9 results

RFIDS: future leaders in recreational fishing

Project number: 2011-403
Project Status:
Completed
Budget expenditure: $231,000.00
Principal Investigator: Andrew Rowland
Organisation: Recfishwest
Project start/end date: 28 Feb 2011 - 29 Jun 2012
Contact:
FRDC

Need

The recreational fishing industry is facing a shortage of people willing and able to assume positions in advocacy and representation for the increasingly complex environment for which the industry impacts and is impacted upon. This shortage of people is hindering the advancement of the goals and needs of the recreational fishing community.

This program will assist in growing the capacity within the recreational fishing community for the future and to provide a preferred pathway for succession planning and capacity building for the recreational fishing sector.

Similar successful programs have been run by Recfishwest (2008), The Recreational Fishing Alliance of NSW (2009) and Recfish Australia (2007). Participants from these initial courses are currently filling important roles in recreational fishing advocacy; including the National RFAC, Recfishing Research, Recfish Australia and state peak bodies.

The current situation relies upon a small group of people to do an ever expanding range of tasks, projects and strategic issues at the national state and local levels. The issues include Bioregional Marine Planning, Marine Protected Areas, Animal Welfare, Resource Allocation and Reallocation, Extension and Communication, Research and promotion of best practices, etc…

The project proposes to construct a consistent model for Future Leaders programs that can be implemented across the nation. Continuity in programs being delivered will be of great benefit to participants and the wider recreational fishing community. The Future Leaders program will be a stepping stone for further leadership development opportunites such as the National Seafood Leadership Program.

Objectives

1. Develop a national framework for future leadership development in recreational fishing at the regional level (Western, North East & South East).
2. Bring together the next generation of recreational fishing leaders in a series of regional forums where they will be educated and mentored by a group of experienced and recognised leaders in recreational fishing advocacy and management.
3. Develop a pathway for further leadership development in the recreational fishing industry, providing linkages into the National Seafood Leadership Program.
Adoption
People

RAC WA: The application, needs, costs and benefits of Habitat Enhancement Structures in Western Australia and cost effective monitoring methods

Project number: 2014-005
Project Status:
Completed
Budget expenditure: $330,000.00
Principal Investigator: Andrew Rowland
Organisation: Recfishwest
Project start/end date: 11 Jun 2014 - 30 Jun 2017
Contact:
FRDC

Need

A policy shift by the WA government towards facilitating Habitat Enhancement Structures (HES) has created the need for the community and fishing industry to gain a better understanding of what technology exists in this space and how it might be best applied in WA. There is a need to have a better set of tools to effectively assess this infrastructure and benefits to meet specific purposes in the most cost effective manner, as well as gain a better understand of the regulatory environment to facilitate cost effective and timely deployment.

This project will help the WA seafood sector and community to determine optimum reef structures, layouts and monitoring and will help with the approval process of future developments. This project will identify habitat designs suitable for enhancing fish production as well as determining applications to benefit the aquatic environment in general.

This project meets one of the W.A. FRAB 2014 priorities (Application of artificial habitats in WA – how is his technology applied to WA to ensure environmental benefits are achieved, offset effort provide amenities including social benefits, tourism opportunities and are designed to fit purposes.

This project aligns with the theme 2,3 and 4 of FRDC program 1 (Environment), theme 7 and 9 of program 2 (Industry) and theme 10 of program 3 (Communities).

This project would help to meet the Recfishwest business goal 2013-2014 of ‘Supporting sustainability in fisheries management and pursuing recreational fishing development and enhancement opportunities.’ It also aligns with WAFIC’s 2020 plan.

Objectives

1. Identify what HES are currently available throughout the world and what benefits each type may have for recreational and commercial fishing as well as identifying the benefits for aquaculture and the environment.
2. Identify how various HES design might provide benefit to the WA seafood sector and community and determine applications and locations for the most effective return on investments.
3. Determine cost effective methods to monitor HES developments using easily available materials and data collection by community and industry groups.
4. Investigate cost effective reef, site selection, approvals, construction, deployment and monitoring strategies for business, industry and community groups wanting invest in HES.

Final report

ISBN: 978-1-921877-23-0
Authors: Florisson J.H. Rowland A.J. Matthews A.C. Tweedley J.R. and Campbell L.L.
Final Report • 2018-12-01 • 9.76 MB
2014-005-DLD.pdf

Summary

Habitat Enhancement Structures (HES) developments are increasing in Australia and worldwide providing many benefits to the environment and different user groups. With this rapid growth there are still large knowledge gaps evident in relation to HES. This project investigated the application, needs, benefits and costs of HES as well as cost-effective monitoring methods. Post graduate students collated international literature on all aspects of HES and project managers consulted with industry and the community to identify potential applications to different sectors. Different monitoring methods were also tested on the South West Artificial Reef Trial in Geographe Bay, Western Australia. Information and data collected was analysed, reviewed and processed to create an easy-to-follow guide for groups aiming to invest in HES. This is one of the first guides to clearly outline the HES development process in Australia. The project also developed Reef Vision, a world first, cost-effective HES monitoring method that uses citizen science and Baited Remote Underwater Video systems
Final Report • 2018-12-01 • 25.23 MB
2014-005-DLD-Appendices.pdf

Summary

I. Can recreational fishers provide an effective means of monitoring artificial reefs?
II. Artificial Reefs: Types, applications, trends in deployment and the development of a costeffective method for monitoring their fish faunas
III. Characteristics of the fish faunas of artificial reefs in Geographe Bay determined from video footage collected by recreational fishers
IV. Habitat Enhancement Structures (HES) or Artificial Reefs: a Review of design, application and deployment for Australian Waters
V. The application, needs, costs and benefits of Habitat Enhancement Structures in Western Australia: Trends in artificial reef construction, design and management in Australia
VI. The application, needs, costs and benefits of Habitat Enhancement Structures in Western Australia: Bibliographic analyses of scientific literature on Habitat Enhancement Structures
VII. ASFB – Newsletter – 214 – 12 – 17
VIII. Artificial Reefs in Australia: A Guide to Aquatic Habitat Enhancement Structures
IX: Habitat Enhancement Structure Extension and Adoption Timeline 2015-2017
X: HES Pamphlet
XI: Reef vision: A citizen science program for monitoring the fish faunas of artificial reefs

Capability and Capacity: International Artificial Reef Study Tour

Project number: 2024-051
Project Status:
Current
Budget expenditure: $30,000.00
Principal Investigator: James Florisson
Organisation: Recfishwest
Project start/end date: 21 Feb 2025 - 29 Apr 2025
Contact:
FRDC

Need

Study tour participants will travel to various locations around the Gulf of Mexico to meet with Petroleum Industry members, as well as regulators. The purpose is to gain an understanding of the decommissioning landscape and regulatory environment around the Rigs-to-Reefs program, including any new policy developments. Amongst this, personnel will visit some of the offshore infrastructure in the Gulf of Mexico (GoM).

There will also be an opportunity to meet with local stakeholders, other regulators and the local seafood industry to understand their views on the Rigs-to-Reefs program and the impact on their fishing experiences. As a community organisation and regulator, this would be very insightful and provide immense value to Recfishwest and DPIRD respectively. In addition, it will have national application to the seafood industry and assist fisheries in becoming a major stakeholder in the $50B emerging Australian decommissioning industry.

Following the study tour, Recfishwest and DPIRD personnel will attend the 12th International Conference on Artificial Reefs and Related Aquatic Habitats (CARAH) in Santa Marta, Colombia. This international conference focuses on the study, development, and management of artificial reefs and aquatic habitats. These collectives typically bring together researchers, practitioners, and policymakers from around the world to share knowledge, present research findings, and discuss best practices.

These conferences aim to enhance collaboration, and attendees usually include marine biologists, ecologists, oceanographers, and representatives from non-government organisations and government agencies.

There is a great opportunity at CARAH for Recfishwest personnel to present on the outcomes of FRDC Project 2021-055 and extend upon FRDC Project 2014-005 by sharing Recfishwest’s own experiences in the artificial reef space. Sharing artificial reef knowledge from Australia will help to foster good working relationships at the international level and may contribute towards shared goals of sustainable fisheries management.

Objectives of the project include:
1. Gather knowledge and experiences of projects, assets and Rigs to Reefs policy and research outcomes in the Gulf of Mexico.
2. Meet with United States regulators to learn about the management of offshore oil and gas operations and alternative decommissioning. Identify risks to Government and marine environment from leaving decommissioned infrastructure in situ and potential mitigation measures.
3. Meet with stakeholders and end-users to get a local view on decommissioning.
4. Gather knowledge on international policy, legislative frameworks, research and management with regards to artificial reefs and aquatic habitats.
5. Share knowledge and experience from an Australian context.
6. Create a network of international artificial reef experts, including the establishment of an international artificial reef committee.
7. Bring this knowledge and these connections back to Australia to grow community and regulator capacity around artificial reefs and assist with alternative decommissioning opportunities and policy development.

People development program: 2012 FRDC emerging leader governance scholarship - Andrew Rowland

Project number: 2008-322.14
Project Status:
Completed
Budget expenditure: $6,000.00
Principal Investigator: Andrew Rowland
Organisation: Recfishwest
Project start/end date: 30 Jun 2012 - 29 Jun 2013
Contact:
FRDC

Need

Industry organisations need to build their capacity to meet future challenges and opportunities. Building the skills and confidence for industry to influence is one aspect of capacity that the people development program aims to address through this project, providing opportunity to influence is another.

There is a need for coordinated delivery of opportunities to develop governance capability in the fishing
industry and and to promote opportunitites to foster diversity through succession planning within industry committees and boards. n.

Objectives

1. To provide one annual scholarship for an emerging leader to the AICD company directors course
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