The Western Rock Octopus fishery has become Australia’s fastest growing fishery, with a 5-year average growth of 50% per annum between 2017 and 2022. Despite this expansion, there are still significant gaps in knowledge and practice that do not allow this fishery to grow and develop in an optimum sustainable and socio-economic manner. This project will fill the information gaps and develop pro-active management and economic policy settings that facilitate a comprehensive development of the fishery to its natural capacity. It meets FRDCs two main outcomes of the 2020-2025 R&D plan; growth for enduring prosperity, best practices and production systems, and also meets Enabling Strategy IV: Building capacity and capability.
Project number:
2023-052
Project Status:
Current
Budget expenditure:
$650,260.00
Principal Investigator:
Lachlan Strain
Organisation:
Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) Hillarys
Project start/end date:
31 Aug 2024
-
30 Aug 2026
Contact:
FRDC
SPECIES
1. Quantify species mix, growth, population connectivity, and reproduction of the unexplored South Coast and deep-water West Coast stocks of Octopus djinda.
2. Develop and test an octopus trap mounted camera system as fishery independent survey tool for density, bycatch, habitat, and environmental data.
3. Develop a bioeconomic model for octopus fishery management and expansion in Australia.
PROJECT NUMBER
•
2020-100
PROJECT STATUS:
COMPLETED
Proof-of-concept for innovative new octopus shelter pot and trigger trap designs.
Commercial in confidence
ORGANISATION:
Innovation Fishing Pty Ltd
PROJECT NUMBER
•
2019-051
PROJECT STATUS:
CURRENT
Examining the potential impacts of seismic surveys on Octopus and larval stages of Southern Rock Lobster
1. Determine the impact of intense low frequency acoustic signals on adult pale octopus (Octopus pallidus)
ORGANISATION:
University of Tasmania
PROJECT NUMBER
•
2018-178
PROJECT STATUS:
COMPLETED
Species identification of Australia’s most significant octopus fishery – the Western Australian Common Octopus
1. Develop a formal species name for Octopus aff. tetricus
ORGANISATION:
Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) WA