The Department of Fisheries invites people to comment on the issues and recommendations of this report - Draft Bycatch Action Plan for the Shark Bay Prawn Managed Fishery. This concept plan has been drawn up by the Fish and Habitat Protection Program of the Department of Fisheries. Two versions of the draft Bycatch Action Plan for the Shark Bay managed shrimp fishery have been released for public comment.
The 'Summary Report' (this document - Fisheries Management Document No 148) provides a brief summary of the background information used in the development of the plan and focuses on its objectives and measures. The 'Full Report' (Fisheries Management Document No. 147) is a comprehensive version of the plan, containing a detailed justification and rationale for the objectives and measures proposed in the plan. Public submissions will be treated as public documents, unless specifically marked as confidential, and may be cited in whole or in part in any subsequent reports relating to bycatch management in the Shark Bay Prawn managed fishery.
In your post, you can agree, disagree, or comment on general issues or specific strategies. If you wish to discuss the contents of the document or require further information, please contact Mr Colin Chalmers.
INTRODUCTION
- G ENERAL
- O BJECTIVE OF P LAN
- W HAT IS B YCATCH ?
- P OLICY F RAMEWORK
As the custodian of the nation's fish resources, the Ministry of Fisheries has a special responsibility for leading and coordinating efforts to manage bycatch. The Department of Fisheries has demonstrated its commitment to obligations under a number of State and Commonwealth agreements and policies in developing this Bycatch Action Plan.
CONSULTATIVE METHODOLOGY
C ONSULTATION
D ETERMINATION OF A CTIONS
A discussion of each of the issues, together with the conclusion on their priority and the recommended actions, is contained in the full version of the draft Bycatch Action Plan (Fisheries Management Document No. 147). The objectives and actions in the plan are derived from the proposed actions related to each of the issues. For an explanation and motivation of the content of the draft Bycatch Action Plan, readers are referred to the full version.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
- O VERVIEW OF THE S HARK B AY P RAWN M ANAGED F ISHERY
- Location of Fishery
- Management Regime
- E XISTING E NVIRONMENT IN S HARK B AY
- O THER F ISHING A CTIVITIES IN S HARK B AY
- E XISTING I NFORMATION ON B YCATCH
- CAESS Data Information
- WA Museum Trawl Survey 1997
- Shark Bay Bycatch Reduction Trials Observer Data
Therefore, to understand the impacts of bycatch in the managed Shark Bay shrimp fishery, one must first understand the environment in which the fishery is conducted. For information on the existing environment in Shark Bay, the reader is referred to the full version of the draft Bycatch Action Plan for the Shark Bay Shrimp Fishery, the Gascoyne Fisheries Environmental Management Review (Department of Fisheries, May 2001) and the Bycatch Issues Important to Demersal Shark Bay Fisheries Division, in preparation b). When considering bycatch in relation to the managed shrimp fishery in Shark Bay, consideration must therefore be given to other fishing activities in the bay.
Input on the species important to recreational fishing in Shark Bay was obtained from creel surveys and advice from the Regional Recreational Fishing Advisory Committee (RRFAC). There is limited existing information on the level and nature of bycatch in the Shark Bay Prawn Managed Fishery. While this again limits the perspective of the Bycatch Action Plan, its development has been based on the 'best available data' approach, recognizing the need for further research.
For detailed information on these sources, the reader is referred to 'A Review of Bicatch Issues Relevant to the Shark Bay Demersalt Trawl Fisheries' (Ministry of Finland, in preparation b). Data were obtained from CAESS regarding the Shark Bay Prawn Managed Fishery from 1992/93 to 1996/97. This information was collected and identified by WA Museum staff working on board the Department of Fisheries' RV Flinders.
Based on catch records and observations by Department of Fisheries staff, the catch was consistent with that taken by commercial shrimp trawlers in Shark Bay. There have been several types of BRDs designed for trawl gear and these are discussed in detail in the document "A Review of Bicatch Issues relevant to the Shark Bay Demersal Trawl Fisheries" (Ministry of Finland, in preparation b). Trials of BRDs in the Shark Bay Prawn Managed Fishery began in 1998, funded through the Commonwealth's Natural Heritage Trust, State Development and Better Interests funds and in-kind support from industry.
The aim of the project was to test the two main types of BRDs used in shrimp fisheries: grids (which exclude large organisms such as turtles, sharks and rays) and fish exclusion devices (which allow actively swimming fish to escape). The overall objectives of the bycatch equipment trials were to determine the most effective combination of BRDs to reduce bycatch without damaging the shrimp catch and reducing its commercial value. Formal trials were completed in August 1999 and details of the results will be included in a report to the Natural Heritage Trust (Department of Fisheries, in prep. a).
THE DRAFT BYCATCH ACTION PLAN
V ISION S TATEMENT
O BJECTIVES AND A CTIONS
Seek funding for research into the distribution of valuable or sensitive habitats and the distribution of fish species in Shark Bay trawling areas. Ensure that a BRD containing a net capable of excluding large objects from trawls is implemented in the managed Shark Bay Prawn fishery (note: this measure refers to a combination of net and fish exclusion device). Continue to improve the BRD design used by the Shark Bay Prawn managed fishery fleet based on new data.
Ensure that a BRD, which includes a fish exclusion device to exclude undersized fish from trawls, is implemented in the fishery (note: this measure refers to a combination of a net and a fish exclusion device). Implement a BRD that includes an optimal fish exclusion device that can exclude small fish from trawls. In conjunction with Action 5b, reassess trawl ground limits based on trawling effort analysis and investigations of fish species distribution within and outside trawl limits within Shark Bay.
In coordination with Action 5a, reconsider the trawl ground limits based on an analysis of trawl fishing effort and investigations of the distribution of benthic habitats and fish species in Shark Bay (refer Action 1c). Reduce the trawl-induced mortality of small fish caught in trawl nets (refer to Objective 3). Investigate the possibility of reducing the length of the Shark Bay Prawn Managed Fishery season.
Form strategic links with other research programs in Shark Bay to provide mechanisms to assess the downstream effects of reducing bycatch.
FIGURES
Column One of the table summarizes each of the objectives and actions of the Bycatch Action Plan. In the second column of the table you should indicate whether you think the relevant Objective/Action is appropriate. TO GAIN A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF THE QUANTITY, DIVERSITY, AND IMPACT OF BY-CATCHES IN THE MANAGED ALL SHARK KACADET FISHERIES, TO ADVANCE MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES.
TO NOTIFY THE COMMUNITY OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA AND AUSTRALIA REGARDING THE BY-CATCH MANAGEMENT AGREEMENTS IN THE SHARK BAY TRAW MANAGED FISHERIES. 12 Report of the Rock Lobster Industry Advisory Committee to the Honorable Minister of Fisheries September 24, 1987. 59 Proceedings of the Charter Boat Management Workshop (held as part of the 1st National Fisheries Managers Conference).
82 The Impact of a New Management Package on Small-scale Operators in the Western Rock Lobster Fishery R. Proceedings of the National Fisheries Management Network Workshop held as part of the Third Australian Fisheries Managers Conference. 103 Future Management of the Water Charter Industry in Western Australia by the Fishing Tour Operators Working Group (September 1997).
A discussion paper prepared by Kevin Donohue on behalf of the Rock Lobster Industry Advisory Committee.
