5 results

Tactical Research Fund: spreading the risk: management strategies for multi-method inshore fisheries in a changing climate

Project number: 2009-053
Project Status:
Completed
Budget expenditure: $14,900.00
Principal Investigator: James Scandol
Organisation: UNSW Sydney
Project start/end date: 30 Nov 2009 - 29 Nov 2010
Contact:
FRDC

Need

The NSW Department of Primary Industries continues to work with the NSW commercial fishing industry to investigate structural changes to the management of commercial fisheries which will lead to improvements in efficiency and profitability. One issue that requires consideration in these deliberations is the highly variable inshore-offshore production that is linked with rainfall in coastal NSW. Such changes are exacerbated during periods of drought or flood and result in significant shifts in the behaviour of fishers. It is expected that such variations in rainfall will continue, and are likely to become more extreme, under projected climate change scenarios.

This project will examine the NSW commercial catch records and ascertain if there are patterns of endorsement holdings that are the basis of more robust fishing businesses during periods of drought or flood. We expect that many fishers will understand these patterns based upon extensive practical experience, but an empirical confirmation of such patterns will lend additional weight to any associated decisions by government and industry.

This project will also shed light upon an important facet of risk management in fisheries. The textbook economic argument that increased specialisation results in increased efficiency must be contrasted with potential lost opportunities for fisheries production in a highly variable environment. The adage "don't put all your eggs in one basket" is likely to be highly applicable for inshore and coastal fisheries in NSW. Increased specialisation will likely be associated with costs as well as benefits.

Objectives

1. Identify the patterns of fishing endorsements that will make NSW fishing businesses more robust to the likely changes in freshwater flow that will result from climate change.

Final report

ISBN: 978-0-7334-2942-2
Author: James Scandol
Environment
Industry
Environment
PROJECT NUMBER • 1996-285
PROJECT STATUS:
COMPLETED

Identification of environmental factors, with particular reference to acid sulfate soil runoff, causing production losses in Sydney rock oysters

The study has confirmed that estuarine acidification, associated with drainage of acid sulfate soils, reduces growth rates and survival in Sydney rock oysters leading to significant production losses. The work has also demonstrated that acidification is not a factor in outbreaks of QX disease. The...
ORGANISATION:
UNSW Sydney
Environment
PROJECT NUMBER • 1991-026
PROJECT STATUS:
COMPLETED

Genetic study of ocean jacket populations - Pilot study

Ocean jackets (Nelusetta ayraudi) are distributed from North West Cape (W.A.) through southern coastal waters to the south of Queensland. They have not been recorded from Tasmanian waters. Seawards their distribution ranges from coastal embayments where juveniles school seasonally to waters just off...
ORGANISATION:
UNSW Sydney
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