The importance to commercial and recreational fish species of the various habitats found in the nearshore marine waters and estuaries of south-western Australia
The urgent need for reliable quantitative data on the habitats which are used extensively by commercial and recreational fish species during one or more stages in their life cycles has been highlighted by Cappo et al. (1998) in their report to FRDC (95/055). That report identified a deficiency in a knowledge of the following:
1. Characteristics and locations of important fisheries habitats at scales useful for research and management.
2. Life history information for fish species, related to the types of habitats occupied throughout their life cycles, and data on the densities and/or biomass of those other biotic components of fish habitats, which provide food and/or protection for fish, such as invertebrates and aquatic vegetation.
3. Habitat dynamics and ecosystem processes, including food webs, habitat use and fisheries production in soft sediment substrata, such as beaches.
4. Fisheries-habitat links, including the influences of hydrodynamic and other processes on the recruitment of commercial and recreational fish species.
The above gaps in our knowledge were also highlighted by the FRDC in its “Research Priorities for Fisheries Ecosystem Protection”, when they listed two of its strategic R&D areas as “defining major habitats in the coastal exclusive economic zone” and “the roles of habitats in maintaining healthy fisheries production, ecosystem integrity and biodiversity”.
There is a particularly urgent need to fill the above gaps because the coastal and estuarine waters of Australia are becoming increasingly exposed to the effects of numerous coastal developments, e.g. the construction of harbours, marinas and groynes, and to the destruction of habitat through other forms of activity, e.g. dredging for sand and extreme forms of eutrophication. Information on which habitats are most important to commercial and recreational fish species in these waters are required by managers so that they can introduce appropriate plans for managing and conserving those habitats.
Final report
Integrating fishing industry knowledge of fishing grounds with scientific data on seabed habitats for informed spatial management and ESD evaluation in the SEF
The SEF fishing industry, particularly the trawl sector, has a need to be proactive in the face of growing community attention to trawling based on its potential to modify benthic habitat and threaten biodiversity values. This need is focussed by the timetable for the regional marine planning process (the end of 2001 for the SEF region), as well as to meet provisions under Schedule 4 of the Wildlife Protection (Regulation of Experts and Imports) Act and the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act. Without solid information or a developed industry position regarding the spatial management of its fishing grounds, the fishing industry will have minimal ability to engage in this process as active partners.
The SEF fishing industry holds strong beliefs about the importance of particular seabed habitats for is continued profitability (Prince, Baelde and Wright FRDC 71/114) and has a need to develop a mature relationship with the National Ocean's Office and Environment Australia. This relationship and the information formailsed by this project will enable the industry to have input in the near-term to the Regional Marine Planning process and to certify their seafood products for expertation under the Wildlife Protection Act.
The outcomes of this project will have direct relevance t:
advancing AFMA's legislated aims of sustaining biological production and economic efficiency
seeking certification for inclusion on Schedule 4 of the Wildlife protection Act
attaining ESD accreditation in the longer term
responding to the near term needs of participating in the process of developing Environment Australia's South East Regional Marine Plan.
The finely detailed and annotated maps to be generated by this project will provide a template on which the distribution of fishing effort and catches can be plotted, and will form the basis of industry proposals to introduce a spatial management to their fishery. Without these maps and the process supported by this project there is a risk that uninformed spatial management of fishing effort would contribute neither to conservation goals nor the fishing industry and could be to the detriment of both. Moreover, inappropriate spatial management would be counter-productive to ESD planning for the SEF.
Final report
AAHL Fish Diseases Laboratory bacteriology workshop
Diagnostic laboratories across the country vary in their diagnostic capability for aquatic animal pathogens. Due to their individual needs, many diagnostic laboratories have developed their own reagents and procedures for the identification of bacterial pathogens. This lack of standardisation can be problematical, for example, when reporting on aquatic animal health status. Using Vibrio identification as an example, it is likely that diagnostic laboratories would be capable of identification to the genus level (i.e. Vibrio sp.). However, due to differences in the various laboratories, identification to the species level would be difficult, and different laboratories are likely to use different procedures for identification.
There is a clear need for diagnostic scientists working in this area to compare and standardise protocols between States. A series of workshops aimed at providing training in the diagnosis of bacterial disease in aquatic animals for those new to the area, and at the same time providing an opportunity to evaluate the various diagnostic protocols used in Australia for their ability to identify both enzootic and exotic pathogens is overdue.
Development of Standard Diagnostic Techniques will require three logical steps:
1. Comparison and evaluation of the tests currently used by diagnostic laboratories;
2. Development of, and agreement on, the most sensitive, accurate and reproducible methods;
3. Adoption and publication of the agreed method for each pathogen as the Standard Diagnostic Technique.
Thus development of SDTs in aquatic animal bacteriology may include an SDT on general methods for aquatic animal bacteriology followed by SDTs for specific diseases such as Vibriosis. Vibriosis, due to its widespread occurence in vertebrate and invertebrate aquatic animal species in tropical and temperate regions of Australia, was identified as a disease of particular importance with respect to standardisation of diagnostic methods [1].
In order to ensure that the SDTs incorporate the latest technologies and information on exotic, as well as enzootic, bacterial pathogens, and that the SDTs will be recognised internationally as state-of-the-art, an international expert on the specific disease will be invited to participate in each of the respective workshops.
References
1. Fish Health Management Committee (1998). Report of the Fish Health Management Committee and the Fish Health Coordinating Group: Workshop on Aquatic Animal Health: Technical Issues, 7-9 December 1998, Melbourne, Victoria.
Final report
ESD and fisheries: what, why, how and when? A stakeholders' workshop
Developing environmental management standards for the Australian seafood industry
The seafood industry is acutely aware that the community has become increasingly sceptical about assurances from industry and government regarding the state of the environment generally and in particular the environmental performance of industries which interact with the natural environment.
Development of nationally and internationally recognised environmental management standards using the SeaQual Australia process will assist to:
. achieve significant cultural change within the fishing and associated industries;
. focus the industry clearly on continuous improvement of its environmental performance; and
. gain international and domestic recognition that the industry is operating within environmental standards appropriate for the marine environment.
This project is an opportunity for governments and industry to lead the way internationally with the development and implementation of fisheries environmental standards which will engender public confidence in the way fisheries and the marine environment generally are being managed and that fisheries resources are being used sustainably.
To achieve this there is an urgent need to develop an environmental management system framework which provides realistic and achievable options for environmental accreditation/certification for each of the diverse range of fisheries in Australia. Such a framework needs to be also supported by access to tools and expertise to assist each fishery to determine appropriate environmental management systems for that fishery and to help the fishery to commence the journey of continued improvement in environmental performance (See Attachment 1).
This project will build on initiatives such as Greening Australia's Fisheries, SeaNet and SeaQual Australia to ensure that research outcomes relating to environmental performance are adopted by industry within an appropriate context.
Working together, SeaQual Australia, operating as part of Seafood Services Australia, will provide resources and guidance in the development of a "green chooser" and other products (including environmental management standards development) while SeaNet will provide the all important face-to-face assistance with using such products and with ensuring that their development is soundly based on industry needs.
Building on the work being undertaken by SCFA in relation to Fisheries ESD indicators, this project will commence the development of environmental management standards which can be assessed by independent 3rd party auditors.
While this project has been identified under the industry development program of FRDC it is extremely relevant to the other two FRDC programs eg achieving resource sustainability through fisheries management improvement. Continued improvement of the industry's environmental performance will be key outcomes of the project. This project is also targeted to address State priorities identified by the State FRABs. In all cases improving environmental performance is a high priority. The priorities identified by the Standing Committee on Fisheries and Aquaculture will also be addressed.
This project provides a unique opportunity to ensure that research results and outcomes are adopted and implemented to the satisfaction of all stakeholders. By working closely with the SCFA ESD reference group, the development of ESD indicators (SCFA project) and the tools required to assist industry stakeholders to meet them (this project) can occur in a systematic pragmatic way and assist in achievement of the desired outcomes.
Report
The purpose of this report is to illustrate the value of EMS as a management tool for seafood businesses to achieve their environmental, economic and social goals and in achieving broader natural resources management goals associated with fishing and aquaculture as well as demonstrating to the community the seafood industry’s environmental credentials.
The report targets existing and potential industry leaders, facilitators and training providers and government officials who have a desire to be involved in the continued development of the seafood industry through EMS.
Project products
National application of sustainability indicators for Australian fisheries
The urgency to develop a comprehensive and practical reporting system has increased substantially in recent years. The requirement for assessments include the need for third party Government Auditing that will result from the proposals by Environment Australia (EA) to amend schedule 4 of the Wildlife Protection (REI) Act (1982) along with the imminent introduction of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act in July 2000 and the implementation of the Oceans Policy strategies. There are also requirements within each jurisdiction to meet general government commitments to ESD and particularly when these are explicitly part of their Fisheries Legislation. Finally there are also recent developments associated with industry wanting to either gain market access or provide increased leverage for their products from gaining environmental accreditation. Thus, there are a large number of reasons why assessments need to be completed. There is an even greater need to ensure that the reporting schemes developed are sufficiently comprehensive to restrict the level of duplication.
The Standing Committee on Fisheries and Aquaculture (SCFA) identified the need to actively progress the development of nationally agreed criteria and indicators that would enable fisheries managers to report against all the principles of ecologically sustainable development (ESD). The ESD objective is now explicitly or implicitly part of State and Commonwealth fisheries management legislation. There are a number of components related to ESD within the fisheries context, these include the target species, the ecosystem, social and economic issues and also management arrangements. Not all of these components are of interest or are addressed in each of the identified requirements listed above. Thus, in the assessments required by Environment Australia the only components addressed are the target species, the ecosystem and management arrangements. This is similar to the assessments required under the Marine Stewardship Council. Assessments for ISO 14000 and Codes of Conduct only cover management arrangements. However, to fully meet the commitment to ESD, all components will need to be assessed. Consequently the proposed SCFA process will cover all aspects of ESD. These comprehensive assessments should nonetheless incorporate the aspects required for these other requirements.
The SCFA Working Group has been established to steer the development of ESD criteria and indicators with the support of the SCFA Research Committee, who have developed a system for ESD reporting. The Working Group has agreed on an approach and timetable that would result in a report on the application of nationally agreed criteria and indicators for all Australian fisheries by mid 2001.
The Working Group approach includes 3 key research tasks that support their objectives, which require funding:
1. Application of draft criteria and framework using case studies
2. An SCFA workshop based around the case studies
3. An “Initial National Application” report of the ESD criteria and indicators for Australian fisheries
The urgency to progress this approach was raised at the ESD Stakeholder Workshop that was held in Geelong during March 2000. All stakeholder groups were represented at this workshop and they all recognised that there was a strong need to progress from the current situation to one where reporting on all components of ESD can be completed.
Endorsement was obtained from all sectors for the SCFA approach. There were, however, clear indications that effective consultation and participation from stakeholders were required during the project to ensure that the results will obtain national recognition and support. Consequently, a Reference Group will be established that will include representatives from Environment Australia, Commercial Fisheries, Aquaculture, Recreational fisheries, Indigenous groups, FRDC, Environmental groups and other relevant experts. The Reference Group would work in partnership with the SCFA Working Group to assist in the coordination and exchange of information. It was also suggested that this Reference Group along with selected memebrs of the SCFA Working Group could act as a resource for other relevant ESD projects (e.g. 2000/358).
Finally, the workshop resulted in the development of the appropriate linkages between the members of the SCFA proposal, which is primarily concerned with the development of effective ESD reporting mechanisms, with the proponents of the other ESD projects such as FRDC 2000/358 which is designed to assist industry develop better, more environmentally credible methods of operation. These discussions resulted in the agreement as to how the two projects can benefit each other.