10 results

Assessing current data and alternate data collection methods relating to recreational catches of tropical tuna and billfishes

Project number: 2022-173
Project Status:
Current
Budget expenditure: $249,442.00
Principal Investigator: Barrett W. Wolfe
Organisation: Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies (IMAS) Hobart
Project start/end date: 29 May 2023 - 30 Jun 2025
Contact:
FRDC
TAGS
Stock Assessment
Recreational Fishing
Rac Cmwth
Fisheries Management
Data
SPECIES
Tunas
Marlins

Need

The recreational sector of the Tropical Tuna and Billfish Fishery (TTBF) is an important component of the overall fishery. The recreational fishery has a number of distinct components – the organized club-based sector, the non-club sector and the charter sector. Some catch and catch-effort data, although incomplete, are available from the club-based and charter sectors, while data from the non-club sector, including the magnitude of that sector, are largely lacking. These uncertainties and gaps mean that the total Australian catch by the sector is unknown. However, recreational data may provide relative indicators of stock and fishery performance through time (e.g., CPUE), which could be valuable for monitoring TTBF stocks and the quality of the recreational fishery. This project will summarise existing recreational data available for the TTBF and evaluate their utility for monitoring, to guide immediate application and identify areas requiring further development.

A large component of the total catch of the TTBF recreational sector, is released. Post release mortality is a re-occurring question that has been studied to some extent by the use of satellite telemetry in some target species (striped marlin, swordfish and to a lesser extent, yellowfin tuna). This project will additionally review available data for release rates which are required to apply estimates of post release mortality over the whole fishery.

While all five target species of the TTBF are also caught by the recreational sector, two species – striped marlin and yellowfin tuna – are particularly numerically important. In addition, a relatively new recreational fishery for swordfish has emerged in Victorian and Tasmanian waters, with potential to spread to other States, but is largely unmonitored. This project will assess these important species.

Aside from the five commercial target species within the TTBF, the recreational sector also targets and highly values other billfish species, especially black marlin, blue marlin and sailfish. These species are also caught as bycatch of the domestic commercial sector, although blue and black marlin are not permitted to be landed by commercial licence holders and are therefore discarded. Recreational data sources may provide the only cost-effective monitoring option for stocks of these non-commercial species.

Objectives

1. Review traditional and contemporary, cost-effective sources of recreational and charter catch and catch-effort data for Tropical Tuna and Billfish (including assumption and limitations of the data as well as a cost benefit analysis of methods)
2. Collate available data sources to improve the understanding of the potential catch on local abundance/availability of commercial, recreational and charter target species
3. Provide recommendations on how recreational and charter catch data might be collected, standardized, and integrated in future decision-making
Industry
Industry
Environment
Communities
PROJECT NUMBER • 2017-098
PROJECT STATUS:
COMPLETED

Southern Bluefin Tuna: Changing The Trajectory

Life on the Line is the true story of the Southern Bluefin Tuna, its biological traits and its history of exploitation and most recently its recovery. This documentary covers how research, managers and the fishing industry - commercial and recreational have contributed to the recovering status of...
ORGANISATION:
Australian Fisheries Management Authority (AFMA)
TAGS
Wild Catch
Sustainability
Stock Assessment
Recreational Fishing
Rac Cmwth
SPECIES
Chub Mackerel
Atlantic Mackerel
Shark Mackerel
Slender Tuna
Grey Mackerel
Environment

Tactical Research Fund: evaluating the impact of fishing on marine turtles relative to other impacts

Project number: 2009-083
Project Status:
Completed
Budget expenditure: $75,000.00
Principal Investigator: Carolyn M. Robins
Organisation: Belldi Consultancy Pty Ltd
Project start/end date: 31 Mar 2010 - 30 Dec 2010
Contact:
FRDC
TAGS
Sustainability
Migration
Fishing Gear
Fisheries Management
Bycatch
SPECIES
Swordfish
Tunas
Prawns
Marlins

Need

There is a need to investigate the stock status of turtles, the causes of turtle mortality and to evaluate management options in Commonwealth fisheries based on the estimated fishing mortality of turtles.

The impetus is coming from various conservation and fisheries agreements and there have been many resolutions issued by expert-based bodies calling for a worldwide reduction in turtle captures by commercial fisheries. Requirements to protect marine species under the EPBC Act has imposed high standards upon fishing activities in Australian waters, with increased attention to the need for better data collection and bycatch management witnessed in the Bycatch Action Plans. The Australian Sea Turtle Recovery Plan also documents the importance of addressing sea turtle bycatch issues by commercial fisheries.

There is an economic incentive to minimise sea turtle bycatch. Evidence suggests that the ETBF may have what U.S. authorities consider a significant-take of turtles. Following a range of restrictions placed on U.S. domestic longliners, including fishery closures, there have been calls for the extension of their domestic law to other nations. Australia’s ability to pre-empt or respond to any threat of trade action is vital in light of the real probability of trade measures such as import embargoes.

The NPF adopted TEDs many years ago and now there is a need to review that measure as the principal mitigation measure. A further current need is to explore changes made to other prawn trawl fisheries around the world with respect to TEDs and turtle mitigation. These comments also apply equally to the East Coast Trawl.

This approach may ultimately benefit Australian commercial fisheries by possibly leading to a reduction in the impact of their fisheries on the ecosystem and reduce the probability of negative impacts through unilateral trade actions for longline fisheries and public backlash for many commercial fisheries.

Objectives

1. Review the literature regarding existing research on spatial distribution and causes of mortality in the Eastern Tuna and Billfish Fishery(ETBF), Western Tuna and Billfish Fishery (WTBF), Northern Prawn Fishery (NPF), and East Coast Trawl.
2. Review the literature regarding management and mitigation measures currently in place.
3. Analyse turtle distribution and movement patterns and overlap with fishing distribution. Estimate mortality resulting from interactions.
4. Review relevant turtle stock assessments and report on all known anthropogenic impacts on turtle mortality.
5. Assess alternative management options to respond to the estimated level of turtle mortality.
6. Identify research gaps needed to inform fisheries management options to mitigate turtle interactions in these fisheries.

Final report

ISBN: 978-0-646-55073-2
Final Report • 2011-06-03 • 3.53 MB
2009-083-DLD.pdf
Environment
Industry
PROJECT NUMBER • 2003-060
PROJECT STATUS:
COMPLETED

Byproduct: Catch, economics and co-occurrence in Australias longline fisheries

The longline sector of the Eastern Tuna and Billfish Fishery (ETBF) and the Southern and Western Tuna and Billfish Fishery (SWTBF) target four main species and incidentally take over 80 other species as “bycatch”. Significant amounts of these species are often retained for sale, and...
ORGANISATION:
Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) ABARES
TAGS
Stakeholder
Population Dynamics
Marketing
Fishing Gear
Data
SPECIES
Slender Tuna
Albacore
Blue Shark
Bronze Whaler
Tunas

Investigation into processing and development of a tuna kebab

Project number: 1998-484
Project Status:
Completed
Budget expenditure: $5,000.00
Principal Investigator: Craig Winkel
Organisation: De Brett Seafood Pty Ltd
Project start/end date: 11 Jun 2000 - 28 Feb 2001
Contact:
FRDC
TAGS
Post Harvest
SPECIES
Tunas

Objectives

1. To source a processing method toproduce tuna/broadbill kebabs
2. To develop a tuna and a broadbill kebab suitable for the domestic market.
3. To determine optimum freezing times for the kebabs through a cryogenic tunnel freezer.
4. To investigate/design packaging suitable for the market.

Final report

Author: Craig Winkel
Final Report • 2001-02-28 • 836.64 KB
1998-484-DLD.pdf

Summary

Tuna, swordfish and marlin kebabs were launched onto the Australian Domestic market at the wholesale level in December 1999. Two types of kebabs, Frozen and Chilled, are packaged in 50 x 100g portions. The chilled kebabs are sold interleaved in a polystyrene esky with a specially designed sleeve and insert. Packaging for frozen kebabs is yet to be finalised but will be similar to the chilled product.

Kebab manufacturing equipment was sourced and evaluated. A fully-automated system such as the Koppens VMS Former was considered an overcapitalisation for anticipated production volumes. A manual system, the 18134 stainless steel kebab maker, imported from the UK by Lesnie's Pty Ltd appeared more appropriate for the anticipated volumes. Market reaction to the kebabs produced through this system was mixed. Some customers preferred a more 'natural appearance' over the 18134 Kebab Maker's uniform appearance.

The development of frozen tuna kebabs was unsuccessful as was the vacuum and skin packaging trials. In all instances the tuna flesh degraded to a brown colour which was deemed unsuitable for the market. The skin packaging also proved unsuccessful due to the difficulty in removing the kebabs from the laminate skin. Shrink wrapping was deemed unnecessary and costly for the wholesale market, but will be re-evaluated if kebabs are launched onto the retail market.

Due to logistical difficulties, the cryogenic tunnel freezer was replaced by a duel cryogenic batch freezer and optimal freezing times re-evaluated. A freezing time of 11 minutes at -50°C produced optimal equilibrium temperatures of -20°C.

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