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.

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.