What will be discussed at today’s forum?

• Dr Nick Rayns (AFMA)– management measures including localised depletion definition and

possible options.

• Assoc. Prof. Tim Ward (SARDI)– 2014 egg survey results for Jack Mackerel, Blue Mackerel and

Australian Sardine (east).

• Dr Tony Smith (CSIRO)– re-examination of the harvesting rules for each of the SPF species.

• Other important issues identified by forum participants.

Small Pelagic Fishery Management & Localised Depletion

SPF Stakeholder Forum 17 October 2014

Dr Nick RaynsExecutive Manager, Fisheries Management

The Small Pelagic Fishery

Species and BiologyJack Mackerel (Trachurus declivis, T murphyi)

Redbait (Emmelichtys nitidus)

Blue Mackerel (Scomber australasicus)

Australian Sardine(Sardinops sagax)

East and West Stock Eastern stock and possibly separate stocks between E and SW Tas

Different stocks across Australia

Some evidence of spatially distinct stocks

School over the continental shelf and outer shelf margin in 20-300m of water between WA and QLD

School 100-400m deep in continental shelf breaks, seamounts and ridges between NSW and S.W. WA

School 40-200m deep across the continental shelf in southern, temperate and subtropical waters between WA and S. QLD

School over the continental shelf between Rockhampton (QLD) and Shark Bay (WA)

Max 470mm TL, 17 yrs

Max 335mm FL in Aus, 21 yrs (females) and 18 yrs (males)

Max 440mm FL, 7-8 yrs

Max 250mm FL, 8 yrs

Females mature at 315mm TL and spawn mid-Dec to mid-Feb

In SW Tas, males mature at 261mm FL and females mature at 244mm FL. In E. Tas males mature at 157mm and females mature at 147mm FL. Spawn Sept-Nov

50% males mature at 237mm, 50% females mature at 287mm and spawn summer-early autumn in S. Aus and winter-spring off NSW

50% males mature at 146mm, 50% females mature at 150mm. Spawn between Jan-April in SA, Jan-June in WA and July-Dec in NSW

Note: TL = Total Length; FL = Fork Length

Fisheries Management in Context

AFMA’s management of the SPF

Objective• Conservative harvest rates that recognise the importance of

small pelagic fishes to the ecosystem and for all users.

Catch Control Management• The SPF Harvest Strategy recommends harvest rates, and• Limits the amount of each stock that can be harvested.

Assessments of east and west zones• The best available science is used through annual stock

assessments, and• Egg surveys and other relevant research such as catch/effort

information are used in the assessment.

More about AFMA’s management of the SPF

Managing Bycatch• SPF midwater trawl vessels must have AFMA-approved plans

and technical solutions in place to minimise interactions with seals, dolphins and seabirds:

- this includes a seal excluder device and a vessel-specific management plan that sets out measures to reduce the risk of interactions.

Stakeholder Consultation• AFMA consults through the SPF Resource Assessment Group,

South East Management Advisory Committee, and recreational and environmental forums.

Midwater Trawl and Purse Seine Methods

Seal Excluder Device

And even more about AFMA’s management of the SPF

Monitoring Fishing Activity• Commonwealth fishing vessels are fitted with a GPS tracking

system to monitor their movements while at sea that AFMA compliance can view 24/7.

• Observers collect scientific information on the fishing operation with 100% coverage on any new midwater trawl vessel for at least the first 10 trips.

• AFMA’s risk-based compliance and enforcement program is described at: http://www.afma.gov.au/managing-our-fisheries/compliance-activities/.

Catches in the SPF 1984/85 to 2012/13

Markets and where SPF catches are used

• In the mid 1980s the purse seine fishery caught large volumes of fish that were processed at plants at Triabunna for fish meal, oil for aquaculture feed, frozen to feed Southern Bluefin Tuna, bait, human consumption and pet food.

• Currently smaller catches in the SPF are primarily sold as fishing bait.

Catches of small pelagics from waters adjacent to Tasmania (where the majority of catches occurred between 1984 to 2009).

The Small Pelagic Fishery Resource Assessment Group’s working definition of localised depletion

“a persistent reduction in fish abundance in a limited area, caused by fishing activity, over spatial and temporal scales that causes a negative impact on predatory species and/or other fisheries.”

Considerations in developing the working definition:• Species mobility matters• Geographic barriers matter• It is different from changes in range or overall abundance• Can lead to user conflict, but is not always the cause• The SPF definition may not be applicable to all fisheries

Please note that the working definition is the subject of further consideration, including by this forum.

What do other fisheries do to manage the risk of localised depletion?

Alaskan Pollock Fisheries• Catch limits for pollock and Atka mackerel, both important prey

for sea lions in Alaskan waters, are spatially and seasonally apportioned into smaller sub-TACs to prevent prey removals from occurring all at once in localised areas.

South African Pelagic Fishery• Implementing spatial closures to fishing for sardine and anchovy

were demonstrated to be highly effective in increasing the numbers of African penguins breeding that feed primarily on these small pelagic species.

In both fisheries these management measures are precautionary and their benefits remain unproven, even with large R&D investments by the fisheries and countries concerned.

And an Australian fishery……

South Australian Sardine Fishery (SASF)

• The SASF has historically taken around 30,000 tonnes pa of Australian Sardine from southern Spencer Gulf and an ecosystem assessment has identified that localised depletion is not of great concern.

• The SASF has implemented a spatial management framework to limit the proportion of catch taken from southern Spencer Gulf and introduced size-based biological performance indicators into the harvest strategy.

Possible move-on rules to manage any risk of localised depletion in the SPF – an example

Questions:

1. Is the working definition of localised depletion sufficient to meet the recreational fishing sector needs?

2. How should we manage any risk of localised depletion in the Commonwealth Small Pelagic Fishery, and what are we trying to achieve in doing so?

3. Other questions and possible solutions from participants?

Additional slide - South African SPF Catches