Project number: 1996-138
Project Status:
Completed
Budget expenditure: $142,669.00
Principal Investigator: Bruce M. Mapstone
Organisation: James Cook University (JCU)
Project start/end date: 8 Aug 1996 - 30 Jun 2001
Contact:
FRDC

Objectives

1. For the effects of live fish trade: i. To quantify the effects of live fishing on: a) on-site fishing dynamics and catch-rates in dories
b) primary vessel fleet dynamics
c) tolerance of commercial fishing to declines in catch rates.
2. ii. To verify the effects of live fishing on data routinely recorded in QFMA compulsory logbooks, and identify ways in which the system might be made more efficient.
3. iii. To verify whether live fishing results in concentrated effort around major ports/reefs (e.g., inshore).
4. iv. To identify regional variations in fleet dynamics with respect to live fishing.
5. With respect to targeting spawning aggregations:i. To verify the extent of deliberate targeting of coral trout spawning aggregations by the GBR demersal line fishery
6. ii. To quantify the encounter rate of [spawning] aggregations of coral trout by reef-line fishermen
7. iii. To compare searching behaviours, dory dynamics, and catch rates and total catches of coral trout during spawning and non-spawning periods
8. iv. To make direct observations of putative spawning aggregations and normal occurrences of coral trout, as encountered by the fishing fleet
9. v. To estimate the net change(s) in catch of coral trout by the commercial fleet during spawning periods

Final report

ISBN: 1-876054-70-0
Author: B. D. Mapstone
Final Report • 2001-06-20 • 1.21 MB
1996-138-DLD.pdf

Summary

This research was done over two years (1996-98) in the early development of the trade in live reef fish from the GBR to clarify the implications of the switch in market for fishing practices, harvest rates, and effort distribution.  The research was based on four sources of information:  i) Direct observations of fishing activities by on-board observers;  ii) Analysis of research logbooks filled out voluntarily by skippers of commercial fishing operations;  iii) Analysis of compulsory logbook data provided to the Queensland Fisheries Management Authority (QFMA); and iv) Interviews with skippers.

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