2010-208
PROJECT STATUS:
COMPLETED
ORGANISATION:
Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) ABARES
SPECIES
Determination of Australian fisheries statistics 1994-95 to 1996-97
Project number:
1994-146
Project Status:
Completed
Budget expenditure:
$120,000.00
Principal Investigator:
David Campbell
Organisation:
Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) ABARES
Project start/end date:
29 May 1995
-
30 Jun 1998
Contact:
FRDC
1. To develop and maintain a data base of production, value and trade statistics for the Australian fishing industry including aquaculture
Final report
Author:
Perry Smith
Final Report
•
1996-12-24
•
355.63 KB
1994-146-DLD.pdf
This project was undertaken to maintain and develop the collection of industry production, value of production and trade data. These are the only collated, published source of information on commercial industry catches and are used for a wide range of purposes , including determination of Commonwealth allocations for fisheries research funding, industry levies and for addressing a wide range of the information needs of both Government and industry.
Since the project's commencement in 1995 there has been an increased focus on developing the statistics to better meet the information needs of all users. In February 1997, the Fisheries Research and Development Corporation convened the Australian Fisheries Economic Statistics Workshop in Canberra to review the best means of addressing these needs. At this Workshop there was strong support for the approaches adopted in Australian Fisheries Statistics and the form in which it was published. However, there was agreement on the need to address a number of areas where statistics were either not available or were not of the robustness required.
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