SESSF Monitoring and Assessment – Strategic Review
There is increased awareness of the need for ecosystem-based fisheries management, with increased public expectations for sustainable management of fished stocks. However, reduced catch levels and increasing costs have stimulated industry calls for reductions in management costs, or for more effective use of the existing cost-recovered funds. Budget limitations have already led to annual fishery independent surveys (FIS) carried out less frequently, reduced observer monitoring (ISMP) to fund other projects, alternation of FIS and ISMP from year to year, use of Crew Member Observers (CMOs) to collect on-board length frequencies, retaining species at lower tier assessments instead of Tier 1 assessments, ad-hoc implementation of more multiyear TACs combined with adhoc implementation of break-out rules, reduction of the frequency of Tier1 stock assessments, and the postponement of critical Tier 1 stock assessments. Whilst all of these approaches are feasible and practical responses, their combined influence on the effectiveness of the monitoring and assessment at achieving desired management objectives has not been tested or demonstrated.
Current budget restrictions on AFMA have resulted in a departure from scheduled monitoring and assessment work, with increasing ad-hoc decisions about which components of that work undertaken each year. There is growing concern by stakeholders that the present monitoring and assessment program is incapable of addressing these developments. SETFIA and other industry associations are particularly concerned that fishing concession levies funding current arrangements will become unaffordable.
Given AFMA's legislative objectives to ensure ecologically sustainable development, to maximise net economic returns and to ensure cost-effective fisheries management, AFMA has proposed this project to develop proposals for a structured and cost-effective research, monitoring and assessment program to respond to requirements and emerging issues in the SESSF over the next 5 years. It may be possible to extend this horizon should a fully quantitative project follow this proposal.
Final report
Tasmania's coastal reefs: deep reef habitats and significance for finfish production and biodiversity
Reefs represent important habitats for commercially and recreationally exploited species under Tasmanian jurisdiction. In Tasmania, shallow reefs (25 m) are significant to commercial and recreational fisheries for scalefish and invertebrates. These include live-fish fisheries for banded morwong (gillnet) and wrasse (trap and line), as well as recreational and commercial gillnet fisheries for species such as bastard trumpeter, striped trumpeter and blue warehou. Other species including jackass morwong, various leatherjackets and boarfish, are also relatively commonly caught on shallow inshore reefs. Most of these species also occur at greater depths but as only striped trumpeter are subjected to a targeted (line) deepwater fishery; deep reefs are therefore assumed to be important refuges from fishing pressure. While recent research has improved our understanding of the population biology of some of these species, management of these fisheries is primarily based on characteristics observed from shallow reefs. The lack of quantitative information on the significance of deep reef habitats as refuges and/or their role in population structuring limits our ability to undertake informed risk assessments of the impacts of current fishing practices and evaluate alternative management options.
While the structure, composition and functioning of shallow-reefs (10m) and their associated fish communities has been studied extensively, the ecological importance of deeper reef ecosystems has not been investigated apart from recent baseline studies of offshore Commonwealth MPAs. Linkages and associations between fish communities in shallow and deeper reef areas remain a distinct knowledge gap.
Final report
Assessing the impacts of gillnetting in Tasmania: implications for by-catch and biodiversity
Commercial and recreational fishers are permitted to use gillnets in Tasmania. There are several classes of gillnet distinguished by mesh size - commercial gillnets include, small mesh, graball and shark nets, while recreational gillnets include mullet and graball nets. During the past 5 years around 150 commercial operators each year have reported gillnet use, for an average catch of 200 tonnes of scalefish. Recent information for the recreational sector is limited though recreational netting remains popular, with over 10,000 net licences issued in 2009. Previous surveys indicate that recreational fishers target much the same species as commercial operators.
Over the past decade there have been several management initiatives, including a prohibition on night netting for most areas and, more recently, the introduction of maximum soak times. These initiatives have been designed to improve gillnetting practices, and reduce wastage and impacts on non-target species. Despite this, there have been conspicuous declines in the abundance of several key gillnet species along with increasing community concern about the ecological impacts of gillnetting. This concern has been particularly evident in the debate surrounding the introduction of marine protected areas, with gillnetting identified as a key threat to biodiversity. Furthermore, in the 2009 Scalefish Fishery review DPIPWE identified the need to develop strategic policy in relation to no-netting areas to address issues including resource sharing, wildlife interactions and stock management.
In view of the above, there is an urgent need to better understand how recent management initiatives have influenced netting practices, and to objectively assess the risks and impacts on target and non-target species. Ultimately such an understanding will be pivotal in informing the on-going debate over the future management of gillnetting in Tasmania.
Final report
Towards integrated multi-species management of Australia's SE reef fisheries: A Tasmanian example
This project is the first of a larger strategic focus that moves away from species based management towards integrated ecosystem management. It will give impetus to:
a) Understanding the implications of management of one resource on another,
b) Measuring the impacts of increased utilisation of the marine ecosystem on the health of all components of the ecosystem (eg. commercial and recreational fishing, tourism, aquaculture),
c) Establishing baseline data that can be used to monitor environmental change (e.g. introduced pests, global warming),
d) Meeting the increasing need of consumers for environmental accreditation (e.g. MSC, EA). This is particularly the case for diversification of future markets.
This project addresses several aspects of Australia’s Marine Science and Technology Plan.
Program 1 - Understanding the Marine Ecosystem
Objective 6: To understand the biological processes in Australia’s oceans
Objective 7: To understand the dynamics of Australia’s marine habitats and ecosystems
Program 2 - Using and Caring for the Marine Environment
Objective 1: To ensure the maintenance of healthy and properly functioning ecosystems through the development and application of effective monitoring and assessment procedures and sustainable management practices
Objective 6: To improve the productivity and sustainablilty of wild harvest fisheries, and to improve understanding of the relationship between fished stocks and the ecosystems that support them.
The project addresses FRDC's strategic vision to move towards assessment and management of Australia’s fisheries at the ecosystem rather than single species level. A concern in embracing integrated multi-species or ecosystem-based management is the breadth of ecosystem issues that can be tackled. By focusing on specific issues identified by our stakeholders this project has the potential to demonstrate the benefits of multi-species management in two of SE Australia’s most valuable fisheries, and the need for this approach to be adopted as the future management framework.
The need to develop and apply new methods is core to improving our understanding of marine ecosystems. This project encompasses this need with the use of infra-red and low light video technology, acoustic telemetry and DNA dietary studies, all of which represent frontier technologies.
At the TasFRAB Wildfish Strategic Planning Workshop held in 2003 to develop Tasmania’s 2004 – 2009 Strategic Fisheries Plan, both Industry and Government recognised that a healthy and productive reef ecosystem is essential for maximising the social, economic and aesthetic returns to rural coastal populations in Tasmania.
At the Southern Fisheries Management Workshop (SFMW) held in November 2003, managers highlighted three separate approaches that needed to be addressed in pursuing ecosystem based management. These were a systems approach that described a management unit and incorporated all inputs into the system (e.g. Westernport Bay and associated catchments, Great Australian Bight), a risk assessment approach and an understanding of processes that drive systems. TAFI's approach that focuses on understanding process based on observed patterns was endorsed by the SFMW. It was noted that TAFI was in the best position to undertake this research in a cost effective manner as this approach suited post-graduate studies.
Final report
Spatial management of reef fisheries and ecosystems: understanding the importance of movement
Liitle is known of the movement patterns of most commercial reef species, an aspect that is crucial for evaluating the effectiveness of spatial management and interpretation of local stock dynamics. By undertaking a broadly applicable movement study drawing on examples over an Australia wide scale and using model species representing differing life histories, we will address a key issue identified in several national strategic priorities (SCFA Research Priorites for Australian Fisheries and Aqauculture - Program 4). These priorities include understanding the ecosystem effects of fishing and the need to assess the merits and performance of spatial management. They were identified at the Aquatic Protected Areas R&D workshop (Cairns), and in a recent spatial management discussion paper by Smith et al. (2003).
In Tasmania, defining movements of commercial finfish species (e.g. banded morwong) between and within reefs, has been identified as an important research issue by the Scalefish RAG, and essential for understanding local stock dynamics and interpreting CPUE data. Current fishing practices target juvenile trumpeter species, and spatial ‘nursery area’ closures may be one option of ensuring a significant proportion of fish reach maturity before becoming vulnerable to the fishery.
In the Northern Territory the black jewfish is an important species for both commercial and recreational fisheries, yet it appears to be particularly vulnerable to overfishing due to a mix of aggregating behaviour and an increasing knowledge by fishers of the location of these aggregations. Understanding the nature of these aggregations and the threat posed by fishing has been identified as the number one priority for fisheries research and knowledge of fish movements with respect to these aggregations is an important component required for development of effective management plans.
Smith, D., Sainsbury, K., Buxton, C., Morris, L., Hough, D., Haddon, M. & Moore, M. 2003. Development of an R&D response to ecosystem based management: Spatioal management of fisheries and the role of MPAs. FRDC Final Report 2003/073. 51pp
Final report
Sustainability of small-scale, data-poor commercial fisheries: developing assessments, performance indicators and monitoring strategies for temperate reef species
The development of live fish markets in the early 1990s has created a strong demand for temperate reef species, specifically banded morwong and wrasse. Prior to these developments these species had little commercial value, often being used as bait for rock lobster. This demand has resulted in major increases in fishing pressure directed at the reef fish communities and while there has been much work on tropical species, our knowledge of how temperate reef species respond to fishing pressure is comparatively poor.
Although banded morwong and wrasse have vastly different life history characteristics (early life history, reproductive strategies and age and growth), they are basically sedentary, exhibiting population structuring at a small spatial scale. However, related to the general mis-match between the spatial scales of fishery management, fishing operations and fish population structure, there is considerable potential for localised depletion, and hence for serial depletion of the resources.
In Tasmania, steady declines in catch and catch rates have led to concerns that fishing has already significantly impacted banded morwong stocks. In Victoria, a more controlled approach to the development of the fishery has been taken, with an initial three-year developmental phase to be followed by a review to ascertain long-term sustainability.
Although key fishery indicators, catches and catch rates (analysed at state-wide or regional scales) have remained relatively stable for wrasse, there are anecdotal reports of localised depletions from Tasmania. Furthermore, the selective removal of adult male blue-throat wrasse has the potential to impact significantly on egg production even if female spawner biomass is adequate.
There is therefore an urgent need to develop robust stock assessments, appropriate performance indicators and monitoring strategies for these species if they are to be managed sustainably. However, being small-scale fisheries based on sedentary, spatially structured populations, an innovative approach to fishery and biological monitoring and data analyses is required. Since Tasmanian, Victorian and South Australian fisheries share many common characteristics there are considerable benefits from a coordinated approach to this issue. This study will also have broader implications for other small-scale and data poor fisheries.