Project Search

9 results

PROJECT NUMBER • 2018-159

PROJECT STATUS:

COMPLETED

Spawning biomass of Jack Mackerel (Trachurus declivis) in the East sub-area of the Small Pelagic Fishery during summer 2019

Estimates of spawning biomass obtained using the Daily Egg Production Method (DEPM) are the primary biological performance indicator for quota species in the Small Pelagic Fishery (SPF). The objective of this study was to conduct ichthyoplankton and adult trawl surveys that underpin the DEPM in the...

ORGANISATION:

SARDI Food Safety and Innovation

TAGS

SPECIES

PROJECT NUMBER • 2017-199

PROJECT STATUS:

COMPLETED

A preliminary assessment of the prevalence of marine micro plastics in Australian fish, crustaceans and molluscs

ORGANISATION:

University of Adelaide

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SPECIES

PROJECT NUMBER • 2017-098

PROJECT STATUS:

COMPLETED

Southern Bluefin Tuna: Changing The Trajectory

Life on the Line is the true story of the Southern Bluefin Tuna, its biological traits and its history of exploitation and most recently its recovery. This documentary covers how research, managers and the fishing industry - commercial and recreational have contributed to the recovering status of...

ORGANISATION:

Australian Fisheries Management Authority (AFMA)

TAGS

SPECIES

Egg distribution, reproductive parameters and spawning biomass of Blue Mackerel, Australian Sardine and Tailor off the East Coast during late winter and early spring

Project number: 2014-033

Project Status:

Completed

Budget expenditure: $247,000.00

Principal Investigator: Timothy M. Ward

Organisation: SARDI Food Safety and Innovation

Project start/end date: 9 Aug 2014 - 30 Oct 2015

Contact:

FRDC

TAGS

SPECIES

Need

Knowledge of the winter/spring spawning patterns of Blue Mackerel and Australian Sardine is needed to underpin future assessment of these stocks and to underpin the ecologically sustainable development of pelagic fish resources off the East Coast of Australia.

Recent and robust estimates the population size of Blue Mackerel and Australian Sardine off the East Coast are needed to address community concerns regarding the potential ecological impacts of large scale fishing for small pelagic fishes off the East Coast.

Information on the egg distribution, reproductive parameters and spawning biomass of Tailor is needed to inform future management of this iconic recreational fishing species.

Objectives

1. Determine distribution and abundance of eggs and larvae of Blue Mackerel, Australian Sardine and Tailor off the East Coast during winter/spring.

2. Establish methods for estimating adult reproductive parameters of Blue Mackerel, Australian Sardine and Tailor off the East Coast during winter/spring.

3. Produce preliminary estimates of the spawning biomass of Blue Mackerel, Australian Sardine and Tailor of the East Coast during winter/spring.

Final report

ISBN: 978-921563-85-0

Final Report • 2015-12-17 • 4.02 MB

2014-033-DLD.pdf

Beyond GVP: The value of inshore commercial fisheries to fishers and consumers in regional communities on Queensland’s east coast

Project number: 2013-301

Project Status:

Completed

Budget expenditure: $179,648.64

Principal Investigator: Sean Pascoe

Organisation: CSIRO Oceans and Atmosphere Hobart

Project start/end date: 31 Dec 2013 - 29 Jun 2016

Contact:

FRDC

TAGS

SPECIES

Need

There are multiple threats to ongoing access/operation of commercial inshore fisheries (finfish and crab) along Queensland’s east coast. These include port developments and expansions, coastal development, public perception (which influences management) and competition between fishing sectors (which also influences management). These threats to access could adversely affect not only commercial fishers themselves, but also secondary industries as well as the availability of seafood to local communities. It is now well documented that consumers prefer local seafood products, and are willing to pay more for seafood labelled ‘local’ (Tobin et al. 2010; Calogeras et al. 2011).

It could be assumed that reducing these threats and ensuring ongoing operation of commercial fisheries and local seafood supply is desirable, for many social and economic reasons. Yet there is little information about the value inshore commercial fisheries and fishing businesses provide to communities (aside from the much used GVP, which has long been recognised as a nonsensical measure of value (e.g. Edwards 1991, McPhee & Hundloe 2004)), or the relative value of local seafood compared to non-local seafood for consumers.

Without knowing the real economic value of commercial fisheries and local seafood for regional communities, decisions regarding management of, and access to, resources are likely to be ill informed. Real value information can be used to ensure appropriate access of fishers and consumers to fisheries resources, better assess the economic impacts of other coastal activities that negatively affect fishing, or better inform reallocation processes where necessary.

Objectives

1. Determine the economic value of inshore commercial finfish and crab fisheries within Qld east-coast regional communities

2. Model the flow-on economic and employment value of inshore commercial fisheries

3. Determine the relative value of local seafood compared to non-local Australian or imported products

4. Develop a transferable methodology template to measure the value of commercial fisheries to regional communities for a broader range of fisheries

Final report

ISBN: 978-1-4863-0728-9

Author: Sean Pascoe

Final Report • 2016-12-21 • 1.90 MB

2013-301-DLD.pdf

Small Pelagics Research Co-ordination Program

Project number: 2013-064

Project Status:

Completed

Budget expenditure: $81,800.00

Principal Investigator: Colin Buxton

Organisation: Colin Buxton and Associates

Project start/end date: 31 Jan 2014 - 27 Feb 2015

Contact:

FRDC

TAGS

SPECIES

Need

Several scientific studies have recently examined the effects of fisheries on small pelagic species (also sometimes called forage fish) and how they should be managed so as to avoid undesirable flow-on effects of these fisheries on the food web and ecosystem. There is now clear and widely agreed understanding about how these fisheries should be managed, and this understanding has a strong scientific basis (e.g. Smith et al. 2011). The latest and most comprehensive study and guidance comes from the Lenfest Forage Fish Task Force (Pikitch et al. 2012).

Although methods used to set the TAC in the SPF were consistent with this scientific advice, recent attempts to introduce a factory trawler into the fishery were met with intense public resistance. Much of the concern related to perceived risks of localised depletion and the impact that this would have on fisheries for predator species (eg SBT). Thus the interaction between commercial fisheries for small pelagics and commercial and/or recreational fisheries that target predators is pertinent.

There was also considerable debate over the stock status and assessment method (Daily Egg Production Method – DEPM). This highlighted a significant level of distrust in the science and management of small pelagics, something that is likely to continue unless a concerted effort is made to increase our understanding of small pelagic fisheries and to better communicate this knowledge to the community and other stakeholders.

The aim of this project is to build confidence in the science underpinning the sustainability of small pelagic fisheries in Australia.

Pikitch, E., et al. (2012) Little Fish, Big Impact: Managing a Crucial Link in Ocean Food Webs. Lenfest Ocean Program. Washington, DC. 108 pp. http://www.oceanconservationscience.org/foragefish/

Smith, A.D.M., et al. (2011) Impacts of fishing low-trophic level species on marine ecosystems. Science, 333: 1147-1150

Objectives

1. To administer and co-ordinate the activities of FRDC funded small pelagics (SP) research

2. To review project proposals to ensure stakeholder relevance

3. To review milestone reports and final reports

4. To facilitate and chair meetings of the SP Technical Committee

5. To ensure appropriate liaison between beneficiaries and research providers

6. To provide advice to FRDC, DAFF, AFMA and other stakeholders on SP research

7. To communicate findings of SP research through: a) Research meetings (possibly held in conjunction with a major conference such as ASFB or Seafood Directions) b) Specialist workshops aimed at stakeholders on topics identified through the course of the program

and c) Relevant articles in the media and Fish magazine

Final report

Author: Colin David Buxton

Final Report • 2017-01-22 • 6.32 MB

2013-064-DLD.pdf

Summer spawning patterns and preliminary Daily Egg Production Method survey of Jack Mackerel and Sardine off the East Coast

Project number: 2013-053

Project Status:

Completed

Budget expenditure: $220,000.00

Principal Investigator: Timothy M. Ward

Organisation: SARDI Food Safety and Innovation

Project start/end date: 19 Dec 2013 - 19 Dec 2014

Contact:

FRDC

TAGS

SPECIES

Need

Knowledge of the summer spawning patterns of Jack Mackerel and Australian Sardine is needed to underpin future assessment of these stocks and to underpin the ecologically sustainable development of pelagic fish resources off the East Coast of Australia.

Methods for estimating the population size of Jack Mackerel and Australian Sardine need be established to address community concerns regarding the potential ecological and social impacts of large scale fishing for small pelagic fishes off the East Coast.

Objectives

1. Establish methods for estimating adult reproductive parameters of Jack Mackerel and Australian Sardine off the East Coast.

2. Determine distribution and abundance of eggs and larvae of Jack Mackerel and Australian Sardine off East Coast during summer

3. Produce preliminary estimates of the spawning biomass of Jack Mackerel and Australian Sardine off the East Coast during summer

Final report

ISBN: 978-1-921563-73-7

Author: Tim M. Ward

Final Report • 2015-03-18 • 1.73 MB

2013-053-DLD.pdf

Summary

This study was undertaken collaboratively by fisheries scientists from the South Australian Research and Development Institute (SARDI) and the University of Tasmania. It was the first dedicated application of the Daily Egg Production Method (DEPM) to Jack Mackerel, Trachurus declivis. It successfully collected large numbers of samples of eggs and adults concurrently from the key spawning area off eastern Australia during what has been previously identified as the main spawning period. The study established an effective method for sampling adult Jack Mackerel and provides the first estimates for this species of the adult reproductive parameters required for application of the DEPM. The spawning biomass of Jack Mackerel off eastern Australia during January 2014 was estimated to be approximately 157,805 t (95% CI = 59,570 358,731). Most of the estimates of spawning biomass obtained in sensitivity analyses were between approximately 95,000 t and 215,000 t. Plausible values for only two parameters provide estimates of spawning biomass that were outside that range; both of these parameters were estimated with a high degree of confidence in the present study.

This was also the first study to investigate the spawning habitat of Australian Sardine Sardinops sagax off eastern Australia during summer. It showed that during January 2014 spawning occurred between northern Tasmania and southern Victoria. The spawning biomass at this location during this period was approximately 10,962 t. This estimate should be treated with caution as adult samples were not collected during the study. It also is important to note that this not an estimate of the total adult biomass of Australian Sardine off eastern Australia. It is only an estimate of the portion of the population that was spawning in this southern part of the range during that period. The main spawning area of Australian Sardine off eastern Australia occurs off southern Queensland and northern NSW during late winter and early spring.

Keywords: Jack Mackerel, Trachurus declivis, Australian Sardine, Sardinops sagax, Daily Egg Production Method, Spawning Biomass, Small Pelagic Fishery, eastern Australia, Tasmania, Bass Strait.

PROJECT NUMBER • 2013-046

PROJECT STATUS:

COMPLETED

Life history specific habitat utilisation of tropical fisheries species

ORGANISATION:

James Cook University (JCU)

TAGS

SPECIES

PROJECT NUMBER • 2003-060

PROJECT STATUS:

COMPLETED

Byproduct: Catch, economics and co-occurrence in Australias longline fisheries

The longline sector of the Eastern Tuna and Billfish Fishery (ETBF) and the Southern and Western Tuna and Billfish Fishery (SWTBF) target four main species and incidentally take over 80 other species as “bycatch”. Significant amounts of these species are often retained for sale, and...

ORGANISATION:

Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) ABARES

TAGS

SPECIES