4 results

Mitigation measures to reduce entanglements of migrating whales with commercial fishing gear

Project number: 2014-004
Project Status:
Completed
Budget expenditure: $499,999.00
Principal Investigator: Jason How
Organisation: Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) WA
Project start/end date: 1 May 2014 - 7 Jul 2016
Contact:
FRDC
TAGS
Remote Sensing
Rac Wa
Migration
Health And Safety
Fishing Gear
SPECIES
Western Rock Lobster
Octopuses

Need

Whale entanglements in the western rock lobster (WRL) fishery have increased dramatically with changes in fishing times from a move to a quota. The recent commonwealth Department for the Environment (DE) assessment removed the fishery from five-year export approval, granting a two-year Wildlife Trade Order (WTO) with conditions on whale entanglements. Subsequent correspondence from the Department of Fisheries (DoF) and DE requested information from industry as to what actions will undertaken for the 2014 and 2013 humpback migrations respectively. DoF correspondence indicated a seasonal closure may be implemented ‘in the absence of specific alternative action(s)’. A closure during the humpback migration (1 May-30 Nov) would concentrate fishing into the remaining 5 months resulting in a reduced beach price. Winter beach prices are ~$70/kg, with a move from this high value period into a condensed season reducing GVP by ~$50 million.
TRF project (2013-037) addresses the immediate aspects of the WTO conditions, required by 31 March 2014. Industry groups, while cognizant of the need to address the issue of whale
entanglements are reluctant to proceed with the introduction of gear modifications without a clear scientific rationale behind their testing.
Project 2013-037 is a preliminary study and with its initiations after the 2013 humpback migration has begun, detailed gear testing and migration information was not possible. However it is planned to identify a number of viable mitigation options that are worthy of detailed evaluation in 2014. This project extends on Project 2013-037 addresses the longer term (2014-2015) DE conditions, which would enable year-round market access.

Objectives

1. Determine and implement appropriate gear modifications and management changes to reduce entanglements with migrating humpback whales
2. Produce fine-spatial and temporal information on whale migrations along the west coast of Western Australia necessary for a tailored spatio-temporal closures and/or areas for gear modifications.
3. Provide clear scientific methods behind the testing of selected gear modifications to reduce whale entanglements
4. Incorporate any new practices that may reduce entanglements with migrating whales in the CoP for the fishery and ensure its extension and adoption

Final report

ISBN: 978-1-921258-43-5
Authors: J How D Coughran M Double K Rushworth B Hebiton J Smith J Harrison M. Taylor D Paton G McPherson C McPherson A Recalde Salas C Salgado-Kent and S de Lestang
Final Report • 2020-03-01 • 5.85 MB
2014-004-DLD.pdf

Summary

This project provided a robust assessment that gear modifications introduced into the WCRLMF and octopus fisheries have reduced the number of reported entanglements. The management arrangements around the implementation of these modifications are appropriate in light on the new spatial and temporal information on the migratory behaviours of humpback whales off the west Australian coast. Therefore, it is recommended that the current management arrangements that are in place to reduce whale entanglements remain. It should be noted however, that while gear modifications have been effective, the whale population off the west Australian coast is predicated to continue to increase. As a result, entanglements may increase in the future as a result of this population increase, and additional research may be required to assess possible additional gear modifications or management arrangements. 
Industry
Industry
PROJECT NUMBER • 2018-178
PROJECT STATUS:
COMPLETED

Species identification of Australia’s most significant octopus fishery – the Western Australian Common Octopus

This report summarises the scientific and consultation work undertaken to identify a new species name (Octopus djinda) and new common name (Western Rock Octopus) for the species that supports Australia’s largest octopus fishery, with 734 tonnes harvested in 2022. The species had been...
ORGANISATION:
Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) WA
TAGS
Sustainability
Stock Assessment
Rac Wa
Market Opportunities
Fishing Gear
SPECIES
Octopuses

Development of octopus aquaculture

Project number: 2009-206
Project Status:
Completed
Budget expenditure: $524,999.50
Principal Investigator: Sagiv A. Kolkovski
Organisation: Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) WA
Project start/end date: 30 Apr 2010 - 29 Aug 2013
Contact:
FRDC
TAGS
Rac Wa
Innovation
Audit
SPECIES
Octopuses

Need

This project answers all the criteria for the development of a new species of aquaculture (according to FRDC strategic plan, namely:
1) Market driven. There is strong and increasing demand for octopus products, both in Australia and overseas. Demand far outstrips the supply.
2) Being driven by industry with significant existing investment. Fremantle Octopus has already invested over $2 million in R&D and is currently the biggest octopus fishing company in Australia. Occoculture has been specifically established to develop an octopus aquaculture facility and is in the process of raising private equity to assist in funding of the project. Both companies are an integral part of this project.
3) The cost of production will be less than the farm gate price. In the Mediterranean, raw octopus has been selling at up to AU$70/kg in the 2007/08 season. This compares with a current price of AU$11/kg for local stocks. A conservative cost analysis of production is $9/kg. On a value-added basis, wholesale sales in Australia can achieve $40/kg (retailing at $50 to $55/kg) with a 60% gross profit margin. In the European marketplaces, value-added products may achieve up to $100/kg, giving a gross profit margin of 82%.
4) The species is endemic to Australia and builds on an established high value wild caught market with high export potential.
5) There exists the planning framework and access to resources to allow for the timely and orderly development of the project. The two staged R&D plan (i.e. ranching optimization and hatchery techniques development) will ensure immediate implementation of the project outcomes.

Octopus aquaculture is gaining strong interest in SA and Victoria. It is envisaged that the technology developed through this project will be transferable to other ventures in these states.

Objectives

1. Develop the hatchery techniques for octopus larvae and juveniles
2. Optimising octopus ranching and grow out

Final report

ISBN: 978-1-921845-84-0
Final Report • 2015-08-12 • 2.97 MB
2009-206-DLD.pdf
View Filter

Research

Category

Species

Organisation