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Fisheries Occasional Publication No. 65 - A Review Of Management Arrangements For The Recreational Fishery For Demersal Scalefish In The West Coast Bioregion, Peter Neville, Department Of Fisheries, Western Australia

Fisheries Occasional Publications

In December 2008, the Hon. Norman Moore, MLC, Minister for Fisheries, Western Australia appointed two independent experts to review a number of aspects relating to the west coast demersal scalefish recreational fishery; namely to assess separately:

1. the validity of the scientific advice on which management decisions have been made; and
2. options to manage recreational fishing of west coast demersal scalefish.

Fisheries Occasional Publication No. 68 - A Quota Management System For The Western Rock Lobster Fishery, Rock Lobster Industry Advisory Committee (Rliac), Department Of Fisheries, Western Australia

Fisheries Occasional Publications

There has been much debate over the past two decades on the most appropriate long-term management framework for Western Australia’s Western Rock Lobster Fishery. More recently a debate over whether the fishery would be best managed under a Quota Management System (QMS) or the continuation of the current Input Control Management System (ICMS) culminated in an industry vote coordinated by the Western Rock Lobster Council (WRLC) in 2006 . The outcome of this vote resulted in industry support to retain the existing management system based on input controls2 , however, shortly after the vote there was a renewed level of …

Fisheries Occasional Publication No. 69 - An Input Control Management System For The Western Rock Lobster Fishery, Rock Lobster Industry Advisory Committee (Rliac), Department Of Fisheries Western Australia

Fisheries Occasional Publications

The Rock Lobster Industry Advisory Committee (RLIAC), the Hon. Minister for Fisheries and the Department of Fisheries, Western Australia have commenced a process of assessing the options for future management of the Western Rock Lobster Fishery. As part of this assessment, an expert Panel has previously prepared an analysis of an optimal quota management system (QMS) suitable for the fishery. As the next step in the assessment of management options, RLIAC requested that an expert panel also advise them on the design characteristics of an improved input control management system (ICMS) for the fishery and to provide advice on the …

Fisheries Occasional Publication No. 67 - Review Of Fisheries Research Report (177), Aldo Steffe, Department Of Fisheries Western Australia

Fisheries Occasional Publications

To provide a review of the Research Report (177) on recreational boat-based fishing in the West Coast Bioregion during 2005/06 including: • The appropriateness of the basic creel survey design used for deriving estimates of catch, effort and catch rates for this type of fishery. • An assessment of whether the assumptions, scope and omissions were suitably identified. • The robustness of the catch estimates, and any conclusions that were included in the report, and total and seasonal recreational catch estimates. These initial terms of reference were expanded to include some discussion on issues raised by (a) the WA Fisheries …

Fisheries Occasional Publication No. 66 - Scientific Review Of The West Coast Demersal Scalefish Fishery, Western Australia, Michael O'Neill, Department Of Fisheries Western Australia

Fisheries Occasional Publications

In December 2008 the Hon Norman Moore MLC, Minister for Fisheries Western Australia appointed two independent experts to assess separately 1) the validity of scientific advice to management and 2) options to manage recreational fishing of west coast demersal scalefish. The following review (1) assesses the validity of research outlining the status of baldchin groper (Choerodon rubescens), West Australian dhufish (Glaucosoma hebraicum) and snapper (Pagrus auratus) as described in the terms of reference. In addition to the terms of reference, an opinion was requested regarding the current appropriateness of the research advice (Wise et al 2007) and the resulting management …

Fisheries Occasional Publication No. 63 - Western Rock Lobster Ecological Risk Assessment, Department Of Fisheries, Western Australia, International Risk Consultants Group Of Companies

Fisheries Occasional Publications

This Ecological Risk Assessment, conducted by IRC Environment (part of International Risk Consultants) and Department of Fisheries WA (FWA) was the result of an initiative by the WA Fishing Industry Council (WAFIC) and (FWA). This report is based on a risk assessment workshop undertaken in February 2001 at the FWA Marine Research Laboratories in Waterman but includes additional background material to justify some of the rankings of the workshop.

The broad intent of the workshop was to provide a register of the potential main ecological risks that arise from the various activities carried out by the western rock lobster (WRL) …

Fisheries Occasional Publication No.057 - Introduced Marine Species In Western Australia, Department Of Fisheries Western Australia

Fisheries Occasional Publications

As the largest State in Australia, Western Australia (WA) has a long and relatively pristine coastline that stretches over 12,500 km, or over 20,700 km if the State’s 3,747 islands are included. The coast ranges over 20 degrees of latitude from the temperate south coast to the northern tip of the tropical Kimberley. There are a wide variety of coastal marine habitats in this vast area. The south coast has extensive white sandy beaches interspersed with granite headlands. A diverse range of nearly 800 species of temperate marine algae, or seaweeds, occurs in the area. With 26 species, the seagrasses …

Fisheries Research Report No. 183 - Development Of A Long-Term Program To Monitor Coastal Communities Within The Swan Region, Lynda M. Bellchambers

Fisheries Research Reports

Marine benthic communities along the metropolitan coast of Western Australia are varied and unique. The southward flowing Leeuwin Current brings warm water and tropical recruits whilst the cooler counter current, the Capes Current, brings the temperate recruits. The result is a mosaic of tropical species intermingled with the dominant temperate species. These areas sustain varied fish and invertebrate communities making this coast a highly desirable location for recreational and commercial use. Management strategies are in place that attempt to maintain the sustainability of this area including various fishery restrictions and the implementation of areas zoned as sanctuary zones (no-take). However, …

Fisheries Occasional Publication 61 - Proposed Quota Settings For The West Coast Rock Lobster Managed Fishery, Department Of Fisheries, Wa

Fisheries Occasional Publications

The former Minister for Fisheries asked the Rock Lobster Industry Advisory Committee (RLIAC) to provide him with a business case for a quota management system (QMS) in the West Coast Rock Lobster Managed Fishery, following renewed interest from industry for the introduction of a QMS. The business case consists of two components:

1. a management paper that describes the proposed quota management settings; and

2. an interactive spreadsheet financial model for licensees to explore the impact of the proposed management settings on their business. A RLIAC Working Group was established by RLIAC to develop the proposed QMS settings. Most of …

Fisheries Occasional Publication No.72 - Western Rock Lobster Ecological Effects Of Fishing Research Plan., Rhys Brown

Fisheries Occasional Publications

The commercial West Coast Rock Lobster Fishery (WCRLF) targets the western rock lobster (WRL), Panulirus cygnus, averaging approximately 10,000 tonnes of lobsters each year. Currently approximately 450 to 500 boats operate in the Fishery in waters ranging from 5 m to 200 m depth adjacent to the Western Australian coast and stretching from Cape Leeuwin in the south to Shark Bay in the north. The Fishery is managed by the Department of Fisheries (DoF) in Western Australia, using an input control system designed to constrain exploitation/fishing effort and deliver sustainable catches. The annual value of the catch is estimated at …

Fisheries Research Report No. 181 - Developing Long-Term Indicators For The Sub-Tidal Embayment Communities Of Cockburn Sound, Danielle Johnston, C. Wakefield, A Sampey, J Fromont, D C. Harris

Fisheries Research Reports

Swan Catchment Council Project – 01-0506 T 2006 – 2008 program

The geomorphology of Cockburn Sound is unique to the lower west coast of Australia due to the relative paucity of sheltered nearshore marine embayments along this coastline. Numerous studies on many of the commercially and/or recreationally important species that inhabit Cockburn Sound have demonstrated that for many of them this marine embayment constitutes an integral part of their life history. Since the commencement of industrial and urban development in the mid 1950s, in the waters and along the shores of Cockburn Sound, the marine fauna utilising this area have …

Fisheries Research Report No. 171 - Evaluation Of Exclusion Grids To Reduce The Bycatch Of Dolphins, Turtles, Sharks And Rays In The Pilbara Trawl Fishery, Peter Stephenson, S. Wells, J. A. King

Fisheries Research Reports

DBIF funded Project.

Considerable research on the documention of the bycatch of cetaceans, seals, turtles, and sea lions during trawl fishing operations has been undertaken worldwide. These include the Argentinean squid and hake trawl fisheries (Crespo et al., 1997; Fertl & Leatherwood, 1997), the Dutch pelagic trawl fishery (Couperus, 1997), the NE Atlantic pelagic trawl fishery (Tregenza & Collet, 1998) and the New Zealand squid fishery (Fishing News International, 2005).

In the Pilbara Fish Trawl Fishery, operating off the coast of Western Australia protected species including dolphins, turtles, sawfish, sea snakes as well as numerous sharks and ray species have …

Fisheries Research Report No. 175 - An Assessment Of The Finfish Catch By Recreational Fishers, Tour Operators, Commercial Lobster Fishers And Commercial Wetline Fishers From The Houtman Abrolhos Islands During 2006, Neil R. Sumner

Fisheries Research Reports

The catch of finfish from the Houtman Abrolhos Islands was estimated for recreational boats, tour operators, commercial rock lobster fishers and occupants of their camps on the islands. Separate methods were used for each of the different sectors due to the variation in fishing activities. Recreational boats and commercial rock lobster fishers were surveyed to determine catches, whereas the catches by tour operator and commercial wet-line fishers were determined from their compulsory catch and effort returns submitted to the Department of Fisheries.

The reported commercial wetline catch for pink snapper, sweetlip emperor and Western Australian dhufish greatly exceeded the combined …

Fisheries Research Report No. 176 - Regrowth Of Pilchard (Sardinops Sagax) Stocks Off Southern Wa Following The Mass Mortality Event Of 1998/99, Daniel J. Gaughan, M Craine, Peter Stephenson, Timothy I. Leary, Paul Lewis

Fisheries Research Reports

Final FRDC Report – Project 2000/135

This project produced time series of estimates of spawning biomass for pilchards in four purse seine management zones in Western Australia, three on the south coast and one on the west coast. The pilchard stocks in Western Australia have recovered strongly since the 1998/99 mass mortality.

This project has shown that the fishery independent and fishery dependent methods applied to Western Australia’s pilchard fisheries cannot provide precise estimates of the size of the pilchard spawning biomass in each management region. Although the trends indicated by the age-structured simulation model are reliable and provide good …

Fisheries Research Report No. 177 - A 12-Month Survey Of Recreational Boat-Based Fishing Between Augusta And Kalbarri On The West Coast Of Western Australia During 2005-06, N. R. Sumner, P C. Williamson, Stuart J. Blight, Daniel J. Gaughan

Fisheries Research Reports

A 12-month survey of boat-based recreational fishing in the West Coast Bioregion (Augusta to Kalbarri) of Western Australia was conducted at boat ramps between 1st July 2005 and 30th June 2006. During the survey a total of 15,999 boat crews were interviewed, of which 13,185 (82%) had been undertaking some form of fishing activity and, of these, 10,382 (or 79%) of fishing boat crews had been ocean line fishing. The total annual recreational boat based fishing effort for the West Coast Bioregion was estimated to be 1,557,000 fisher hours (95%CI: 1,495,000 – 1,620,000), which is a 15.5% increase in nominal …

Fisheries Research Report No. 170 - Biomass And Commercial Catch Estimates For Abalone Stocks In Areas Proposed As Sanctuary Zones For The Capes Marine Park, A. Hesp, Neil R. Loneragan, Norman G. Hall, H T. Kobryn, A.M. Hart, Frank Fabris, Jeremy Prince

Fisheries Research Reports

This study was undertaken to estimate the biomasses, biologically sustainable catches and current average annual commercial catches of three fished species of abalone, Haliotis roei (Roei), Haliotis laevigata (Greenlip) and Haliotis conicopora (Brownlip) in the proposed sanctuaries of the Capes Marine Park, south-western Australia. The current annual, catch estimates represent the catches that would be foregone by commercial fishers if the sanctuaries are implemented and will be used to evaluate the potential compensation to fishers (not part of this study). The biomass and catch estimates for each species in the proposed sanctuaries were estimated from a combination of scientific survey …

Fisheries Research Report No. 173 - Evaluation Of The Effectiveness Of Reducing Dolphin Catches With Pingers And Exclusion Grids In The Pilbara Trawl Fishery, Peter Stephenson, S. Wells

Fisheries Research Reports

Final FRDC Report – Project 2004/068

“Savewave” acoustic pingers were trialed on one vessel to determine if they would deter dolphins entering the trawl net. During daylight hours, the pingers were deployed on alternate shots in the configuration recommended by the manufacturer. On the other alternate shots, no pingers were deployed. A video camera in an underwater housing was attached to the headrope facing downstream for 18 trawl shots. On the 14 shots where usable video footage was obtained (11 with pingers deployed and 7 with pingers not deployed) the number of dolphins viewed in the camera frame was counted …

Fisheries Research Report No.172 - Identifying Obstacles To Profitably Growing Out Western Rock Lobsters, Roy Melville-Smith, Danielle Johnston, B. Johnston, N. J. Thomson

Fisheries Research Reports

A Report Prepared for the Aquaculture Development Council.

The cost of growing out western rock lobsters from pueruli to marketable-sized lobsters has been modeled from available information. The model uses different scenarios of survival rates, marketing weights, market prices, feed costs, puerulus prices, labour costs, puerulus compensation costs, discount rates and capital costs. The sensitivity of estimated profitability to various input costs and rock lobster prices was assessed by estimating the impact of changes on the estimates of net present value (NPV) internal rate of return (IRR) and benefit:cost ratio. Importantly, the aim of the study was to identify key …

Department Of Fisheries Annual Report To Parliament 2007/08, Government Of Western Australia Department Of Fisheries

Department of Fisheries Annual Reports

In accordance with Section 61 of the Financial Management Act 2006 (FMA) and Section 263 of the Fish Resources Management Act 1994 (FRMA), | submit for your information the Annual Report to Parliament of the Department of Fisheries of Western Australia for the financial year ending 30 June 2008.

If there is a key word to describe the bulk of the Department of Fisheries' achievements during 2007/08, 'collaborative' fits very well.

Collaboration is, of course, essential in the work of a government agency that deals with a variety of clients, and must be accountable to the Parliament and public of …

Fisheries Research Report No. 160 - Development Of Biodiversity And Habitat Monitoring Systems For Key Trawl Fisheries In Western Australia., Mervi Kangas, S. Morrison, P. Unsworth, Eva K M Lai, I. Wright, Adrian W. Thomson

Fisheries Research Reports

Final FRDC report - Project 2002/038

The need for this project was identified through the ESD Risk Assessment workshops held for the Shark Bay and Exmouth Gulf trawl fisheries in May and October 2001. Bycatch issues in the Shark Bay and Exmouth fisheries were identified as a moderate risk through an Ecological Risk Assessment workshop. A better understanding of the faunal composition and habitat preferences of bycatch species in both trawled and untrawled areas has assisted in determining the level of risk to bycatch species. The project provided baseline data on biodiversity and variability of trawl bycatch on and off …

Fisheries Research Report No. 168 - Sustainable Development Of Barramundi Cage Aquaculture At Lake Argyle., Brett Glencross, S. Percival, B. Jones, J Hughes

Fisheries Research Reports

Final FRDC report and KSRP report - Project 2003/026

A preliminary sensory evaluation study was conducted to confirm the presence of a taint issue. Prior to this the issue was reliant on purchaser feedback and was not verified independently. To examine the issue of flavour taint a series of barramundi samples were collected from Lake Argyle (purged and unpurged), wild (estuarine) and marine farmed barramundi were assessed. No significant differences in flavour attributes and/or acceptability attributes were detected between the wild and farmed barramundi, provided the barramundi was either marine-farmed or purged. However, it was determined that a clear “muddy” …

Fisheries Research Report 165: Biological And Fisheries Data For Managing Deep Sea Crabs In Western Australia - Project 2001/055, Roy Melville-Smith, S M. Norton, Adrian W. Thomson

Fisheries Research Reports

The crystal crab fishery on the west coast of Western Australia has only been commercially fished since the late 1990s. When this project was initiated in 2001, only compulsory monthly catch and effort data were being collected. This project has successfully set up the methods and means to collect and analyse more appropriate commercial catch and effort data for the fishery. Fishers now record detailed daily catch and effort data for legal as well as undersize and berried crabs and the Department of Fisheries, WA, has a regular monitoring programme to record population size structure information.

This project has also …

Fisheries Research Report No. 166 - Stock Enhancement Of Haliotis Laevigata In Western Australia - A Preliminary Assessment, Anthony M. Hart, Frank Fabris, Sabine Daume

Fisheries Research Reports

A preliminary assessment of stock enhancement of Haliotis laevigata (Greenlip abalone) in Western Australia was undertaken with the release of 6,000 abalone near Augusta in 2004. The objective of the project was to obtain quantitative data on the likelihood of enhancement, as an additional management tool to TACs and size-limits, being successful in natural habitats in Western Australia. Baseline surveys coupled with an assessment of growth and survival of released 1+ and 2 + animals were undertaken at 12 sites within Flinders Bay, Augusta. Overall survival was 19% for 1+ age abalone and 27% for 2+ animals after 9 months. …

Fisheries Research Report No. 163 - Spatial Scales Of Exploitation Among Populations Of Demersal Scalefish: Implications For Management. Part 1: Stock Status Of The Key Indicator Species For The Demersal Scalefish Fishery In The West Coast Bioregion., Department Of Fisheries, Western Australia

Fisheries Research Reports

Final FRDC report - Project 2003/052

The levels of exploitation on dhufish and pink snapper across the West Coast Bioregion and for baldchin groper at the Abrolhos Islands are above international benchmark standards. This indicates that these stocks are currently being overfished and are therefore likely to be being depleted to levels below those necessary to ensure their long-term sustainability. The current reliance of the dhufish catch on a single recruitment pulse together with the extremely truncated age distribution of pink snapper indicates that both these stocks are particularly vulnerable.

The West Coast Demersal Scalefish Fishery is a multi-species fishery …

Fisheries Research Report No.161 - Distribution And Abundance Of Juvenile Pink Snapper, Pagrus Auratus, In The Gulfs Of Shark Bay, Western Australia, From Trap Surveys, Gary Jackson, C. Burton, Michael J. Moran, Ben Radford

Fisheries Research Reports

Trap surveys using Antillean-Z fish traps were carried out across a range of depths and habitat types in the gulfs of Shark Bay between 1998 and 2000. Objectives of the study were (i) to evaluate the efficiency of the fish traps in catching 0+ and 1+ pink snapper (Pagrus auratus), (ii) to investigate the distribution and abundance of juvenile pink snapper in both gulfs using trap surveys, (iii) to investigate the influence of environmental factors including habitat-type on the distribution of juvenile pink snapper and, (iv) to develop trap indices of 0+ relative abundance and assess their use for monitoring …

Shark Bay Prawn And Scallop Fisheries. Draft Review Report, Department Of Fisheries Western Australia

Fisheries Management Papers

In recent times, the Department of Fisheries has received representations from both sectors about the ongoing interaction of the fisheries and their respective management settings. As a result, a decision was made to comprehensively review the fisheries, taking into account matters of fishery sustainability and gear interactions, together with industry economics and market considerations. The review has also addressed research requirements to ensure an appropriate scientific basis for decision-making into the future.

Fisheries Research Contract Report No. 18 - Aquatic Animal Health Subprogram: Current And Future Needs For Aquatic Animal Health Training And For Systems For Merit-Based Accreditation And Competency Assessments (Frdc Project No. 2005/641) Final Report, Matt Landos, Navneet Dhand, Brian Jones, Richard Whittington

Fisheries Research Contract Reports

To scope and clearly define current and future needs for aquatic animal health training and for systems for merit-based accreditation and competency assessments.

Provision of high quality aquatic animal health (AAH) services is a complex multidisciplinary activity. Hence, training programs must address all discipline areas to achieve the desired outcome of robust service delivery to meet all stakeholder group needs. The current and future needs for AAH training have been identified across many sectors through survey work and direct interviews with key stakeholders. There is a shortfall in both total capacity and more prominently, in the availability of high skill …

Fisheries Occasional Publication 40: A Summary Of Data Collected By The Angler’S Daily Log Book And Fishing Tournament Monitoring Programs In 2004-2006, Kimberley A. Smith, M Hammond, Joshua Brown

Fisheries Occasional Publications

Catch information and biological samples collected by recreational anglers in daily log books can provide valuable information about local fish stocks. The numbers and lengths of important recreational target species can be used to monitor their abundance and population structure, which can form the basis of fishery stock assessments. In addition, the total composition of the catch and observations about fish health provide measures of local biodiversity and ecosystem health. The Department of Fisheries (DoF) Recreational Angler’s Daily Log Book Program was launched in March 2004 as part of the DoF Research Angler Program (RAP). The current log book format …

Fisheries Research Report No.159 - A 12-Month Survey Of Recreational Estuarine Fishing In The South Coast Bioregion Of Western Australia During 2002/03, C.B. Smallwood, N. R. Sumner

Fisheries Research Reports

The Recreational Fisheries Program of the Department of Fisheries, Western Australia, has a strategic plan to conduct comprehensive creel surveys of recreational fishing in each of the state’s marine bioregions (Penn et al., 2003). These bioregions are the West Coast, Gascoyne, Pilbara/ Kimberley and South Coast (Figure 1). To record and monitor changes in recreational catch and fishing effort, an integrated approach where all bioregions are to be surveyed on a regular basis was proposed. Until this study, the South Coast was the only bioregion in which a survey of recreational fishing had not been undertaken. Although originally intended to …

Fisheries Research Contract Report No. 15 - Aquatic Animal Health Subprogram: Pilchard Herpesvirus Infection In Wild Pilchards (Frdc Project No. 2002/044) Final Report, Brian Jones, Melanie Crockford, Richard Whittington, Mark Crane, Graham Wilcox

Fisheries Research Contract Reports

In 1995 and again in 1998/9, millions of pilchards (Sardinops sagax neopilchardus) were found dead or dying off the coast of Australia. Some pilchards in New Zealand were also affected during the 1995 epizootic. The epizootics moved progressively in a "bushfire-like" manner against the prevailing currents at a rapid speed. An uncharacterised herpesvirus, pilchard herpesvirus (PHV), was associated with both mortality events and, based on its occurrence in affected fish and the disease pathogenesis, generally accepted as the causative agent, although experimental evidence of its role was not established. Until recently, rapid and sensitive methods to detect PHV were not …