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The 4th International Fisheries Observer Conference

Project number: 2004-306
Project Status:
Completed
Budget expenditure: $20,000.00
Principal Investigator: Steve J. Kennelly
Organisation: Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (NSW)
Project start/end date: 30 May 2004 - 30 Jun 2005
Contact:
FRDC

Need

By-catch from fishing methods is one of the most significant issues facing the world’s fisheries. Over the past decade or so, researchers in Australia, the US and Canada have been quite successful at reducing some of the more serious by-catch problems, particularly those concerning the huge discarding and wastage problems associated with trawling. Various projects have shown that the most effective way of reducing discards is to follow a staged scientific protocol involving: (i) identifying and quantifying by-catches to determine places and times of particularly problematic by-catches and (ii) doing experimental tests of modified fishing practices that reduce the identified by-catches. The ONLY way to achieve the first, quantification stage accurately is to have scientific observers going out on typical fishing trips to record information on catches and discards (these are termed Observer Programmes). Significant advances in identifying and quantifying by-catches have been made in several countries, including Australia, the US and Canada through Observer Programmes. As well as quantifying bycatches and discarding, Observer Programmes have proven invaluable in providing information on levels of compliance of commercial fisheries to regulations and codes of conduct. They also provide excellent material for biological work on species that would otherwise be very expensive or problematic to collect (e.g. gut contents, sizes, age information, otoliths etc.), operational information on fleet dynamics and changes in fishing effort. Such programmes are also increasingly being used as on-deck extension and educational services, teaching fishers first-hand about a range of scientific, compliance and management issues.

In 1998, Fisheries and Oceans Canada and the United States’ NOAA Fisheries sponsored the first of a series of biennial international conferences on Fisheries Observer Programmes. This series of conferences (previously held in Seattle, St. Johns and New Orleans) brings together the key stakeholder groups, scientists, technicians and managers responsible for the design, management and safe delivery of at-sea fisheries observer programs throughout the world. It provides the main international forum to address the many facets of these very important data-gathering programmes. NSW Fisheries has been successful in the bid to host the 4th International Fisheries Observer Conference in Sydney in November 2004.

The hosting of this conference in Sydney has been discussed and endorsed at the last 3 meetings of the AFMF Research Committee.

Objectives

1. To bring together a broad representation from the international fisheries community to address most of the key issues concerning the establishment, execution and use of fisheries observer programs.
Industry
Environment
Environment

First implementation of an independent observer program for the Charter Boat Industry of NSW: data for industry-driven resource sustainability

Project number: 2014-036
Project Status:
Completed
Budget expenditure: $209,300.00
Principal Investigator: Charles A. Gray
Organisation: WildFish Research
Project start/end date: 30 Nov 2014 - 14 Apr 2016
Contact:
FRDC

Need

This project was initiated in response to management and scientific needs for greater inclusion of recreational fisheries data for resources assessments of key recreationally caught species and for inclusion in environmental assessments of recreational fishing. This project was deemed a high priority outcome of the NSW DPI Resource Assessment Workshops in 2011, 2012 and again in 2013.

Objectives

1. Deliver independent quantitative observer-based information on the diversity, rates of capture and length compositions of species retained and released from coastal charter boats in NSW
2. Obtain quantitative information and report on the ages and age compositions of catches of key fish species harvested by the coastal charter boat fishery in NSW
3. Provide summaries of analyses of data across appropriate spatial and temporal scales
4. Deliver summary profiles of charter boat cliental to industry
5. Compare on-board observer estimates of species retained and their rates of capture with industry logbooks
6. Provide feedback to industry and management on project objectives

Final report

ISBN: 978-0-9941504-9-3
Author: Charles Gray
Environment
PROJECT NUMBER • 2013-047
PROJECT STATUS:
COMPLETED

Tactical Research Fund: synthesis of existing information, analysis and prioritisation of future monitoring activities to confirm sustainability of the red-legged banana sub-fishery in the Joseph Boneparte Gulf

To evaluate the ecological sustainability of the at‐risk species, habitats and ecosystems impacted by the Joseph Bonaparte Gulf (JBG) sub‐fishery, we synthesized existing data and assessments, and detailed the changes that have occurred in the fishery in relation to temporal and spatial trends in...
ORGANISATION:
NPF Industry Pty Ltd
Environment
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