172 results

Genetic stock structure of commercially important deep sea crab species

Project number: 2020-014
Project Status:
Current
Budget expenditure: $20,000.00
Principal Investigator: Jason Kennington
Organisation: University of Western Australia (UWA)
Project start/end date: 30 Jun 2021 - 29 Jun 2022
:

Need

Two deep sea crab species crystal crab (Chaceon albus) and champagne crab (Hypothalassia acerba) are captured by both the West Coast Deep Sea Crustacean Managed Fishery (WCDSCMF) and South Coast Crustacean Managed Fishery (SCCMF). The greatest catches of these two species are landed by the WCDSCMF. As part of the MSC certification process for the WCDSCMF, information is required on the stock structure of (PI 1.2.3) and recent surveillance of this fishery identified; "…there is little information on the stock structure of crabs.... and this may weaken a stock assessment". Therefore information on the genetic stock structure will assist in the stock assessment of crystal crab and future MSC re-certification of the WCDSCMF. The information will also aid in the stock assessment and management of the SCCMF crab fisheries. The recent stock assessment of crystal crab in the SCCMF indicated an unacceptable level of stock depletion. Catches in this area have been highly cyclical unlike those on the west coast. This pattern is very similar to that of rock lobster and blue swimmer crab, whereby the main spawning stock resides on the west coast with large and consistent catches, while those on the south coast are sporadic with recruitment e.g. possibly only flowing down in strong Leeuwin Current years. These south coast areas are considered a resource ‘sink’. Irrespective of the similarities, the south coast deep-sea crab fisheries are still managed conservatively under the assumption of self-recruiting (they are not treated as sink populations). Determination of the recruitment linkages between the west and south coast fisheries will have marked implications on the management arrangement required for both fisheries.

Objectives

1. Determine the stock structure of the crystal crab Chaceon albus
2. Determine the stock structure of the champagne crab Hypothalassia acerba
3. Assess the implication of stock structures on the management arrangements required for both fisheries
Environment
PROJECT NUMBER • 2019-021
PROJECT STATUS:
CURRENT

Integrating recreational fishing information into harvest strategies for multi-sector fisheries

This interim report provides an update on workshops with recreational fishers, scientists and managers to investigate recreational fishing objectives for three stocks of recreational importance in NSW – Mulloway, Yellowtail Kingfish, and Snapper. The study forms part of a broader research...
ORGANISATION:
Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (NSW)
Industry
Industry
Environment
Communities

Understanding the feasibility of close kin mark recapture for Scalloped Hammerhead in Australia, SE Asia and the Western Pacific

Project number: 2023-068
Project Status:
Current
Budget expenditure: $144,462.00
Principal Investigator: Toby Patterson
Organisation: CSIRO Environment
Project start/end date: 2 Oct 2023 - 27 Feb 2025
:

Need

As a species listed under CITES Appendix II, SHH are harvested under a total allowable catch of 200t, which was implemented for Australia to meet its obligations under non-detriment findings. Further, the conservation status of SHH is currently being reassessed under the EPBC Act. A recent SHH stock assessment undertaken using data poor methods highlighted the paucity of data available for the species and, importantly, that informative data will almost certainly not be available in the foreseeable future. Therefore there is no expecation that current uncertainty will resolve with status-quo data collection strategies.

New approaches, such as CKMR, are required to gather informative data to better understand stock status and verify that the 200t catch limit is appropriate. The project proposed here aims to explore likely scenarios to determine the sample size, budget, and required sampling logistics in order to obtain either an estimate of spawning abundance of SHH stocks found in northern Australia, or to determine that the current catch limits will not be detrimental to the sustainability of the species. This project intends to utilise available fisheries observer data and the current understanding of population trends and demographic information to evaluate

(1) whether the species is a viable candidate for close-kin mark-recapture assessments, and

(2) the extent of sampling required to produce a precise estimate of population abundance and/or other population metrics useful for management.

Objectives

1. Expand recent stock assessment work to parameterise plausible alternative population models for the Australian/SE Asian region, accounting for uncertainty in catch history and stock structure
2. Explore sampling avenues for Australian as well as international jurisdictions, including stakeholder consultation on the feasibility of potential sampling scenarios
3. Estimate sampling / logistical costs of various sampling schemes. This would include information on achievable rates of sample accumulation and sequencing costs to deliver estimates of abundance with acceptable uncertainty (e.g. a coefficient of variation &lt
20%).
4. Determine the feasibility of CKMR for Scalloped Hammerhead in Northern Australia and the Indo-Pacific.

Utilisation of boat ramp cameras to estimate recreational fishing catch and effort in key Victorian fisheries

Project number: 2021-008
Project Status:
Current
Budget expenditure: $142,200.00
Principal Investigator: Justin D. Bell
Organisation: Victorian Fisheries Authority (VFA) Queenscliff
Project start/end date: 30 Jun 2021 - 29 Aug 2024
:

Need

There is no current information on total recreational fishing effort or landings for Victorian fisheries and therefore no continuous time series on these variables, as is the case in most jurisdictions. This represent a key knowledge gap, and hence risk, for fisheries sustainability in the state and has resulted in several fisheries (i.e. those with significant recreational catch) being assessed as ‘Undefined’ in the most recent SAFS round.
In addition to the above, the Victorian Government has brought out several bay and inlet fisheries over the last two decades, meaning recreational catch is the most significant harvest component for most species/stocks. This also means that there is no longer commercial logbook data being obtained on which to base assessment of these species/stocks. As such, having recreational catch and effort information will enable more sophisticated population dynamic stock assessment models to be used for assessment purposes. Victoria possesses such a model that is parameterised for the Western Victorian Snapper Stock (WVSS), complete with management strategy evaluation, that cannot be used to inform decision making at present because the landings from the largest fleet (i.e. boat based recreational fishers) are currently unknown.
Recreational catch and effort information will be used for ongoing stock assessment to inform management advice to inform the following immediate, direct priorities: 1) WVSS harvest strategy, 2) rebuilding of the Gippsland Lakes black bream stock, 3) Corner Inlet Management Plan, and 4) assessment of the eastern Victorian snapper stock.

Objectives

1. Calibration of boat ramp camera infrastructure
2. Extrapolation of fishing effort to boat ramps that do not have cameras using Google Earth imagery
3. Combining fishing effort information derived from boat ramp cameras and Google Earth with creel survey data to estimate the fishing effort and landings of snapper in Port Phillip Bay, the total boat based recreational landings in Corner Inlet and landings of black bream in the Gippsland Lakes
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