The existing FRDC-funded project "Study of ghost fishing in the NSW rock lobster fishery" (FRDC project 2007/038; Final report due November 2012) has demonstrated that lost lobster traps continue to catch and accumulate lobsters, resulting in morbidity/mortality. Traps may be lost due to cut-off of head-gear by commercial shipping or recreational vessels, through vandalism or interactions with marine creatures (e.g. cetaceans). Loss of traps and lobsters may also result from theft. One strategy for reducing the potential for cut-offs, ghost-fishing and theft that was examined in FRDC project 2007/038 was the use of acoustic release technology that would privide fishers with "at-call" access to sub-surface head-gear. The Desert Star ARC-1XD system was extensively tested and trialled in experiments that involved commercial fishing on the mid and outer continental shelf off NSW.

The 2 commercial fishers who were involved in these experiments (Mr Ron Firkin and Mr Scott Westley) were so impressed with the performance of the acoustic system and its potential advantages for their businesses that they have made substantial investments in the technology. Both have since successfully used the system for commercial fishing in its "portable" configuration (i.e. running off batteries but not integrated with their vessel's power system and onboard electronics). They have required and continue to require considerable assistance from NSW DPI staff to set-up, use the system and problem-solve. There is now an immediate need to encourage and support this intial phase of commercial use of the system by these pioneering fishers and to provide the infrastructure for the necessary training and support for fishers who elect to invest in this technology in the future.