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Summary

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The development of a business plan agreed by the ABFA and key stakeholders that identifies the key priorities to be achieved over the next three years, allocates responsibilities for managing the plan and identifies the financial and other resources required.

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PROJECT NUMBER • 2018-027

PROJECT STATUS:

COMPLETED

Integrated approach to improving stock assessment of Black Jewfish

Black Jewfish Gonad staging guide 2020

ORGANISATION:

Charles Darwin University (CDU)

TAGS

SPECIES

Description of the biology and an assessment of the fishery for adult longfinned eels in NSW

Project number: 1998-127

Project Status:

Completed

Budget expenditure: $361,355.32

Principal Investigator: Bruce C. Pease

Organisation: Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (NSW)

Project start/end date: 28 Jun 1998 - 30 Mar 2005

Contact:

FRDC

TAGS

Need

Internationally, the demand and resulting value of glass eels has increased tremendously in recent years. Live glass eels are now selling for over $15,000 per kilo. This international demand results from over-fishing of adult and glass eels in Asia, North America and Europe. This world experience indicates that recruitment over-fishing of long-lived freshwater eels can be catastrophic. Because of the increasing significance of adult eels in the estuarine fisheries of NSW, decreased catches in recent years and the prospect of increased future catches of glass eels for aquaculture, it is important to undertake research which will lead to an understanding of the current status of adult eel stocks in NSW. Stocks of adult eels must be managed properly to ensure continued production of the commercial fishery for adult eels, continued recruitment of glass eels and elvers for aquaculture and stability of coastal catchment ecosystems.

Limited research into the basic biology and ecology of longfinned eels has been carried out in Victoria and Tasmania, but there have been no biological studies conducted in NSW. The only published age and growth information for this species comes from one catchment in Tasmania and indicates that they are relatively long-lived (40 years), but this age data has not been validated. The available literature indicates that growth rates of freshwater eel species are highly variable among habitats and distributional ranges. Therefore, there is a need to determine the basic biological parameters of NSW longfinned eel stocks, including validated age structure, growth and mortality rates, and reproductive characteristics for use in stock assessment modelling.

Since there is a significant commercial fishery for adult eels in NSW, fishery-dependent techniques based on sampling of commercial catches represent the most cost effective stock assessment and monitoring methodology. Age and growth monitoring of many commercial finfish species in NSW is currently carried out by sampling fish at the Sydney Fish Markets and regional fishermen’s co-operatives. Most of the commercial eel catch in NSW is exported live through a few (currently four) specialised processors. Therefore, it will be necessary to establish a specialised monitoring regime and fishery-dependent model which will provide data on which to base advice for the future sustainable management of exploitation of the resource.

Objectives

1. Compile all available survey data on longfinned eels in NSW to provide a quantitative summary of their distribution and relative abundance in coastal catchments.

2. Compile and cross-check all available historic catch and effort data for the commercial fishery on longfinned eels in NSW from all sources (monthly catch returns, permit logs, and export records) into a database of catch and effort information.

3. Conduct a literature review of fishery-dependent techniques for assessing adult anguillid eel stocks.

4. Describe the size, age, reproductive status and stock structure of the commercial catch of longfinned eels and their populations in representative fished and unfished catchments of NSW.

5. Assess the magnitude of the recreational fishery and the magnitude and cultural significance of the traditional fishery for freshwater eels in NSW.

6. Develop a preliminary fishery dependent model for stock assessment of longfinned eels which incorporates relevant catch, effort, recruitment and growth information.

7. Develop a strategy for monitoring the commercial fishery for longfinned eels and associated impacts related to glass eel harvest in the future.

8. Provide advice to fishery managers on the status of the stocks of longfinned eels in NSW, along with an assessment of the adequacy of existing management restrictions.

9. Provide advice to the Australia - New Zealand Eel Reference Group about the development and implementation of fishery dependent techniques for assessing other anguillid eel stocks of eastern Australia.

Final report

Author: Bruce Pease

Resource Access And Allocation

Spawning sources, movement patterns, and nursery area replenishment of spawning populations of King George whiting in south-eastern Australia - closing the life history loop

Project number: 2011-017

Project Status:

Completed

Budget expenditure: $741,161.00

Principal Investigator: Gregory Jenkins

Organisation: University of Melbourne

Project start/end date: 31 Oct 2011 - 29 Nov 2014

Contact:

FRDC

TAGS

Stock Assessment

SPECIES

Need

Fisheries that have populations/stocks straddling cross-jurisdictional boundaries face particular challenges in terms of sustainable management. This is particularly the case when aspects of the species' life history are poorly understood. Fisheries managers require a clear understanding of stock-structure and life history of key species for sustainable management, particularly where the fishery is cross-jurisdictional and requires co-operation between different management agencies.

The King George whiting (KGW) fishery is an extremely important recreational and commercial fishery in southern Australia, especially in bays and inlets of Victoria and South Australia. There is some evidence that much of the Victorian fishery for KGW is dependent on spawning in South Australia and extensive larval drift through Bass Strait. There is more limited evidence that spawning may also occur in eastern Victorian waters. The degree to which adult whiting from Victorian juvenile nursery areas migrate to South Australia for spawning is unknown, with previous research suggesting a possible migration of adult fish from central Victoria to the west. The degree to which juveniles move between nursery areas is also unknown, with no previous research in Victoria. There is a need to understand the present relationship between Victorian and South Australian KGW stocks; are they strongly dependent or are they independent? The management of this species would be greatly improved if we understood the stock structure. For example, the species is presently managed independently by Victoria and South Australia but we do not understand how the populations in the two States relate to each other.

Objectives

1. To determine whether King George whiting in juvenile nursery areas of Victoria and South Australia are derived from the same or different spawning sources

2. To understand the movement patterns of juvenile King George whiting between different nursery areas

3. To determine the relative importance of juvenile King George whiting from different nursery areas to the replenishment of the known spawning populations in South Australia

4. Based on a full understanding of the life history and stock structure of the species to provide information informing decision making by managers in both States relating to the need for cross-jurisdictional management

Final report

ISBN: 978 0 7340 5270 4

Author: Gregory Jenkins

Developing techniques to estimate total allowable catches for the NPF major prawn species

Project number: 2007-018

Project Status:

Completed

Budget expenditure: $793,323.80

Principal Investigator: Cathy M. Dichmont

Organisation: CSIRO Oceans and Atmosphere Hobart

Project start/end date: 30 Mar 2007 - 30 Jun 2010

Contact:

FRDC

TAGS

Need

Following the Ministerial Direction, the NPF is likely to adopt an ITQ management system with a time line of 2010. The transition to a quota system requires research on methods of estimating total allowable catches (TACs). The NPF is a multi-species fishery. However, stock assessment has only been done for two out of the eight commercial species. Controlling catch of only two species cannot secure the long-term sustainability of the whole NPF. Therefore, a whole-fishery approach must be adopted, and stock assessment needs to be extended to a greater number of species.

Estimating TACs for annual species like the NPF prawns is challenging because recruitment and subsequent catches are greatly influenced by environmental variables and fluctuate widely. In the NPF, biological parameters are not uniformly known for all prawn species, and the characteristics of population dynamics differ from species to species. A tier-approach should be applied here like the SESSF, i.e. a formal stock assessment will be done for species supported by sufficient data; for others more empirical methods may be adopted. It is well known that the move from input to output control causes major changes to the catch rate data and can cause a major break in the time series.

A key management objective in the NPF is the maximisation of economic profits. TACs will, therefore, have to reflect this economic objective. Although the theory of maximum economic yield (MEY) is well established, such a management target has not been implemented in any fishery. Achieving such a target requires both methodological development and analysis of a number of factors not previously considered when setting TACs in fisheries.

In summary, this proposal is designed to meet the strategic need and provide the science, tools and technical support for the successful transition of the NPF to a quota management system.

Objectives

1. Development of techniques for calculating and delivery of, TAC estimates for the two tiger prawn species and non-tiger prawn species that include both biological and economic information

2. Estimation of fishing power creep of the fishery

3. Assessessment of speces distribution for tiger and endeavour prawns to enable splitting group specific catch and effort data

4. Evaluation of economic efficiency under different TACs

Final report

ISBN: 978-1-921826-04-7

Author: Catherine Dichmont

Final Report • 2003-08-29 • 1.87 MB

Demersal finfish resource assessment survey of the north-west slope of Western Australia

Project number: 1998-152

Project Status:

Completed

Budget expenditure: $114,594.93

Principal Investigator: Stephen J. Newman

Organisation: Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) WA

Project start/end date: 21 Jun 1998 - 21 Jul 2004

Contact:

FRDC

TAGS

Need

Trawling in waters west of the 200m isobath is managed by AFMA as part of the NWSTF. AFMA's draft Management Plan for the NWSTF does not encompass fishing for finfish, and this omission has been the main impediment to implementing the Plan to date. In order for the Plan to fully cover all fishery resources within the NWSTF area, knowledge of the distribution of demersal scalefish and their relative abundance is urgently needed.

In the waters east of 120oE, a fishery already exists which covers the slope for line and trap fishing, though no formal discussions have been held with the Commonwealth regarding trawling for the same fish resource in that area. Clearly the jurisdictional arrangements need to be reviewed. The capability of the State-managed and the Commonwealth-managed fishing methods to utilise the resources at different depths form part of the basis for this review.

There is a need for information on the type of resource available to fishers, the relative abundance of those species which have either commercial potential or current market acceptance in the Indo-Pacific and the relative catchability of each of the fishing methods (fish trawl vs. fish trap vs. line). Furthermore, there is a need for biological information (eg. longevity, natural mortality, reproductive biology) about the key species available to fishers in order to begin to understand the population dynamics of these species and hence to assess their vulnerability to fishing pressure. The information that will be provided by this project will form the basis for reviewing the current OCS arrangements between the State and the Commonwealth and will assist in developing management plans for the sustainable exploitation of the demersal fish resources of the North West slope.

Objectives

1. To determine the species distributions and composition of demersal scalefish resources on the NW slope and to examine industry collected catch and effort data to determine an index of relative abundance.

2. To assess the viability of exploiting the demersal scalefish resource of the North-West Slope using (a) fish trawls, traps and lines in the western zone (west of 120 degrees longitude) and

(b) traps and lines in the eastern zone (east of 120 degrees longitude).

3. To gather biological information on the major species (eg. to investigate longevity, natural mortality and aspects of their reproductive biology).

Final report

ISBN: 1 877098 23 X

Author: Stephen Newman

1998-152-DLD.pdf

Summary

The nature and extent of demersal finfish resources in deep slope waters (>200m) off the northwest coast of Western Australia are poorly understood. Existing fish trawl, trap and line fishing effort is concentrated in shallower waters (<200m), while trawling in deep slope waters (>200m) exclusively targets crustaceans.

Despite significant initial levels of interest in this project, poor commercial catches contributed to fishers returning to grounds in shallower waters on the shelf. As a consequence of the lack of significant commercial catches in the deep slope region there was a very low level of industry participation in the project. To date there is little evidence to indicate the existence or otherwise of significant demersal fish resources in the deep slope region.

A number of high value species were landed from the survey and include; lenko snapper (Dentex tumifrons), ruby snapper (Etelis carbunculus), flame snapper (Etelis coruscans), eight bar cod/grouper (Epinephelus octofasciatus) and Tang snapper (Lipocheilus carnolabrum).

Final Report • 2003-08-29 • 1.87 MB

1998-152-DLD.pdf

Summary

People Development Program: 2009/2010 FRDC International travel bursary - John Keane

Project number: 2008-314.15

Project Status:

Completed

Budget expenditure: $5,289.24

Organisation: University of Tasmania (UTAS)

Project start/end date: 30 Jun 2009 - 29 Jun 2010

Contact:

FRDC

TAGS

Need

Determining links between spawning dynamics, as well as the early life history, of small pelagic fishes and oceanographic processes off south-eastern Australia is needed to strengthen the understanding of stock structure, basic biology, and the impacts of various environmental influences on the target species in the Commonwealth Small Pelagic Fishery. Little information is known about bio-physical links in this region, despite studies worldwide showing that oceanographic processes play a critical role in determining recruitment success of small pelagics and influence population dynamics as a whole. Furthermore, global climate change models predict that a strengthening of the East Australian Current (EAC), the largest influence on marine ecosystems in south-eastern Australia, will result in the region being most vulnerable to climate change. As a result, it is essential to understand how EAC dynamics influence small-pelagic fish stocks before any predictions of the influence of climate change can be made.

The opportunity exists to further explore data acquired during a previous ichthyoplankton study to establish links between the early life history stages of small pelagic fishes and ocean currents off south-eastern Australia. However, to fully develop hypotheses on such linkages, it is vital to obtain the latest information on large scale marine systems, ecological models and theories regarding transport, advection, dispersal and retention processes. Such opportunity to gather such information exists with a workshop and conference dedicated to connectivity in marine fish populations in July 2009. Attendance at this workshop would be highly beneficial in discussing and developing theories and hypothesis regarding links between the early life history of small pelagic fishes and oceanographic processes, as well as predicting possible effects of imminent climate change within south-eastern Australia.

Objectives

1. To determine links between larval dynamics of small pelagic fishes and oceanographic features off south-eastern Australia.

2. To source the latest knowledge on connectivity between the early life history of fish and oceanographic processes.

3. To develop hypotheses regarding the influence of oceanic processes associated with the East Australian Current on the spawning dynamics and early life history stages of small pelagic fishes, and propose likely changes to the stock under imminent climate change predictions.

Final report

Recreational Fishing Industry Development Strategy: National angel ring program

Project number: 2011-404

Project Status:

Completed

Budget expenditure: $35,198.88

Principal Investigator: Stan Konstantaras

Organisation: Australian National Sportfishing Association Ltd (ANSA) NSW

Project start/end date: 31 Jan 2012 - 29 Oct 2013

Contact:

FRDC

TAGS

Need

There is no question that an Angel Rings program designed to save anglers lives is needed and has wide support, not only from recreational fishers but also throughout the wider community.

Fishers and tourists around Australia have drowned after being swept off coastal rock platforms. In 1993 the life of a rockfishing angler was saved at Moes Rock, south of Jervis Bay (NSW) by a life ring installed by a bereaved father who had lost his son while rockfishing at same spot earlier that year.

This was the impetus for establishing the "Guardian Angel Rings" program by ANSA NSW in 1994. Angel Rings are life buoys installed at popular ocean rock fishing spots, on wharves, fishing platforms and along coastal bushwalking tracks. Those that can benefit from the Angel Rings include anglers, overseas tourists, children walking on the rocks, spearfishers and divers.

At the same time as providing public rescue equipment for saving lives it was recognised that education of fishers was also needed to limit the number of incidents were lives were put at risk. For a very long time ANSA have been at the forefront of educating anglers about conservation, sport, integrity and safety in fishing. Anglers drown on beaches, rocks, in rivers, bays and oceans unnecessarily ever year and a targeted awareness education capaign could see a reduction in the number of people losing their lives each year

Objectives

1. Establish a national Angel Rings pilot program covering all states where rockfishing fatalities are a significant concern

2. Identify potential sites for the pilot deployment of Angel Rings in those states

3. Obtain the necessary state/regional approvals for locating angel rings at these identified sites

4. Devolve management of Angel Rings and expansion of the program to state/local groups

5. Monitor and Report on the effectiveness of the Angel Rings program

Final report

ISBN: 9780-646-98533-6

Author: Stan Konstantaras

Summary

Angel Rings are lifesaving buoys placed at popular rockfishing spots to aid rockfishers, tourists and the members of the public who slip or get washed in to the water. Angel rings are designed to keep them afloat until a rescue can be organised or as a buoyancy aid to assist them to get to a safer spot to exit the water.

The Australian National Sportfishing Association (ANSA) in partnership with the Fisheries Research and Development Corporation commenced a trial of "Angel Rings" around Australia

The Recreational Fishing Advisory Committee (RFAC) identified the national roll-out of the Angel Rings program as a key project as part of the Recreational Fishing Industry Development Strategy (RFIDS). There was unanimous agreement that the NSW project had a demonstrated track record in saving lives at various NSW coastal rock platform locations and should be expanded nationally where there was a risk of lives being lost.

States like Western Australia and Victoria where historically lives had been lost off coastal rock platforms were the ultimate target for Angel Rings and to a lesser extent South Australia, Tasmania and Queensland also qualified for the investigation of installing Angel Rings.

The FRDC National Angel Ring Project ("Project") set out to deliver a complete package of rock fishing safety equipment to all the State Branches of ANSA that had experienced rock fishing incidents and fatalities and as a way of updating the branches on current practices and alerting the branches to some of the rock fishing safety initiatives underway in the other states. Its secondary focus was a roll out of education material and messages into the community via the ANSA network.

The Project achieved some great inroads in establishing Angel Rings in some states like Western Australia and has led to relationships in other states that has seen ANSA share and develop rockfishing safety awareness and education campaigns in a cohesive and consistent matter.

The staggered nature that each state has progressed has ultimately meant that ANSA has been unable to deliver all the agreed milestones even though one of the biggest beneficiaries of Angel Rings, Western Australia has agreed to sign off and ultimately devolve the project and take over management of the Project in WA were it has been a great success. In all fairness to the other states WA was and continues to deal with the very same issues surrounding rock fishing safety that NSW has previously dealt with.

Apart from the staggered nature of the roll-out one of the biggest impediments for ANSA has been the changes in the configuration of the GPS Tracker units from our supplier. The entire project was founded around the ability for the states and government agencies agreeing to install Angel Rings on the basis that remote access would also be provided from GPS trackers located and embedded within the Angel rings and could be checked remotely from a computer console anywhere in the world. This alleviated the need for physical checks.

ANSA had already committed to and had rings operational in WA with GPS trackers when it had to essentially shut the remote monitoring down due to the lack of suitability and availability of GPS trackers to continue the project. Thankfully WA had a very supporting Government that committed extra fund to assist in monitoring of the Angel Rings and Peak Body groups like RECFISH WEST, who were involved in working with ANSA had and extensive network of anglers all over WA who would handle the physical checking of the rings and handle replacing any missing ones.

ANSA acknowledges that this situation is not ideal or what has been agreed upon with FRDC but as the project has evolved this has been the best scenario we have been able to operate under. ANSA has been in discussion with FRDC to try and better understand how similar projects might be delivered, especially when dealing with volunteer organisations. The better understanding gained with this project could benefit how groups like ANSA operate into the future considering all of the time and effort is volunteer based.

Summary

The Australian National Sportfishing Association (ANSA) in partnership with the Fisheries Research and Development Corporation commenced a trial of "Angel Rings" around Australia

Summary

The Australian National Sportfishing Association (ANSA) in partnership with the Fisheries Research and Development Corporation commenced a trial of "Angel Rings" around Australia

Summary

The Australian National Sportfishing Association (ANSA) in partnership with the Fisheries Research and Development Corporation commenced a trial of "Angel Rings" around Australia

Summary

The Australian National Sportfishing Association (ANSA) in partnership with the Fisheries Research and Development Corporation commenced a trial of "Angel Rings" around Australia

Summary

The Australian National Sportfishing Association (ANSA) in partnership with the Fisheries Research and Development Corporation commenced a trial of "Angel Rings" around Australia

Re-assessing giant crab (Pseudocarcinas gigas) size limits to optimise value and sustainability of the fishery

Project number: 2006-022

Project Status:

Completed

Budget expenditure: $49,983.01

Principal Investigator: Caleb Gardner

Organisation: University of Tasmania (UTAS)

Project start/end date: 29 Sep 2006 - 30 Oct 2008

Contact:

FRDC

TAGS

SPECIES

Need

Inappropriate fishery regulations can harm fisheries by unnecessarily retarding stock rebuilding. While the initial setting of size limits in the giant crab fishery was based on the precautionary principle and the best available data, the market preference for small crabs was not anticipated and therefore not considered when size limits were set. Any changes to fishery controls, particularly in a fishery where catch rates appear to be stabilising, must be approached with caution. Given that the emphasis of size limits has, appropriately, been on preserving the fertility of crab stocks, it would be inappropriate to adjust size limits without first re-evaluating the reproductive status of the population. This is particularly important as we know that the way the fishery is currently structured has resulted in an unbalanced harvesting of males and females. Biological data gathered during this process will significantly improve the predictive capability of the assessment model with respect to egg production.

This proposal addresses three of the 12 research and development priorities for wild fisheries outlined in the Tasmanian Fisheries and Aquaculture Research Strategic Plan (2005-2008). It addresses the priority 'Management options/assessment' by seeking to optimise management measures for the giant crab fishery, the priority of 'Resource assessment & monitoring' by providing information on the current reproductive status of the giant crab population, and the priority area 'impacts of fishing' by comparing current reproductive parameters with that of the population prior to the rapid expansion of this fishery.

Objectives

1. Describe the reproductive status of the fished giant crab population and compare it to that of the virgin population.

2. Assess the implications of changes in current size limits, and document options that best balance the aims of optimising value while rebuilding stocks.

Final report

ISBN: 978-1-86295-543-1

Author: Caleb Gardner