The Exmouth Gulf Prawn Fishery from 2008 will become a single operator fishery with M.G. Kailis Gulf
Fisheries Pty. Ltd., operating all licenses and trawlers in the fishery. An opportunity exists to assess the
value of Co-Management for the management for the fishery and for progressing certification under the Marine Stewardship Council through a ‘local self management’ governance model that reports to a locally based community advisory committee. This new direction in fisheries management is anticipated to improve flexibility in real time management, and reduce the burden on the Department of Fisheries for management, research and especially compliance and legislative action. Any self governance must also facilitate reporting of key performance indicators to meet and gain acceptance of fisheries managers and meet longer term reporting needs of the EPBC Act and the Marine Stewardship Council and the broader community.

The case study will provide a strategy for progressing the ‘local’ management of other Western
Australian fisheries, where the catch interaction with other sectors is minimal or where resource shares have been determined for competing sectors. The case study will also provide directions for legislation amendments to WA Legislation necessary to support co-management changes.

This work needs to be immediately undertaken as cabinet approval is being sought from the WA Government for amendments to the Fish Resources Management Act. There is limited time opportunity (about 12 months as drafting proceeds) for the case to be made to government for changes to legislation. Additionally the availability of the Principal Investigator beyond this window of opportunity cannot be guaranteed.

While this program will cover the South-Eastern Australia marine region (including State and Commonwealth waters from approximately the South Australia/ Western Australia border to approximately the New South Wales/ Queensland border), the outputs will contribute to developing and implementing relevant national plans and strategies such as the National Climate Change and Fisheries Action Plan (Draft), and the National Adaptation Research Plan for Marine Biodiversity and Resources.

Within the context of the SEAP, the outcomes of this project will be used to inform the need and priorities for additional social and economic research, and will inform subsequent analyses of management and adaptation strategies. It will also complement and inform the development of a vulnerability framework for use in the marine context in SEAP.