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PROJECT NUMBER • 2020-124
PROJECT STATUS:
COMPLETED

Australian Fisheries and Aquaculture Statistics 2019-2020

The Australian Fisheries and Aquaculture Statistics report contains comprehensive information on commercial fishing and aquaculture in Australia covering fisheries production, trade data and consumption and employment statistics. The report is aimed at providing statistical information for the...
ORGANISATION:
Department of Agriculture Fisheries and Forestry
SPECIES
Marron
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Southern Ocean IPA - Bottom Fishing Impact Assessment (BFIA) for proposed fishing activities by Australia in the Southern Indian Ocean Fisheries Agreement (SIOFA) Area – 2020 Update

Project number: 2019-155
Project Status:
Completed
Budget expenditure: $24,000.00
Principal Investigator: Dirk Welsford
Organisation: Department of Agriculture Fisheries and Forestry
Project start/end date: 4 Feb 2020 - 17 Apr 2020
Contact:
FRDC
SPECIES
Patagonian Toothfish

Need

Australia needs to update its Benthic Fishing Impact Assessment (BFIA, https://www.apsoi.org/bf-impact) for the Southern Indian Ocean Fisheries Agreement (SIOFA), to protect the interests of the members of the Southern Ocean IPA (SO-IPA) with respect to fishing by other nations on the population of Heard Island Patagonian toothfish that extends into the SIOFA Area on William's Ridge. According to the rules of SIOFA, the BFIA must be updated in order for Australia to be permitted to fish this area. Austral Fisheries, as part of this project, will also take the opportunity to further update the BFIA so that the company can be permitted to fish with traps to target lobster (e.g. Jasus paulensis and Palinurus delagoae) in the SIOFA Area. This work entails an updated estimation of the Australian fishing footprint and the risk of direct impacts by planned bottom fishing on VMEs.

The proponents have consulted with AFMA and the Department of Agriculture, and both agencies agree that this project is a priority for delivering the Australian Government Toothfish Strategy.

This EoI meets the objectives of the SO-IPA :
4.1.a: ensuring the Australian Antarctic and Sub-Antarctic fisheries are managed on an ecologically sustainable basis;
4.1.b: investing in targeted RD&E activities that address the following issues:
i: Sustainable development of the fishery and industry;
ii. Security of resource access and property rights;
viii. Australian participation/involvement with international arrangements for resources conservation and management;
ix. Improved biological and ecological understanding of the main target fish species; and
xi. Identify areas of the Australian Antarctic and Sub-Antarctic fisheries where innovation can make significant positive impacts (e.g. new assessment methods).

It also meets the SO-IPA Strategic RD&E investment priority areas:
2. Spatial stock structure and movement dynamics for key species;
5. Assess and determine a wide range of ecological impacts;
11. Improving efficiencies in assessment methodologies and fisheries management taking into account both national and international aspects of the Kerguelen Plateau region;
12. Scope the research, exploration and development of new fisheries.

Objectives

1. An updated estimation of Australia’s bottom fishing footprint using approved fishing gear types (trawl, dropline, longline) and a risk assessment of significant adverse impacts on VMEs (vulnerable marine ecosystems) by Australian vessels using these gear types in the Southern Indian Ocean Fisheries Agreement (SIOFA) Area.
2. A risk assessment of significant adverse impacts on VMEs (vulnerable marine ecosystems) by Australian vessels using traps in the SIOFA Area.
3. Deliver the BFIA to the SIOFA SC5 meeting in La Réunion, March-April 2019.
4. Achieve approval of Australia's updated BFIA by the SIOFA SC5 meeting.

Final report

ISBN: 978-1-876934-41-5
Authors: Dirk Welsford Philippe Ziegler Dale Maschette and Mike Sumner
Final Report • 2020-11-01 • 1.82 MB
2019-155-DLD.pdf

Summary

This project by the Australian Antarctic Division (AAD) has updated Australia’s bottom fishing impact assessment for the Southern Indian Ocean Fisheries Agreement (SIOFA) area. The historic Australian fishing footprint was revised to include:
 - A small amount of fishing effort which had not been included in the original footprint presented to SIOFA (Williams et al. 2011; Delegation of Australia 2018); and
 - Updated bathymetric data for the entire SIOFA area.
In addition, an assessment was conducted of Australia’s intention to undertake fishing using integrated weight longline to target Patagonian Toothfish (Dissostichus eleginoides) on William’s Ridge, according to SIOFA CMM 2019/05, and potting for Spiny Lobsters (Palinurus spp. and Jasus paulensis) within its historical fishing footprint from 2020/21.
The Australian fishing footprint in the SIOFA area was updated with a small amount of data from trawling and longlining on William’s Ridge in SIOFA Statistical Area 7. Inclusion of the fishing effort from William’s Ridge increased the total area of Australia’s historical fishing footprint in the SIOFA area by 3280 km2 or 1.4%. The overlap of the Australian fishing footprint with the total SIOFA area was 0.85%.
The status and impact of the proposed longline and potting activities on target species (Patagonian Toothfish and Spiny Lobsters), bycatch species and VMEs was assessed. The report recommends monitoring of target, bycatch and VME species, including the collection of biological data and deployment of cameras on longlines and pots, and mitigation measures such as pot limits and move-on rules to avoid high bycatch and VME interaction rates.
Based on the current monitoring, mitigation and management arrangements, including effort limitation under CMM 2019/05 and those recommended here, the residual risk of the proposed Australian fishing activities in the SIOFA area causing or contributing to Significant Adverse Impacts (SAI) to stocks of Patagonian Toothfish, Spiny Lobsters, associated bycatch species or VME was considered to be low.
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