129 results

Effects of Trawling Subprogram: development of biodiversity and habitat monitoring systems for key trawl fisheries in Western Australia

Project number: 2002-038
Project Status:
Completed
Budget expenditure: $1,302,970.00
Principal Investigator: Mervi Kangas
Organisation: Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) WA
Project start/end date: 13 Aug 2002 - 31 Oct 2007
Contact:
FRDC

Need

The need for this project was identified through the ESD/EA Risk Assessment workshops held for the Shark Bay and Exmouth Gulf trawl fisheries in May and October 2001. Research is required to provide baseline data on biodiversity on and off the trawl habitats in Shark Bay and Exmouth Gulf to allow an assessment of the effects of trawling on bycatch and to set up reference sites for long-term monitoring of the environmental impact of trawling. The study will examine seasonal variation in biodiversity and efficiency in capture of bycatch species to provide a rigorous scientific basis for determining references sites in other fisheries. Understanding seasonal variability will allow the selection of the appropriate timing of long-term monitoring. Depletion experiments will ensure that bycatch catch per unit effort is related to actual abundance. The sampling undertaken in Shark Bay will cover both prawn and scallop ESD requirements to enable similar reference sites to be established in all WA trawl fisheries. Bycatch issues in the Shark Bay and Exmouth fisheries were identified as a moderate risk through an Ecological Risk Assessment workshop. There is a need for a better understanding of the faunal composition and habitat preferences of bycatch species in both trawled and untrawled areas will aid in determining the most appropriate level of risk to bycatch species. This may allow management strategies to be developed to ameliorate any detrimental impacts on those species that are found to be highly vulnerable to trawl impacts. This information will also enable the Department of Fisheries and industry to effectively respond to information required by Environment Australia on the risk level, objectives, performance indicators and management responses for each issue in order to continue to provide quality and highly valued seafood to both export and local markets. It will also provide a basis to answer queries from conservation and community groups.

Objectives

1. To develop and compare biodiversity measures of trawled and untrawled habitats in Shark Bay and Exmouth Gulf and assess the implication of any differences.
2. To examine seasonal (to select timing of monitoring) and annual variation of biodiversity at representative sites in Shark Bay.
3. To examine the rate of depletion of selected bycatch species (indicator species) to ensure bycatch CPUE is related to actual abundance.
4. To assess age composition and size structure of indicator species and utilise the size composition proxy for age to assess basic productivity of species groups.
5. To develop criteria for selection of reference sites/times for future monitoring.

Final report

ISBN: 1-877098-90-6
Author: Mervi Kangas
Environment
PROJECT NUMBER • 2003-067
PROJECT STATUS:
COMPLETED

Development of a DNA database for compliance and management of Western Australian sharks

The capability to identify individual shark species from processed body parts is necessary for the WA Department of Fisheries to ensure the compliance of all WA fisheries with both existing protected species regulations and proposed new management measures for commercially important shark species....
ORGANISATION:
Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) WA
People
PROJECT NUMBER • 1986-140
PROJECT STATUS:
COMPLETED

Rapporteur/editor for the Indo-Pacific Commission Symposium on the Exploitation and Management of Marine Fishery Resources in South-east Asia, Darwin, Australia, 16-19 February 1987

FIRTA funds were approved for the consultant services of Dr Donald Hancock; To attend and act as rapporteur of proceedings of the Symposium To receive, edit and forward participants' written contributions to the meeting in conjunction with the FAO Rome and...
ORGANISATION:
Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) WA
Industry
PROJECT NUMBER • 2000-215
PROJECT STATUS:
COMPLETED

Improved performance of marron using genetic and pond management strategies

Marron (Cherax tenuimanus) are the highest valued freshwater crayfish farmed in Australia. This project addressed the need to increase the profitability of commercial marron farms by improving growth rates and pond management strategies. The project evaluated progeny produced from wild populations...
ORGANISATION:
Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) WA
SPECIES
Environment
Environment
Environment
PROJECT NUMBER • 2014-023
PROJECT STATUS:
COMPLETED

An industry based mark recapture program to provide stock assessment inputs for the Western Rock Lobster Fishery following introduction of quota management

The West Coast Lobster Managed Fishery (WCRLMF) moved from input to output controls in 2010. This change directly affected the relativity of a number of fisherybased data sources, making assessment of the fishery more problematic. A novel examination of the stock dynamics was required to help ensure...
ORGANISATION:
Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) WA
Environment
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