101 results
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
SPECIES
Octopuses

Fishrights '99 - use of property rights in fisheries management conference

Project number: 1999-339
Project Status:
Completed
Budget expenditure: $21,300.00
Principal Investigator: Peter Millington
Organisation: Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) WA
Project start/end date: 15 Jun 1999 - 30 Dec 2000
:
TAGS
Stakeholder
Resource Access And Allocation
Recreational Fishing
Policy
Fisheries Management

Need

World fisheries governance is rapidly evolving in response to modern imperatives both for improved environmental and natural resource management and for economic efficiency in an increasingly global economy. In re-examining the relationship between man and fishery resources, new forms of relations, more conducive to sustainability, are being conceived and tested.

Key questions we must ask are: Who should have access to the resources? What options are there for the form and the price of access rights? These difficult questions have very fundmental social, conomic, and political implications - and it is unlikely that a unique solution would fit every situation. Thus it is vital to exchange information on these situations, on new fisheries governance and rights approaches, and on the difficulties and outcomes of their implementation.

Property rights are a powerful institutional framework which society has evolved to enable people to exploit the natural environment in an orderly fashion. They constitute an institutional framework which operates according to rules of definition and conduct. Depending on the actual management regime, these may be formal and explicit or informal and implicit. There is a need to bring these differing views into open debate and explore avenues of common interest.

Informational exchange is vital as property rights (and the associated rules) define powers, duties and responsibilities for individuals or groups. As such they have the potential, when well defined, to enable conflicts between different users of a resource to be resolved, including resolution by market transaction involving the transfer of property.

This conference intends to contribute to this exchange of information on use of property rights in fisheries management by exploring the strategic, political, and operational issues of different forms of rights-based fisheries management worldwide.

Objectives

1. Provide fora to review the advantages and disadvantages of rights-based regimes.
2. Serve as an opportunity for specialists and others with shared interests to explore avenues of common interest relating to rights-based fisheries management.
3. Provide high level, intensive education on the concepts of property rights regimes for those who require further information on the use of property rights in fisheries management.
4. Produce conference proceedings that will preview the evolution and possible expansion of these management methods.

Final report

ISBN: 0 7309 8445 1
Author: Peter Millington
Final Report • 2000-06-26 • 2.84 MB
1999-339-DLD.pdf

Summary

Fisheries Western Australia, in conjunction with the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations, hosted 'FishRights99', an international Conference with the theme Use of Property Rights in Fisheries Management. The conference was held in Fremantle, Western Australia, in November 1999.

Property rights are a powerful institutional framework for society to manage the exploitation of the natural environment in an orderly manner. The framework may be implicit or explicit, formal or informal, depending on the social circumstances. Such frameworks are being increasingly seen as another mechanism for efficient and effective management of fish resources. The 'FishRights99' Conference was seen as a mechanism and forum to explore the international use of property rights.

In order to ensure that the full range of experiences were explored, an extensive program of eminent speakers was organised. In addition, funding was obtained to bring a range of participants from developing countries to the Conference.

The Conference was an overwhelming success and 343 delegates from over 50 countries contributed an enormous amount of know ledge about a vast range of rights-based fisheries management situations. The breadth of experiences and insights about the use of property rights created a unique opportunity to examine existing beliefs, encourage new ideas, and develop new solutions.

The final resolution of the Conference was that another conference be held in five years to further explore the development and application of rights based management.

Project products

Report • 9.51 MB
1999-339 Use of Property Rights in Fisheries Management Technical Paper 1.pdf
Report • 14.27 MB
1999-339 Use of Property Rights in Fisheries Management Technical Paper 2.pdf

Tactical Research Fund: Human capacity building for introduced marine pest monitoring in Western Australia

Project number: 2009-319
Project Status:
Completed
Budget expenditure: $15,411.00
Principal Investigator: Mathew Hourston
Organisation: Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) WA
Project start/end date: 30 Nov 2009 - 15 Jul 2010
:
TAGS
Training
Stakeholder
Resource Access And Allocation
Recreational Fishing
Leadership

Need

The economic and environmental impacts of introduced marine pests (IMPs) can be sizable. They compete with native species, introduce diseases, damage fisheries and aquaculture, and exacerbate fouling.
An extreme example is in the Baltic Sea where the proliferation of an introduced jelly caused a systemic collapse of fisheries in the region, worth an estimated US$500 million/year. This pest is now present in the Caspian and Black seas.

Locally, pearling industry representatives have concerns regarding outbreaks of Black Striped Mussels given its significant potential impacts and the cost of remediation in Northern Australia during 1998. Darwin was a poignant reminder of the potential speed and scale of pest invasions and the problems they cause. The Pacific Seastar is another significant IMP in Australia, which has potential to impact commercial shellfish stocks and aquaculture.

A national framework for the monitoring of IMPs, has been developed by the National Introduced Marine Pests Coordination Group (NIMPCG) and the Commonwealth Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (DAFF), identifying 55 species and 18 locations throughout Australia as high risk. Currently the knowledge in W.A. is fragmented and our capacity to address this threat is underdeveloped despite the fact that three of the top ten high-risk locations are Fremantle (2nd), Dampier (6th) and Port Headland (9th) and that monitoring implementation is imminent.

To undertake effective monitoring for these high risk pests at selected locations, researchers need to be skilled in discriminating native from introduced species. Furthermore, it is important that techniques used by marine pest laboratories are as nationally standardised as possible. To this end there is a need for W.A. researchers to visit other labs in Australia and New Zealand to make sure that there is consistent methods among comparable labs. This knowledge will allow local researchers to effectively monitor IMPs and develop national consistency.

Objectives

1. To identify any gaps in the Western Australian skill and knowledge base for the monitoring of introduced marine pests.
2. To establish a centralised source of skills and knowledge in W.A. to facilitate the planning, evaluation, and quality control of activities relating to introduced marine pest monitoring
3. To provide an Australian best practice example and knowledge base to facilitate the consistent, effective and efficient implementation of the national monitoring system for Introduced Marine Pests.

Final report

ISBN: 978-1-921845-03-1
Author: Mathew Hourston
Final Report • 2011-04-04 • 4.11 MB
2009-319-DLD.pdf

Enhancement of yabbie production from Western Australian farm dams

Project number: 1994-075
Project Status:
Completed
Budget expenditure: $350,948.14
Principal Investigator: Noel Morrissy
Organisation: Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) WA
Project start/end date: 20 Jul 1994 - 25 Mar 1999
:
TAGS
Stock Assessment
Population Dynamics
Fisheries Management

Objectives

1. To increase harvests from WA farm dams by providing farmers with: Population control method(s) which increase the proportion of yabbies of marketable weights
2. Quantified methods for reducing dam environmental factors limiting yabbie production and causing variation in dam productivity
3. a manual of methods for stocking and managing farm dams to increase harvest per dam

Final report

ISBN: 0 7309 1984 6
Author: Craig Lawrence
Final Report • 1998-11-23 • 1.78 MB
1994-075-DLD.pdf

Summary

Farmers receive higher prices per kilo for large yabbies.  Yabby farmers have reported that the majority of yabbies trapped from farm dams are below market size (< 30 g) and therefore of no economic value.  In addition, farmers also report that while dams produce large yabbies when first harvested, after a number of years the proportion of large animals gradually decreases.

To identify why yabbies in farm dams stunted and how farmers could increase the size of small yabbies the project had three main experimental areas: Research station experiments, industry farm dam recording system, and Genetics and Reproduction Laboratory.

This project has shown that population control methods to increase the proportion of marketable yabbies are required. This study has also shown that it is possible to convert yabbies below market size (< 30) to high value animals by improving feeding and management practices. The application of these results will produce larger yabbies and directly result in increased returns to farmers. In addition the increase in market-sized yabbies from farm dams will provide a higher catch rate per unit of trapping effort.  Consequently, the harvesting of yabbies from more isolated dams will become economically viable. 

Keywords:  Cherax albidus, crayfish culture, pond culture, aquaculture techniques, feeding, stocking density, reproduction, hybrid culture.

Project products

Manual • 10.01 MB
1994-075 Yabby Farming Book Frequently Asked Questions Lawrence Morrissy2000.pdf

Summary

Yabbies are indigenous to central and eastern Australia and have created considerable aquaculture interest. Although some yabbies are produced in ponds on purpose-built farms, the vast majority of commercial aquaculture yabby production in Australia comes from trapping yabbies in farmers’ dams. This use of existing farm dams originally built to water stock has enabled rapid expansion of the industry due to low entry costs. The yabby industry currently harvests around 4,000 farm dams, with most spread throughout Western Australia’s  wheatbelt region.

The aim of this information is to assist farmers already engaged in this interesting and unusual new industry,  and to encourage more people to become involved.  Much of the information contained in this publication is the result of a research program jointly supported by Fisheries WA, FRDC, Aquaculture Development Fund (WA), the WA yabby industry, Agriculture WA and The University of Western Australia, Animal Science Group, Faculty of Agriculture. This document replaces Yabby Questions and Answers (1995) by N Morrissy, Aquainfo #1, Fisheries Department of WA.

ASFB workshop: towards sustainability for data limited multi-sector fisheries

Project number: 2001-306
Project Status:
Completed
Budget expenditure: $20,000.00
Principal Investigator: Peter Stephenson
Organisation: Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) WA
Project start/end date: 24 Jul 2001 - 15 Aug 2003
:
TAGS
Workshop
Values &Amp; Ethics
Training
Sustainability
Stock Assessment

Need

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.

Objectives

1. To explore alternative data sources for multi sector fisheries
2. To report on innovative methods for ESD assessment of multi sector fisheries.
3. To bring together researchers, managers and key stakeholders to focus on assessment and resource sharing for these fisheries.
4. Publication of the papers presented at the workshop as well as the subsequent discussion and comments.

Final report

Author: Peter Stephenson
Final Report • 2017-09-29 • 66.68 KB
2001-306-DLD.pdf

Summary

FRDC and State agencies have generously supported an annual national workshop hosted by Australian Society for Fish Biology (ASFB) since the 1980’s. At the workshop, Australian and overseas scientists have presented keynote addresses on the theme of the workshop, followed by panel debates. The papers presented, and subsequent discussion are published in a book of proceedings.  The topic for the 2001 workshop, “Towards sustainability of data-limited multi-sector fisheries” was topical in light of the requirement for ESD reporting on Australian fisheries for EA, many of which are data poor. 
 
Two international scientists with a special interest in this area were invited to be keynote speakers: Dr Ana Palma, from Peitre Madro, in Argrentina and Dr Jim Ianelli from Seattle in USA.

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.

Project products

Proceedings • 1.53 MB
2001-306 ASFB Proceedings.pdf

Summary

Proceedings for the 2001 Australian Society for Fish Biology workshop entitled "Towards sustainability of data-limited multi-sector fisheries".

Mortality, growth and movements of the western rock lobster, Panulirus cygnus

Project number: 1995-020
Project Status:
Completed
Budget expenditure: $73,021.00
Principal Investigator: Chris F. Chubb
Organisation: Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) WA
Project start/end date: 12 Jul 1995 - 30 Jun 1999
:
TAGS
Training
Tagging
Stock Assessment
Mortality
Migration

Objectives

1. To prepare a report to industry on the migratory movements of lobsters tagged in recent programmes.
2. To estimate regional growth and mortality rates using existing data from recent programmes to assist in the experimental design of future tagging programmes.
3. To undertake tagging of juveniles in the shallower waters of the Limited Entry Western Rock Lobster Fishery to provide to gain preliminary estimates of exploitation and growth rates and the directions and magnitude of movements.
4. To attempt to recruit and train fishing industry representatives in the procedures of data collection from recaptured tagged lobsters to improve the level of reporting by industry.
5. Preparation of a longer term strategy for providing annual exploitation rates, growth and movements of western rock lobster throughout the Limited Entry Fishery.

Final report

ISBN: 0-7309-1936-6
Author: Chris Chubb
Final Report • 1999-07-01 • 1.53 MB
1995-020-DLD.pdf

Summary

The very high levels of exploitation in the western rock lobster fishery have resulted in the introduction of regional or zone-specific management arrangements in recent years. This is a permanent departure from an holistic approach to the fishery’s regulation.  A detailed knowledge of regional variations in the growth, movement and mortality of the lobsters is required to support the models assessing regional management options.

A need was identified to supplement the Fisheries Western Australia, Research Division’s resources to enable the full analysis of existing tagging data in terms of growth, movements and mortality; to undertake tagging in shallow water to assist in addressing specific management issues; to improve the level of tag recapture information from industry; and to develop a strategic approach to tagging that would assist in providing appropriate advice to management and industry, given the regional approach to the fishery’s regulation.

Tagging of western rock lobsters, using “spaghetti” tags in a dorsal or ventral (or both) position, has been undertaken opportunistically for many years but this report is concerned with data collected from 1988 to 1996.  Most recaptures of tagged lobsters were made during the first commercial season after release (approximately 75%), however, recaptures did occur for up to five seasons post-release. 

Keywords: Western rock lobster, Panulirus cygnus, tagging, migration, growth, mortality.

People
Environment
Environment
Environment
PROJECT NUMBER • 2012-237
PROJECT STATUS:
COMPLETED

Tactical Research Fund: Decision tree and rapid assessment methodology for new fisheries

The objective of this report is to provide a Rapid Appraisal Methodology process for assessing proposals for new fisheries. If adopted, the methodology could extend to the receipt and assessment of new fishery proposals which may potentially encompass aquaculture, in line with...
ORGANISATION:
Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) WA
TAGS
Wild Catch
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