PROJECT NUMBER
•
2017-100
PROJECT STATUS:
COMPLETED
ORGANISATION:
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation (FRDC)
6 results
PROJECT NUMBER
•
2015-034
PROJECT STATUS:
COMPLETED
ORGANISATION:
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation (FRDC)
Life history specific habitat utilisation of tropical fisheries species
Project number:
2013-046
Project Status:
Completed
Budget expenditure:
$300,000.00
Principal Investigator:
Marcus Sheaves
Organisation:
James Cook University (JCU)
Project start/end date:
31 Dec 2013
-
8 Jun 2016
Contact:
FRDC
The health and longevity of fisheries depend on access critical habitats appropriate to each particular life-history stage. While many key fisheries habitats are under threat from rapidly increasing coastal development, management of those habitats is severely hampered by very poor understanding of these life history-stage habitat requirements. This not only prevents effective management of critical fisheries resources but hampers the ability to direct development to enhance, rather than degrade fisheries value. At the moment many management and offsets actions are unsatisfactory to all users because they are based on incomplete understanding of fish-habitat relationships. This means actions and offsets rarely product tangible gains in ecosystem health or biodiversity, frustrating fishers, environmentalists, developers and governments alike. Not only can carefully designed developments provide new areas of critical habitat to replace habitats damaged in the past, but the opportunity exists for directing mandatory offsets from new coastal developments towards beneficial fisheries outcomes. This would provide the basis for greatly improved management of coastal fisheries habitats and would help to direct effective offset strategies, assist in directing fisheries friendly infrastructure design, and allow the development of metrics appropriate to the definitive measurement of specific fisheries outcomes from particular offset actions. Consequently, improved understanding of stage-specific habitat requirements of fisheries species is central to both the long-term health of fish stocks and fisheries productivity, and the effective management of coastal development to enhance fisheries values.
1. Develop detailed models of the life history stage-specific habitat utilisation of key coastal and estuarine fisheries species at of the most detailed mensurative level possible (quantitative or semi-quantitative)
2. Formalise and consolidate fisher knowledge on fish-habitat relationships into an organised fish-habitat understanding,
3. Develop estimates of the relative contributions of different juvenile habitats to adult populations, and estimates of the relative value per unit area of alternative stage-specific habitats to fisheries stocks
4. Quantify the key resources provided by critical habitats over life histories
5. Develop specific, achievable measures of fisheries benefits stemming from repair, revitalisation and supplementation work
6. Provide information a-e in forms that can inform fisheries habitat management and repair, and value-add to habitat mapping
Final report
Optimising the management of tropical reef fish through the development of indigenous scientific capability
Project number:
2013-017
Project Status:
Completed
Budget expenditure:
$649,456.00
Principal Investigator:
Thor Saunders
Organisation:
Department of Agriculture and Fisheries (NT)
Project start/end date:
30 Jun 2013
-
29 Jun 2016
Contact:
FRDC
SPECIES
Tropical reef fish species are popular targets by both the commercial and recreational fishing sectors and are increasingly becoming the focus in developing indigenous fisheries. They are highly prone to overexploitation because of their vulnerable biology, aggregative nature and susceptibility to barotrauma related injuries upon release. In the Northern Territory (NT), these issues have resulted in the substantial declines of key reef species around population centres and managers have been unable to apply appropriate arrangements due to a lack of knowledge on the stock structure, unknown levels of recreational harvest and contested resource ownership and access rights. It is clear that the knowledge gap on stock structure needs to be filled to move towards the spatial management needed to ensure the sustainability of the reef fish resources as well as their optimal allocation amongst sectors.
However, the exploitation of reef fish in remote areas of the NT is increasing due to an expanding recreational fleet, new mining and gas developments placing increased population in these areas and aspirations by the indigenous sector to develop fisheries on these species. While gaining information on stock structure of key reef fish species will greatly aid the sustainable development of fisheries in this area there is still the requirement to ensure regular collection of biological data to monitor these stocks. The most efficient method of obtaining this information is to train indigenous rangers/community members by developing an appropriately certified course. By underpinning the course with the stock structure component of this project, students will also receive skills to assist with co-management and developing sustainable indigenous fisheries.
This project addresses the number one NTFRAB research priority on reef fish biology as well as NT and cross-jurisdictional priorities on indigenous development.
1. Gain information on stock structure of key tropical reef fish species
2. Develop indigenous capability in scientific monitoring and participation in co-management through the development of a certified training program
3. Identify appropriate spatial scale of management for tropical reef fish based on biological sustainability and sectoral aspirations
Final report
The life-cycle habitat requirements of coastal fisheries species; identifying key knowledge gaps and research needs
Project number:
2012-037
Project Status:
Completed
Budget expenditure:
$57,500.00
Principal Investigator:
Marcus Sheaves
Organisation:
James Cook University (JCU)
Project start/end date:
30 Sep 2012
-
9 Jun 2013
Contact:
FRDC
Coastal fisheries species require a series of connected habitats to complete essential life-history functions. Key habitats, like nurseries, are known for some species but the sequence of habitats used by juveniles is poorly known for most. Even where nurseries are known the relative values of alternative nurseries have not been determined, so we lack the ability to quantify the economic contributions of different habitats to fisheries production. Many habitats without apparent direct functional roles are vital as conduits between habitats critical for life-history needs. Similarly, spawning and forage sites are unknown for many species. The project provides the background to develop research detailing the life-cycle habitat and connectivity requirements of coastal fisheries species, so is the vital first step in gaining the knowledge needed by managers to understand and protect coastal habitats. It fills critical knowledge gaps identified in the DERM/QWP’s “Connectivity” project, and supports habitat classification and mapping work (e.g. QWP/DEEDI Coastal-wetlands mapping, OzCoasts). It will provide the basis for enhanced quantification of the ecological and economic importance of the chain of habitats necessary for healthy fisheries, thus addressing QFRAB 2011/12 priority 4 and priority 3. This will allow more precise management of species valuable to all fishing sectors, and provide pivotal information needed to incorporate fisheries values into impact and offset assessments for development proposals. Thus the work provides crucial information needed by Fisheries Queensland, DEEDI Fisheries Habitat Research, GBRMPA’s EC&SU and CE&WQ sections, and contributes to the long term ecological and economic health of Northern Australia’s fisheries.
1. Review all available literature to identify key knowledge gaps and refine a potential field research program
focussing on (a) critical habitats necessary for the life-cycles of key fisheries species using estuarine and nearshore nurseries, (b) connectivities supporting that utilisation, (c) the relative importance of different nursery grounds, (d) the relative value of different habitats for life-history requirements, (e) habitat-specific food webs and trophic interactions supporting fisheries species life-cycles. The project will also develop a “business case” for future investment, considering: the risks, opportunities to protect, repair, offset etc., and developing a decision support system based on these opportunities and risks.
Final report
Sustaining productivity of tropical red snappers using new monitoring and reference points
Project number:
2009-037
Project Status:
Completed
Budget expenditure:
$102,481.00
Principal Investigator:
Michael F. O'Neill
Organisation:
Department of Primary Industries (QLD)
Project start/end date:
4 Oct 2009
-
7 Oct 2010
Contact:
FRDC
The northern Australian red snapper fisheries between the Kimberleys and Cape York comprise of five key species from the family Lutjanidae (Lutjanus erythropterus, L. malabaricus, L. argentimaculatus, L. johnii and L. sebae). Status reports indicate about 1500-1800 tonnes per year of red snappers are caught across northern Australia, with a landings value of $6-8 million. The stock range of the crimson and saddletail snappers extends well into Indonesian waters, with significant landings and overfishing by trawling outside of Australia’s Fishing Zone (AFZ). Illegal foreign fishing also occurs in the AFZ.
Limited data, the species longevity (30-40 years) and unquantifiable external catch compromises analytical assessments. Improved fishery monitoring and management in the AFZ is needed to ensure the sustainability and commercial profitability of red snappers.
In September 2007 the Northern Australian Fisheries Committee (NAFC) resolved to develop a Harvest Strategy Framework (based on the Commonwealth HSF) to guide the management of red snappers across northern Australia. NAFC’s Northern Management and Science Working Group (NMSWG) held workshops late 2007 to develop the HSF and identify means of improving our knowledge on the uncertain status of red snappers. It was clear that critical indicators developed from relative abundance indices and age composition data are needed to service management decision rules in a harvest strategy framework.
The next important requirement to finalise the HSF is to design databased reference points and a complementary monitoring program. Analyses on the historical data held by fishery agencies (WA, NT, QLD and Commonwealth) will lead to monitoring by industry vessels to provide independent data for the HSF. This high priority tactical work will enhance agency collaborations and deliver the needs for sustainable and profitable stocks. The HSF will provide greater certainty for managers and industry through an open and transparent process for ongoing adjustment to management arrangements.
1. Analyse current monitoring and logbook data sets, as well as survey and other information, to establish whether these data provide sufficient power to develop critical indicators of fishery performance.
2. Provide a risk analysis that examines the use of age structure and catch rate information for development of critical indicators, and response rules for those criteria, in the absence of other fishery information.
3. Develop a monitoring program that uses commercial vessels from the fishery to provide independent data.
Final report
ISBN:
978-0-7345-0420-3
Author:
Michael O'Neill
Final Report
•
2011-11-29
•
4.01 MB
2009-037-DLD.pdf
Australia’s tropical snapper fisheries harvest six main Lutjanid species. They are the Crimson, Saddletail, and Goldband snappers, Red Emperor, Golden snapper and Mangrove Jack. These fish live up to 40 years of age, weigh up to five to ten kilograms and are highly valued for commercial marketing. The fisheries operate in tropical offshore waters across northern Australia from the Kimberley coast to the Gulf of Carpentaria. The fisheries are primarily commercial using demersal trawl, trap and line fishing gear. The fisheries have a long and varied history of foreign and domestic exploitation. Indicative foreign harvests were two to five kilotonnes per year up to 1990. After 1990, foreign vessel permits were removed and domestic fishing expanded landing in the order of two to three kilotonnes of tropical snappers annually.
In 2007, NAFC listed tropical snapper research as a priority. Past assessments and management settings required revision. New monitoring data on snapper abundance and age composition were needed for assessment of stock status and contemporary management procedures. In response, northern fisheries jurisdictions and the FRDC commissioned tactical research to develop a survey / observer structured fishery monitoring program and critically evaluate the potential use of data. A total of 39 data sets and a range of analyses were used in this process.
Statistical analyses of commercial fishery catch rates quantified variances to establish abundance indicators from structured monitoring. The variances were used to calculate the number of survey / observer days required to monitor tropical snapper catch rates (e.g., standardised number of fish caught per unit area swept by trawling). This result was required to ensure accurate monitoring of catch rates and fish ages so the data were directly aligned for estimation of fishing mortality or, possibly, biomass.
Keywords: Age frequencies, Catch curves, Catch rate standardisation, Fishery management, Lutjanidae, Monitoring, Population modelling, Simulation, Tropical snapper.
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