NCCP: Population dynamics and Carp biomass estimates
WINSC 2018 Annual Conference Sponsorship
The need exists to bring together WINSC members from wide geographical and demographic spheres as well as from a diverse range of women involved in the Australasian Seafood Industry to hold an annual conference and AGM to build the capacity of its seafood women to contribute to their industry
Tactical Research Fund: Developing cost-effective and reliable Industry-based surveys to advise re-opening and conservative management of abalone populations on AVG-affected reefs
Abalone Viral Ganglioneuritis (AVG) was first observed causing unprecedented, catastrophic mortality of abalone in western Victoria during May 2006, and has continued to spread. As a direct consequence, there has already been large reductions in TAC with consequent reductions in the GVP of the Industry and its profitability. Further, the AVG-related mortality has led to great uncertainty about the status of the abalone populations (e.g. depletion) and their future productive ability (e.g. catch). Areas where populations have been affected by AVG, including adjacent to Port Fairy, have now been closed to fishing for periods approaching three years, and as a result, little or no information is available about abalone populations in many of these areas. What information that is available has come from costly fishery-independent surveys completed by VIC DPI in a limited number of areas, and anecdotal information from Industry divers at a finer-scale for a broader selection of areas.
There is now a strong need to develop cost effective and reliable surveys of the AVG-affected abalone populations, to provide information and support decisions about possible re-opening and conservative management. Industry-based surveys and structured fishing have the potential to provide a cost-effective and reliable method of collecting more, finer-scale information about the status and productivity of populations, and to also allow an audit of the resource to enable Industry to fish-to-market within the agreed conservative management guidelines. Both these aims will influence the future profitability of the Industry. Further, finer-scale and more representative information about the stocks, that is possible through the use of more cost-efficient Industry-based surveys, will also be fundamental to better assessment and management of the populations to ensure sustainability for all stakeholders.
Second Australian National Prawn Seminar
Proceedings
Since the First Australian National Prawn Seminar in 1973, Australian prawn fisheries have grown in size and value to become Australia's most valuable fisheries resource. In the same period the number of people involved in the fishing industry, research and management has also increased. Major new research centres have been established and several new programs implemented. A wide array of management regimes have been introduced including limited entry, seasonal and area closures coupled with sampling regimes to optimise the size at which prawns are harvested. Recently there has been a resurgence of interest in penaeid aquaculture which has been stimulated by the marked increase in pond production in South America and South East Asia, and the impact the product is having on world markets.
Because of the wide geographic separation of the various Australian prawn fisheries, there is little opportunity for those involved in the industry to meet and discuss topics at the national level. Accordingly it was felt that an update of developments and progress in research, management, economics, marketing, and aquaculture was necessary. We formed an organising committee and obtained funds to cover conference and publication expenses.
The Second Australian National Prawn Seminar was held at Kooralbyn, Queensland from 22 to 26 October 1984.