52 results
Environment
PROJECT NUMBER • 2001-042
PROJECT STATUS:
COMPLETED

Development of the tools for long term management of the giant crab resource: data collection methodology, stock assessment and harvest strategy evaluation

The project has developed tools for low cost assessment of the giant crab resource across southern Australia. Stock assessment and management response is now increasingly based on biomass estimates from this project. Risk of poor management decisions is thus reduced, which...
ORGANISATION:
University of Tasmania (UTAS)
SPECIES

Tactical Research Fund: Nutrient and phytoplankton data from Storm Bay to support sustainable resource planning

Project number: 2009-067
Project Status:
Completed
Budget expenditure: $44,143.00
Principal Investigator: Christine D. Crawford
Organisation: University of Tasmania (UTAS)
Project start/end date: 31 Jan 2010 - 6 Apr 2011
Contact:
FRDC

Need

Knowledge of changing environmental conditions and productivity as a result of climate change is essential for adaptive management. In addition to direct applicability to fisheries and aquaculture in southern Tasmania, this information will have numerous important applications to other industries and stakeholders in the broader catchment.

CSIRO and TAFI have established a program (INFORMD- Inshore network for observation and regional management: Derwent-Huon) to guide multiple use coastal zone development and management. Storm Bay is an integral component of the INFORMD region and a priority is to understand both the short term (climate variability) and long-term (climate change) drivers of productivity in the region and link these to production of fisheries and aquaculture. CSIRO have a project investigating novel observing technologies (NOTe) to characterize the Derwent to shelf environment and TAFI will fund a charter vessel to monthly sample water column environmental variables, and support the CSIRO observing system. Thus an opportunity exists to obtain nutrient and productivity data in the Storm Bay region in a very cost-effective manner by collaborating with the existing research program.

Important background information is that the East Australian Current is predicted to penetrate further south causing significant warming and decreased productivity. Previous work (Harris et al 1991) showed that the nutrient status of waters clearly indicated the influence of the EAC, and primary producers indicated the productivity of the region, demonstrating the potential for Storm Bay to act as an indicator of productivity for Southern and Eastern Tasmania. Such information is important to understanding changes in fisheries and aquaculture production and, as a consequence, to assist with developing climate change adaptive management strategies.

This project also provides an opportunity for FRDC to invest in a project that will have significant influence on multiple use management in Australia.

Objectives

1. To provide information on the effects of a changing climate on water quality in Storm Bay and associated potential impacts on fisheries and aquaculture.
2. To collect nutrient and algal data from a targeted suite of sampling sites in Storm Bay to support sustainable development of the aquaculture industry.

Final report

ISBN: 978-1-86295-630-8
Author: Christine Crawford
Final Report • 2011-11-23 • 3.02 MB
2009-067-DLD.pdf

Summary

This project has provided preliminary data on environmental conditions in Storm Bay that is assisting managers and marine industries to better understand effects of climate change and climate variability on fisheries and aquaculture in the region, including changing currents and primary productivity. This information is being used to inform the development of climate change adaptive management strategies for commercial and recreational fisheries and for the potential expansion of salmon aquaculture into Storm Bay. The environmental characterisation of Storm Bay is also supporting planning in the region, by providing baseline data and data for projects modelling the bay’s water circulation and ecosystem dynamics. This information will support the development of multiple use management plans for the region.

Keywords: Climate variability, Storm Bay, water quality, productivity, offshore salmon aquaculture

Environment
PROJECT NUMBER • 2019-075
PROJECT STATUS:
COMPLETED

Recreational Southern Rock Lobster tagging program – assessing current data and modelling assumptions and approaches to establish a robust estimate

This project assesses options for streamlining and improving the current electronic reporting process (VicRLTag app) based on an evaluation of the first three years of the Victorian Recreational Rock Lobster Tagging Program.
ORGANISATION:
University of Tasmania (UTAS)
People
PROJECT NUMBER • 2008-306
PROJECT STATUS:
COMPLETED

Building economic capability to improve the management of marine resources in Australia

This project includes the following appendices and videos:2008-306 Appendix C Individual FRDC Student Reports.pdf2008-306 Appendix D Student publications.pdf2008-306 Appendix E Student Project Videos.pdfAnna Farmery talks about her research - [video]Peggy Schrobback talks about her...
ORGANISATION:
University of Tasmania (UTAS)

FRDC-DCCEE: a climate change adaptation blueprint for coastal regional communities

Project number: 2010-542
Project Status:
Completed
Budget expenditure: $663,596.18
Principal Investigator: Stewart Frusher
Organisation: University of Tasmania (UTAS)
Project start/end date: 30 Jun 2011 - 29 Jun 2013
Contact:
FRDC

Need

Meeting the challenge of preparing and adapting for climate change is arguably the most important task confronting the management of our national marine resources. Climate change is expected to result in significant impacts for marine ecosystems with flow on social and economic implications for resource users and communities. Importantly, coastal rural communities have greater dependency on marine industries that provide social and economic benefits through fishing, aquaculture and tourism (e.g. recreational fishing and diving). The success of adaptation decisions in terms of meeting objectives, capturing opportunities and overcoming barriers, being cost effective and minimising negative flow on effects will be influenced by the level of understanding of the needs, priorities, perceptions and attitudes of stakeholders including knowledge of the social and economic consequences of adaptation options. Without such information, our ability to make timely and effective adaptation decisions will be limited. Developing the tools that provide the relevant information to reduce risks and increase capacity to cope with, and benefit from, change is urgently needed for these coastal communities. These tools need to cross discipline boundaries and provide linkages between the vulnerabilities of the biological system with the adaptive capacity and vulnerabilities of the human system.
To meet this need, this project brings together leading marine multi-disciplinary researchers with proven expertise in inter-disciplinary, participatory research approaches to engage stakeholders in the process of developing a suite of strategically targeted marine adaptation tools that will represent a blueprint for marine stakeholders nationally. The blueprint will facilitate these tools being readily adopted by different marine communities, industries and individuals enabling them to make informed decisions based on a range of climate change adaptation options designed to minimise impacts and maximise opportunities. The project focuses on NARP themes 2 and 4, and addresses areas 2 and 3 of the regional programs.

Objectives

1. Develop and trial a "blueprint" using three marine community case studies in southeastern, western and northern Australia, that objectively integrates a suite of adaptation assessment and evaluation tools for the provision of best choice marine climate change adaptation options to these coastal communities.
2. Compare and synthesise potential adaptation options across case studies to develop a) an understanding of the context dependence of adaptation in marine communities, and b) a portfolio of generic adaptation options for sub-tropical to temperate coastal and regional marine communities in Australia.
3. Based on the outcomes of 1 and 2, determine the broad representativeness of the blueprint to address the needs and priorities of coastal rural communities throughout Australia.
4. Develop capacity for inter-disciplinary research by training and mentoring two early career researchers.
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