12,538 results
Environment
PROJECT NUMBER • 2001-214
PROJECT STATUS:
COMPLETED

Aquatic Animal Health Subprogram: development of a disease zoning policy for marteiliosis to support sustainable production, health certification and trade in the Sydney rock oyster

The edible oyster industry in Australia is currently valued at around $62.5 million annually of which rock oyster production accounts for approx 56%. For the industry to survive in the long-term requires the ability to service what may become a premium domestic market demanding a high quality...
ORGANISATION:
Queensland Museum
People
Industry

Proposed Standards and Guidelines for Bycatch Management in Commonwealth Fisheries

Project number: 2010-046
Project Status:
Completed
Budget expenditure: $179,551.00
Principal Investigator: Peter Ward
Organisation: Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) ABARES
Project start/end date: 31 Jul 2010 - 14 Dec 2011
Contact:
FRDC

Need

Through its policy on fisheries bycatch, the Commonwealth acknowledges that ecological sustainable development must be based on a strategic approach to addressing bycatch interactions. There is a need to mitigate fishery interactions with non-target species, particularly threatened, endangered and protected (TEP) species, consistent with AFMA’s aim of promoting the sustainable use of fisheries resources by conserving marine ecosystems and biodiversity. Industry, AFMA and researchers have previously collaborated to address bycatch issues in Commonwealth fisheries, with outputs including the implementation of mitigation devices in specific fisheries, the development of bycatch action plans, bycatch workplans and the ecological risk management (ERM) process. In many cases, however, industry cannot readily demonstrate the benefits of these activities, which is critical for differentiating Australian seafood products from those of less environmentally-friendly competitors.

There is a need for an overarching approach to bycatch mitigation to ensure consistent standards across fisheries and transparent indicators of performance. Bycatch issues are often fisheries specific, but the development of mitigation strategies in individual fisheries needs to address the same core elements, e.g. stakeholder consultation, performance testing, monitoring and compliance. Standards are required to ensure that each of these core elements are adequately addressed in response to the emergence of a bycatch issue.

Standards will also assist the fishing industry in fostering positive public perception and meeting legislative requirements, e.g. strategic assessments under the EPBC Act . Standards are particularly important to fisheries seeking to move to co-management where there is a need for greater transparency and accountability.

Objectives

1. Develop standards for mitigating bycatch in Commonwealth fisheries, including an accompanying set of guidelines for establishing technical criteria for assessing the performance, ongoing monitoring and review of bycatch mitigation measures.
2. Test the proposed standards and guidelines on a bycatch issue in a key Commonwealth fishery.

4th National Abalone Convention

Project number: 2008-330
Project Status:
Completed
Budget expenditure: $20,000.00
Principal Investigator: Dean M. Lisson
Organisation: Abalone Council Australia Ltd (ACA)
Project start/end date: 30 Jun 2008 - 30 Oct 2008
Contact:
FRDC

Need

Australian abalone fisheries face similar threats to the sustainability, marketability of stocks and products. Australia is in an enviable position with a pristine marine environment, and provides the lion's share of the world supply of greenlip and blacklip abalone (H. laevegata & H. rubra). It is evident that abalone producing States do not communicate often or closely enough to maximise the benefits of the extra efforts each State is doing in terms of R&D, stock enhancement, marketing and product labelling. Also, it is evident that there are very few industry driven conventions or conferences around Australia and the world. This idea or concept for a National Forum within which to share ideas and results from various endeavours became a high priority for the Australian abalone industry which is very much supported by other abalone producing States. The convention will address the following needs:
• The need for abalone fisheries to address key issues such as marketing, industry development, product development and labelling.
• The need for closer and more extensive communication and networking with other abalone fishery participants.
• The need for participants to share information, data and methodologies adopted in R&D programs and compliance strategies.
• The need to identify areas of R&D that have proved successful and to imitate that success.
• To update the national strategic plan addressing common issues.

Objectives

1. To host a successful National Abalone Convention.
2. To ensure the convention covers the main areas of concern to all abalone fisheries throughout Australia.
3. To maximise the transfer of information for the promotion of the most cost effective and efficient ways to deal with common issues.
4. To update the national strategic plan dealing with common issues facing Australian abalone fisheries.

People development program: Enabling productivity and efficiency gains in Australian rock lobster fisheries – the 2011 trans-Tasman 7th Rock Lobster Congress.

Project number: 2011-402
Project Status:
Completed
Budget expenditure: $23,880.99
Principal Investigator: Daryl Sykes
Organisation: New Zealand Rock Lobster Industry Council Ltd
Project start/end date: 15 Feb 2011 - 29 Sep 2011
Contact:
FRDC

Need

Australian rock lobster fisheries constitute a range of the most economically valuable seafood industry components of the Australian economy. Despite a 16 per cent decrease in the volume of production the combined Australian lobster fisheries generated a landed value of AU$403.8 million in 2008-09 , ranking as the most economically valuable of the wild catch fisheries.

New Zealand rock lobster fisheries generated an estimated NZ$184 million in 2008/09 .

Australia and New Zealand share a common species – cold water southern rock lobster, Jasus edwardsii – whilst Australia also produces western and tropical rock lobsters, Panulirus species, from temperate and warm waters in Western Australia and Queensland respectively.

As a consequence of the markedly different circumstances in the Australian and New Zealand lobster fisheries and the industries which are dependent upon them there has been increased interest from Australian industry participants and management agencies in the New Zealand research and management processes and outcomes.

The principal ‘architects’ of the 2011 trans-Tasman Congress are confident that the chosen theme of ‘productivity’ is one of sufficient scope to draw together the best available information and advice in regard to the complete product chain for rock lobsters.

The exchange of information, ideas and aspirations at the 2011 trans-Tasman 7th Rock Lobster Congress will streamline and accelerate stock rebuild initiatives and enable greater efficiency gains in terms of research and compliance spend across the various fisheries’ jurisdictions.

Objectives

1. Australian and New Zealand rock lobster industry participants who are better informed of the range of biological and economic options and opportunities which may arise as a consequence of ongoing information sharing and market coordination.
2. Enabling Australian and New Zealand lobster industry participants to gain a hands-on experience of harvest and stock monitoring technologies which can increase productivity
reduce operating costs
and improve sustainable utilisation.
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