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Industry
PROJECT NUMBER • 2013-235
PROJECT STATUS:
COMPLETED

Fisheries Managers' Workshop

A national fisheries management workshop was held at the South Australian Aquatic Sciences Centre in Adelaide on 26/27 March 2014, which brought together fisheries managers from all Australian jurisdictions. The idea of holding a workshop was promoted by the Australian Fisheries Management...
ORGANISATION:
Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) WA

Tactical Research Fund: Assessing possible environmental causes behind the reduced colonisation of Western Rock Lobster puerulus collectors by a wide suite of species

Project number: 2008-085
Project Status:
Completed
Budget expenditure: $74,214.00
Principal Investigator: Simon de Lestang
Organisation: Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) WA
Project start/end date: 31 Jan 2009 - 31 May 2010
Contact:
FRDC

Need

WRL puerulus settlement has been unexpectedly low over the past two settlement periods, with the most recent settlement period (2008/09) being the lowest on record. This extremely weak settlement has occurred despite environmental conditions being favourable for an above average settlement (i.e. a strong Leeuwin Current, warm sea temperatures and la Nina like conditions).
The recent poor settlements could be attributed to a number of possible scenarios, including, reduced egg production from depleted brood stock or a shift/change in oceanic conditions possibly due to climate change. Understanding what scenario(s) are responsible will be crucial for the effective conservation and management of the WRL stock, and ultimately the longevity of the fishery. Anecdotal evidence suggests that colonisation of the puerulus collectors by a number of other species commonly found during processing of these collectors have also been extremely low in recent times. Beginning to examine of the marine flora and fauna communities colonising the puerulus collectors over a range of 1200 km during this time of extremely low settlement (i.e. prior to the end of the settlement season in April 2009) and determining how these communities vary in relation to the varied environmental conditions experienced, will provide valuable information as to what may be influencing puerulus settlement. If settlement of other marine flora and fauna show a related response to that of the WRL pueruli, it could indicate environmental change may be responsible for the decreased settlement. This data will complement other research, such as the oceanographic modelling application (JM010) submitted by DoF and is crucial to the effective management of the WRL fishery. Furthermore, this spatial analysis conducted on a monthly scale has the potential to further identify possible indicator species of localised environmental conditions that could continue to be monitored as part of the standard WRL puerulus monitoring program.

Objectives

1. Begin monitoring the community composition of marine flora and fauna along the Western Australian coastline during this current poor settlement period.
2. Develop standard methodology for monitoring the spatial and temporal variability in the settlement of marine flora and fauna.
3. Determine what environmental parameters may be linked to the majority of variation in the floral and faunal communities colonizing puerulus collectors, focusing on those relating to puerulus settlement.
4. Identify indicator marine flora and fauna species for monitoring the influences of environmental change on Western Australian marine environment.
5. Detect any known or potential introduced marine pests within the Western Australian environment.

Final report

ISBN: 978-1-921845-15-4
Author: Simon De Lestang

Assessing and managing interactions of protected and listed marine species with commercial fisheries in Western Australia

Project number: 2007-059
Project Status:
Completed
Budget expenditure: $30,000.00
Principal Investigator: Richard Campbell
Organisation: Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) WA
Project start/end date: 18 Sep 2007 - 30 Dec 2008
Contact:
FRDC

Need

Incidental mortality in commercial fishing activities is acknowledged as an issue for many protected and endangered species throughout the world. Whilst Australia is considered a world leader in managing
these interactions, further improvements and development of additional knowledge is still required to
meet the expectations of the community. Within WA, to address the variety of interactions with protected
and listed marine species across all our commercial fisheries in a cost effective manner, an holistic and
integrated approach needs to be taken. Several protected species issues have already been identified through existing management processes, including entanglement of whales in fishing ropes and interactions between seals and demersal gillnets. These two issues involve protected species on the Commonwealth threatened list (i.e the Australian sea lion, Humpback and Southern Right Whale) which generates attention from both an ecological and political respect. A greater understanding of the factors involved in these interactions will be needed to design mitigation programs. Assessments at both the individual fishery and bioregional level will be required to input into the ecosystem-based fisheries management (EBFM) frameworks that are being developed for each WA bioregion. There is also the ongoing requirement for all fisheries to satisfy the protected species criteria under the EPBC Act which for some is vital to maintain their export certification. Moreover, there is the potential for significant pressure from advocacy groups to press for regulation of fishing effort or methods unless well-formulated management systems to address these pressing issues are developed.

Objectives

1. Development of risk-based management system using evidence-based science to assess the impact of incidental capture of protected and threatened speciesin the demersal gillnet fishery
2. Analysis and interpretation of the interaction between demersal gillnetting and pinnipeds based on fishing effort and pinniped foraging behaviour
3. Analysis of the factors influencing the rate of entanglement or large cetaceans in ropes of the Western Australia fishing industry and development of future interaction rate scenarios

Final report

ISBN: 978-1-921845-27-7
Author: Richard Campbell

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
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