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People
PROJECT NUMBER • 2016-103
PROJECT STATUS:
COMPLETED

Visiting scientist: Kostas Ganias - expert on fish reproductive biology related to egg production methods

The Daily Egg Production Method is used to estimate the spawning biomass of several Australian fisheries for pelagic species, including the South Australian Sardine Fishery and Commonwealth Small Pelagic Fishery. Dr Kostas Ganias of Aristotle University of Thessaloniki is a world leader in the...
ORGANISATION:
SARDI Food Safety and Innovation
Industry
Environment

Seal-fisher-ecosystem interactions in the Lower Lakes and Coorong: understanding causes and impacts to develop longer-term solutions

Project number: 2018-036
Project Status:
Current
Budget expenditure: $335,725.00
Principal Investigator: Jason Earl
Organisation: SARDI Food Safety and Innovation
Project start/end date: 28 Feb 2019 - 27 Feb 2022
:

Need

The cross-Government LNFSWG has been working with stakeholders since 2015 to address ongoing industry and community concerns over the economic impacts of fur seals on the LCF, including depredation of catches and damage to fishing gear. Despite recent mitigation initiatives, reports from industry suggest that the seal-fisher conflict and associated economic impacts have intensified in recent years. In an effort to reduce financial pressure on licence holders, the SA Government (PIRSA Fisheries and Aquaculture) has waived cost-recovered licence fees for the net sector of the fishery, as well as implemented other more flexible management arrangements, for the 2015/16, 2016/17, 2017/18 and 2018/19 fishing seasons. Although these measures have been welcomed by industry, it is not clear whether the current level of support for fishers is adequate or how to evaluate the costs and benefits of alternative mitigation options or management interventions.

There has also been industry and community concerns about the potential impact that seals are having on waterbirds, fish populations, and on the broader Lakes and Coorong ecosystem, with some sectors advocating for seal numbers to be managed to mitigate these perceived impacts.

There is a need for reliable, quantitative information on the nature and extent of the economic and ecological impacts of seals in Lakes and Coorong region, and the factors that attract seals to the region and drive the seasonal increase in fur seal numbers. This information will support processes to identify, prioritise and develop practicable and cost-effective long-term policy/management strategies to manage long-nosed fur seal numbers and mitigate their impacts in the Lakes and Coorong region, during and after the project.

Objectives

1. Assess the economic impact of seal interactions on Lakes and Coorong commercial gillnet fishers.
2. Assess the ecological impacts of seals on the Lower Lakes and Coorong ecosystem.
3. Assess the spatial and temporal use of the Lower Lakes and Coorong region by seals to identify key haul-outs, movement corridors, foraging areas and overlap with fishing effort.
4. Identify options to manage seal numbers and evaluate their costs and benefits to mitigate their impacts.
Environment
PROJECT NUMBER • 2017-027
PROJECT STATUS:
COMPLETED

Validating a new sampling technique for estimating egg production

Estimates of spawning biomass obtained using the Daily Egg Production Method (DEPM) are the primary biological performance indicator in the South Australian Sardine Fishery (SASF) and Commonwealth Small Pelagic Fishery (SPF). The DEPM is also being used to assess the status of other...
ORGANISATION:
SARDI Food Safety and Innovation
Adoption
PROJECT NUMBER • 2016-001
PROJECT STATUS:
COMPLETED

Developing alternative strategies for managing seal-fisher interactions in the South Australian Lakes and Coorong Fishery

This report assesses the efficacy of alternative strategies for managing seal-fisher interactions in the gillnet sector of South Australia’s Commercial Lakes and Coorong Fishery (LCF), including the use of deterrents and alternative fishing methods. It uses a range of information obtained...
ORGANISATION:
SARDI Food Safety and Innovation
Industry
Blank
PROJECT NUMBER • 2016-003
PROJECT STATUS:
COMPLETED

King George Whiting spawning dynamics in South Australia’s southern Gulfs: to inform improved assessment and management of the resource

This study investigated the spawning dynamics of King George Whiting (Sillaginodes punctatus) in South Australia’s southern gulfs and Investigator Strait. King George Whiting is one of the most valuable and iconic coastal finfish species of southern Australia. In South...
ORGANISATION:
SARDI Food Safety and Innovation
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