29 results

Evaluation of NT fishing grounds south of 11ºS and west of 130ºE

Project number: 1996-156
Project Status:
Completed
Budget expenditure: $70,367.00
Principal Investigator: Richard Mounsey
Organisation: Department of Agriculture and Fisheries (NT)
Project start/end date: 29 Dec 1996 - 30 Dec 1997
Contact:
FRDC

Objectives

1. Evaluate the commercial viability of demersal fishing grounds bounded by 130°E and 11°S and the Australian Fishing Zone / NT and the WA border
2. Evaluate the efficiency of contemporary passive fishing methods against slightly modified gear
and
3. Collect and analyse data for future use in managing NT fish stocks.

Factors affecting the profitability of the Northern Territory Demersal fishery

Project number: 1999-371
Project Status:
Completed
Budget expenditure: $12,860.00
Principal Investigator: Ray Clarke
Organisation: Department of Agriculture and Fisheries (NT)
Project start/end date: 29 Jun 1999 - 14 Nov 2005
Contact:
FRDC

Need

In October 1998, key demersal fishers and NT Fisheries Division officers held a meeting to review the current knowledge and understanding of the Demersal Fishery and the areas of knowledge that are still required to assure its viable development. Participants identified two impediments to the expansion of the demersal fishery:

1. the inability to consistently supply fish to the market; and
2. catching fish at a profitable rate.

The variation in catch rates are substantial enough make the difference between profit and significant loss. Sensitivity analysis on projected catch rates and cost structures support the view that there is potential to achieve an adequate, if not attractive, level of profitability in the fishery with passive fishing methods (Cann, 1996). This work has shown that profitability is quite sensitive to catch rates and market prices, with a marginal increase in either prices or landings, making the difference between a profitable or uneconomical fishing operation.

There is no long-term trend apparent in the CPUE data, and fishers have presented a number of reasons why both seasonal and inter-annual catch rates are so variable. These include water temperature changes in concert with El Nino events, seismic surveys conducted by oil exploration companies and limited experimentation with a wider range of gear types. Further, there are other factors, which may affect profitability such as vessels used, operating costs, debt structure and training/skill of industry members. The meeting agreed that these and other issues must be formally addressed if the fishery is to develop further. It also identified a number of specific research projects (see B14).

Industry and government agreed that the best way address issues affecting profitability would be to employ relevant specialists to participate in a workshop with industry, researchers and managers. This was seen as the most effective way to exchange ideas, share experience, reach agreement on how to best improve profitability and identify what research is needed to improve industry viability.

Objectives

1. To examine factors affecting profitability in the Demersal Fishery
2. To increase industry awareness about how profitability in fishing operations may be improved
and
3. Determine and prioritise the principal areas for further research.

Tiger and endeavour prawn closure study, western Gulf of Carpentaria

Project number: 1982-055
Project Status:
Completed
Budget expenditure: $0.00
Principal Investigator: Richard Slack-Smith
Organisation: Department of Agriculture and Fisheries (NT)
Project start/end date: 28 Dec 1983 - 31 Dec 1983
Contact:
FRDC

Objectives

1. Determine size composition of the principal tiger and endeavour prawn species on the commercial fishing grounds subject to seasonal closure
2. Assess size composition on fishing grounds within or adjacent to closed area with reference to effectiveness of closures
Environment

Long-term abundance index for goldband snapper in the Timor Sea - A pilot study

Project number: 1994-155
Project Status:
Completed
Budget expenditure: $67,859.85
Principal Investigator: David Ramm
Organisation: Department of Agriculture and Fisheries (NT)
Project start/end date: 29 Mar 1995 - 30 Mar 1997
Contact:
FRDC

Objectives

1. Develop techniques for obtaining repeatable indicies of relative abundance for goldband snapper (Pristipomoides spp.), and other selected groundfish, applicable to habitats commonly found in the Timor Sea including the Timor Box
2. Obtain additional information on the spatial and seasonal distribution of goldband snapper and other groundfish in the Timor Sea
Industry
Environment
Environment
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