Informing inter-jurisdictional snapper management in eastern Australia
2015-216
Department of Agriculture and Fisheries EcoScience Precinct
Wayne Sumpton
Completed
$313,959.94
Environment
In the recent “Status of Key Australian Fish Stocks Reports 2012” the status of snapper on the east coast was not defined because the stock was given a different status in each jurisdiction based on different assessment approaches and criteria for defining status. The need for a single, robust, consensus approach was identified as a priority in a FRDC funded national workshop on snapper held at SARDI in March 2013. In particular it was noted that, underpinning a unified approach to assessment and management, there is a need for: a better understanding of stock structure, a better understanding of the utility of fishery independent data sources, and better engagement with stakeholders. The project explicitly addresses a key Program 2 – Industry Priority identified as relevant to the FRABs in Queensland, NSW and Victoria. The systems and approaches developed as a result of this research will serve as a model in other fisheries where different jurisdictions share a common stock but lack a consistent assessment and management decision making framework.
1. Apply the latest cost-effective microsatellite genetic techniques to clarify and refine understanding of snapper stock structure along Australia’s east coast.
2. Assemble and harmonise all available data sets and information sources, including archival and fisher knowledge data, and develop a mechanism for stakeholder feedback on this resource.
3. Develop computer models for the east-coast snapper population that inform on inter-jurisdictional management strategies.
4. Develop protocols for inter-jurisdictional decision-making processes and stakeholder engagement.
Snapper has been fished since the early development of the colony around Sydney Harbour in the late 18th century, but it was the arrival of steam power in the 1860’s that enabled fishers to start regularly targeting the abundant schools of snapper occurring in the deep-water fishing grounds outside of the sheltered bays and estuaries along the east coast of Australia. This article covers some of the history.
Summary of dataavailable for the inter-jurisdictional snapper project. Abbreviations - Comm(Commercial), Rec (Recreational), Chart (Charter), BRUVS (Baited RemoteUnderwater Video Sampling) ANSA (Australian National Sportfishing Association),FIS (Fishery Independent surveys) “+” after years signifies ongoing program ofdata collection with no set end date.
|
Catch |
Effort |
Length |
Age |
Biological |
Other |
|
Qld Comm and Chart (1988+) Daily |
Qld Comm and Chart (1988+) Daily |
Comm line fishery dependent samples (1993 to 1996, 2006+) |
Comm line fishery dependent samples (1993 to 1996, 2006+) |
Qld Comprehensive Growth, Spawning, Maturity, Fecundity data (Fine spatial resolution possible) |
Qld beam trawl structured fishery independent sampling Nov and Dec (2006+) |
|
NSW Comm, and Chart (1952+) Monthly earlier on - Daily from 1998 |
NSW Comm, and Chart (1984+) Monthly earlier on - Daily from 1998 |
Qld Rec and Chart (2006+) |
Qld Rec and Chart (2006+) |
NSW Comprehensive Growth, Spawning, Maturity, Fecundity data (Fine spatial resolution possible) |
Qld, NSW & Vic ANSA Tagging data (Growth and movement data (1970’s+) |
|
Vic Comm and Chart (1978+) Limited for eastern stock |
Vic Comm and Chart (1978+) Limited for eastern stock |
NSW trap and line fishery 1994+ (some missing years) |
NSW trap and line fishery 1994+ (some missing years) |
Vic No biological data available for eastern stock but considerable biological data available for western stock |
Vic Research tagging data 1970’s |
|
Qld, NSW & Vic Statewide Rec estimates for all three jurisdictions (1990’s+) 6 x Queensland, 2 x NSW and 2 x Vic |
Qld, NSW & Vic statewide Rec estimates possible to derive for all three jurisdictions (1990’s+) |
NSW Charter (2000+) |
NSW No recreational age data. Can be inferred from length data? |
|
Qld & NSW BRUVS data (limited spatial and temporal coverage) |
|
Qld Fish Board catches (1938 to 1980) |
Limited effort data for South east trawl fishery due to non-target species status of snapper |
NSW Rec 2 time periods (1993 to 1995 and 2001 to 2003) |
Vic Limited sporadic Comm age data during 1990’s |
|
Qld, NSW Research FIS surveys using traps and beam trawl (Very limited spatial and temporal coverage |
|
Vic South East trawl catches from Commonwealth Danish seine fishery |
Qld, NSW & Vic Recreational Motor vessel registrations for (1984+). Varying quality |
Vic Limited sporadic Comm length data during 1990’s |
|
|
Qld, NSW and Vic. Historic catches from Newspapers and other historic documents 1880 to 1950’s (Ruth Thurston) |
|
Qld, NSW & Vic Personal logs of fishers (1950’s+) |
Qld, NSW and Vic Aerial surveillance estimates of fishing effort. Point estimates available for few select years. |
Qld Fisheries Observer data (2004 to 2012) |
|
|
Qld data on adoption of fishing technology (Used for standardizing catch). Comm and Rec only |
Qld, NSW & VicRecreational Fishing Club data
(early 1900’s+)