Quantification of changes in recreational catch and effort on inner Shark Bay snapper species following implementation of responsive management measures
Effects of Trawling Subprogram: implementation and assessment of bycatch reduction devices in the Shark Bay and Exmouth Gulf trawl fisheries
There is an urgent need to assess the impact of the planned introduction of BRDs on the databases used to manage these major trawl fisheries during the transition to full BRD usage. The proper evaluation of BRD implementation is often lacking in trawl fisheries. There is an urgent need for the project because the whole fleet, in Shark Bay for one season will tow one net with a BRD and one without. In the Exmouth prawn fishery and Shark Bay Scallop fishery several vessels will tow nets(s) on one side with a BRD and one side without. Without the project the implementation of BRD’s into both nets could be delayed.
Specifically, the changes in gear efficiency and fleet fishing behaviour (ie distribution of fishing effort) need to be quantified and incorporated into the extensive fisheries databases for these three closely managed fisheries. Secondly, the success of these devices in reducing the quantity of bycatch throughout the season, needs to be accurately assessed to provide advice to fishery and marine conservation agencies for ecosystem management purposes. The industry and marine conservation groups require a quantitative assessment of the effect of BRDs on catches of prawns and bycatch to ensure they are showing the desired impact.
For companies to maintain an exemption to export fish species under the Commonwealth Wildlife Protection (Regulation of Exports and Imports) Act 1982, they will need to prove that associated fishing practices are undertaking in a manner that is demonstrably ecologically sustainable. The Draft National Policy on Fisheries By-Catch, developed by the National standing Committee on Fisheries and Aquaculture, was recently adopted by the WA State Minister for Fisheries. Under the Minister's plan, the WA trawl fisheries, has been given a 'Priority A' rating, meaning that a specific By-catch Action Plan is to be completed by the end of 2001. The trawl industry is actively participating in trialing of BRDs to meet the required deadline. An observer program is needed to complement commercial operator records as high nightly catch rates make it difficult for vessel skippers and crew to record detailed information from individual nets.
Final report
Management and monitoring of fish spawning aggregations within the West Coast Bio-region of Western Australia
Modelling to explore management strategies to optimise the value of the rock lobster fishery of Western Australia
ASFB workshop: towards sustainability for data limited multi-sector fisheries
The current ESD case studies project has identified multi-sector fisheries, often with limited data, as posing one of the most difficult areas for assessment of stock status. These fisheries are typically fished by a small number of commercial operators taking small catches of a diverse range of species. Comprehensive commercial databases are generally lacking, and recreational catches are poorly known. Such stocks are often significantly impacted by environmental variation both man made and natural.
There is an urgent need for researchers and managers responsible for future fisheries ESD reporting and assessment to examine techniques for data gathering (both catch/effort and biological) and assessment for these types of fisheries. The historical approach of dealing with the data and assessments of fisheries from a single sector perspective is no longer compatible with ESD requirements.
This ASFB workshop will bring scientists, managers, and other stakeholders together to investigate innovative ways of providing reliable assessments of the stocks and sustainable harvest levels for our coastal, estuarine, and inland fish resources.
Final report
Despite the collapse of Ansett, and travel bans by US government employees, 69 delegates attended. All papers were presented, albeit some not by the author, with the written papers and discussion published in July 2003. First drafts were reviewed by Stephen Newman, Daniel Gaughan, Gary Jackson, Micheal Mackie, Brett Maloney, and Jill St John from Department of Fisheries WA, final editing by Patricia Kailola, and print set up by Sandy Clarke.