The Scientific Reference Group (SRG), including Drs Alistar Robertson, Simon Thrush, Andrew Heyward, John Keesing, Colin Buxton, Chris Simpson and Jim Penn, was formed as an independent body to provide advice on research directions, to examine the effects of western rock lobster fishing on the ecosystem. The SRG identified that there is a major gap in the understanding of the interactions between the rock lobster fishery and the ecosystem in deep water. Although significant data is available on the shallow (40 m) water ecology of lobsters and the fishing impact there is gap in the knowledge of the deep-water ecology of lobster. They recognised that the major change in abundance and size structure of the western rock lobster population would have occurred in deep water (40-100 m), and concluded this was a priority area of research. There is a need to collect basic ecological information to determine if changes in lobster density and size structure,due to fishing has caused significant changes in habitat structure and benthic community composition in deep water. This will provide information on the level of ecosystem impact of removing lobsters from deep-water habitats to improve the assessment of risk to the ecosystem to ensure that the western rock lobster fishery maintains MSC certification and complies with DEH requirements for export permits. However, the SRG recognised that research needs to occur in a structured manner and have highlighted the need for research proposals which sit within the strategic framework which they have devised. The SRG recognises that the provision of a strategic framework and related scientific research will ultimately allow management of deep-water stocks in a more sophisticated ecosystem-based manner.
Project number:
2004-049
Project Status:
Completed
Budget expenditure:
$1,783,713.00
Principal Investigator:
Lynda Bellchambers
Organisation:
Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) WA
Project start/end date:
14 Aug 2004
-
30 Jul 2008
Contact:
FRDC
SPECIES
1. To identify gradients in the density/size distribution of western rock lobster to enable selection of representative areas.
2. To assess the catchability of western rock lobster and its relationship with population abundance and size structure
3. To identify the relationship between the deep-water habitat and the density/size distribution of western rock lobster to enable a preliminary evaluation of the impact of lobster biomass removal in the deep-water
PROJECT NUMBER
•
2022-063
PROJECT STATUS:
CURRENT
WRL Communication, Education and Engagement Program
1. Strengthen industry members' engagement: Increase the full participation by internal stakeholders in Council activities, to best enable the Council to represent the industry to government and other stakeholders. This includes industry engagement and communication of WRL IPA activities and R&D...
ORGANISATION:
Western Rock Lobster Council Inc (WRLC)
PROJECT NUMBER
•
2022-060
PROJECT STATUS:
CURRENT
Understanding the Economics and Markets of the Western Rock Lobster industry
1. Enable the Global Trade Report the MEY Model and the Markets Dashboard to work together with the Harvest Strategy to underpin TACC setting and ensure the continued sustainability of the stock.
ORGANISATION:
Western Rock Lobster Council Inc (WRLC)
PROJECT NUMBER
•
2019-159
PROJECT STATUS:
CURRENT
Developing an independent shallow-water survey for the Western Rock Lobster Fishery: tracking pre-recruitment abundance and habitat change
1. Produce accurate measures of pre-recruit abundance throughout the West Coast Rock Lobster Managed Fishery. Compare with commercial monitoring undersize lobster abundance and puerulus settlement data.
ORGANISATION:
Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) Hillarys