Stable isotope tracing of the contribution of seagrass production to subtropical fisheries species occurring outside seagrass areas
Low cost management regimes for sustainable, small low-value fisheries based on coastal inshore species
Developing a rapid molecular identification technique to improve egg production based fish biomass assessments
Our ability to assess the status of many important fish species is restricted by the inability to accurately estimate their biomass. In addition, the high costs of such surveys mean that they are not conducted for many species within Australia's Fisheries. Ichthyoplankton surveys to determine egg production and biomass (such as through the daily egg production method (DEPM)) offer an effective means to get this information. However, current techniques cannot be applied broadly because many fish have morphologically identical eggs and molecular sequencing is prohibitively expensive and time consuming. These issues were highlighted in the DEPM assessments for blue mackerel and red bait (FRDC 2002/061 & 2004/39) where there was poor success in morphological identification of fish eggs collected in plankton tows. These projects identified the need to develop an accurate, rapid and inexpensive technique for fish eggs identification. This project will assess the suitability of developing this technique with the ultimate aim of conducting icthyoplankton surveys to inform a DEPM for mackerel species (Qld, NT and WA), pilchard and herring species in the developing tropical small pelagics fishery(NT) and black jewfish (NT, WA, Qld). While the development is focused on tropical species the technique will have application in many southern fisheries.
This project was developed under the steerage of the Northern Research Partnership (NRP) and addresses northern Australia priorities around developing better biomass estimation methods for Spanish/grey mackerel and for the new multi-species small pelagic and Coastal Line Fisheries in the NT.
Final report
Using commercial and recreational fisher knowledge to reconstruct historical catch rates for Queensland Snapper (Chrysophrys auratus), Spanish Mackerel (Scomberomorus commerson) and Coral Trout (Plectropomus spp.): long-term data for incorporation into future stock assessments
It is acknowledged that there is a lack of information on past fisheries (i.e. catch rates, fishing effort, proportion of recorded landings) throughout Queensland prior to the start of individual logbook records in 1988 (Halliday and Robins 2007). Yet information prior to this period is critical for successful management, as longer-term perspectives provide data that can help reduce uncertainty associated with projected historical catch levels (Campbell et al. 2009). Long-term data also informs past fishery states, thus equipping managers, stock assessment modellers and the fishing industry with knowledge of historical fishery trends. This can then be used to facilitate informed discussion of appropriate management methods into the future.
During a review of the 2008 Queensland snapper stock assessment, Francis (2009) called for consultation of ‘knowledgeable people’ in order to reconstruct past catch histories, thereby improving estimates for future stock assessments. We aim to fill this gap in research for two fish species that are of particular economic, social and cultural importance to Queensland, pink snapper (Pagrus auratus) and Spanish mackerel (Scomberomorus commerson), through the collation and synthesis of commercial and recreational fisher knowledge.
Our project has broad application to the FRDC’s Research Plan, as it provides a long-term view of the use and management of aquatic resources. It applies to the National Fishing and Aquaculture RD&E Strategy, as it will gather knowledge that can inform environmentally sustainable fishing through determining past changes to catch rates, locations fished and relative fishing effort. In addition, perceptions of changes to fisheries and the broader ecosystem as a result of non-fishery drivers, i.e. coastal development, resource management measures and social drivers of change, will be gathered. Our proposed research will focus upon commercial and recreational fishers, thus incorporating the two major sectors involved in wild-catch fisheries.