Qld Fishing Industry Research Advisory Committee

R&D priorities

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2007 Research and Development priorities of the Queensland Fishing Industry Research Advisory Committee

This list is presented as a guide to assist research providers in addressing key priority areas identified by a range of stakeholders in QFIRAC as they relate to particular fisheries. These priorities are intended as a guide to researchers applying for funding from the Fisheries Research and Development Corporation (FRDC) for the 2008/09 funding round. Research providers should also be mindful of the goals set out in the FRDC Strategic Plan.

1. Aquaculture Development

The best return on aquaculture R&D investment is considered likely to be in the major sectors of barramundi, edible oysters, pearls and prawns. Research into new and emerging aquaculture species will only be supported if it meets the FRDC criteria as set out below. While rock lobster is also a significant emerging sector current levels of investment through the Rock Lobster subprogram are considered adequate.

Key areas for investment relate to improving economic returns through, for example, value adding (e.g. through post-harvest and marketing strategies), and in improving productivity (e.g. through pond management and genetics).

Specific high priority challenge areas include:

• To reduce the costs of production, and to develop and exploit niche, high value markets for barramundi, edible oysters, pearls and prawns;
• For prawns the value of enhancing production parameters and reducing costs through the use of genetically improved stock remains significant;
• For barramundi it is important to address issues of quality consistency;
• Aquaculture health management especially in respect to the detection and control of disease;
• Identifying and developing opportunities for indigenous communities to undertake culturally appropriate and profitable aquaculture.

FRDC's criteria for funding new aquaculture species. A species must show it meets at least 3 of the following criteria:

1. That the development is market driven. This requires evidence of existing market size, value, growth and existence of distribution pathways to supply it. Further, Australia must be in a position to exploit this market.
2. That the development is being driven by industry with significant existing investment.
3. Evidence that the cost of production will be less than the farm gate price. Normally this has meant high value market prices to offset the high cost of production in Australia.
4. That the species is endemic to Australia and builds on successful existing wild caught species with high value and large export markets.
5. That there exists the planning framework and access to resources to allow for the timely and orderly development.

2. Freshwater Fisheries

Key areas for investment focus primarily on ecological sustainability impacts from restocking and habitat degradation. Fisheries managers must ensure that the fisheries resources of impoundment fisheries are managed sustainability, taking into consideration social, economic, and ecological factors. Currently there is limited information available on the ecological impacts that freshwater stocking is having on wild fisheries resources or on the sustainability of the practice.

Specific high priority challenge areas include:

• Undertaking an ecological assessment of the impacts of fish stocking to develop sustainability criteria and understand effects on biodiversity and ecosystem processes;
• Developing strategies for managing impoundment fisheries at different drawdown thresholds including the effects of variable water levels on habitat;
• Determining the effectiveness of freshwater habitat rehabilitation and the role of habitat in fisheries productivity at varying spatial scales;

3. Reef line fisheries

Significant knowledge gaps exist in information needed to develop appropriate management strategies for rocky reef species, deepwater species and coral reef fin fish in the "other species" quota group.

Specific high priority challenge areas include:

• Determining the critical habitats for all life history stages of rocky reef fish particularly snapper;
• Understanding the biology, population dynamics and demography of key deepwater species;
• Assessing the significance of the spawning aggregation area (Rib Reef, Kelso Reef and Bramble Reef) to GBR Spanish mackerel stocks;
• Management strategy evaluations for the coral reef fin fish fishery (e.g. closures, size limits and quotas);
• Improved understanding of the socio-economic aspects of reef fisheries for management strategy evaluation.

4. Harvest Fisheries

There are significant gaps in basic biological information for a range of harvest fishery species and fishery impacts including localised depletion.

Specific high priority challenge areas include:

• Filling taxonomic information gaps for some of the most heavily targeted species of sea cucumber;
• Estimates of growth, mortality, size at first maturity and breeding seasonality are required for population modelling and management strategy evaluation for tropical rock lobster and sea cucumber;
• Investigating the ecological consequences of localised removal of sea cucumber to inform an ecosystem-based management approach;
• Improved understanding of the socio-economic aspects of harvest fisheries for management strategy evaluation.

5. Crab Fisheries

Information is required for the effective management of crab species in Queensland, particularly for development of Management Plans for mud crab (Scylla serrata) and blue swimmer crab (Portunus pelagicus). While an effective management plan is in place to ensure the sustainability of the spanner crab fishery there is a need to address issues around the long-term profitability of that fishing sector.

Specific high priority challenge areas include:

• Identifying a reliable and cost-effective indicator of stock abundance for mud crabs and validating commercial logbook data;
• Understanding the relationship between spawning and recruitment for mud crab, including the offshore 'spawning' migration of female crabs;
• Understanding the connectivity between estuarine and offshore populations of blue swimmer crab, specifically whether they belong to the same genetic stock;
• Predicting the effects of changes in weather patterns and longer-term climate changes on the distribution of larvae and recruitment of portunid crabs[1];
• Reviewing the economic structure of the spanner crab fishery to identify potential cost-savings and increasing profitability through value-adding or establishing a secure domestic market;
• Reducing the potential environmental impact of fixed fishing apparatus used in crab fisheries.

6. Trawl Fisheries

The Management Plan for the trawl fishery has been in place for several years, providing an effective vehicle through which the long-term sustainability of the fishery can be ensured. A number of key questions remain, particularly in terms of ensuring an economically efficient and profitable fishery through the employment of an ecosystem-based management approach.

Specific high priority challenge areas include:

• Undertaking economic modelling of fishery sectors (east coast otter trawl, Moreton Bay trawl and beam trawl), particularly to determine a fleet structure that optimises profitability and long term sustainability;
• Undertaking management strategy evaluations for the Eastern King Prawn fishery, particularly the potential for seasonal closures to increase spawning stock size and the effects of localised depletions through high intensity fishing pressure on the long-term robustness of stock;
• Understanding the impact of trawling on habitat and ecosystems, including localised depletion of target species, effects of discarding, and identifying critical habitats of threatened and vulnerable species impacted by the fishery on a sector by sector basis.

7. Inshore Finfish Fisheries

The Queensland government is currently undertaking the development of a management plan for the east coast inshore finfish fishery. The development of this plan is highlighting key areas for R&D fundamental to the long term success of the fishery, particularly considerations about resource allocation, fishing closures and managing overall effort in the fishery.

Specific high priority challenge areas include:

• Undertaking a socio-economic assessment of the fishery, investigating the impacts of closures, the benefits and costs of having areas set aside for recreational fishing and the impacts of management changes on the profitability of the commercial fishery;
• Reviewing and developing cost effective methods for the acquisition and validation of recreational and commercial catch and effort data at the local, regional and State levels;
• Improving the understanding of basic biology (age, growth, reproduction and distribution) for data poor inshore species, including shark (creek whaler, graceful, pigeye, white cheek, blacktip reef, sliteye, milk, scalloped hammerhead and white-spotted guitarfish), threadfins, black jewfish, grunter, trevallies and queenfish;
• Investigation of novel stock assessments techniques for inshore species that move between freshwater and marine areas or that incorporate net selectivity for inshore species;
• Impacts of target fishing on Gulf of Carpentaria offshore aggregations of mangrove jacks on the inshore fishery and overall resource sustainability.

8. Industry and Human Capital Development

There are a range of industry development and human capital development issues that are relevant across a range of fisheries. Improved harvest efficiency and the desire to maximise the value of catches is impeded by a lack of capacity and common vision within industry. A range of approaches including greater involvement in regional management and other forms of co-management are one way to improve the interaction between fisheries resources, harvesters and managers. Improved promotion and education about fisheries is also required to establish a good public perception and acceptance of the value of the fishing industry.

Specific high priority challenge areas include:

• Developing co-management capital in Queensland commercial and recreational fisheries through regional engagement;
• Targeted branding and promotion of Queensland seafood to improve market acceptance and value;
• Develop strategies to increase the profitability of Queensland fisheries;
• Develop fuel efficient seafood production technologies;
• Develop the infrastructure, technical skills and capacity to undertake cleaner production developments in Qld fisheries;
• Developing greater capacity for ecosystem modelling in managing fisheries;
• Identifying and developing opportunities for indigenous communities to undertake commercial fishing operations.

9. Compliance and education

There is a need to improve the public understanding and perception in regard to the social and economic importance of fishing and to encourage participation in the industry. At the same time there is a need to ensure compliance with regulations and validate reported catch levels in order to demonstrate the fishery is both socially and environmentally acceptable. There are significant resources being expended on regulatory, data and information compliance, including provision of observers in a number of fisheries. Costs for these programs are significant, and escalate even further when such programs need to be run in remote areas such as Gulf of Carpentaria.

• Development of cost effective data validation and information compliance programs for Queensland 's commercial and recreational fisheries;
• Development of more efficient fisheries compliance methodologies that support compliance goals;
• School-based education on the role and value of the commercial and recreational fishing industries, particularly to regional economies.

Last updated 8 January 2008