The draft management plan by QFMA proposes restrictions on the taking of pipehorses, but also points out that sensible management is impossible without some basic biological knowledge of the species. What is needed is, firstly, to determine catch rates and distributions of pipehorses as by-catch species. Secondly, an understanding of the basic biology of pipehorses is needed. It is important to know population characteristics including the age structure of both sexes, fecundity, longevity and recruitment timing. Specimens are already being collected as by-catch; it is a matter of making scientific recordings on those specimens. It is also important to estimate how far pipehorses move, to know whether they can recolonise areas that have been depleted. Tagging and recapture is probably not useful, as the fish are thought to be in poor condition by the time they are brought to the surface. Genetic methods of estimating movement are needed; modern DNA methods do not even require that the fish be withdrawn from market as only a tiny piece of material from each specimen is required. The pipehorse by-catch issue is being pursued by conservation groups who use syngnathids as symbols of healthy oceans. This is another important reason to implement a sound management plan based on the biology of the species and its interaction with the trawl industry.

There is a need for a better understanding of prawn movement and spatial dynamics for improved management and stock assessment in the Spencer Gulf and West Coast prawn fisheries. There is a need to analyse, document and publish information on harvest strategies, prawn movement, commercial logbook and survey spatial data. The ability to produce accurate annual stock assessment reports addressing biological and economic performance indicators is required utilising data from diverse sources including those detailed above. Most importantly, there is a need to develop an effective spatial data base system to handle large complex datasets, enabling analysts to undertake their work. The current data base systems are inefficient and cannot link the analytical software (GIS and statistical applications) effectively or handle the diverse range of data formats required. The project will enhance and develop a spatial data base system, which integrates closely with the statistical and communication software, thereby enabling analysis, plotting, visualisation, modeling and information dissemination. One important spatial module to be developed, relates to prawn tag recaptures and will require links to commercial logbook and survey data.

There is a need to improve management and stock assessment by receiving more detailed catch information in real time. Here communication from ship to base will allow accurate graded size data to be used in stock assessment and for evaluation of fishery performance indicators.

There is a need for better analysis, visualisation and communication of spatial datasets. This will increase the level of understanding of the complex results for industry and management. Harvest systems need to link real time spatial information to decision rules for effective management. Industry frequently raises questions relevant to adaptive change in fishing strategies. For example “When should different areas be fished if prawns move from location A to location B?” or another example “What are the benefits of different types of harvest strategies for stock maintenance and economic performance?” A major problem for management is the clear communication of complex information and processes to others. There is a need to enhance all levels of communication and understanding of the information; adequate visualisation of the data can only achieve this.

Despite the importance to management, little attention in Australia has focussed on adaptive management processes that actively involve industry. The Spencer Gulf prawn fishery provides a good example of a successful adaptive management system in which industry actively participates. There is a need to document the management approaches that have taken more than fifteen years to develop and test. There are likely to be other fisheries in Australia where real time management and monitoring systems can provide substantial economic gain and cost savings.

The application of modern computerised mapping systems, computer intensive statistical analysis and modeling provide enormous scope for fisheries science and management. There is a real need to develop and improve data collection and analytical techniques for stock assessment of dynamic populations (e.g. prawn), especially for those fisheries under high exploitation pressure.

In summary, the project will develop an efficient spatial database that:

- Integrates closely with GIS and statistical analysis,
- Improves catch data collection,
- Results in more reliable stock assessment,
- Improves the efficiency of management through electronic data transfer,
- Increases the understanding and communication of complex spatial information.

Finally, the work will enable substantial historical data obtained from the Spencer Gulf and West Coast fisheries to be integrated, analysed, documented and published.