The existing FRDC-funded project "Study of ghost fishing in the NSW rock lobster fishery" (FRDC project 2007/038; Final report due November 2012) has demonstrated that lost lobster traps continue to catch and accumulate lobsters, resulting in morbidity/mortality. Traps may be lost due to cut-off of head-gear by commercial shipping or recreational vessels, through vandalism or interactions with marine creatures (e.g. cetaceans). Loss of traps and lobsters may also result from theft. One strategy for reducing the potential for cut-offs, ghost-fishing and theft that was examined in FRDC project 2007/038 was the use of acoustic release technology that would privide fishers with "at-call" access to sub-surface head-gear. The Desert Star ARC-1XD system was extensively tested and trialled in experiments that involved commercial fishing on the mid and outer continental shelf off NSW.

The 2 commercial fishers who were involved in these experiments (Mr Ron Firkin and Mr Scott Westley) were so impressed with the performance of the acoustic system and its potential advantages for their businesses that they have made substantial investments in the technology. Both have since successfully used the system for commercial fishing in its "portable" configuration (i.e. running off batteries but not integrated with their vessel's power system and onboard electronics). They have required and continue to require considerable assistance from NSW DPI staff to set-up, use the system and problem-solve. There is now an immediate need to encourage and support this intial phase of commercial use of the system by these pioneering fishers and to provide the infrastructure for the necessary training and support for fishers who elect to invest in this technology in the future.

Sustainable fishing is based in part on management strategies that deliver an equitable share of the total catch to all users including indigenous fishers. Historically fisheries management agencies have ignored indigenous fishing rights which has resulted in restrictions on cultural practices which have contributed not only to a loss of access to traditional target species but a loss of traditional fisheries knowledge (TFK). In some cases indigenous people have been made to feel like criminals when accessing traditional target species for food or cultural purposes. Restrictions preventing cultural fishing can result in conflict, potential ‘non-compliance’ and a loss of TFK. There is strong international and national support for the protection of TFK (see UN Convention on Biological Diversity Article 8(j) and 10 (c), and the EPBC Act 1999.) The N.S.W. Indigenous Fisheries Strategy clearly articulates the need for research into indigenous fisheries as does the N.S.W. DPI.

The establishment of marine protected areas has often proceeded in N.S.W. without knowledge of customary fishing areas nor necessarily a willingness to accommodate cultural fishing. This will build a better picture of where and how much is being taken. Access to traditional foods is essential in insuring a healthier life style. Aboriginal people still assert a desire to procure a regular supply of fresh fish for personal and community consumption yet management regimes put in place to deal with ‘overfishing’ and/or dwindling stock sizes have yet to accommodate the need of indigenous communities to have access to traditional target species for food.

There are large information gaps in relation to;
(i) the size and location of the indigenous take of aquatic organisms in N.S.W.,
(ii) present day cultural associations with various target species (particularly freshwater species) and
(iii) the status of traditional fishing knowledge.

This project will begin to address these information gaps.

The Australian Rock Lobster Industry faces continuing challenges relating to market access, human resources, fisheries management, cost of production and quota implementation.

Issues that need to be addressed include:

1. Continuing the line of successful Congress meetings since 1999.
2. Examine and offer solutions to competing demands of resource allocation.
3. Build on the implementation of common national and international marketing strategies commmenced in Hobart 2005.
4. Address and offer some solutions to common boat costings such as Crew Availability, Fuel costs etc.

There is little information about the affect of ghost fishing in Australia’s fisheries and more importantly in one of Australia’s most economically important seafood resources, the rock lobsters- yet, preliminary research would suggest that ghost fishing is significant in the NSW rock lobster fishery. The environmental assessment process of the FMS for the NSW rock lobster fishery identified the need to quantify ghost fishing and find methods to alleviate this impact if necessary (Objective 1.1b of the FMS for the NSW rock lobster fishery). Information about the impact of ghost fishing is important in the FRDC Research and Development Plan (2005-2010) under strategy challenge #1 Natural Resource Sustainability

Results of the small scale pilot study in mid-shelf waters off the NSW south coast (Attachment 1) have shown that ghost fishing does occur in at least one part of the fishery. Considering the variability in water chemistry, bottom topography, oceanographic conditions and fishing operations across the fishery, there may be differences in rates of survival of lobsters and in times taken for traps to degrade among areas. Further investigations of ghost fishing and time taken for traps to break down and allow escape of contained lobsters are required across a broader spatial scale. In particular, investigations are required on the north coast of NSW, where the presence of larger lobsters and higher water temperatures likely result in greater metabolic rates, nutritional requirements and different behaviour of lobsters.

Investigation of ways to reduce losses of head-gear, traps and subsequent unaccounted fishing mortalities associated with ghost fishing and theft of lobsters is also indicated. Experiments concerning the effectiveness of scarificial panels in traps and the cost-effectiveness of acoustic releases for "at call" access to sunken head-gear will address these issues.