3 results
Environment
PROJECT NUMBER • 2014-011
PROJECT STATUS:
COMPLETED

Direct age determination with validation for commercially important Australian lobster and crab species (western, eastern, southern and ornate rock lobsters, and crystal, Tasmanian giant and mud crabs)

This research project was undertaken by a national collaboration of government and academic scientists representing key Australian crustacean fisheries. The collaborating institutions were the: Marine Ecology Research Centre – Southern Cross University, Department of Fisheries Western...
ORGANISATION:
Southern Cross University (SCU) Lismore Campus
TAGS
Tagging
Stakeholder
Disease
Analytics
Ageing
SPECIES
Giant Crab
Western Rock Lobster
Eastern Rock Lobster
Southern Rock Lobster
Mud Crabs

Impact of management changes on the viability of Indigenous commercial fishers and the flow on effects to their communities: case study in NSW

Project number: 2010-304
Project Status:
Completed
Budget expenditure: $74,087.00
Principal Investigator: Stephan B. Schnierer
Organisation: Southern Cross University (SCU) Lismore Campus
Project start/end date: 30 Sep 2010 - 30 Sep 2011
Contact:
FRDC
TAGS
Stakeholder
Rac Nsw
Indigenous
Freshwater
Fishing Gear
SPECIES
Tarwhine
Yellowfin Bream
Snapper
Longfin Eel
Blue Swimmer Crab

Need

Indigenous commercial fishers* (ICF) make up a small percentage of commercial fishers in NSW. They are usually small operators that;

(i) derive a personal income, and

(ii) many cases, supply some catch for local indigenous community consumption.

The NSW Indigenous Fisheries Strategy 2002 emphasized the importance of indigenous participation in the commercial fishing sector. A workshop conducted with ICF in 2003 identified obstacles to ongoing and future participation in the sector. Several issues were identified see 'A Draft Discussion Document and Action Plan. Developing the participation of Indigenous people in commercial fishing. A Report commissioned by NSW Fisheries '. One of the main issues identified was;

'The gradual and continuing decline of Aboriginal commercial fishers in the industry means loss of an accessible and appealing employment base for Aboriginal communities'.

To date little has been done to address the decline and recent communication with some ICF, particularly in far northern NSW, indicate that it is continuing. ICF indicate that ongoing changes to management approaches in NSW are making it even more difficult for them to stay now then previously.

There is an urgent need to analyse the possible impacts of new management changes (structural readjustment in NSW - see the Pyrmont Pact) on indigenous participation in commercial fisheries and to develop revised strategies that seek to maintain the existing levels and where possible increase indigenous involvement in commercial fisheries so as to address (i) and (ii) above.

*Here we are talking about indigenous participation in commercial fisheries, not cultural fisheries.

Objectives

1. Case study of indigenous commercial fisheries focussing initially on NSW as a basis for a national study
2. Determine the number of indigenous commercial fishers in NSW
3. Estimate the percentage of commercial catch made available to indigenous communities for personal consumption.
4. Identify management changes likely to impact indigenous participation in commercial fisheries and how they will impact.
5. Develop strategies to ameliorate the impacts of management change on indigenous participation in commercial fisheries.

Final report

ISBN: 978-0-9874424-0-6
Author: Stephan Schnierer
Final Report • 2012-11-01 • 17.28 MB
2010-304-DLD.pdf

Aboriginal fisheries in New South Wales: determining catch, cultural significance of species and traditional fishing knowledge needs

Project number: 2009-038
Project Status:
Completed
Budget expenditure: $84,916.00
Principal Investigator: Stephan B. Schnierer
Organisation: Southern Cross University (SCU) Lismore Campus
Project start/end date: 30 Jun 2009 - 29 Nov 2011
Contact:
FRDC
TAGS
Training
Sustainability
Marine Park
Individual Transferable Quota
Indigenous
SPECIES
Sea Mullet
Luderick
Mulloway
Yellowfin Bream
Sand Whiting

Need

Sustainable fishing is based in part on management strategies that deliver an equitable share of the total catch to all users including indigenous fishers. Historically fisheries management agencies have ignored indigenous fishing rights which has resulted in restrictions on cultural practices which have contributed not only to a loss of access to traditional target species but a loss of traditional fisheries knowledge (TFK). In some cases indigenous people have been made to feel like criminals when accessing traditional target species for food or cultural purposes. Restrictions preventing cultural fishing can result in conflict, potential ‘non-compliance’ and a loss of TFK. There is strong international and national support for the protection of TFK (see UN Convention on Biological Diversity Article 8(j) and 10 (c), and the EPBC Act 1999.) The N.S.W. Indigenous Fisheries Strategy clearly articulates the need for research into indigenous fisheries as does the N.S.W. DPI.

The establishment of marine protected areas has often proceeded in N.S.W. without knowledge of customary fishing areas nor necessarily a willingness to accommodate cultural fishing. This will build a better picture of where and how much is being taken. Access to traditional foods is essential in insuring a healthier life style. Aboriginal people still assert a desire to procure a regular supply of fresh fish for personal and community consumption yet management regimes put in place to deal with ‘overfishing’ and/or dwindling stock sizes have yet to accommodate the need of indigenous communities to have access to traditional target species for food.

There are large information gaps in relation to;
(i) the size and location of the indigenous take of aquatic organisms in N.S.W.,
(ii) present day cultural associations with various target species (particularly freshwater species) and
(iii) the status of traditional fishing knowledge.

This project will begin to address these information gaps.

Objectives

1. Determine what aquatic organisms (fish) are of specific cultural relevance to Traditional owner groups (identify species and their location)
2. Seek to quantify the indigenous catch (species, numbers, weight, frequency of fishing) at the level of Traditional Owner groups.
3. Develop an ongoing research partnership with Traditional Owner groups based on trust to be able to move to the documentation on traditional fishing knowledge and the establishment of community owned and control data base.
4. Build capacity of indigenous people to conduct fisheries related research.

Final report

ISBN: 978-0-646-56829-4
Author: Stephan Schnierer
Final Report • 2012-05-04 • 2.45 MB
2009-038-DLD.pdf

Summary

This report presents the results of a Fisheries Research Development Corporation (FRDC) funded study of Aboriginal fisheries in New South Wales. A key objective of the study was to address information gaps in relation to catch, cultural significance of species and traditional fishing knowledge (TFK) needs. Due to project resources, the scope of this study was limited to a single site in far north New South Wales, the Tweed River Catchment, in partnership with the site’s Traditional Owners, the Minjungbal people. An important outcome of this project was the development of a culturally appropriate methodology to collect Indigenous cultural fishing data, which it is hoped will form the basis of further research into cultural fishing across New South Wales.

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