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Report To The Minister For Agriculture, Forestry And Fisheries By The Integrated Fisheries Management Review Committee, Department Of Fisheries

Fisheries management papers

The Integrated Fisheries Management Review Committee was established to develop a strategy to integrate the management and sustainable use of fish resources. The Committee’s report proposes an alternative management framework and a set of guiding principles for allocating fish stocks to ensure optimal benefits are realised for the WA community. The report does not, and was not intended to, address specific allocation issues in particular fisheries – this will be a function of the framework and processes put in place following this review.

Review Of Recreational Take Of Coral In Western Australia. A Discussion Paper., Department Of Fisheries

Fisheries management papers

This discussion paper has been prepared by the Department of Fisheries (Western Australia) to address the issue of recreational collection of coral in coastal waters of Western Australia. The paper describes: • popular coral locations in WA; • management issues associated with the recreational collection of corals; • management objectives and strategies as possible options to address the issue of recreational collection of corals; and • seeks public input on the proposed management objectives and strategies.

Phillips Brook Catchment Appraisal, Paul D. Galloway

Resource management technical reports

This report describes the soils, hydrology and natural vegetation of the Phillips Brook catchment near Toodyay, Western Australia and provides information on the threats to agriculture, infrastructure and natural resources from salinity, waterlogging, erosion and other land degradation processes.

Land-Use And Vegetation In Western Australia : Project Daw27 : National Land And Water Resources Audit, G R. Beeston, A Jm Hopkins, D P. Shepherd

Resource management technical reports

This report details a project to compile detailed land-use data for Western Australia, on pre-European and present vegetation types, and aspects of disturbance of or threats to the present vegetation. Metadata on botanical surveys throughout the state were also compiled.

Pasture Condition Guides For The Pilbara, A L. Payne, A A. Mitchell

Agriculture reports

These pasture condition guides are relevant to about 192 000 square kilometres of the Pilbara region of Western Australia. The rangeland of the Pilbara can be separated into 12 very broad pasture types. The ‘pasture type’ is not strictly a botanical classification because, in determining such a class of pastoral lands, the perennial plant species that contribute to stock production have an over-riding importance. Even so, each pasture type represents a broad group of similar vegetation associations or ‘site types’ which will have similar management requirements for pastoralism. The aim of this publication is to provide pastoralists with descriptions and …

Reseeding Of Grazing Gastropods And Bivalves Into The Marine Environment In Western Australia, Jane Borg

Fisheries management papers

The Department of Fisheries does not want to embark on what is ‘new territory’ in Western Australia without a policy framework to define what is to happen, why it is to happen, and what will happen if the project does or does not succeed. This paper therefore attempts to do three things. 1. It sets in place accepted definitions of reseeding and stock enhancement within the general context of fisheries management in Western Australia. 2. It discusses the policy issues associated with reseeding grazing gastropods and bivalves into the natural environment. 3. It proposes a framework or process to be …

Fisheries Research Report No. 132 - A Review Of Food Availability, Sea Water Characteristics And Bivalve Growth Performance At Coastal Culture Sites In Temperate And Warm Temperate Regions Of The World, Sidney A. Saxby

Fisheries research reports

The suitability of a coastal area for bivalve farming, as well as the density at which bivalves can be farmed in that area, is limited by the available food supply and other environmental variables. In this review, a range of successful and marginal bivalve growing areas in temperate and warm temperate coastal areas around the world are characterised. These include areas of high food and nutrient levels, such as Saldanha Bay in South Africa, and the Seto Inland Sea, Japan, through to more oligotrophic areas, typified by parts of the South Australian coastline and the Mediterranean Sea. The latter areas …

Groundwater Study Of The Wandering Townsite, S Ghauri

Resource management technical reports

A groundwater study was carried out in the townsite of Wandering, Western Australia. This report describes the town and its catchment, the hydrogeological investigation characterising groundwater flow systems within the townsite, and recommends actions for managing salinity risk.

Fisheries Research Report No. 138 - Historical Diving Profiles For Pearl Oyster Divers In Western Australia, H M A Lulofs, Neil R. Sumner

Fisheries research reports

The annual value of the pearl oyster fishery off the north coast of Western Australia is in the vicinity of 153 million dollars. Most pearl oyster fishing occurs in the Broome area. This area is managed on a quota system with a total allowable catch of 512,000 shells in 1996, during which 511,716 shells were taken. This required 12,775 hours of dive time at a catch rate of 40 shell per hour.

Drift diving practices in the Western Australian pearling industry over the last eighteen years are described and related to the number of medical incidents. The study provides a …

Cranbrook-Toolbrunup : Catchment Appraisal Report 2001, Tim D. Overheu, Western South Coast Catchment Appraisal Team (Wa)

Resource management technical reports

This report covers the eastern junction of both the Pallinup North Stirling and Kent Frankland sub-regions, comprising of six amalgamated sub-catchments of Pingelup Creek, Solomons Creek, Racecourse Lake, Lake Toolbrunup, Twolganup Brook and Hamilla Hill (west). This report primarily focuses on the agricultural and natural resources at risk within the study area and attempts to identify options to manage the potential risks.

Groundwater Study Of The Trayning Townsite, Louise Hopgood

Resource management technical reports

A groundwater study was carried out in the townsite of Trayning, Western Australia. The study presents a model of the hydrogeology below the town and defines management options to help limit damage to infrastructure from surface water, shallow subsurface water and deep groundwater. A drilling program and expansion of the network of monitoring bores were also part of the study.

Profitable And Productive Farming Systems For Management Of Nolba Catchment, B R. Eastough, Nolba Focus Catchment Group

Resource management technical reports

Summary of the main points covered at each of the several workshop and two demonstrations by the Nolba Catchment Group, Western Australia. The areas addressed include: low recharge farming systems; impact on the environment of integrated weed management; management of organic matter in soils within the catchment; dune stabilisation and groundwater hydrology.

Draft Bycatch Action Plan For The Shark Bay Prawn Managed Fishery (Full Report), Jo Bunting

Fisheries management papers

Two versions of the draft Bycatch Action Plan for the Shark Bay Prawn Managed Fishery have been released for public comment. The ‘Full Report’ (this document - Fisheries Management Paper No. 147) is a comprehensive version of the plan containing detailed rationale and justification for the objectives and actions proposed in the plan. The Full Report also provides detailed background information regarding issues such as the natural environment in Shark Bay, current management arrangements within the prawn fishery and existing information on bycatch. A shorter ‘Summary Report’ is also available for comment. The Summary Report (Fisheries Management Paper No. 148) …

Fisheries Research Report No. 133 - Preliminary Assessment And Seasonal Fluctuations In The Fish Biota Inhabiting The Concentrator Ponds Of Dampier Salt, Port Hedland, With Options For The Potential Application Of Results, Brett Molony, Gareth Parry

Fisheries research reports

The concentrator ponds (CPs) of Dampier Salt, Port Hedland, cover an area in excess of 7 300 ha. Water is pumped from two adjacent, mangrove-lined estuaries at certain times of the year and small and larvae fishes are carried into the ponds, becoming trapped. A survey of the fish biota within the CPs was undertaken at four time periods between May 2000 and February 2001 to identify the species of fishes present and to estimate their abundances and distribution throughout the CPs. Further, the Artemia resources within the CPs were also assessed for identification of species and quality.

Forty two …

Fisheries Research Report No. 139 - A 12-Month Survey Of Recreational Fishing In The Gascoyne Bioregion Of Western Australia During 1998-99, Neil R. Sumner, P C. Williamson, B E. Malseed

Fisheries research reports

A 12-month creel survey of recreational boat-based and shore-based fishing in the Gascoyne bioregion of Western Australia was conducted between April 1998 and March 1999. During the survey 1,738 boat crews were interviewed at public boat ramps when they returned from their fishing trip. During patrols conducted along the coastline 695 groups of boat-based fishers and 1,060 groups of shore-based fishers were interviewed at fishing locations and camp sites.

The total annual recreational fishing effort for the Gascoyne bioregion was 243,000 fisher days (95%CI: 222,000 – 264,000). This comprised 113,000 fisher days by boats launched from public ramps, 53,000 fisher …

Fisheries Research Report No. 134, Vol 1 - Towards An Assessment Of The Natural And Human Use Impacts On The Marine Environment Of The Abrolhos Islands, F J. Webster, C J. Dibden, C F. Chubb

Fisheries research reports

The State Territorial Waters surrounding the Abrolhos Islands are gazetted as a Fish Habitat Protection Area and vested with the Minister for Fisheries under the Fish Resources Management Act 1994. Three Fisheries Management Papers have identified management priorities for the marine environment at the Abrolhos Islands:

• Management of the Houtman Abrolhos System
• Aquaculture Plan for the Houtman Abrolhos Islands
• Sustainable Tourism Plan for the Houtman Abrolhos Islands.

These plans and other national and international obligations to examine the effect of extractive and non-extractive anthropogenic activities on marine habitats (eg. Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999) led to …

Policy For The Implementation Of Ecologically Sustainable Development Fisheries And Aquaculture Within Western Australia, W. J. Fletcher

Fisheries management papers

The purpose of this ESD policy is to outline a way forward by showing in a practical manner: • how the ESD principles will be interpreted and applied within the fisheries context generally and within the Department of Fisheries specifically, • the conceptual framework that will be used to assess performance against ESD principles, • the methods for reporting on and auditing this performance, and • how these principles and the framework relate to other relevant state, national and international treaties and instruments.

Draft Plan Of Management For The Proposed Miaboolya Beach Fish Habitat Protection Area., Department Of Fisheries Western Australia

Fisheries management papers

The aims of the proposal outlined in this draft management plan is to protect and rehabilitate the aquatic habitat of Miaboolya Beach, the associated mangrove ecosystem, and involve the community in their management.

By setting the area aside as a FHPA, the Department of Fisheries will establish a framework to promote and actively conserve all the habitats within the Miaboolya system, as described in Section 3 of this document.

Fisheries Research Report No. 134, Volume 2 - Towards An Assessment Of The Natural And Human Use Impacts On The Marine Environment Of The Abrolhos Islands, C F. Chubb, F J. Webster, C J. Dibden

Fisheries research reports

These proceedings form the second of two public documents resulting from the project “Towards an assessment of the natural and human use impacts on the marine environment” funded by the Fisheries Research and Development Corporation (project no. 2000/166). Volume 1, a summary of existing information and assessment of current levels of human use, was presented at a Public Forum in Geraldton on July 11, 2001.

A two-day workshop was held immediately after the forum and was attended by invited representatives from professional fishing and recreational groups together with research and management experts. The issues identified in Volume 1, and those …

Improved Soil Management And Cropping Systems For Waterlog-Prone Soils : Results Of The 2000 Season, Derk Bakker, Greg Hamilton, David Houlbrooke, Cliff Spann

Resource management technical reports

The results of the fourth year of a five year research and development project to develop soil management practices and cropping systems to prevent waterlogging and increase the productivity of waterlogged lands in Western Australia. The concept of raised beds was used to alleviate or prevent waterlogging.

Environmental Impacts And Production Effects Of Subsurface Drainage At An Intensive Apple Orchard Near Donnybrook, Wa, D L. Bennett, Richard J. George Dr

Resource management technical reports

This report documents results of research carried out within the Donnybrook area, Western Australia, to determine appropriate management for shallow groundwater system responsible for waterlogging of horticultural crops. On one irrigated and previously waterlogged orchard block an assessment is made of the role that subsurface water control had on fruit production and soil water conditions. The report focuses on environmental aspects.

Fisheries Research Report No. 135 - The Western Rock Lobster Fishery 1995/96 To 1996/97, C F. Chubb, E H. Barker

Fisheries research reports

This report is the latest in a series covering the West Coast Rock Lobster Managed Fishery (formerly the West Coast Rock Lobster Limited Entry Fishery), Western Australia’s largest and most valuable fishery. These reports form an historical record of fishery data and information documented season by season for use by industry and research personnel now and in the future. The reports provide information on catch, fishing effort and biology; value of the product and licences; input costs (fuel, bait, etc.); changes in fishing practices, gear, technology and boats and management/legislative changes. By necessity, the information contained herein is summarised from …

Blackwood Catchment : Katanning Zone (Zone 6) Appendices : Catchment Appraisal 2001, Henry Brockman, Blackwood Rapid Catchment Appraisal Team (Wa)

Resource management technical reports

Contents: Appendix 1 Climate : risk of frost -- Appendix 2. Hydrology -- Appendix 3. Soils : soil landscape units in the Katanning zone ; soil information sheets for upper Blackwood -- Appendix 4. Evaluation of Landcare techniques : a catchment approach -- Appendix 5. Earthworks and engineering options for surface and groundwater control -- Appendix 6. Native plants of the Katanning Zone useful for revegetation -- Appendix 7. List of contacts.

Native Vegetation In Western Australia : Extent, Type And Status, D P. Shepherd, G R. Beeston, A J M Hopkins

Resource management technical reports

This report describes a new vegetation extent and type dataset for Western Australia prepared through the National Land and Water Resources Audit. Summary tables and maps prepared from these data are presented describing vegetation in relation to natural resource boundaries commonly used for environmental reporting. This present vegetation extent dataset builds on previous vegetation mapping exercises in Western Australia.

Assessing Chronological Changes In Remnant Native Forest At Catchment Level : A Case Study On The Toolibin Catchment Area, G R. Beeston, Graciela Metternicht

Resource management technical reports

The aim of this study were to construct a digital database of the historical patterns of land clearing (amount, spatial distribution); to reconstruct the historical vegetation of the Toolibin catchment, Western Australia, using mallet maps and reports of the period; to produce maps showing the rate of clearing for the periods 1960-70, 1970-80, 1980-96; and to analyse the relationships between soil types, topographic position and land clearing.

Fisheries Research Report No.131 - Pilchard (Sardinops Sagax) Nursery Areas And Recruitment Process Assessment Between Different Regions In Southern Western Australia, Daniel J. Gaughan, Graeme Baudains, Ronald W. Mitchell, Timothy I. Leary

Fisheries research reports

Pilchards have been the primary target of purse seine fisheries along the south and lower west coasts of WA for nearly 15 years. Western Australia’s pilchard population consists of separate west coast and south coast breeding stocks. The adult pilchards in the south coast stock can, in turn, be further divided into three separate assemblages. These adult assemblages correspond to the purse seine fisheries at Albany, Bremer Bay and Esperance. However, while the separateness of the adult assemblages is well established, the status of the juveniles within the context of these adult groups is not understood. For example, the habitats …

Fisheries Research Report No. 137 - Annual Report On The Monitoring Of The Recreational Marron Fishery In 2000, With An Analysis Of Long-Term Data And Changes Within This Fishery, Brett Molony, Chris Bird

Fisheries research reports

This report presents the data from the 2000 season and compares the results with previous records. Although the 2000 marron season was relatively successful compared to the 1999 season it was still modest in terms of the historical records. Further, the recreational marron fishery continues to be declining in terms of catch rate, CPUE and other indicators derived from four data sources. The discussion highlights the variable nature of marron populations and the possible causes of the very different population structures of marron within the fishery. Further, possible reasons for the long-term decline of the marron fishery are discussed. It …

North Jerramungup Fitzgerald Area : Catchment Appraisal Report 2001 (Reviewed 2007), Tim D. Overheu, Western South Coast Catchment Appraisal Team (Wa)

Resource management technical reports

This report covers the North Jerramungup Fitzgerald zone, an amalgamation of the smaller sub-catchments of Jacup, Fitzgerald, Mallee Road and part of Hamersley River, North West Jerramungup, North Jerramungup and North Needilup in Western Australia. This report primarily focuses on the agricultural and natural resources at risk within the study area and attempts to identify options to manage the potential risks.

South Broomehill-Gnowangerup Area : Catchment Appraisal Report 2001, Tim D. Overheu, Western South Coast Catchment Appraisal Team (Wa)

Resource management technical reports

This report covers the South Broomehill-Gnowangerup area in Western Australia, incorporating eight sub-catchments: Wadjekanup, Peringillup, Pindellup, Jam Creek, Woodyarrup, Upper Pallinup, Gnowangerup and Jackitup, and the townsites of Broomehill, Tambellup and Gnowangerup. This report focuses on the agricultural and natural resources at risk and attempts to identify options to manage the potential risks within the area.