368 results
Environment
PROJECT NUMBER • 2007-038
PROJECT STATUS:
COMPLETED

Study of ghost fishing in the NSW rock lobster fishery

This project concerns an assessment of the significance ghost fishing in the NSW Rock Lobster Fishery and potential modifications to fishing gears and practices that could minimise trap loss and consequent ghost fishing of the target species, Eastern Rock Lobster, Sagmariasus verreauxi. The...
ORGANISATION:
Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (NSW)
Environment
PROJECT NUMBER • 2015-026
PROJECT STATUS:
COMPLETED

Understanding recruitment variation (including the collapse) of Saucer Scallop stocks in Western Australia and assessing the feasibility of assisted recovery measures for improved management in a changing environment

This study examined possible contributing environmental factors to the recruitment variability of the Ballot’s saucer scallop Ylistrum balloti across the main stocks in Western Australia. The project was undertaken to explain the variation observed between years and between regions as well...
ORGANISATION:
Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) WA

Opportunities and impacts of range extending scalefish species: understanding population dynamics, ecosystem impacts and management needs

Project number: 2018-070
Project Status:
Completed
Budget expenditure: $249,587.00
Principal Investigator: Sean Tracey
Organisation: University of Tasmania
Project start/end date: 31 May 2019 - 30 Nov 2020
Contact:
FRDC

Need

Species-level responses to ocean warming is a priority research area as they underpin the structure and function of marine ecosystems and the productivity of fisheries that operate within them.
There are a number of range extending species that have become increasingly abundant in Tasmanian waters, providing new fishing opportunities for recreational and, to a lesser extent, commercial fishers. Species in this group include Pink Snapper, King George Whiting and Yellowtail Kingfish. While King George Whiting are known to spawn off the north coast it is unclear as to whether the other species have or are likely to become established as self-sustaining populations in Tasmanian waters or simply persist as spill-over from populations that are centered off mainland Australia. If the former is the case, it will be especially important to consider population attributes such as growth, mortality and reproductive dynamics relevant to the Tasmanian populations when developing and refining management arrangements to maximise the opportunities these 'new' species bring.

In addition, the broader ecosystem impacts of such range extending species, including competition with resident species at similar trophic levels, are unknown but could have consequences for other recreationally and commercially important species. Understanding these relationships will have benefits for the assessment and management of the Tasmanian recreational fishery more generally.

Objectives

1. Develop a program for ongoing collection of biological samples and data of key range-shifting fish species using citizen science initiatives engaging with the recreational fishing community.
2. Develop geographically discrete life-history parameters for key range-shifting fish species in Tasmania to inform management decisions.
3. Determine the diet composition of key range-shifting fish species to refine parameterisation of an ecosystem model.
4. Utilise the Atlantis ecosystem model framework to predict ecological impacts of increasing abundance of key range-shifting fish species in Tasmania.
5. Develop species distribution models that utilise oceanographic climate change projections to predict the future presence and persistence of the key target species in Tasmania.

Final report

ISBN: 978-1-922708-28-1
Author: Alexia Graba-Landry
Final Report • 2022-05-12 • 13.57 MB
2018-070-DLD.pdf

Summary

This work set out to quantify the biology and diet of three key range-shifting species in Tasmania with both recreational and commercial fishery value. The project was heavily reliant on engagement from the recreational fishing community and multiple citizen science initiatives, as well as historical data.

The information collected was used in modelling to predict how suitable habitats for each species may shift under future climate change projections. The work also indicated the potential changes to the ecosystem (such as food web) if these species’ ranges were to move.

Validating a defensible and robust method for data collection, species composition and reporting the harvest of protected coral species from the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area

Project number: 2016-051
Project Status:
Completed
Budget expenditure: $24,000.00
Principal Investigator: Ryan J. Donnelly
Organisation: Pro-vision Reef Inc
Project start/end date: 30 Sep 2016 - 29 Apr 2017
Contact:
FRDC

Need

The Queensland Coral Fishery (QCF) operates within the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park. It operates under quota within a Total Allowable Catch (TAC). Catch is recorded in two categories. “Specialty Coral” and “Other Coral”. Specialty Coral quota constrains the collection of CITES corals to sustainable levels.

Globally regarded as one of the best managed coral fisheries, social acceptability of wild-harvest aquarium fisheries constantly challenges the existence of the QCF. This challenge is partway met by ensuring catch reporting in the QCF sets global standards for accuracy and transparency. Major reforms introduced to catch reporting in 2016 for the QCF raise these standards further. The reporting reforms will underpin assessments of ecological risk and environmental performance, the CITES non-detriment finding, and to maintain national and international market access.

The new measures now require the reporting of total actual weights for CITES corals, however it does not account for the weight of substrate attached to the actual coral when collected, which is typically removed after landing. Industry successfully advocated that trimmed substrate should not be allocated to Specialty Coral quota and that 25% of the weight should be allocated to Other Coral. This allows the true value and accurate weight of Specialty Coral quota to be realized and the total weight accounted for in the TAC. However the 25% figure is based solely on industry experience and requires independent validation. To ensure reporting is both accurate and has potential application to other fisheries, validating the quantum of trimmed substrate is critical. This project will provide this validation.

It is important that the proportion of trimmed substrate is validated through an independent scientific study for the following reasons:

• Continued social acceptance of the QCF.
• Fisheries Queensland, and the Commonwealth Department of the Environment and Energy require that the trimmed substrate proportion is based on independent scientific data.
• The proportion must be fairly applied to all QCF collectors for quota equity purposes (ie. it represents the current fishery and is not unfairly biased to any individual or region).

Objectives

1. Determine a statistically robust sample size
2. Determine the geographical pattern of port unloads in the Queensland Coral Fishery from the most recently completed quota year
3. Determine the proportion of samples to be undertaken in various ports such that the sample is representative of collection in the fishery
4. Determine the trimmed substrate percentage of the total weight of the Specialty Coral component of the unload, as it was reported to Fisheries Queensland
5. Determine the average percentage across all samples
6. Submit final report by 30 April 2017

Final report

ISBN: 978-0-646-97821-5
Author: Morgan S Pratchett
Final Report • 2017-05-30 • 1.15 MB
2016-051-DLD.pdf

Summary

Keywords: Queensland Coral Fishery (QCF), Specialty Coral, Scleractinia, offcut concession, coral weight
 
Executive Summary: Catch reporting in the Queensland Coral Fishery (QCF) has recently undergone reforms to increase data resolution and accuracy for improved management of the fishery. Importantly, this study seeks to rigorously estimate that amount of non-living substrate that is removed from corals. Industry successfully advocated that trimmed substrate should not be allocated to Specialty Coral quota and that 25.0% of the weight should be allocated to Other Coral. This allows the true value and accurate weight of Specialty Coral quota to be realized and the total weight accounted for in the TAC. However the 25.0% figure is based solely on industry experience and requires independent validation.
Environment
PROJECT NUMBER • 2014-023
PROJECT STATUS:
COMPLETED

An industry based mark recapture program to provide stock assessment inputs for the Western Rock Lobster Fishery following introduction of quota management

The West Coast Lobster Managed Fishery (WCRLMF) moved from input to output controls in 2010. This change directly affected the relativity of a number of fisherybased data sources, making assessment of the fishery more problematic. A novel examination of the stock dynamics was required to help ensure...
ORGANISATION:
Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) WA
Environment
PROJECT NUMBER • 2014-020
PROJECT STATUS:
COMPLETED

Application of tracking technologies to understand space-time explicit patterns of movement, residency and habitat use of pelagic sharks in Spencer Gulf: resolving overlaps with key community activities and marine industries

The report focuses on the movement dynamics of two pelagic sharks, the White Shark (Carcharadon carcharias) and Bronze Whaler (Carcharinhus brachyurus), in South Australia. Specific aims were to: (1) determine if aquaculture activities correlated with patterns on fidelity and migration; and (2)...
ORGANISATION:
SARDI Food Safety and Innovation
Environment
PROJECT NUMBER • 2014-019
PROJECT STATUS:
COMPLETED

Developing a fishery independent estimate of biomass for snapper

This study was undertaken by the South Australia Research and Development Institute (SARDI). Through overcoming considerable technical challenges, this study was the first to successfully develop a relatively non-destructive molecular probe that can reliably identify Snapper (Chrysophrys auratus)...
ORGANISATION:
SARDI Food Safety and Innovation
SPECIES
Industry
PROJECT NUMBER • 2003-209
PROJECT STATUS:
COMPLETED

Seafood CRC: Sydney rock oysters: overcoming constraints to commercial scale hatchery and nursery production

Objectives: 1. To establish protocols for improved broodstock conditioning and handling, particularly to permit out-of-season spawning of selected oyster stocks. 2. To determine the effects of the key autecological factors (temperature and salinity) and nutrition on SRO embryos and larvae, to...
ORGANISATION:
Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (NSW)
Environment
PROJECT NUMBER • 2014-028
PROJECT STATUS:
COMPLETED

Mud cockle (Katelysia spp.) stock enhancement/restoration: practical implementation and policy evaluation

This study was conducted to restore the Mud Cockle population in the Section Bank of Port River, South Australia, which had drastically decreased due to commercial fishing. Mud Cockles are important not only for commercial purposes but also for stabilizing sediment and reducing turbidity in the...
ORGANISATION:
SARDI Food Safety and Innovation
SPECIES
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