Volume 25 No 4 Aug/Sept 2012 - Tasmanian Seafood Industry Council

Transcription

fishingTODAY
TASMANIAN SEAFOOD INDUSTRY NEWS
Volume 25 No 4 August/September 2012
INSIDE:
> New fishing vessel launch P 3
> Macquarie Harbour planning P12
> Giant crab update P 23
Seafood Directions
Conference 2013
Adapt, Interact & See Food
Port Lincoln 27th - 30th October 2013
Seafood Directions 2013 sets the compass
for the industry in a 4 day series of
presentations, workshops and functions.
Connect directly with stakeholders,
government, suppliers and buyers in
Australia’s seafood capital, Port Lincoln.
For all queries including sponsorship and
exhibition opportunities contact:
Shearwater Consulting Pty Ltd
T: (+61) 7 4031 2345
E: [email protected]
W: www.seafooddirections.net.au
Domain Slipway
The No. 2 and 3 slips cater for a maximum of
180 tonne and 50 tonne vessels respectively.
The Domain Slipway also provides 24 hour, seven
days a week access to a marine fuelling facility.
The Domain Slipway offers:
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tFRVJQNFOUIJSF
tXBUFSBOEHSJUFRVJQNFOU
tJOEVTUSZBQQSPWFETDBõPMEJOH
tIJHIMZFYQFSJFODFE.BSJOF&OHJOFFST
tBTTJTUBODFXJUIWFTTFMEPDLJOHBOEMBCPVSTPVSDJOH
'PSCPPLJOHTBOEFORVJSJFT
Phone 0418 127 586
&[email protected]
TPOR4599rj
The Domain Slipway is Tasmania’s best located and
first environmentally compliant slipway. The No. 1
Slipway supports large fishing boats, mega (super)
yachts and tug boats up to 2000 tonnes with multiple
slipping potential.
fishingTODAY
Volume 25 No 4 August/September 2012
TASMANIAN SEAFOOD INDUSTRY NEWS
President’s report
New fishing vessel launched in Bridport
Chief Executive’s report
AusIndustry clean technology grants
2
3
4
5
TSIC news
>
To trawl or not to trawl?
6
>
Update on Ecosystem Based Fisheries Management project
7
>
What’s happening at TSIC?
8
Seafood Industry Partnerships in Schools (SIPS) program update
By Catch
9
10
DPIPWE news
>
Macquarie Harbour Marine Farming Development Plan
12
>
Industry convictions
13
Tasports continues its commitment to safety
Salmon farming communities in Scotland
MSC Certification for another Australian fishery
Industry Wide
Spring Bay Blue Mussels confirmed Friend of the Sea
AMC research into disease resistance in fish
National Seafood Incident Response Plan
13
14
15
16
20
20
21
MAST news
>
Review safety equipment
22
>
Update on commercial vessel safety reform
22
TASMANIAN SEAFOOD INDUSTRY COUNCIL (TSIC)
ABN 61 009 555 604
PO Box 878, Sandy Bay 7006
P 03 6224 2332
F 03 6224 2321
E [email protected]
W www.tsic.org.au
TSIC DIRECTORS
Lindsay Newman, President
Rodney Herweynen, Vice President
Sam Ibbott, Treasurer
James Ashmore
Bryan Denny
Odette Lennane
Linda Sams
Peter Stegmann
DEPARTMENT OF PRIMARY INDUSTRIES,
WATER AND ENVIRONMENT (DPIPWE)
GPO Box 44, Hobart, 7001
Kim Evans, Secretary
Wes Ford, General Manager,
Primary Industries Division
Robert Gott, Director,
Marine Resources
Grant Pullen, Manager,
Wild Fisheries
TSIC STAFF
Neil Stump, Chief Executive
Julian Harrington, Project Officer
Tasmanian giant crab fishery update
23
>
Double night shot fishing study results
24
>
Autumn tag lotto
25
>
What’s on the move in Tassie seas?
26
>
IMAS students making their mark across the oceans
28
AMSA Conference
Seafood Training Tasmania
Bureau of Meteorology: Improved forecast information
Directory
29
30
31
IBC
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0400
0414
0417
0417
0407
0427
368
130
697
184
502
151
632
278
708
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175
774
195
063
918
863
PARKS,
P 03 6233 8011
P 03 6233 3037
P 03 6233 5424
P 03 6233 6632
P 03 6233 3157
INSTITUTE FOR MARINE AND ANTARCTIC STUDIES (IMAS)
Professor Colin Buxton
Director Fisheries, Aquaculture and Coasts Centre
Private Bag 49, Hobart 7001
IMAS news
>
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Darci Wallis, EBFM Project Officer
Julie Martin, Office Manager
Mary Brewer, Administrative Officer
[email protected]
P 0417 394 009
[email protected]
P 0407 242 933
[email protected]
P 0417 260 550
[email protected]
[email protected]
Photographic acknowledgments: Tourism Tasmania© All rights reserved.
Mary Brewer, Sam Ibbott, Hugh Pederson, Fiona Ewing
Front cover: Sam Ibbott
Production by Artemis Publishing Consultants
P: 03 6231 6122 E: [email protected]
Advertising deadline for the next issue: 14 September 2012
For advertising in Fishing Today
contact Mary Brewer at TSIC on 03 6224 2332
Advertising index
Australian Pump Industries
Baily Marine
Fletcher Pumps
Guy Cotten
RASS Marine Broker
15
19
22
2
21
Seafarer’s Memorial Service
Seafood Directions
Sunderland Marine
Tasports
2
IFC
BC
IFC
Fishing Today is distributed free to the Tasmanian Seafood Industry. Editorial content is sourced
from diverse interest groups within the industry who have provided material for contribution.
The editor intends to present contributions in a fair manner in order to promote constructive
debate in relation to issues important to the Tasmanian Seafood Industry. The editor only therefore
accepts responsibility for editorial content over which he has had direct control. Contributions
that are printed in full shall not be the responsibility of the editor. Any advertisement submitted
for publication is done so on the basis that the advertiser or advertising agencies upon lodging
material with the publisher for publication has complied with all relevant laws and regulations
and therefore indemnifies the publisher its servants and agents in relation to defamation, slander
of title, breach of copyright, infringement of trade marks or names of publication titles, unfair
competition to trade practices, royalties or violation of rights or privacy and warrants that the
advertisement in no way whatsoever is capable or being misleading or deceptive or otherwise in
breach or part V of the Trade Practices Act 1974 (Cwth) (as amended from time to time).
> TSIC PRESIDENT’S REPORT
From the President
The Tasmanian Fishing Industry Council and
its members offer their deepest sympathy
to the families of Tim Whayman and Ben
Clarke, on the loss of their lives in tragic
circumstances at Port Davey recently.
We are an island State with the sea easily
accessible for most Tasmanians. Indeed the
sea is part and parcel of many Tasmanian
communities and provides employment
opportunities and a desirable lifestyle. With
access to a vast surrounding coastline, we
acknowledge that we also must have a
deep respect for, and understanding of,
the vagaries of the sea. This tragedy is
a timely reminder for those who choose
to work in this industry, to increase their
awareness of their surroundings and never
to underestimate nature.
There has been a lot of hype recently
surrounding the impact of large vessels to
our island state, specifically FV Margiris. It
is unknown as to whether this will, or will
not have an impact on our fishery, and
if it does what the outcome will be. The
conditions of FV Margaris’ registration will
be determined in due course by the powers
that be. We would expect the number of
significant concerns raised by some of our
members, and commented on widely by the
wider fishing fraternity, to carry weight in the
decision-making process.
Just flying under the radar, (dare I say it) is
the role of the Commonwealth Marine Park
Strategy. Collectively, TSIC is continuing to
constructively raise your concerns on these
matters with the appropriate authorities,
as well as with other parties who also have
vested interests in these processes.
I have mentioned previously that we have
voted our local and federal politicians into
power so it is up to every individual, sector
group, or organisation to lobby them with our
concerns. The expectation is that they will
make informed decisions that serve our best
interests and reflect our views. Maybe we
need clarification on whether they are in fact
serving our interests.
The Commonwealth Marine Park briefing
session was held in Melbourne recently. If
you are not aware of its content, I urge you
to update yourselves through whichever
media form you utilise to ensure you fully
understand the details.
Feedback in relation to the in-board
governance training which was funded
by FRDC and delivered by the Australian
Institute of Company Directors (AICD) has
been positive. The course was attended by
approximately 25 people from many sectors
of our seafood industry.
Lindsay Newman
President
Tasmanian Seafood Industry Council
Tasmanian SeafarersMemorial Service
16th Annual Tasmanian Seafarers’ Memorial Service & Blessing of the Fleet
Sunday 21st October 2012, 10.50 am for 11.00 am
The Governor, the Hon. Peter Underwood A.C. will be in attendance.
P
Enquiries:
Kath Fergusson: T: (03) 62 571 667, F: (03) 62571669,
email: [email protected]
Toni Parker: T: (03) 62 573 126,
Cheryl Arnol: M: 0419 533 615, A/H: 62 571 349,
email: [email protected]
IMPORTED BY AQUAPROGEAR
MARINE GEAR TASMANIA
Warehouse No2
20 Waterworth Drive
Margate
Tel: 0418 943 017
FRANKLIN MARINE
3349 Huon Highway
Franklin
Tel: 03 6266 3768
2
TASMANIAN SEAFOOD INDUSTRY NEWS JUNE/JULY 2012
> INSTA-GATOR
New fishing vessel launched
in Bridport
by Mary Brewer
A
llan Barnett’s stunning new fishing
boat has had heads turning
wherever it goes since its launch
in May this year. Designed by Alan Muir
of Alan Muir & Associates, in consultation
with Allan Barnett, and built in Bridport by
Allan’s own ship building company to NSCV
3B survey standard, Insta-Gator is 25.1m
long, 7.5m in beam and draws 2.4m.
Insta-Gator was built for Allan’s own use
in the scallop and purse seine fisheries
and is designed to be rugged enough to
withstand all that the sea can throw at her.
Her two Yanmar 6HA2-DTE six-cylinder
302kW diesel engines power twin Mikado
propellers, to give her a cruising speed of
11 knots.
To give her good manoeuvrability the vessel
is also fitted with Sidepower SH550TC bow
thrusters both fore and aft. In addition
Insta-Gator has two lsuzu 6BGIT-QV sixcylinder auxiliary engines. She is also
capable of being at sea for some time as
her fuel tanks have a capacity of 36,510
litres and she can carry 10,830 litres of
fresh water.
Insta-Gator’s hull is steel and her
wheelhouse and shelter deck are
constructed from aluminium, while her fit
out is constructed of the highest quality
materials and ensures a stylish look and
comfort, whilst withstanding the harsh
marine environment.
The latest electronic equipment was
supplied by Linemaster in Queensland and
includes a JRC Fish Finder and radar with a
Maxsea Plotter and two Kaijo sonars, one
5,000m and one 2,500m range. To enable
the vessel to keep her catch in perfect
condition Insta-Gator is using an 85 cubic
metre Dorin freezer and spray brine, as well
as 50 ton RSW, holding at 0 °C.
Insta-Gator’s working deck is half-enclosed
as a shelter deck on the port side but open
on the starboard, while the crew of up
to eight is easily accommodated in four
separate cabins. The net bin for the purse
net is located aft and the net stacker block
is mounted over it. The net is hauled in by
a Triplex net hauler.
Allan Barnett has built several vessels over
the past 22 years. He was only 19 when
he began his own fishing business, Allan
Barnett Fishing Co Pty Ltd, in 1980 after
having a 16m steel fishing boat Kiella
constructed. Following on from this in
1983 the company had Lutarna built,
which was a 20m steel fishing boat for
the scallop and cray fisheries. By 1990
Allan wanted a larger vessel and decided
to construct a boat, together with Ron
Roozendaal, at a slipyard in Bridport. The
rest is history and the yard has now been
expanded to be capable of housing two
30m craft simultaneously, undercover. Their
boats have a unique design that enables
maximum performance for minimum fuel
consumption and enables the boats to have
3
a large carrying capacity in relation to their
length.
Allan’s years of hands-on experience at
sea are invaluable when designing a boat
with his architect to meet fishermen’s
expectations. For this reason the company’s
boats have a reputation for being among
the finest looking boats in Australia and
Insta-Gator is no exception.
> TSIC CHIEF EXECUTIVE’S REPORT
Chief Executive’s report
Draft Management Plan for the SE
Commonwealth Marine Reserves
Network
The Australian Government released the
consultation draft Management Plan for
the SE Marine Reserve Network for public
comment on 4 July. The closing date for
submissions in response to the Plan is 27
August. Once finalised the new Management
Plan will be in place for ten years.
From a seafood industry perspective the key
elements of the plan are:
• No changes to current fishing
activities within the multiple use areas
The current fishing methods that are
allowed within the different zones in
the SE MPA network will remain the
same under the draft management
plan. When the interim management
arrangements were put in place in 2007
TSIC supported these proposals.
• Class approvals will replace general
approval
The draft Management Plan proposes
that commercial fishing will be permitted
through a class approval. Under this
arrangement individual fishers will
not have to register with Department
of Sustainability, Environment, Water,
Population and Communities (SEWPaC).
In this instance it is pleasing to see that
SEWPaC has listened to industry as we
have advocated for class approvals since
the establishment of the parks.
The draft class approvals set the
conditions that fishers must adhere to
when operating within or transiting the
reserves. Operators of vessels that are not
allowed to conduct fishing operations
within the reserves, such as demersal
trawl, Danish seine, scallop and gillnet
below 183 metres, must have their gear
stowed, not in contact with the water
and on board the vessel whilst in transit.
Operators of vessels that are permitted
to operate within the multiple-use zones
must also have their gear stowed when
transiting “no-take” zones.
• Fishers must comply with the
management arrangements for their
fishery
This is a condition of the class approval.
• Current boundaries and the
classification of zones to remain
as per the interim management
arrangements.
SEWPaC have advised that the boundaries
of the MPAs will remain the same.
However, they have flagged that they
propose to change the names and
some of the International Union for
Conservation of Nature (IUCN) categories
of zones in the SE MPA network to allow
a consistent approach to zone names
and categories nationally. The proposed
changes will not alter the uses or activities
that are currently allowed in the zones.
One issue that the plan is relatively silent
on is in relation to ongoing monitoring
and assessment of the MPAs. Industry is
clearly of the view these activities are the
responsibility of the management agency
SEWPaC and there should be no attempt to
charge industry for these activities.
Inboard Governance Training
With valuable financial support provided by
FRDC, TSIC facilitated a one day “Inboard
Governance Training” workshop held at the
RYCT in early June. Ross Byrne from the
Australian Institute of Company Directors
guided the twenty two participants through
the key issues that company directors
must be aware of in relation to regulatory
compliance, fiduciary duty and the roles and
responsibilities of a company director.
Ross encouraged all participants to actively
engage in the workshop. Using practical
examples of the governance issues that face
directors of not-for-profit organisations such
as TSIC proved to be extremely valuable.
TSIC has already provided feedback to
FRDC that the format provides an ideal
introduction to corporate governance for
new board members and ideally should be
run bi-annually.
Nature Conservation Area – Update
In response to representations from TSIC
and TSEC in relation to the establishment
of nature conservation areas that overlap
4
marine farm leases, as reported in the last
issue of Fishing Today, the Minister for
Environment Brian Wightman has advised
that he has instructed his Department to put
in place a moratorium on the establishment
of any new nature conservation areas
that extend beyond the high water mark
adjacent to a marine farm lease.
The Minister has also indicated that the
Department will be reviewing the status
and impact of nature conservation areas
already established that overlay existing
marine leases.
National Seafood Industry Alliance
(NSIA)
The NSIA met in Melbourne in late July
to review the priority action areas and
associated strategies. Alliance members
reaffirmed that, due to limited resources,
we have to ensure these remain focussed
on a small number of key priorities. These
are; resource access, support for ongoing
targeted investment in RD&E, industry
promotion (social licence to operate),
support for Country of Origin Labelling, as
well as a reduction in the regulatory burden
on fisheries and aquaculture.
At the meeting Katherine Sarneckis stepped
down as NSIA Chair. Grahame Turk, Chair
of the NSW Seafood Industry Council was
elected as Katherine’s replacement.
On a personal level I would like to
acknowledge Katherine’s contribution
as the Chair of NSIA over the last 14
months. Katherine has been instrumental
in coordinating the industry response
to the bioregional planning process,
and principally the establishment of the
Commonwealth marine reserve network
outside the SE Marine Bioregion. Katherine
remains on the NSIA as the Northern
Territory Seafood Industry Council member.
> TSIC CHIEF EXECUTIVE’S REPORT
Aquatic Animal Biosecurity
Emergency Response Arrangements
Stakeholders from the seafood industry
wild catch and aquaculture, fisheries
managers and animal health professionals
met in Melbourne in mid July to progress
the development of disease response
arrangements for aquatic animals.
Emergency response arrangements in the
form of a deed between governments and
between governments and industry that
applies across state boundaries are put
in place to set out the agreed response,
funding, training and accountability
arrangements to provide an emergency
response to a specific disease outbreak. In
Tasmania the classic example is the detection
of AVG at abalone processing premises.
A considerable amount of work has been
undertaken by various working groups over
the last decade, attempting to develop a
workable model for an aquatic emergency
response agreement based on those
currently in place for terrestrial plants and
animals. However, the inherent differences
between the terrestrial environment and the
aquatic environment has only reinforced the
view, certainly from an industry perspective,
that the existing terrestrial agreements
cannot be directly transferred to wild
capture fisheries and the marine farming
sectors.
It was agreed that it was too difficult in
the aquatic environment to have a ‘one
size fits all’ approach and the appropriate
approach may need to be implemented
either regionally or at a sector level.
However, there was support for formal risk
management arrangements in to be put
in place across aquatic industries as well
as surveillance/detection and emergency
response arrangements.
Industry members present were also of
the view that the formal agreements/
arrangements should contain a ‘transition
to management’ clause, as it is recognised
that in the marine environment eradication
will almost always be impossible and that
emergency response will need to move into
long term management of disease.
Neil Stump
Chief Executive
> AUSINDUSTRY
Clean technology grants
T
here has never been a better time for
food-related businesses to invest in
a clean energy future. Grants from
$25,000 are available for manufacturers to
invest in energy efficient capital equipment
and low emissions technologies, processes
and products under the Australian
Government’s new $200 million Clean
Technology Food and Foundries Investment
program. There is no maximum funding
cap, with co-contributions scaled pending
the size of the grant and turnover of the
applicant.
Even if manufacturing is not your primary
business activity you may still be eligible
for funding if you are undertaking
manufacturing activities in Australia and
your funding project is associated with
those manufacturing activities.
Examples of energy efficiency or emissions
reduction measures include, but are not
limited to:
• upgrading to high efficiency motors and
lighting;
• replacing a boiler with a more efficient
one;
• installing variable speed drives or
advanced process control systems;
• fitting new insulation for ovens and
heaters, or switching from electric to
gas-fired systems; and
• installing solar panels, wind turbines or
a gas-fired cogeneration system.
Three wineries have been funded for
projects to purchase and install a solar
power system to reduce carbon emissions.
Another winery is undertaking a range of
energy reduction measures across wine
making, packaging, warehousing and site
services areas by using grid power more
efficiently, replacing old equipment and
using solar power.
A producer of frozen meals and finger
food has also received a grant to
introduce a new freezer system that will
reduce its carbon emissions intensity by
more than 50%.
Information is available to assist food and
beverage manufacturers identify eligible
projects for the program through the
AusIndustry website.
5
Other Australian Government programs
provided through AusIndustry include the
$200 million Clean Technology Innovation
Program which supports applied research
and development, proof of concept and
early-stage commercialisation activities that
lead to the development of new, clean
technologies and associated services that
reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
The R&D Tax Incentive is another initiative
to encourage and support new and better
ways for businesses to operate. The Tax
Incentive provides a targeted tax offset
on eligible research and development
expenditure. It replaces the R&D Tax
Concession and provides even more
generous incentives, especially for smaller
companies.
Further information can be
obtained from the AusIndustry
hotline on 13 28 46 or via email
to [email protected]
or by visiting the website:
www.ausindustry.gov.au.
TSIC NEWS
To trawl or not trawl? The
Commonwealth small pelagic fishery
by Neil Stump
The proposal by Seafish Tasmania to form a
joint venture arrangement with the Dutch
owners of the ‘super trawler’ FV Margiris
that would see them catch Seafish’s quota
of small pelagic species (Jack Mackerel, Blue
Mackerel and Redbait) in the Commonwealth
small pelagic fishery has caused public outcry
in Tasmania. There has been virtually nonstop coverage of the issue in the media
including numerous “letters to the editor”
to all the Tasmanian newspapers since the
proposal was first made public.
What then is TSIC’s position in relation to
the Seafish proposal?
First, the primary focus should clearly be on
the sustainability of the fishery and not on
the vessel engaged by Seafish to catch its
allocated quota. TSIC is concerned that all the
media attention has been on the vessel and
its reported operations in fisheries outside
Australia. There is a lack of acknowledgment
that the vessel, if licensed to operate in the
fishery, will do so under a more rigorous and
accountable management system than in
most other jurisdictions. In focusing on the
vessel there is also a lack of acknowledgment
that Seafish has been allocated quotas in the
fishery that it is entitled to catch irrespective
of the number of vessels it employs to
catch its quota. Seafish’s position is that it is
uneconomical to employ a number of smaller
vessels to catch its quota, particularly given
the low market value for these species.
While we acknowledge that the fishery is
managed by the Commonwealth, not the
Tasmanian Government, under a harvest
strategy that sets the exploitation rates / total
allowable catches for the target species at
a conservative level TSIC has requested and
received additional information from AMFA
in relation to four issues, the age of the data
used to underpin the stock assessment, the
potential for localised depletion, the level
of observer coverage and bycatch. AFMA
has provided the following responses to our
enquiries.
In relation to the TAC setting process “...
As you have noted, the TACs are set at
an extremely conservative level under the
SPF Harvest Strategy to take into account
the time since the last DEPM (Daily Egg
Production method) survey. The Small
Pelagic Resource Assessment Group
(SPFRAG) recognised that the results from
the recent Management Strategy Evaluation
indicated that the default Tier 2 maximum
harvest levels for the east and west Jack
Mackerel stocks are conservative and
sustainable”. The maximum exploitation for
the fishery is 17% of the spawning biomass
and has been explicitly set taking into
account the age of the data. The TACs for
all specie has been set between 10 and less
than 7.5% of the spawning biomass.
In relation to the potential for localised
depletion the AFMA response is “... AFMA
is of the view that localised depletion is
not a significant risk to this fishery. There
is scientific evidence that Jack Mackerel
move further offshore as they grow and,
given the highly mobile nature of small
pelagic species, any localised reductions in
abundance are likely to be short term. In
addition, large boats with freezing capacity
(like the FV Margiris) are not restricted to
fishing in areas close to processing facilities,
as has historically been the case in the Small
Pelagic Fishery. Therefore the risk of localised
depletion near Tasmania is reduced as the
boat has the ability to fish well away from
the Tasmanian coast.
Further, the area of the small pelagic fishery
is split into two management zones, east
and west of longitude 146°30’ East (roughly
through the middle of Tasmania), based on
scientific evidence that there are separate
stocks of these species east and west of
Tasmania. Separate catch limits are set for
each zone and this ensures that the Seafish
quota for each species cannot all be taken
from one zone.
In addition, a significant proportion of the
Australian Fishing Zone around Tasmania is
6
closed to midwater trawling under existing
marine protected areas. Further, as you have
noted, waters within three nautical miles
of state baselines are also not part of the
fishery.
AFMA has not ruled out the need for further
measures to deal with localised depletion
and additional management arrangements
will be considered if necessary, provided they
are consistent with AFMA’s legislation.”
The third issue is the level of observer
coverage. AFMA has advised there will
be 100% coverage of the vessels’ fishing
operations.
The fourth issue was in relation to bycatch.
From previous mid-water trawl operations
data on bycatch shows that the two main
bycatch species are Barracouta and Spotted
Warehou. Spotted Warehou is a fish subject
to quota and Seafish must hold quota for
any such species it takes as bycatch. The
other main bycatch species Barracouta is not
subject to quota. Bycatch from previous midwater trawl operations conducted by Seafish
was estimated to be 1% of the total catch.
While recognising that the target species in
the small pelagic fishery are forage species
for higher order predators, including tuna’s,
grenadiers, sharks, seals and dolphins and
they do form part of the food web, the
science shows they are only three of a suite
of species that occupies that ecological
niche. The reality is a group of species the
Myctophids, or lantern fish occupy the
same ecological niche as Jack Mackerel,
Blue Mackerel and Redbait and have been
found to constitute more than 90% of the
biomass of fishes found on the continental
slope off the East Coast of Tasmania. The
biomass of lantern fish is estimated to be
in the hundreds of thousands of tonnes.
So, even if the TAC allocated in the eastern
zone of the fishery for this season (19,600
tonnes) across the three target species were
to be taken, it is extremely unlikely that the
pelagic food web would collapse. A copy
of a scientific opinion provided by Professor
> TSIC NEWS
Keith Sainsbury from IMAS can be obtained
from TSIC upon request.
There is always an element of uncertainty
when estimating fish stocks. How we
account for that level of uncertainty is the
issue. We either accept that the science
provided by CSIRO, IMAS and other research
providers is robust or it isn’t. We do not
wish to be in the same position as many of
our opponents of wild capture fishing and
marine farming in accepting the science
when it supports their world view and
rejecting it when it doesn’t.
TSIC is firmly of the view that industry does
need to demonstrate that all fishing and
marine farming activities are sustainable and
claims to sustainability must be underpinned
by the best possible science. Where there is
an absence of current data the management
agencies must take a precautionary
approach to management. That does not
mean that we can or should accept there
will be a nil impact from fishing or marine
farming activities, as every human activity
leaves a footprint no matter how small.
For further information I suggest
that you read the FAQs on the
AFMA website: http://www.afma.
gov.au/2012/06/super-trawler-faqs/
Update on Ecosystem Based
Fisheries Management project
A
s reported in previous editions of
Fishing Today, in early 2011 TSIC
secured funding from the Australian
Government’s Caring for our Country
program, to undertake a project titled
‘Ecosystem Based Fisheries Management
(EBFM) in Tasmanian Wild Capture Fisheries’.
EBFM is a holistic approach to fisheries
management which takes into account
the complex ecosystem impacts of fishing.
The overall objective of EBFM is to sustain
healthy marine ecosystems and the fisheries
they support.
Our inshore ecosystems are under increasing
pressure from recreational and commercial
fishing as well as the impacts of changes
in climate. The range extension of the long
spined sea urchin and bio-security issues are
further complicating the ecosystem based
impacts of fishing and highlight the need
for a more holistic management approach.
One of the main aims of the project is to
review the management arrangements of
each fishery and compare this to EBFM
principles to see where there may be gaps in
the management. A gap analysis has been
completed for each of Tasmania’s fisheries.
This was developed after consultation with
industry, management and researchers, as
well utilising available published information
for each fishery.
In collaboration with OceanWatch a code
of practice is currently being developed
for the scalefish fishery. Consultation with
scale fishers from each sector around the
State occurred in July and August, to
better understand the practices employed
in the fishery and to obtain input from
fishers as to what they want to see in the
code of practice. Consultation with other
stakeholders will also occur following the
initial industry consultation.
Other aims of the project are:
• to work with industry to review the
current Environment Management
System (EMS) and codes of practice
(CoP) and make recommendations to
align them with EBFM principles where
practical;
• to facilitate the development of CoP or
EMS for the commercial scalefish fishery,
and other fisheries where they are not
currently in place;
• to provide a framework for EBFM
implementation in Tasmania and other
states;
• in consultation with relevant stakeholders,
to prioritise changes needed to
management and fishing practices in
order to move towards EBFM.
• initial industry consultation including
the running of focus groups with key
industry members from the abalone,
scalefish, scallop, rock lobster and
commercial dive fisheries - with members
nominated by the industry associations;
• the development of survey questions for
each fishery for future consultation with
wider industry;
• industry consultation has occurred
in St Helens, Bicheno and Triabunna
during March and April with additional
consultation occurring by phone with
industry members who were unavailable
during these visits;
• barriers to implementing EBFM for
Tasmania’s fisheries and potential ways
to overcome these have been identified;
and
• a review and gap analysis of the current
management arrangements has been
completed, but will continue to evolve
if additional issues are identified by the
project.
So far the project has achieved:
• a review of the published literature on
EBFM;
• the development of a framework which
outlines how EBFM will be implemented
in Tasmania’s fisheries;
• the formation of a steering committee
to oversee the project, including
representatives from industry,
government and research;
7
If you are interested in being
involved in the industry
consultation or would like further
information on this project,
please contact Darci Wallis,
EBFM Project Officer, via email
to [email protected] or by
phone on (03) 6224 2332 or
0417 260 550.
TSIC
News
What’s happening at TSIC?
Charting your own course
The TSIC managed, FRDC funded people
development project, ‘Building seafood
industry representational capacity’ is
now in the final stages of completion.
The overall objective of the ‘Charting
your own course’ training package is to
improve representational capacity within
the seafood industry. Program participants
are informed about a number of key
topics which concern representation,
including understanding the Australian
seafood sector, representing your industry,
communicating effectively, influencing
and building relationships and effective
meetings. The training package has three
delivery formats. They are:
• Full day workshop: a workshop
facilitator covers each topic (module) in
significant detail within a workshop style
environment. It is a long and intense
session for some (9:00 am to 4:00 pm).
Such learning environments may not suit
everyone.
• Short version workshops: some target
audiences may prefer delivery of one or
two modules relevant to their particular
needs. Individual modules can be
delivered in half- to one-hour sessions as
short workshops. These short workshops
can be delivered as part of routine
association or group meetings.
• Self-paced learning guide: the final
delivery strategy is a self-paced learning
manual. Delivery of information in
this format allows learning at a time,
location and pace suited to the user.
This training tool was developed out
of recognition of the busy and often
unpredictable nature of the seafood
industry.
The content of the ‘Charting your own
course’ training tools are suited to individuals
who are not that familiar with representative
roles, as well as those individuals already
engaged in representation, but wanting or
needing to re-skill or up-skill.
The training package tools will be available
for all seafood industry sector groups
throughout Australia in the near future.
For more information about the tools and
their availability, please contact the TSIC
Project Officer, Julian Harrington on
(03) 6224 2332.
The ‘Charting your own course’
training package is supported
through funding from the Australian
Government Fisheries Research and
Development Corporation.
Oral history of the Tasmanian
seafood industry
TSIC has been successful in obtaining
funding from the Department of
Sustainability, Environment, Water,
Population and Communities’ (SEWPaC)
‘Your Community Heritage’ grant scheme
for the oral history of the seafood industry
project. The SEWPaC funded project, titled
‘Capturing and communicating seafood
industry oral history stories to Tasmanian
communities’ will target the north-east
region of Tasmania. The overall objective
is to collect and archive the oral history
of at least 20 fishers and marine farmers
from the north-east region and to collate
these stories, photos and other information
8
into an interesting and informative booklet
for distribution in the local community. In
unison with this funded project, TSIC will
continue to collect the oral history of the
seafood industry from other regions of
Tasmania. Furthermore, TSIC will source
more funding to produce information
booklets for all regions of Tasmania.
TSIC acknowledges that the Tasmanian
Rock Lobster Fishermen’s Association has
promoted the need for such a history
project for a number of years. Given this
level of support for the project, TSIC has
enlisted the help of Rodney Treloggen to
conduct interviews within the north-east
region. This will have many benefits, not
the least that Rodney is well-known within
the north-east fishing community, having
a firm working and friendship base with
many fishers. It is hoped that other similar
networks of support can be established
within other regions of Tasmania. Several
avenues will be explored in the near future.
If you would like to know more about
this project, please contact the TSIC
Project Officer, Julian Harrington on
(03) 6224 2332.
The ‘Capturing and communicating
seafood oral history stories to Tasmanian
communities’ is supported through
funding from the Australian Government’s
Your Community Heritage Program
Department of Sustainability, Environment,
Water, Population and Communities
Working on the Water program
promotion at AMSA Conference
The Australian Marine Sciences Association
(AMSA) Conference was held in Hobart
> TSIC NEWS
from 1 - 5 July. During the ‘Education and
Community’ theme session, the TSIC Project
Officer, Julian Harrington made a presentation
about the highly successful Working on the Water
careers promotion program. The talk detailed
the development and structure of the three-day
Working on the Water program, and highlighted
several participant success stories. There was
considerable interest in the program, with some
discussion about rolling out similar courses within
other regions of Australia.
While on the topic of the Working on the Water
program, the 2012 southern program will be
conducted over 1-3 October. If you are interested
in being an industry participant in this program,
or would just like some more information, please
contact the TSIC Project Officer, Julian Harrington
on (03) 6224 2332.
Opportunity for free oil spill response
training in St Helens and Hobart
TSIC are currently facilitating the delivery of two
oil spill response training courses in Tasmania.
The delivery of these two courses has been
made possible through funding from NRM
North and NRM South. The overall aim of the
training workshops is to position regional coastal
communities against the potential negative impacts
of marine oil spills. Training workshops will be
facilitated by Chris Priestly from Response Resource
Management, with equipment support being
provided by EPA Tasmania.
The first training workshop will be held on
Monday 5 and Tuesday 6 November at St
Helens. The second workshop will be held
somewhere near Hobart on Thursday 8 and
Friday 9 November. Attendance will be free
and participants will be selected from a range
of industry sectors and community groups, all
of which have an interest in Tasmania’s coastal
environment.
> SIPS UPDATE
Seafood Industry Partnerships
in Schools (SIPS)
program update
There has been much interest in the SIPS
program from all sectors this year, with
marine farmers, commercial fishermen
and processors signing up to take part in
educating Tasmanian students about the
seafood industry.
For those who haven’t been involved
previously or still haven’t heard about it, the
SIPS program creates partnerships between
people who work in the seafood industry
and school classes from years 1-10. The
program is offered by OceanWatch Australia
with funding from the FRDC. By developing
an educational partnership, people who
work in the industry have an opportunity to
tell students about their daily work life, what
they love about their job and what they
see as the main challenges affecting the
industry. It’s a great way to influence public
perception about the industry and to tell a
good news story.
I recently delivered a professional learning
session for teachers on ‘Understanding the
Seafood Industry’. The group of teachers
who came along were lucky to have a
representative from the wild catch and
marine farming sectors on hand to answer
their questions about the industry. The
session was mostly attended by pathway
planners - teachers who advise students
on how to access their chosen career.
Often when I talk with teachers I am asked
questions about career opportunities in the
seafood industry, which reflects the high
level of interest young Tasmanians have in
joining the industry.
Along with the staff at TSIC, I had the
pleasure of assisting the Maritime Museum
to deliver its school holiday program
on commercial fishing. The program
complements a commercial fishing
exhibition at the Museum. This is a great
resource for school classes undertaking a
learning unit on seafood.
If you would like to know more
about the SIPS program or become
involved, please contact Cas Price
on 6224 2890.
Jennifer Hemer
SIPS Project Officer
If you are interested in participating in
this free workshop, or would like some
more information, please contact the
TSIC Project Officer, Julian Harrington on
(03) 6224 2332.
This project is made possible through
funding from NRM South and NRM North
Students from Bellerive Primary School
9
By Catch
by Mary Brewer
“Tassal
assal has implemented a raft of policies
and procedures to improve environmental
performance that ensure we are one of the
most diligent and accountable operators in
Australian aquaculture”, said Ms Hounsell.
WAFIC new CEO
Rory Byrne - 20 years at Seafood
Training Tasmania
A surprise celebration was held in July to
celebrate Rory Byrne’s 20th year at the
helm of one of Tasmania’s most successful
training organisations.
Seeing the former Fishing Industry Training
Board (FITB) through its transition to
Seafood Training Tasmania (STT) in 1997
is one of Rory’s career highlights. The FITB
was involved in the development of the
original seafood industry training package.
This has been enhanced by STT to deliver
training to the catching, aquaculture and
processing sectors of the Tasmanian seafood
industry, as well as the marine operations
sector of the transport industry. A range of
flexible delivery options are offered for most
qualifications – see page 30 of this edition
of Fishing Today for more details on courses.
In June the WA Fishing Industry Council
(WAFIC) appointed Mark Tucek as its new
Chief Executive Officer. With 20 years’
experience in Western Australia’s primary
production industries, most recently serving
as CEO of the Council of Grain Grower
Organisations, Mark Tucek replaces Guy
Leyland who has undertaken a new role
coordinating industry’s involvement in the
third party certification of WA fisheries. “I am
very excited to have joined WAFIC at a time
when a number of exciting fisheries initiatives
and reforms are underway”, said Mark.
Tasmanian Seafarers’ Memorial Service
A reminder that the 16th Annual Tasmanian
Seafarers’ Memorial Service and Blessing
of the Fleet will take place on Sunday 21
October at 10.50 am for an 11.00 am start.
The Governor, the Hon. Peter Underwood
AC, will be in attendance.
Enquiries should be directed to Cheryl
Arnol on 0419 533 615 or (03) 6257 1349
(A/H) or by email to: [email protected].
Tassal now a MasterChef production
partner
Australian Wooden Boat Festival
update
Tassal has announced it will join MasterChef
Australia 2012 as a production partner, with
its salmon featured in the June episodes
of the show. Tassal spokesperson Caroline
Hounsell is confident the partnership will
highlight just how easy and versatile it is to
prepare and cook with salmon.
Registration for the Australian Wooden
Boat Festival opened in April and berths
usually fill very fast. The event runs over
the long weekend from Friday 8 February
to Monday 11 February 2013. Details can
be obtained via the Festival website: www.
australianwoodenboatfestival.com.au or
from the AWBF office on (03) 6223 3375.
Tassal also hopes that exposure on the
show will highlight the importance of
sustainable seafood. To that end, Tassal
has recently entered into a partnership
with WWF-Australia which will help the
company achieve the very highest standards
in sustainable aquaculture production.
Leadership program open for
nominations
The National Seafood Industry Leadership
Program is the only national industryspecific leadership program and was initially
10
designed in consultation with members
of the seafood industry. There are now in
excess of 100 graduates of all ages and
from all sectors of the industry including
processing, fishing, extension, exporting,
importing, marketing, as well as deckhands
and employees.
Graduates have gone on to apply their
skills to a wide variety of areas including
regional network development, regional
and state industry association boards
and reference committees, and effective
business management. The program is
designed for people wishing to take up
leadership roles within the seafood industry.
These roles may be at a sector level or
regional level and participants may also
have national and international leadership
aspirations. The focus of the program is to
develop an understanding of how to impact
constructively, resulting in positive outcomes
for the seafood industry nationally.
For more information email melissa@
ruraltraininginitiatives.com.au or call the
TSIC office on (03) 6224 2332.
Maritime Museum fishing display
The current exhibition at the Maritime
Museum in Hobart is entitled ‘Commercial
fishing in Tasmania, the first 100 years’.
When couta were “so thick you could
almost walk on them”, fishermen around
Tasmania’s southern waterways caught
them on barbless hooks, swung on chains
made from apple box wire and attached
to sassafras stick rods. Many of the couta
were smoked and sent to Melbourne
and Sydney but even more were used as
fertiliser, especially by fishermen-orchardists
who used four couta to an apple tree and
half for a raspberry cane.”
This and many other intriguing fish stories,
photographs and objects, have been
provided by fishermen and women, or
their descendants, for use in the display.
The stories provide insights into the tough
lives and dangerous work of Tasmanian
fishermen over the past two centuries.
They also tell of the waxing and waning
TASMANIAN SEAFOOD INDUSTRY NEWS AUGUST/SEPTMBER 2012
> BY CATCH
of a wide variety of fisheries in response
to changing technologies, markets,
environmental conditions, regulations and
overfishing. The research for the exhibition
has also allowed the Museum to create an
archive of images and information on a
topic which was barely covered previously.
The Maritime Museum’s mission is to
promote an understanding of the maritime
heritage of Tasmania and its importance
to people’s lives through research,
interpretation and presentation of our
maritime history to the community. They
also offer a nautically themed gift shop and
a book shop specialising in maritime and
Tasmanian books.
Refrigerants Australia is a lobby group
which represents the contractors and
large refrigerant suppliers. Its Executive
Director, Steve Anderson says there are
other reasons for the price increase. The
industry is working on the development of
low-global warming potential refrigerants,
which will make an enormous contribution
to minimising the emissions of greenhouse
gases from the air-conditioning and
refrigeration industry.
Marine police now airborne
Steve Withers, Manager Fisheries, Compliance
and Licensing, DPIPWE, is concerned that
poaching has become a major problem and
is costing the state hundreds of thousands of
dollars each year. He said rock lobster quotas
had dropped 28% in the last three years and
poaching was partly to blame.
As a consequence Tasmania’s Marine police
are now using helicopters as well as boats to
spot illegal fishing activity. Inspector Stuart
Scott said the majority of commercial fishers
did the right thing. “What we’re about is
picking up the free-riders who are going to
break the rules”, he said. Police are actively
targeting the lifeblood of the illegal industry,
the processors, and are running a ‘dob-in-apoacher’ telephone line called Fish Watch.
Australia’s most powerful computer
Refrigeration gas price hike
Recent reported 400% increases in the
price of gases used for cooling seafood
and other products outraged farmers
and fishmongers. Refrigerant gases have
a much higher global warming potential
than carbon dioxide and under the
carbon price legislation purchasers have
to pay more from 1 July 2012. One of the
wholesale supply companies, Equipserve
Solutions sent an email to its customers
in late June blaming the carbon tax for
increased refrigerant prices. However, the
Australian Competition and Consumer
Commission (ACCC) determined this was
misleading. Chairman Rod Sims says, “They
were found to have attributed what was
nearly $300 a kilogram increase in the price
of refrigerant gas to the carbon price, when
in fact the contribution of the carbon price
was only about $75.
The door to the petascale* era is being
opened for critical Australian research in
climate change, the environment, and a host
of other research areas including aquaculture
and fishing. An agreement has been signed
between CSIRO, Fujitsu, Australian National
University (ANU), Bureau of Meteorology,
Geoscience Australia, Australian Research
Council and six universities to build, install
and operate a 1.2 petaflop supercomputer the most powerful computer in Australia.
The new petascale supercomputer, to be
installed at the National Computational
Infrastructure at the ANU, will have the
computing power, memory and storage of
about 30,000 dual-processor computers
working in tandem, and will be capable of
performing 170,000 calculations per second
for each of the seven billion people on the
planet.
*petascale refers to a computer system
capable of reaching performance in excess
of one petaflop ie one quadrillion floating
point operations per second.
11
Stock numbers in New Zealand are
healthy
New Zealand’s Ministry for Primary
Industries (MPI) has reported the discovery
of a new group of orange roughy on the
Chatham Rise, and a southern blue whiting
population on the Campbell Island Rise
that is at a historic high level. Other key
findings in the May report are:
• stocks of hoki (both eastern and
western) have continued to increase in
size over the past six consecutive years,
and both are now well within their
target range;
• gurnard around the East and South
coasts of the South Island was
assessed as very likely to be above its
management target, and on the West
coast of the South Island the trawl
survey estimate for 2011 was the
highest recorded since 1992;
• the trawl survey estimate for John Dory
off the West coast of the South Island
was also the highest recorded since
1992; and
• elephantfish populations around the
East coast of the South Island appear to
have fully rebuilt, and around the South
coast of the South Island they have
been continually increasing since the
mid-1990s.
All stocks in New Zealand’s Quota
Management System are managed for
long-term sustainability. If a fish stock
is found to be declining, MPI fisheries
managers may propose a change, for
example reducing the catch limit.
Official Great Aussie Pie Competition
For 23 years the Official Great Aussie Meat
Pie Competition has served to promote and
celebrate Australia’s much-loved icon; the
perfect meat pie. The annual Competition,
which will be held 10-13 September at Fine
Food Australia at the Melbourne Centre, is
seeking entries.
In 2011 the owners of the Competition,
the Australian Pie Council, renamed the
event by omitting the word “meat” from
the title, to reflect the ethnic influence
in Australia, and to encompass the fastgrowing gourmet pie category including
seafood.
For more information go to: http://www.
greataussiepiecomp.com.au
DPIPWE
News
Macquarie
Harbour planning
The Minister for Primary Industries and
Water, Bryan Green has approved Draft
Amendment No. 1 to the Macquarie Harbour
Marine Farming Development Plan 2005.
to specialist marine service companies
and transporters that will be essential in
the industries needed for expanded local
capability.
The Minister made his decision on 28
May in line with section 42 of the Marine
Farming Planning Act 1995, and based
upon a recommendation from the Marine
Farming Planning Review Panel.
“And one of the things I paid most careful
attention to in making my decision was
the environmental effect of any expansion
and in making its advice to me the Panel
likewise conveyed that it had given such
matters the closest scrutiny.
The Minister’s decision represents a
significant step in allowing the salmonid
industry to continue to meet market
demand, while delivering jobs and
investments to regional Tasmania. The
Minister said of his decision, “I’m really
pleased to be able to arrive at a decision
that should lead to some real positives for
the West Coast community.
“We can expect to see an additional 100
jobs created during a five year deployment
stage, an additional 45 jobs created on an
ongoing basis through increased production
and an additional 118 jobs on an ongoing
basis in the processing side of the industry.
“The industry is investing $64.4 million
directly into the development. An
additional $24.2 million in social value is
predicted for the local community. The
industry is also going to be making changes
to its land based operations that will be
good for downtown Strahan.
“For the community this means positive
links into education, housing and services
that will be able to attract and retain
families in the region.
“There will be spin-off benefits for local
business, from the corner shop owner
“But I was convinced by the Panel, and
based on the requirements of the Act,
that the amendment includes all of the
necessary checks and balances to allow the
expansion to occur in a sustainable way”.
The statutory planning process for
the amendment was initiated upon
the completion of the most extensive
Environmental Impact Statement
(EIS) ever for a finfish development in
Tasmania. The development of the EIS
required close collaboration between the
relevant companies, local government,
technical consultants and ongoing advice
from multiple departments across State
Government.
• sixty two public representations to the
amendment were received and a public
hearing was held in Strahan on 13
March 2012, at which five people made
presentations to the Panel;
• on 7 May 2012 the Panel made a final
recommendation to the Minister; and
• on 28 May 2012 the Minister approved
the amendment.
The amendment results in Tassal, Huon
Aquaculture and Petuna each having access
to an additional 120 hectares of lease
area, along with the movement of several
existing zones to locations considered
better for farming due to improved
environmental conditions.
Macquarie Harbour has an area of 276
square kilometres. The new total marine
farming lease area is 926 hectares, or 3.3%
of the harbour.
The plan amendment is currently
being assessed by the Commonwealth
Department of Sustainablility, Environment,
Water, Population and Communities in the
context of the Environment Protection and
Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999.
Key points on the timeline for the statutory
planning process have been:
• industry submitted a request with
accompanying EIS, to amend the plan
on 15 September 2011;
• the Marine Farming Planning Review
Panel approved the making of an
amendment leading to the Minister
releasing the draft for public exhibition
from 12 November – 22 December
2011;
12
www.dpipwe.tas.gov.au
> DPIPWE NEWS
Convictions
Non-commercial rock
lobster fishermen
convicted
On 8 January 2011 Tasmania Police
marine officers detected four men in
an aluminium runabout engaged in
recreational fishing for rock lobster,
using a rock lobster pot and diving
gear, in the vicinity of the Iron Pot and
Seacroft Bay.
Police intercepted and inspected the
vessel on its return to the South Arm
boat ramp and located a large quantity
of rock lobster. At the ramp an attempt
was made to conceal some of those fish
prior to inspection. It was ascertained
that only one of the persons on board
held a recreational rock lobster fishing
licence.
Subsequently, on 20 January 2012, Mr
Dennis Ronald Davidson was convicted
in the Hobart Magistrates’ Court of
possessing rock lobster in State waters
without a licence, and received fines and
special penalties of $1,500.
On 27 January 2012, Mr Daniel Leigh
Wakefield was convicted in the Hobart
Magistrates’ Court of unlawfully
exceeding the rock lobster bag limit and
failing to clip tails as required, and he
received fines and special penalties of
$1,750.
On 18 April 2012, Mr Matthew Thomas
Wakefield was convicted in the Hobart
Magistrates’ Court of taking and
possessing undersize male rock lobster,
unlawfully taking rock lobster by means
of diving, and hindering a fisheries
officer, and received fines and special
penalties of $1,500.
Also on 18 April 2012, Mr Jeremy
Blacker-Quinn was convicted in the
Hobart Magistrates’ Court of possessing
rock lobster in State waters without
a licence and received fines and special
penalties of $1,500.
The rock lobster and the dive equipment
seized by Police were forfeited to the
Crown. The vessel was also seized but
later returned to the owner who was not
one of the offenders.
On 7 November 2010, Tasmania Police
marine officers detected three men in an
aluminium dinghy retrieving and resetting
seven rock lobster pots in the vicinity of
Granville Harbour. The men were spoken
to by Police on return to the Granville
Harbour boat ramp. Each was the holder
of a recreational rock lobster licence, and
the excess pots were licensed to friends
and relatives.
As a result, on 11 April 2012 Mr Darren
Andrew Pyke, Mr Anthony John Pyke and
Mr Michael John Hampton were convicted
in the Launceston Magistrates’ Court of
using excess rock lobster pots in State
waters.
Mr Darren Pyke and Mr Hampton each
received fines and special penalties of
$1,300 and Mr Anthony Pyke received
fines and special penalties of $1,580.
Rock lobster pots and a large quantity of
rock lobster seized by Police were forfeited
to the Crown. The vessel was also seized
but was later returned to the owner.
Steve Withers
Manager, Fisheries Compliance and
Licensing
www.dpipwe.tas.gov.au
13
Tasports continues
its commitment to
safety
Tasports continues to build on its commitment
to providing safe infrastructure and services
for its customers and employees alike.
A serious safety incident recently on a fishing
vessel at Hobart’s Macquarie Wharf No 1, served
as a timely reminder of electrical hazards and
the potential for harm. The incident involved a
Tasports employee receiving an electrical shock,
and sparked an investigation by Workplace
Standards that identified an electrical problem on
a vessel resulting in the three phase lead to shore
power being live.
Tasports’ State Operations Manager John Johnston
said that the importance of safety, for both
employees and customers, was Tasports number
one priority. It is important for all port users to
ensure the safety of their equipment and ensure
all electrical equipment is safe and where relevant
tagged and tested. This is particularly important
for areas such as Victoria Dock which are accessible
to the general public.
“Tasports continues to review its electrical
infrastructure state-wide, and has recently begun
upgrading electrical infrastructure.”
“Up to $200,000 is earmarked this year for
electrical improvements on our wharves.”
“An upgrade of Residual Current Devices across
the state will make power supply for fishing vessels
safer, with installations already complete along
Hunter Street in Hobart. This will help to cater
for the increased demand for power supply in
this area, as well as providing plumbing and extra
lighting for our customers.”
Further to this, next month Tasports will commence
work on Macquarie 1, 2 and 3 wharves in order to
upgrade and maintain safety standards and provide
more reliable power to its customers.
“We have committed capex on fishing and
associated support infrastructure of approximately
$1.35 million for this financial year, and in the
past 12 months upgrades on a number of fishing
wharves have taken place, including work in both
Strahan and on King Island.
“We are committed to our customers, and it is our
aim over the next year to maintain our infrastructure
to help support the Tasmanian fishing industry.”
> TAS RURAL WOMAN OF THE YEAR
Salmon farming
communities in Scotland
by Fiona Ewing
A
s you may know, I was lucky
enough to travel to Scotland
recently using a bursary for the
Tasmanian Rural Woman of the Year (2012)
Award. The trip was funded by the Rural
Industries Research and Development
Corporation (RIRDC), with my time over
there generously supported by Tassal.
The Rural Women’s Award is a RIRDC
initiative in partnership with relevant State
and Territory agencies who manage the
Award at a State and Territory level. The
Award’s national partner is the Australian
Government Department of Agriculture,
Fisheries and Forestry. National sponsors are
Westpac Banking Corporation, ABC Radio
and Rural Press Ltd.
I spent three weeks in Scotland and was
completely bowled over by the similarities
with Tasmania. In fact, flying into Glasgow
airport, was just like flying into Hobart,
except for all the old buildings and castles!
I have not travelled much in my life and
as you can imagine, the trip to Scotland
was a huge adventure. I was accompanied
by a local government councillor from the
West Coast Council, Robyn Gerrity. I am
not a religious person; however, all I can
say is “Thank God for Robyn!” Those who
know me realise that I am navigationally
challenged at the best of times, so to be
accompanied by someone with an innate
sense of direction was a godsend! We hired
a car and travelled around on the lower and
mid-west coast of the Scottish mainland
and were also lucky enough to catch an
overnight ferry to Shetland. (I was secretly
hoping for a North Sea gale to blow up so
I could experience it, but sadly for me and
happily for most, the crossing was like a mill
pond). The West coast and Shetland are two
of the key salmon aquaculture regions of
Scotland. Over the three weeks we travelled
approximately 4,000km.
Broadly speaking, the purpose of the trip
was to look at how the salmon aquaculture
industry engages with their local
communities and also to research the Heart
of the Community Trust Fund, which is run
by a large company over there. The critical
key salmon aquaculture ‘hubs’ visited were
Argyll (Lochgilpead), Fort William, Ullapool
(West Coast and Highlands) and Shetland
Islands. Informal interviews were conducted
with representatives of salmon companies,
training colleges and schools as well as
aquaculture representative bodies.
The Scottish salmon industry differs
to the Tasmanian context in terms of
geographic area covered. The West Coast
(highlands) and northern islands (Orkneys
and Shetland) have a convoluted coastline
with many waterways suitable for growing
Atlantic salmon. Small villages are dotted
along the coastline. There are a lot more
farms there, but the actual farms tend to
be smaller than ours. Farm staff are usually
sourced from the local villages and this
employment base can be critical to keeping
these small isolated communities thriving
and with enough kids to warrant keeping
small schools open.
14
Individual Scottish villagers are intensely
proud of their local heritage and this source
of pride and local identity often makes
for an easy choice for salmon farming
companies to focus their community giving
programs. Small local schools, local sporting
teams, pipe bands and recreational salmon
fishing are key targets for sponsorship
monies.
For me, though, the main take home
message from the trip is the key role
that salmon farming plays in maintaining
healthy and resilient communities in rural
areas. The next step here in Tasmania is
looking at how a community trust fund
model may work in the Strahan community.
> SUB ANTARCTIC FISHERIES
MSC Certification for another
Australian fishery
A
ustralia’s Macquarie Island
toothfish fishery has been
certified as sustainable by the
Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) in an
independent assessment against rigorous
standards, completing a remarkable feat for
Australia’s sub-Antarctic fisheries.
All target species in Australia’s sub-Antarctic
fisheries have now received MSC certification
as sustainable and well-managed fisheries
after the certification of mackerel icefish in
2006 and Patagonian toothfish in March
this year in the Heard Island and McDonald
Islands fishery. The MSC assessments show
that fish stocks are healthy, that fishing
practices have minimal impact on the marine
ecosystem and that overall the fishery is
well-managed.
The Australian Fisheries Management
Authority (AFMA) is responsible for the
management of Australia’s Antarctic fisheries
and works closely with the fishing industry
to develop management arrangements.
AFMA CEO Dr James Findlay congratulated
the industry members on their achievement.
“This is a significant accomplishment as
the MSC process is a rigorous one and the
operators involved have put significant work
into achieving accreditation”, Dr Findlay said.
seeking independent, third-party certification
of their sustainability.
“Increasingly here and overseas, the public
are looking for assurances that the seafood
they are sourcing is sustainable, and both
companies have shown courage in opening
up their practices to such a transparent,
independent and rigorous assessment”, Mr
Caleo said.
Austral Fisheries CEO David Carter is
pleased with the recent certification. “Both
Austral Fisheries and Australian Longline
are committed to legal, sustainable and
productive fisheries. We’ve come a long
way from the days of battling against illegal
fishing to save stocks. We’ve also introduced
new methods of fishing to protect seabirds,
marine mammals, and the sensitive
environment we fish in.”
CEO of WWF-Australia Dermot O’Gorman
also welcomed the certification and
commended the fishery’s proactive
environmental measures. “Sustainable and
responsible management of fisheries is an
essential step in safeguarding the stunning
marine life and ecosystems that surround
our country”, said Mr O’Gorman. “Through
the management regime adopted by the
fishery, we can ensure that this ecosystem
along with the unique species it supports
can be maintained for generations to
come”, he said.
Macquarie Island is located approximately
1,500 kilometres south-east of Hobart.
The fishery has a total allowable catch
for toothfish of 455 tonnes in the current
season. It is a smaller fishery than the Heard
Island and McDonald Islands fishery, where
the total allowable catch is 2,730 tonnes.
The management arrangements in both
fisheries are compatible and measures are in
place to ensure the sustainable management
of target and bycatch species, and to avoid
interactions with seabirds and marine
mammals.
The Department of Sustainability,
Environment, Water, Population and
Communities has given both fisheries the
highest accreditation under the Environment
Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act.
Accordingly, all product from these fisheries
can now be marketed using the MSC ‘blue
tick’ logo.
For more information please
contact Peter Neave,
Manager Antarctic Fisheries on
(03) 6225 5302 or via email to
[email protected].
“The certification also recognises the best
practice management arrangements the
authority and industry have in place in these
fisheries.”
Management of Australia’s sub-Antarctic
fisheries involves a close collaboration with
industry, environmental groups and other
government agencies, particularly the
Australian Antarctic Division and CSIRO. The
Macquarie Island environment is unique and
Australian management of fishing in this
area is world-leading. Each vessel that fishes
off Macquarie Island carries two scientific
observers to collect data and ensure fishing
operations do not damage the environment.
MSC Australia and New Zealand Manager
Patrick Caleo said that the two companies
operating within the fishery, Austral
Fisheries and Australian Longline, should be
commended for their proactive approach in
15
Industry wide
Oysters Tasmania update
Oyster industry scholarships for uni
students
The enthusiasm of two Tasmanian university
students for Tasmania’s oyster industry has
been rewarded through a new industry
scholarship. Danielle Davenport and Lochlan
de Beyer are the recipients of the inaugural
Tasmanian Oyster Research Council (TORC)
scholarships for undergraduate aquaculture
students.
Danielle is undertaking a Bachelor of
Applied Science degree with an aquaculture
major while Lochlan is studying for
an Associate Degree in Aquaculture,
both in the National Centre for Marine
Conservation and Resource Sustainability,
AMC at the University of Tasmania.
TORC Chairman, Mr Ian Duthie said,
“The Tasmanian oyster industry is full
of opportunities for young people, and
this scholarship helps to open the door
to these. TORC was impressed with the
number and quality of applications we
received, and we are looking forward to
working with Danielle and Lochlan over the
coming year and beyond”.
Danielle is keen to shape a future in both
commercial and research aspects of the
industry. Lochlan, a self-confessed lover
of oysters, is looking forward to learning
the ropes so he can become a useful
contributor to the industry.
As part of their scholarship, Danielle
and Lochlan will enjoy some handson experience with Australian Seafood
Industries – the company responsible for
selectively breeding oysters for Australia’s
oyster industry – and will also spend a
week working in a commercial oyster farm.
“The university really values this
opportunity provided to our keen
students,” said Associate Professor
John Purser of the AMC. “It is through
University/industry partnerships such as this
that young Tasmanians learn about such a
vital sector and are able to really add value
to their studies.”
The scholarships are for one year and
provide a cash payment to the students to
go towards their studies.
Understanding the implications of
the law on the Tasmanian oyster
industry
‘Oyster mariculture in Tasmania: the laws
and the regulatory framework controlling
the industry and the implications for
producers’ will be the focus of a study
undertaken by Hobart lawyer, Aneita
Browning over the next three or four years
as part of her Masters in Law research.
Aneita recently met with the TORC Board
to discuss her research and TORC were
very supportive of the topic chosen and
encouraged Anieta with a number of
suggestions for refining her thesis.
Over the coming months Aneita will be
defining the scope of her research and
conducting a literature and legislation
review. During 2013/14, Aneita will meet
with Tasmanian oyster producers and
conduct a survey of industry as well as
meeting with government to get a clear
picture of how the legislation operates.
Why did Aneita choose to look at the
law and the oyster industry? There are
a few reasons: an interest in law of the
oceans from her undergraduate studies; a
motivation to explore an area of Tasmanian
marine law that had not been researched;
and a goal to produce a resource that may
be beneficial to industry and government.
Aneita also has a family connection to
oyster farming through Steve Browning at
Oystas on Bruny Island.
As Aneita’s background is law and not
marine farming, input from industry will
be an integral part of her research. Aneita
would welcome ideas and comments from
industry and can be contacted via email to
[email protected], by mail at PO Box
169, SOUTH HOBART 7004 or by phone on
0412 760 051.
What’s new at TSEC & TORC?
The Tasmanian oyster industry is
represented by two main industry groups:
the Tasmanian Shellfish Executive Council
(TSEC) and TORC. TSEC and TORC
are currently working on a number
of important issues on behalf of the
Tasmanian oyster industry.
Issues of importance include:
• investigation of a national Pacific Oyster
Mortality Syndrome (POMS) strategy;
• planning for shellfish futures 2012 at
Stewarts Bay Lodge, Port Arthur to be
held from 17-19 August;
Ian Duthie,
Lochlan de
Beyer, Danielle
Davenport, Matt
Cunningham
and Ellen
Cameron
16
• liaising with the State Government
regarding interaction of conservation
areas and developed marine farming
leases;
> INDUSTRY WIDE
• representing the shellfish industry at the
Environmental Defenders Office (EDO)
Marine Farming Planning symposium;
• contributing to the development
of a Seafood Industry Workforce
Development Plan;
• liaising with the University of Tasmanian
regarding oyster industry involvement
in the SenseT program – a broad scale
sensor network for Tasmania;
• management and delivery of service
of the Tasmanian Shellfish Quality
Assurance Program (TSQAP);
• representing industry on changes to
food safety regulation;
• interviews and awarding of the TORC
Scholarship;
• assisting Australian Seafood Industries
(ASI) with strategic planning; and
• planning for the 2012/13 Tasmanian
Pacific Oyster Health Surveillance
Program (TPOHSP).
Tasmanian Scalefish
Fishermen’s Association
At the General Meeting of the Tasmanian
Scalefish Fishermen’s Association (TSFA) held
at Ross on 13 July 2012 members expressed
their concern that a number of initiatives
and issues previously raised by industry
have not been included in the last review
of the Scalefish Management Plan. During
the Meeting, it was determined that many
of industry’s issues should be addressed as
part of the 2014 Scalefish Management
Plan Review process. TSIC has offered
the Association its support to assist in the
development of draft background papers.
These draft documents will be submitted to
the Association for review and endorsement,
prior to formal submission as part of the
Scalefish Management Plan Review process.
The key topics to be addressed are outlined
below.
Request to make Personal Endorsements
transferable. At present, all scalefish related
gear and / or fishing location endorsements
are attached to a Fishing Licence (personal).
Such endorsements are non-transferrable.
The TSFA would like to see these
endorsements be transferable and attached
to a fishing licence package.
Creation of an ‘undeveloped fishing
management zone’ on the west/south
west coast. At present, fishers operating
in this region are bound by a trip limit of
200kg per trip for a number of key species.
This limit does not take into account the
different weather patterns, operational
conditions and multi-day nature of fishing
trips in this region. The TSFA will suggest
a higher trip limit for this ‘undeveloped
management area.
The TSFA will request that the quota
management system for the Banded
Morwong fishery be based on true weights
caught rather than the current number of
fish caught and multiplication conversion
factor.
The Association would like to see tighter
controls and monitoring of Charter Boat
operators. Suggestions of management
measures to include the requirement for
the vessel operator to maintain a catch
log and greater differentiation between
commercial fishing operations and charter
operations.
Review of recreational bag limits, with
specific reference to the implementation
of a boat limit for higher value commercial
species.
A review of the spawning closures for
some scalefish species, notably calamary,
wrasse and garfish. While maintaining
its support of spawning closures as a
key management tool to assist in the
sustainable management of key species,
the Association believes that the timing of
the present closures should be reviewed.
If you have any thoughts or concerns about
any of these topics, then please contact
TSIC. Alternatively, some background
papers will be tabled and discussed at the
next General Meeting, so if you have any
issues please bring them to the Meeting!
Farmed abalone award
goes to Japanese
marketing company
Godak Marketing Corporation has been
recognised as the number one importer of
Ausab abalone into Japan. It is the third
consecutive year that the company has
received the award. A further milestone
17
was achieved this year when Godak passed
100 tonnes of abalone imported within
the annual period, which was celebrated
by Ausab Chairman, Mike Wing and Rene
Hidding MP presenting an impressive award
to Yuki Hirota from Godak.
In presenting the award Mr Hidding
thanked Godak for the considerable effort
they have made to establish the now
sustainable business. “We honour your
company and we honour your country and
we thank you for the business you have
brought to Australia and Tasmania”, he
continued.
Mr Wing recalled the early meetings he
attended in Japan with Godak. “When
we started the business with Godak we
remember they had a vision to achieve 100
tonnes but we didn’t think it was possible.
It is a credit to Godak who have taken big
risks to get this business where it is today.
And I would like to especially congratulate
Mr Hirota on his outstanding effort. We
have probably made things a little difficult
for him from time to time but we have
all learnt from the experience and look
forward to a very long relationship!” said
Mr Wing.
Godak and Ausab started trading together
over five years ago and have since worked
together to develop a successful business.
The 100 tonne milestone was achieved this
year despite the difficulties associated with
the earthquake and tsunami.
Godak is one of Japan’s premium seafood
companies and imports 14 different
specialty seafood items from Australia
and other unique places around the world
such as New Caledonia, New Zealand
and Canada. Godak specialises in frozen
seafood – purchasing the raw material
at the right time of the year and then
using their freezing experience to capture
the peak condition of the product and
deliver it to discerning customers in Japan
throughout the year. Godak have a wide
range of customers and there are some
who will only buy Ausab abalone from
Tasmania. In the future Ausab and Godak
will put more effort into promoting Brand
Tasmania in Japan.
Ausab is Australia’s largest supplier of
farmed abalone with a current capacity
of over 500 tonnes. This is expected to
> INDUSTRY WIDE
Tasmanian Scallop
As at the date of writing this article we are
still not sure if we will have a Tasmanian
scallop season this year. A Bass Strait season
is more likely but no positive plans are yet
approved, which leaves our fishermen and
processors and seafood lovers, all up in
the air.
Mike Wing, Shane McLinden, Yuki Hirota, Rene Hidding MP and Dave Ryan
grow in the coming years. Ausab Pty Ltd
is the largest supplier of cultured abalone
from Australia and is the result of several of
Australia’s major abalone farms joining forces
to create one selling entity. Its advantage
is that as the product comes from seven
different farms in four states, its geographical
diversity results in different growing
temperatures and grow out times and means
that product is available in peak condition all
year round. More importantly, should a farm
experience any difficulties, there is always
another farm that can cover the situation
so that customers are never left without the
premium product they have ordered.
Tasmanian Rock Lobster
Along with Neil Stump I attended a
recent meeting in Melbourne to get the
latest update on the proposed South East
Marine Park Plan. Bearing in mind that
we have been operating under an interim
management plan for the last two years it
was high time that the plan was finalised as
had been agreed to back then.
Apart from some changes to classifications
there seems to be no significant problems
in the latest data except for the fact that
any plan such as this may be changed at
any time in the future by going through the
full parliamentary process. This applies to all
legislation so there is little that we can do
about it. We were also given to understand
that classification of the existing areas could
only be changed by going through this
process as well.
The positive news was that, instead of
fishers having to apply for a personal
exemption to fish in designated areas
where their type of fishing is allowed,
a fishery (eg the Tasmanian rock lobster
fishery) would be given a class exemption
to cover all our fishers, including present
and future participants.
The other positive for all of industry is that
the management plan will run for 10 years,
which gives some certainty for fishers and I
believe this is double the normal timeframe
for a management plan.
At the meeting I questioned the
bureaucrats present several times about
any future plans to link the Commonwealth
parks with existing or future State parks
and they denied that they had any plans
for this at this time. The State Government
representative also denied that they had
any plans for this in the foreseeable future.
However, being suspicious by nature and
having seen so many back flips in the
past throughout this process and also
remembering that indeed this idea was
canvassed at one stage earlier on, I gain
no solace from their assertions and we will
need to watch this closely into the future.
Finally I have been advised that
surveillance efforts are increasing with the
Commonwealth and State compliance
bodies combining to make aerial checks in
and around the designated MPA areas, so
you can expect to see more planes around
in the future.
Rodney Treloggen
CEO, Tasmanian Rock Lobster Fishermen’s
Association
18
Exploratory surveys have been completed in
both jurisdictions but more data is needed in
Tasmania and the AFMA bureaucratic process
takes ages to reach a conclusion. This then
is the most up-to-date information for both
scallop fisheries as at the end of July.
Tasmanian State Scallop Fishery
Four vessels participated in the Tasmanian
surveys around the State during June and
following an IMAS assessment of most of
the survey results two things are apparent.
There are plenty of scallops right around the
Tasmanian coastline but mostly not available
in commercial quantities at reasonable catch
rates.
The current main area of interest is in the
Rocky Cape area where the surveyed scallops
were mostly well under 90mm; however,
anecdotal information suggests that scallops in
this region rarely grow much beyond 85mm.
The IMAS assessment showed that scallops
averaged around 83mm and with a discard
rate of 39% at 85mm.
Industry members on ScFAC have put a
proposal to DPIPWE which involves a further
targeted survey of the Rocky Cape bed by
Karl Krause (Karmin) in late July, to map the
distribution of the scallops and the current
discard rate at 85mm.
As it will be around two months from the
original surveys industry is confident that by a
harvest date the scallops will be mostly 85mm
plus, with a discard rate under the maximum
allowed of 20%.
If that proves to be the case following an
IMAS assessment of this second survey results
then a low TAC at 85mm may be considered.
This survey will also need to sample dead
shells to provide an indication of average
size at mortality and to assess meat and roe
condition to establish if these scallops at
85mm are suitable for harvesting, processing
and the market place.
> INDUSTRY WIDE
It should be stressed however that catch
rates are likely to be low and this second
survey may even find that the bed is not
economic based solely on catch rates.
The only other area surveyed which showed
any promise was at Marion Bay; however
the IMAS assessment of the survey results is
not yet available. When this data, provided
by Peter Atkins on Pinta, can be considered
a further survey may be necessary but we
know this bed can be worked up at night
so a further daytime survey may not be very
helpful.
Glen Wisby (Christa Leanne) has offered to
resurvey Marion Bay during the day and at
night as well as the juvenile patch near White
Rock so something may come of all this.
There may eventually be an opportunity for a
low TAC 90mm fishery in Marion Bay which
would suit smaller vessels and those with
home ports on the East and South Coasts.
If IMAS assessments are encouraging both
Rocky Cape and Marion Bay opportunities
would eventually require Ministerial approval,
so any start date for a Tasmanian season is
unlikely before mid-August.
areas and the process to increase the TAC
if mature scallops that would be unlikely
to last for a further season are located.
These matters should be resolved very
quickly. The proposal has general ScRAG
and ScMAC support and is considered a
2012 plan only, pending a review of the
Scallop Harvest Strategy before next year’s
season.
This harvesting plan seeks to encourage
surveying of new areas and the collection
of data in order to provide useful stock
information. Should a bed of juvenile
scallops be located the area will be closed
under a voluntary industry arrangement.
AFMA may elect to have observers on
some vessels and because the open area
is from Victorian and Tasmanian scallop
waters hopefully there will not be a need
for transit corridors.
Once agreed internally by AFMA
management the plan will require: AFMA
Commission out-of-session approval;
the preparation of the management
arrangements booklet; a variation to
the previous TAC determination; a new
Directions statement; and a letter to SFR
holders, so a season commencement date
is unlikely before the third week in August.
Rationalisation of the three scallop
jurisdictions
This study is still being progressed by
AFMA along with Victorian and Tasmanian
authorities, with a high level of support and
encouragement from industry.
A consultant has already completed a study
entitled ‘Exploring options for improved
management in the commercial scallop
resource in SE Australia’ and AFMA are
now progressing the options to look at the
value of scallop entitlements across the
three jurisdictions.
A consultant will be appointed for this
task and that person will inevitably need
information supplied by industry members.
If you are approached please assist in this
process as the eventual result could be a
streamlined system of scallop management
at much lower overall costs.
Bob Lister
Tasmanian Scallop Fishermen’s Association
Bass Strait Central Zone Scallop fishery
The Northern Star and Anne B undertook
surveys in Bass Strait waters in late May/
early June. Following consideration of the
pre-season IMAS survey assessments it was
apparent that the original idea of opening
Area 3 (Babel Island) and part of Area 2
(the previous 2009 area) was not suitable,
particularly as catch rates of quality scallops
was poor.
At a combined meeting of ScRAG and
ScMAC members in Canberra on 22 June
an alternate industry proposal was put
forward by industry members and is now
being progressed through the lengthy
bureaucratic process at AFMA.
Ph: 6264 1999
This proposal allows for exploratory
harvesting of 85mm minimum shell width
scallops with a 20% discard rate in the
whole of the Bass Strait Central Zone east
of 146° longitude, except for two closed
areas known as Area 3 (north of Babel
Island) and the north-eastern corner of Area
2 (previously the 2009 area).
FAX: 6264 1441
62 Main Road, Huonville
AFTER HOURS: Robin Bond 6266 0220
• Aluminium dinghies – new & used
• Suppliers of CLARK aluminium boats
• State distributor for:
A TAC of 2,000 tonnes would apply and
there are negotiations continuing with
AFMA about the boundaries of the closed
For a deal that won’t be beaten – call us now
19
> SPRING BAY BLUE MUSSELS
Spring Bay Blue mussels
confirmed Friend of the Sea
Spring Bay Seafoods, producer of Australian
Blue Mussels (Mytilus galloprovincialis) has
once again passed with a high score its
Friend of the Sea renewal audit. Spring Bay
Seafoods excels in terms of outstanding
environmental performance. “Spring Bay
Seafoods mussel production is surely an
example to be followed by the whole
aquaculture industry” adds Dr Paolo Bray
the Director of Friend of the Sea.
The shellfish company operates on the East
Coast of Tasmania and it is primarily known
for producing blue mussels. Due to the fast
flowing, cold and nutritious current, their
deep-water oceanic marine farms provide
a unique growing environment unrivalled
anywhere, claims the company, and which
is ideally suited to their unique style of
shellfish farming.
The mussels are farmed in the open ocean
using surface and sub-surface long lines
for “rope” culture. The deep-water mussel
growing lines are each around 400 metres
long with 200 metres warp lines for
anchorage at either end. By using the long
line submerged system, Spring Bay Seafoods
has overcome the problem of wave agitation
dislodging mussels from the lines and
causing them to fall to the sea floor.
Spring Bay Seafoods have one of the only
commercial-scale mussel hatcheries in
the world. The company uses innovative
techniques for the continuous production
of juvenile blue mussel spat (Mytilus
galloprovincialis). The parent broodstock
may be sourced from various areas within
Tasmania to ensure genetic diversity.
They are nurtured under strict quality and
environmental conditions until ready for
deployment and growing-out.
The farming methods are characterised
by their low density and the production
of juvenile mussel spat from the hatchery.
There are no chemical inputs used and
Phil Lamb with blue mussels
the company works closely with the local
community.
The site has consistently good water quality,
due to its deep water location, as indicated
by the parameters tested and the farming
practices are not altering this quality.
From an ecological and environmental
perspective, Spring Bay Seafoods continues
to conduct a low impact farming operation
which complies with all Friend of the Sea
requirements.
> AUSTRALIAN MARITIME COLLEGE
AMC research into disease
resistance in fish
Investigating the susceptibility and resistance
of wild and cultured fish species to amoebic
gill disease (AGD) is the focus for researchers
from the Australian Maritime College (AMC)
who have commenced the first phase of a
new project. The research is currently being
conducted at the National Centre for Marine
Conservation and Resource Sustainability
(NCMCRS) with assistance from Van Dieman
Aquaculture Pty Ltd.
Project leaders Dr Mark Adams, Dr Andrew
Bridle and world fish health expert Professor
Barbara Nowak anticipate providing a
fundamental knowledge link toward future
treatment approaches for the industry to
adopt long-term, as AGD imparts substantial
operating costs to the $300 million
Tasmanian Atlantic Salmon farming industry.
“The question of wild fish resistance to this
condition has never been systematically
investigated and, if proven, is a first
step toward understanding the basis for
resistance”, Dr Adams said.
The second phase of the project will focus
on comparisons between Atlantic salmon
and rainbow trout, the former of which
has previously shown a degree of acquired
resistance after several rounds of infection.
“This will be the first time we have had the
opportunity to compare responses at the
gill level between resistant and susceptible
20
Mark Adams researching AGD
salmonid groups. Ultimately, we seek a basis
for resistance that may be adapted toward
future disease mitigation in susceptible fish”,
Dr Adams said.
The project, which will run for two years, is
funded through the Australian Government’s
Fisheries Research and Development
Corporation.
> AUSTRALIAN MARITIME COLLEGE
National Seafood Incident
Response Plan
An Australian Maritime College (AMC) PhD
candidate, Nicole Kirchhoff was among the
many industry representatives who took
part in a simulated seafood emergency
to test the strength of the National
Seafood Incident Response Plan (SIRP).
The simulated emergency was part of the
Australasian Aquaculture Conference held
in Melbourne in May this year.
The SIRP was developed by Seafood
Services Australia (SSA) in consultation with
industry and governments. The current plan
was developed in 2010. It is designed to
provide an easy-to-follow plan in the event
of adverse incidents in the seafood industry
and to maintain Australia’s reputation as a
provider of safe, high-quality seafood.
“The plan is not designed to replace any
government protocols. It’s about how to
keep the seafood industry in the loop,
how to help and how to maintain the
high perception of the Australian seafood
industry”, Miss Kirchhoff said.
The workshop was part of the constant
evolution of the SIRP undertaken by the
SSA in an effort to ensure that it remains
relevant and industry-viable. It was also
designed to test and strengthen the
linkages between industry and existing
emergency strategies in place by food
regulatory authorities.
Miss Kirchhoff, who also spoke at the
Conference, was the only university
representative at the event, which was
attended by government representatives,
members of the import-export industry, a
broad spectrum of the seafood retail chain,
processors, canners and fish farmers. “It
was a very diverse group whose purpose
was to try and find holes in every step of
the plan. There were also representatives
there from seven other countries.
Apparently it’s unusual for a plan like this
to be put into action for re-evaluation
purposes”, she said.
No workshop participants had any prior
warning of the nature of the ‘seafood
emergency’ and they were required to base
their responses on the current SIRP. “We
eventually tracked down the nature of the
‘infection’ and released batch information
and symptom lists to the public”, Miss
Kirchhoff said.
She said that workshop participants had
found a few areas in which the plan could
be improved. “They mainly centred on
getting the correct government contact
points. Because it’s so dynamic, it’s really
difficult to put together a list of the correct
people to contact. The industry needs an
online way of constantly updating things
and a 24-hour contact point. Now we are
in the technological age there are more
efficient forms of contact than phone trees.
We talked about the uses of Skype and
other social media options.”
Miss Kirchhoff said that by far the most
important message that she took home
from the workshop was the importance
of a united seafood industry. “A united
message that is very clear and to the point
is very important. Even if the incident is just
perceived, it can still be damaging. I also
think it is important that everyone is aware
Nicole Kirchhoff
from AMC
that the plan exists so that, if the worst does
happen, they have some kind of formula
to follow, and know that there is a support
network in place.”
More information of the Seafood
Incident Response Plan is available
at www.seafood.net.au.
Report contributed by the Australian
Maritime College, the national institute for
maritime education, research and training
Consultant/Broker for State and Commonwealth
commercial fishing licences
Buying, selling and leasing all
licence types and vessels
Call Margaret Atkins
Confidentiality assured
21
PO Box 109
South Hobart
Tasmania, 7004
Ph (03) 6224 8299
Fax (03) 6224 0900
Mobile 0419 375 578
MAST
News
Time to review safety
equipment
The tragic loss to the fishing community in
recent times has highlighted the pressures
felt by those in the industry to reach fish
quotas and support their families. Fishing
during winter can be the toughest and
most dangerous period of the year so there
is no better time to review essential safety
equipment.
It is imperative that tender dinghies be of
good design, in good structural condition,
contain no plating corrosion, and contain
sufficient buoyancy material which is also
of good condition. It is also important to
ensure that motors are serviced regularly
and dinghies are able to be properly stowed
aboard the parent vessel.
Owners are reminded that MAST will
calculate the capacity of the dinghy in
accordance with AS 1799. This will give
operators some confidence in the load
which can be carried in the dinghy if it
is being used to set and retrieve pots.
Remember, whatever the load calculation,
prevailing weather and sea conditions must
be taken into account and the load reduced
if necessary.
Safety equipment is arguably the most
important part of your vessel’s equipment
and, as it is also very expensive, it is worth
looking after.
Update on commercial
vessel safety reform
The Australian Maritime Safety Authority
(AMSA) is proceeding with a project
to implement marine safety reform in
Australia. The project commenced following
the 2009 agreement by the Council of
Australian Governments to establish single
national regulators for heavy vehicles, rail
safety and maritime safety, and is to be in
place by 1 January 2013.
The National Law Bill is now before
parliament. The Bill was passed in the
House of Representatives on 19 June 2012
with bipartisan support and is now due for
debate in the Senate, which is likely to be
during mid-August 2012.
The Bill was described by the Minister
as “representing some of the biggest
maritime reforms in Australia’s history”
and “replacing 50 pieces of legislation in
seven jurisdictions with a single national
law, providing clarity and consistency for
commercial vessel operators and crews”.
The first draft of Commonwealth
regulations and marine orders that will
support the National Law Bill have been
completed and circulated to jurisdictions.
A copy of the most recent version of the
regulatory plan can be accessed via the
following link: https://www.nationalsystem.
amsa.gov.au/confluence/display/public/
Phase+1+-+Regulatory+Plan
Revised draft versions of the National
Standard for Commercial Vessels Part D
(Certificates of Competency) and Part E
(Safety Management) are still under review.
Release of these standards for public
comment was planned for June 2012;
however further fine tuning of crewing
arrangements has meant a delay until at
least August 2012.
Should you have any specific questions
regarding the development and
content of this reform project, please
contact AMSA on (02) 6279 5767 or
Gwyn Alway at MAST
[email protected]
Please drop into MAST with your dinghy
details to allow us to do the calculation.
Safety equipment should be stowed in a
waterproof container that is easily accessible
and ready for immediate use. Hand-held
VHFs need to be available for use in the
dinghy but a battery-powered VHF radio is
useless unless it is fully charged!
For Sales & Service
258 Argyle St Hobart 7000
Ph: 03 6231 5240
Fax: 03 6231 3814
It is important that life jackets/PFDs are kept
dry and in good condition, whether they are
the inflatable or foam type, as these must
be worn when operating an auxiliary dinghy.
Inflatables should be serviced annually, with
a manual check every three or four months
to confirm the gas bottle is screwed home
and there is no chafe on the bladder.
ASM
Contact:
Grant Fletcher – 0408 731 887
22
IMAS
News
Tasmanian giant
crab fishery update
The total giant crab (Pseudocarcinus gigas)
catch reported for the 2011/12 season was
44.1 tonnes. This is approximately 85%
of the Total Allowable Commercial Catch
(TACC) of 51.75 tonnes. There has been a
slight shift in the East and West Coast split
over the last decade, resulting in an increase
in the proportion of the catch caught in
the east (19 tonnes) and a decrease in the
west (28 tonnes). This has been reflected in
effort, with a slight increase in the east and
a decrease in the west.
The Tasmanian giant crab fishery has seen
a general decline in catch rates since the
early 2000s (see Figure 1). IMAS conducts
an annual stock assessment by combining
biological characteristics of giant crabs (eg
growth rates) with commercial data – both
length-frequency and catch-effort. This
stock assessment indicates that the statewide biomass is at 16% of the unfished level
and egg production is at 19%. These levels
are of concern for a fishery of this type.
Ensuring that the stock does not decrease
further is vital for the sustainability of this
fishery – both economic and biological.
this to continue which implies the actual
catch may be around 41 tonnes. This would
provide further scope for stock rebuilding
(Figure 1) and provide resilience to low
recruitment events.
The stock assessment uses size
measurement data collected by fishers
to estimate the population age structure
and how much undersize biomass will be
growing into legal size in coming years.
Obtaining good spatial coverage of the size
measurement data is vital for the accuracy
of the assessment and consequently
providing good management outcomes.
We continue to need generous assistance
from fishers to collect more of this data
across the fishery.
With the 2011/2012 TACC (51.75 tonnes)
the stock is not expected to rebuild (see
Figure 1) and there is no safety margin for
periods of unexpected low recruitment.
Consequently, for the 2012/2013 season
the TACC has been reduced to 46.6 tonnes.
Figure 1 shows that this TACC provides a
pathway for stock rebuilding. In the past
several years 10-15% of the TACC has
remained uncaught because of the nature of
the quota trading market. We would expect
Photo: Bill Tober
Figure 1: Historic catch rates and biomass to 2011
(solid line). From 2012 the expected biomass under
different TACC scenarios is shown.
23
> IMAS NEWS
Double night shot fishing
study results
by Tim Emery, Bridget Green and Caleb Gardner
M
embers of the Southern Rock
lobster fishing fleet started to
raise concerns in 2007 that fishing
two shots per night (double night shot
fishing) was depleting inshore stocks. This
concern heightened as state-wide fishing
effort continued to rise while catch rates
fell. Discussions on how to manage the issue
were complicated by a lack of information
on the effects, which led to a request by
the TRFLA and DPIPWE for IMAS to conduct
research on the practice.
The first step was to determine the scale of
double night shot fishing in the Tasmanian
Southern Rock lobster fishery, and assess
whether the effort was accurately recorded
in estimates of CPUE. It was not possible to
determine the full extent of double night
shot fishing using the DPIPWE logbooks,
and so depth logger and observer data from
fishers who identified themselves as double
night shot fishers were used to record the
frequency of this practice. Thirteen double
night shot fishers volunteered to participate
by attaching data loggers to their pots,
recording a total of 84 fishing trips, including
1,424 shots. Six trips were also undertaken by
observers on double night shot fishing vessels
recording 109 shots. Of the 13 fishers who
considered themselves active double night
shot fishers and volunteered to participate in
the depth logger study, only three deployed
two night shots on greater than 20% of
their total days fished (Figure 1).
The conclusion from monitoring of double
night shot fishers was that the practice
didn’t constitute a large portion of the total
effort of those fishers who believed they
were active in the practice. Most fishers
don’t conduct double night shots, and of
those that do double night shots – only
a small portion of their shots are in this
category. Most fishers who considered
themselves to be practicing double night
shot fishing were only conducting two
shots each day but hauled gear late at
night. Fishers involved in the study referred
to the simple logistic difficulty of trying to
conduct three shots per day, which left little
time for sleep, especially on longer trips.
We initially presumed that double night
shot fishing would substantially increase
total fishing effort of the fleet. Surprisingly,
double night shot fishers only completed
three more shots per trip than a standard
fisher, and there was no detectable
difference in catch rates. Predictably this
led to shorter average soak times for those
undertaking double night shots (9.5 hours)
compared to standard shots (12.5 hours).
The average number of shots per day on
double night fishing trips (1.6 shots) was
slightly higher than on standard fishing
trips (1.5 per day) but trip length (days)
was similar. Given that catch rate didn’t
change, and there were marginally more
shots with double night fishing, then this
practice would be expected to lower the
cost for fishers. This would enable fishers
to fish inshore at catch rates where they
would otherwise leave, however the scale
of the practice was low and it’s unlikely to
be the primary cause of declines in inshore
stocks. In a fishery with a constraining
total allowable commercial catch (TACC)
increasing efficiency makes the fishery more
profitable. There is a risk that it allows
fishers to operate inshore at catch rates
that would otherwise be uneconomical.
The constraining TACC operates across
the entire state and doesn’t regulate the
amount of effort inshore.
There was no evidence that double night
shots resulted in the increased capture,
handling damage and discarding of
undersize lobsters or greater amounts
of bycatch than standard shots. Fewer
undersize lobsters were captured for each
legal lobster during double night shot
fishing because the length of lobsters
caught was marginally higher compared
with normal fishing (2.5mm). Although
this observation suggests that double night
Figure 1: Percentage of fishing days where a double night fishing event was completed for a. all depth logger
shots by fisher, b. each observer trip. Black bars: days with a double night fishing event; grey bars: days
without double night fishing
24
> IMAS NEWS
fishing reduces risk of handling impact on
undersize lobsters, the scale of the effect
was very small. The abundance and diversity
of bycatch between double night and
standard shots were similar, and mortality
of lobsters from octopus was lower on
double night shots. Rates of damage due to
handling or discarding were not affected by
double night shot fishing.
This project used survey methods to
determine the scale of double night shot
fishing because it was not possible to
determine the true extent of this activity
from the current logbooks. A revised
logbook with clearer information on the
timing of shots and the ability to record the
time of the first pot set and hauled for each
shot has been developed. This removes the
problem of fishers combining shots across
a calendar day and will allow assessment of
fine-scale effort, and the effect of changes in
fishing practices.
Data collected throughout the study
suggested that double night shot fishing
had a minor impact on inshore declines in
biomass relative to the effect of total catches
from all fishing methods. Catch rates of
undersize for each kilogram of legal size
catch landed was similar between double
night shot and normal fishing. This implied
there was no increased damage due to
handling and discarding. In 2010/11 double
night shot fishing was not widespread, did
not result in a change in catch rates, and
only resulted in a slight increase in effort.
Double night shot fishing theoretically
allows fishers to catch their quota faster
and more efficiently than fishers who do
not double night fish, but will not increase
total effort in the fishery because catch
rate was unchanged and catch is capped.
There was no evidence that limiting or
prohibiting double night fishing would
result in different future biomass, but it
could contribute to regional depletion.
IMAS would like to thank all the rock
lobster fishers who volunteered to
participate in the double night fishing
research, members of the Crustacean
Fishery Advisory Committee (CFAC) for
assisting in the direction of the project
as well as the Fisheries Research and
Development Corporation (FRDC) and
Seafood Cooperative Research Centre
(CRC) for supporting the project.
If you would like a hard copy of the report
or any other information, please contact Dr
Bridget Green via email to Bridget.green@
utas.edu.au or by phoning 0418 995 247.
Electronic copies are available from the
IMAS website.
Autumn tag lotto
IMAS rock lobster tag lotto
The winners are:
IMAS would like to thank everyone
who has retuned tag details for the
bi-monthly draw. This is vital information
for understanding changes in the lobster
fishery. When reporting tag details please
include your name, the tag number, the
size of the rock lobster and your phone
number. Congratulations to our winners
and thank you to all our generous
sponsors.
Paul Fernley – $100 cash proudly donated
by Sunderland Mutual Marine Insurance.
Damien Hursey – 2 x $20 Mures meal
voucher proudly donated by Mures
Restaurant and a $20 Boat Shack voucher
proudly donated by the Boat Shack.
If you have captured a tagged rock lobster
please contact:
IMAS tag return
Phone: (03) 6227 7240
Email: [email protected]
Post: Private Bag 49,
Hobart TAS 7001
Ken Clark – $20 Mures meal voucher
proudly donated by Mures Restaurant.
TMD
25
> IMAS NEWS
What’s on the move in
Tassie seas? Redmap sightings
explained
by Yvette Barry
R
edmap’s citizen science data is
revealing an increasing number of
marine animals - like the yellowtail
kingfish, Maori wrasse, luderick and gloomy
octopus - are being spotted outside their
usual ‘home’ ranges in Tasmanian seas.
Redmap’s Yvette Barry explores whether
these marine species are really on the move
south as the climate changes.
For more than two years the Redmap
project has asked Tasmanian fishers, divers
and the public to log any marine life they
thought were uncommon along their
coastline. The idea? To map species that
may be ‘moving house’– a.k.a extending or
shifting their range - as the marine climate
changes. According to data from a longterm monitoring station at Maria Island,
together with recent research, the seas
along Tasmania’s east coast are warming at
over three times the global average.
“Redmap aims to explore how warming
seas impact the distribution of marine
species, by using community observations
over a vast coastline” says Dr Gretta Pecl,
Redmap’s primary investigator at the
Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies
(IMAS) in Hobart.
“Over time and with many sightings,
Redmap citizen science will show which
species may be packing up shop and
heading south to keep pace with their
preferred environmental conditions.”
Redmap, and its website www.redmap.
org.au, has been so successful in luring
750 members and 400+ marine sightings
in Tasmania that it’s become contagious:
Redmap is going national in October 2012
with the help of grants from the Australian
National Data Service (ANDS), and the
Australian Government’s Inspiring Australia.
But before Redmap flies the Tasmanian
coop, it’s important to look back and
understand what the fish and marine
sightings actually mean.
– undergoing range extensions - to stay
within their preferred marine climate.
We’ve crunched the Redmap numbers:
since December 2009 Tasmanian ‘citizen
scientists’ logged more than 400 sightings
of some 70 marine species, many of which
were spotted south of their usual home
turf. Some of these sightings were large
schools of fish, so the actual numbers are
in the thousands.
But it’s not easy to show how warming
waters impact a species.
To make heads and (fish) tails of the
community data, Redmap has compiled the
Top Ten species that were spotted outside
their known ranges (see table).
Redmap’s Top Ten: spotted south of
their known range
Splashing onto the Redmap Tasmania’s
Top Ten list are the eastern rock lobster,
yellowtail kingfish, luderick, Maori wrasse,
zebra fish, white-ear, herring cale, tailor,
halfbanded sea perch and gloomy octopus.
These sightings, shown in the table, were
made at Tasmanian swimming, diving and
fishing spots where these marine species
are not usually found. Other strange
species– to parts of the Tasmanian coast,
at least - included the tropical fish bigscaled parma (Parma oligolepis), old boot
(Acanthistius ocellatus), turtles, dusky
morwong (Dactylophora nigricans), King
George whiting (Sillaginodes punctatus)
and striped marlin (Tetrapturus audax).
But have the Redmap Top Ten really shifted
their distribution range, and is this linked to
warming waters? The answer is… possibly.
Marine species have their own set of
physical conditions, including water
temperature and pH, that determine
whether they’ll live at a particular marine
postcode or not. While some may adapt to
new conditions, others tend to shift house
26
“Capturing species range shifts can be
difficult due to a scarcity of monitoring
programs and the short time frame of
many marine studies,” says Dr Pecl.
Marine critters aren’t just affected by water
temperature – things like food availability,
predators, competition and fishing activity
are also thrown into the mix. Also it’s
not uncommon for marine animals to
occasionally swim far from home, merely
visiting a region.
The ‘normal’ geographic home of a species
is sometimes hard to establish, or not
known at all. Using Redmap sightings as
an example, the yellowtail kingfish was
spotted up to 65 km further south from its
known southerly range. Others, like the
eastern rock lobster, Maori wrasse and the
gloomy octopus were found up to 472 km
from their known southerly range. Redmap
needs many more of these community
sightings over time to uncover if such
species are really extending their range or
if these are just random visitors or seasonal
variations.
“Fishers, divers and other people enjoying
or working off our coasts have a huge
depth of knowledge and Redmap is a
website where they can record their
valuable information,” says Dr Pecl.
Redmap also engages the public with
marine climate issues by collecting their
own ecological data and sharing photos,
maps and anecdotes of their catches and
sightings.
And with the launch of Redmap around the
country this October, potentially thousands
of Australians will become citizen scientists,
> IMAS NEWS
outlining a picture of marine range shifts in
seas around Australia.
Table: Redmap ‘out of range sightings’ logged since 2009 (until Feb 24 2012)
TOP 10 REDMAP
SIGHTINGS
Redmap’s maps and information will help to
arm recreational and commercial fishers with
the knowledge of how climate change is
impacting marine life.
It’s likely some species may adapt, some
could expand into other regions, whilst
others may disappear from certain areas.
“Redmap sightings could act as a red flag
for marine species that are responding
strongly to climate change by shifting their
range into new regions,” Dr Pecl says.
This knowledge will help to focus Australian
research and marine management into these
species or regions along Australia’s expansive
coastline.
If you want to know more about
the Redmap project in Tasmania,
and around Australia, please email
[email protected] or visit
www.redmap.org.au (and don’t
forget to sign up for our quarterly
newsletter!)
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Out–
of-range
sightings
Eastern rock lobster
(Sagmariasus
verreauxi)
Yellowtail kingfish
(Seriola lalandi)
Luderick
(Girella tricuspidata)
47
Out of
range
with a
verified
photo
5
22
11
15
1
Maori wrasse
(Ophthalmolepis
lineolatus)
Zebra fish
(Girella zebra)
White-ear
(Parma microlepis)
Herring cale
(Odax cyanomelas)
Tailor
(Pomatomus
saltatrix)
Halfbanded seaperch
(Hypoplectrodes
maccullochi)
Gloomy octopus
(Octopus tetricus)
11
6
300 km
(max: 472 km)
South of Maria
Island
South of St
Helens; south
and west coasts
All Tasmanian
waters
12
4
10
5
10
1
8
1
134 km
(max: 250 km)
157 km
(max: 213 km)
28 km
(max: 28 km)
137 km
(max: 157 km)
East, west or
south coasts
South of St
Helens
South of the
Tasman Peninsula
South of
St Helens
7
5
146 km
(max: 154 km)
South of Bicheno
6
1
315 km
(max: 472 km)
All Tasmanian
waters
The eastern rock lobster (Sagmariasus verreauxi), a species more at home
along the NSW coastline, is Redmap Tasmania’s number one logged
species – but is it really on the move south?
(Photo: Emma Flukes)
Average
distance from
southerly
known range
(& max)
311 km
(max: 472 km)
When does
Redmap
consider this
species
‘out-of-range’?
All Tasmanian
waters
47 km
(max: 65 km)
161 km
(max: 213 km)
More and more Tasmanians are catching yellowtail
kingfish further south than usual along Tasmania’s
east coast. This one was caught by Jonny Valentine at
Blackmans Bay
(Photo: Melanie Richardson)
27
Redmap member and keen fisher Tom
King with a striped marlin he caught
off the Tasman Peninsula. Although
striped marlin have been recorded
along the entire East Coast, they only
usually show up in years with a strong
(and correspondingly warm) East
Australian Current. With increasing
water temperatures, these sightings
may become more frequent.
(Photo: Tom King)
> IMAS NEWS
IMAS students making
their mark across the oceans
At the World Fishing Congress (WFC) this
year in Edinburgh, UK, two IMAS PhD
candidates Rafael Leon and Tim Emery
walked away with highly contested prizes in
the presentation talks and poster categories
for Early Career Scientists. The WFC is the
main forum for fisheries research worldwide
and convenes once every four years, and
this year over 1500 delegates attended.
Out of this large delegate pool over 300
students entered the best poster and best
oral presentation awards. Both Rafael and
Tim were nominated along with only six
others in each category to be considered
for prizes. Tim was selected as the winner
in the poster category and RafaeI was
commended for his oral presentation.
• Tim Emery (best poster)
Poster title: “Emergence of ‘race to fish’
behaviour in an ITQ fishery when the
TAC is non-binding”.
IMAS and other supervisors: Bridget
Green, Caleb Gardner, Klaas Hartmann
and John Tisdell (UTAS School of
Economics).
• Rafael Leon (oral presentation
commendation)
Poster title: “Do catch shares really
promote resource stewardship?”
IMAS and other supervisors: Caleb
Gardner, Klaas Hartmann, Ingrid van
Putten (CSIRO) and Rodrigo Bustamante
(CSIRO).
The research of both students targeted the
strategic research priorities of the IMAS
Fisheries program, which are (i) sharing
and allocation of fisheries resources, and
(ii) integration of economic methods into
fisheries management.
Both of the students are working on catch
share or individual transferable quota share
fisheries. These are a recent development
in fisheries management and are now used
in most of Australia’s largest fisheries. They
involve giving or selling shares of the future
catch to fishers. This is a similar process to
Tim Emery (L) and Rafael Leon (R)
selling shares in a company with the shares
traded in a market place where their value
is linked to perceptions of future cash flow.
The theory of these management systems
is that they (i) promote efficiency and (ii)
create incentives for the fishing industry to
value future earnings. This means that the
industry is supposed to exercise stewardship
by rebuilding stocks with lower catches
today so that they can be rewarded with
greater profitability in the future.
Tim’s research deals with the first part of
the theory with a case study on recent
loss of efficiency in the Tasmanian lobster
fishery. An environmentally driven period
of low recruitment caused the fishery to
revert back to the race-to fish that the
catch share system was supposed to avoid.
The fleet rationalisation that was supposed
to occur under catch shares reversed with
a 10% increase in fishing vessels taking
a smaller catch. As a result, the cost of
fishing spiralled upwards and economic
yield from the fishery crashed. Some social
changes occurred including some that are
generally viewed as positive, such as higher
28
employment and diversified ownership,
but there was also increased incidence of
fishing in dangerous weather as fishers
competed to remain viable.
Rafael’s research dealt with the second
part of catch share theory by looking at
the history of decision making in abalone
and lobster fisheries across Australia and
New Zealand. He found a small number
of fisheries performed according to the
theory but that it was naive to expect
ITQs to result in stewardship and the armwrestle between government and industry
will remain, with industry continuing
to lobby for TACCs that dissipate rent.
He identified six main causes for this
failure of stewardship including an
emphasis on revenue rather than profit
in decision –making, and the erosion of
catch allocations with MPAs or increase
in recreational catch. Rafael’s research
emphasised that catch shares alone are
unlikely to result in stewardship and that
there needs to be careful attention given to
the wider operating environment of fishers
if ITQs are to achieve this objective.
> AMSA CONFERENCE
Marine Extremes And Everything In Between
by Cas Price, SeaNet Officer
An action packed four day joint conference
between the Australian Marine Science
Association (AMSA) and the New Zealand
Marine Science Society (NZMSS) took place
during July. Held in Hobart at the Wrest Point
Casino the event attracted more than 400
scientists and industry representatives from
over eight countries.
The theme for the Conference was “Marine
Extremes - And Everything In Between”. This
reflected the diverse array of extreme places
in the marine environment such as Polar
Regions through to deep sea habitats, while
incorporating extreme events which affect
the oceans and marine environments, such as
cyclones, ocean acidification, invasive species
and ecosystem shifts. There was something for
everyone at the Conference, covering assorted
topics from fisheries to biotechnology as there
were 280 speakers and around 70 posters
presented. Some of the highlights from the
Conference were:
CSIRO marine scientist Dr David Griffin was
the first keynote speaker, who discussed
how extreme events are part of ocean life
and humans have to be prepared for them,
pointing to Eaglehawk Neck and the necks at
Bruny Island and Maria Island as local examples
of coastal areas vulnerable to events such as
storm surges or tsunamis from New Zealand.
“From the perspective of natural history, the
necks are transient connections, sooner or later
they are going to be breached. It could be next
week, in 100 years, Dr Griffin said.
Maintaining that the ocean was far from a
solid reference point as sea surface levels could
Lynnath Beckley and David Griffin
change dramatically and there were subsurface ocean storms in the form of eddies,
upwellings and heatwaves, Dr Griffin used the
example of record high ocean temperatures
near Perth in March last year which caused
widespread fish kills.
“I would argue that extreme oceanic events
have received much less attention than
they deserve from the scientific community.
Extreme turning points are part of the life of
oceans, just as bushfires are on land. Studying
the oceans without looking at the extremes
is like studying world history without taking
account of wars.” he continued.
Using satellite altimetry to produce maps
of the extreme values of sea level, and the
geostrophic currents estimated from sea level
gradients, extreme oceanic conditions around
the coast are revealed; such as what happens
to coastal waters after cyclones and what
impacts these localised events may have on the
marine environment in the surrounding areas.
Another example is the massive pilchard
mortality in 1995 when the software could
pin point rising thermocline and upwelling
in the area which contributed to the
mortality, which was originally thought to
be due to disease in the pilchards. As the
climate changes it is important to have an
understanding of these events so that disease
and thermal changes are not mistaken in
determining the cause of large mortalities of
marine organisms.
Dr Griffin was presented with Australian
marine science’s top award, the AMSA Jubilee
Award at the Conference, which recognised
in part his work developing an accessible
website with free, updated information on
ocean conditions across Australia. CSIRO
marine engineer, Matt Sherlock received
the AMSA Technical Award for his work
developing and maintaining a wide variety
of sophisticated marine sampling tools and
providing electronics support to Australia’s
Marine National Facility.
Toni Morate gave an overview and the
progress of the new CSIRO research vessel
RV Investigator. The research purpose built
29
RV Investigator construction
vessel is 93.9 metres in length and can
accommodate 40 scientists. The vessel in
multi- disciplinary which can support a
diverse range of science activities, from
fisheries, ecosystem based research through
to oceanography.
Greta Pecl gave a great talk on the
implementation and success of the Redmap
(Range Extension Database and Mapping
project). This project, which is an online
data base and mapping resource, allows
members of the public to submit photos
and information of marine species occurring
beyond their recognised distribution.
It was also good to see the Tasmania
Seafood Industry Council (TSIC) in the lime
light with Julian Harrington (TSIC’s Project
Officer) discussing the “Working on Water”
program outlining the objectives of the
program such as engaging students to a
wide range of opportunities in the marine
sector and providing pathways for work
experience for students.
Another educational program that was
mentioned within the Tasmanian seafood
industry is the “Seafood Industry Partnership
in Schools” (SIPS). This program is an
initiative from OceanWatch Australia in
partnership with TSIC and the Department
of Education.
Finally to end the week the CSIRO Gala
Conference dinner took place on the
Thursday evening. There was a magical
underwater theme with the entire dinner
hall filled with helium balloons in the shapes
of jelly fish, fish and even a scuba diver or
two. A three course meal was served and
musical entertainment was provided by
the local band Rektango. There was some
great dancing throughout the evening
and demonstrations of the new move “The
shark shuffle”. It was truly a great night
and a top way to end such an inspirational,
diverse conference. Looking forward to the
next one!
Seafood Training Tasmania by Rory Byrne
Master 4
TSIC, AMC and STT have received funding
from the National Workforce Development
Fund via the Transport and Logistics Industry
Skills Council to run a Master 4 course.
Starting on 3 September this course will be
held for five weeks at STT and then two
weeks with the AMC. It’s a rare opportunity
to undertake this course in Hobart and
both AMC and STT are looking forward to
meeting this demand for tickets for vessels
up to 35m.
The course cost is $3,340.00 (conditions
apply) and we have a few places left.
Contact Maddy on (03) 6233 3511 if you
are interested.
Coxswain Limited upgrades
Time is running out to upgrade your old
Coxswain Limited ticket. If you need an ESS
please contact STT soon.
These courses are in high demand and it
could easily take a couple of months or
more to get into the next available course.
We will schedule more courses if there
is sufficient demand. Call Helen on
(03) 6233 9079 to book a spot.
Coxswain
Every year we schedule Coxswain courses
in regional ports. They present an ideal
opportunity for fishermen and fish farmers
to train without travelling to Hobart or
Launceston. The course fees are held to
Hobart prices and STT absorbs the travelling
and accommodation costs. These courses
will only go ahead if the demand is there.
The next offering is at St Helens:
Deck:
10 to 14 September
Navigation: 17 to 18 September
Diesel:
19 to 21 September
Please spread the word and if you are
interested in attending call Maddy on
(03) 6233 3511.
Staff round up
Our star ESS trainer Jade Garland has just
had a baby! Congratulations to Jade and
Chris on the birth of their daughter, Mini
Bell. We will give Jade a few weeks off but
expect to see her back in action later in
the year.
On the road with Matt and James
Another round of farm site visits recently
saw a number of Cert III clients finish off
their traineeships. Trainees at both the
oyster farms and salmon farms around
the State have been visited by Matt Jones
and James Garde to complete their on
site assessments, with all trainees showing
a high level of knowledge and practical
ability at their work place. The traineeship
as a whole has been warmly received by all
those who participate, evidence of which
can be seen in the very high completion
rates achieved by those who take up the
opportunity. If you are interested in taking
up a traineeship, or have a staff member
who would be a great candidate, please
30
Cert III student Jamie Petterwood at Estuarine
Oysters goes through the process of sorting,
grading and preparing oysters for market. Jamie
recently finished his Cert III with Seafood Training,
and in the process he managed to get his
Coxswains Ticket, Forklift, First Aid and Wader
Safety training all done as part of his Cert III training
feel free to contact either James on
(03) 6233 2177 or Matt on (03) 6233 6726
at STT for more information.
Loss at sea
Our condolences go to the long-time STT
Board Member Des Whayman and family
on the tragic loss of Tim Whayman in
recent weeks. Tim is remembered fondly
by all STT staff who encountered him
during his various tickets over many years
at STT.
Please visit
www.seafoodtrainingtas.com.au
or call (03) 6233 6442 for the latest
course book.
> BUREAU OF METEOROLOGY
Improved forecast information
from the Bureau of Meteorology
During the past 12 months we have seen
many exciting changes at the Tasmanian
Regional Forecast Centre. Advances in
technology have enabled us to bring to the
public and in particular marine users, more
comprehensive, detailed forecasts.
A year ago we had a major upgrade to our
forecast and warning services to Tasmania.
The new Next Generation Forecast and
Warning System (NextGen) came online. In
this office we started using the Graphical
Forecast Editor (GFE) and it drastically
changed the way we do things. Through
the editor a forecaster can ‘paint a 3D
picture’ of a multitude of elements in the
atmosphere. It incorporates a vast array
of numerical models, observations and
other associated data. This data appears in
grids (squares) that cover the entire State
and surrounding maritime regions. The
forecaster can adjust or manipulate this
data then produce a forecast (up to seven
days ahead) for each individual grid point.
After the adjustments a computer program
will generate the forecast. This has freed up
the forecaster’s time by removing of a lot
of typing, which has allowed more forecast
products and the extension of existing
forecasts further into the future.
In December 2011 Forecast Explorer
weather map viewer was introduced to
the Bureau’s website and this drastically
changed the way in which forecasts were
presented. From the Land View (Figure 1)
people using Forecast Explorer can access
7-day weather forecasts, which include
maximum and minimum temperatures,
likelihood of rain, rainfall totals, and wind
and weather information. This process can
be done via the menus on the right or by
point and click options on the map.
extra detail in the forecast of that location.
Another option is to click a point anywhere
on the map. This will open a box with
maximum, minimum, likelihood of rain and
rainfall totals for that point. Each of the
grids on the map (small coloured squares)
represents a 5x5 km area and will show
an identical forecast for any point clicked
within that square.
The menu option allows you to view data
through different paths: on a day-by-day
option, week option or a loop option (after
selecting Forecast element in the drop
down menu).
The Marine View has a similar outlay to
the ‘Land View’. You can use the menu
option on the right or map point and click
on the left. One difference is that only
4-day Marine forecasts are available. Also
when a point is clicked the box only shows
the forecast for the selected day (shown in
Figure 2).
The initial step on the point and click
option is to move the cursor over a
highlighted region on the map. When
you click it takes you to that highlighted
region. You can then point and click on
any of the named point locations (69
locations throughout Tasmania). Clicking a
point location (either◆or ■) will open up
a box showing the 7-day forecast for that
location. On the top right of this box there
is a link to ‘More details’. This link shows
Another big change is in forecast product
for the south-east inshore waters. Prior
to the NextGen we produced a ‘broad’
forecast that was called ‘South-east Boating
Weather Forecast’. That forecast and
warning service was split into two – Storm
Bay and Channel (north of a line Southeast Cape to Tasman Island) and Derwent
Estuary (north of Iron Pot). The forecast
only included information on wind strength
and direction and was only a short-term
Figure 1: Forecast Explorer – Land View of selected day
31
Figure 2: Southeast Region with a 7-day point forecast
forecast for the next 18 to 30 hours,
depending on the issue time.
been installed at Dunalley (Stroud Point)
(Figure 4).
With our new system, mariners will notice big
changes. Firstly it has been divided into four
distinct forecasts areas (seen on Figure 3):
The observations from this site are available
at http://www.bom.gov.au/products/
IDT60801/IDT60801.94951.shtml.
• the Channel (D’Entrecasteaux); Derwent
Estuary;
Also coming soon is another new AWS at
Dennes Point (northern tip of Bruny Island).
• Storm Bay; and Frederick Henry Bay and
Norfolk Bay.
The other major change for the Southeast inshore waters forecasts is that each
forecast extends out to four days and now
includes sea state (as well as wind speeds
and direction).
In association with the new, improved
forecast for the South-east inshore waters a
new automatic weather station (AWS) has
This forecast can be accessed from the main
Bureau webpage by clicking on either Tas on
the blue menu at the top or Tas on the map.
Then click (All) Forecasts > (Marine Areas)
Local & coastal waters. Then from the inset
map (lower right) click the marine region that
you require. This will open that local waters
area in its own webpage.
Changes have also been made to the old
‘Inland Waters Forecast’. This forecast was
appended to the Coastal Waters forecast
and was a general forecast covering both
the South-west and Central Plateau Lakes. It
now provides a discrete forecast out to four
days for either the South-west Lakes or the
Central Plateau. Using the same method as
described above, at the map you can click on
the boxes indicating Central Plateau Lakes
Forecast (top of main map) or Southwest
Lakes Forecast (bottom left of main map).
Another significant change is the installation
of the Mt Koonya radar. This was the subject
of an article on page 28 of the last issue of
Fishing Today (Volume 25 No 3 June/July
2012).
The new radar significantly improves the
Bureau’s observation capability and its ability
to warn the community about the potential
impacts of severe weather. The live feed from
the radar can be accessed from the BoM
home page by clicking on the RADAR box,
then Hobart.
One of the many new features is to show
‘accumulated’ rainfall. For more information
on the radar and its capabilities the Radar
Help on the top grey menu bar is a good
starting point.
Figure 3: New Southeast Inshore Forecast regions
Figure 4: AWS at Dunalley (photograph by B Becker)
32
For more information contact
Malcolm Riley on (03) 6221 2000.
Figure 5: Hobart (Mt Koonya – Tasman Peninsula) radar (photograph by B Becker)
> Directory
117 Sandy Bay Road, Sandy Bay 7005
Chief Executive: Neil Stump 0417 394 009
E [email protected] www.tsic.org.au
P 03 6224 2332 F 03 6224 2321
Wild Fisheries
Tasmanian Abalone Council Ltd
262 Arglye Street Hobart 7000
President: Greg Woodham 0419 524 174
Chief Executive: Dean Lisson 0419 599 954
Administration Manager: Jillian Freeman
P 03 6231 1955 F 03 6231 1966
E [email protected]
Tasmanian Commercial Divers Association
President: Bryan Denny 0417 502 195
Tasmanian Rock Lobster Fishermen’s Association
President: John Sansom 03 6247 7284
CEO: Rodney Treloggen
P/F 03 6376 1805 0418 138 768
Secretary/Treasurer: Margaret Atkins
PO Box 109, South Hobart 7004
Tasmanian Scalefish Fishermen’s Association
President: Shane Bevis P/F 03 6247 7634
E [email protected]
Secretary: Colleen Osborne
PO Box 332, Somerset 7322
E [email protected]
Tasmanian Scallop Fishermen’s Association
286 Windermere Road, Windermere 7252
President: John Hammond 0429 130 238
Secretary/Treasurer: (Mrs) Jill Hammond
P 03 6328 1478 F 03 6328 1421
Tasmanian Shark Fishermen’s Association
64 Ormond Street, Bellerive 7018
President: Brian Bailey 0407 874 199
Secretary/Treasurer: (Mrs) Heather Bailey
P 03 6244 2775 F 03 6244 6939
Aquaculture
Tasmanian Aquaculture Council
117 Sandy Bay Road, Sandy Bay 7005
Chairman: Pheroze Jungalwalla
TSIC: Neil Stump 0417 394 009
E [email protected]
Oysters Tasmania
Dr Tom Lewis or Raymond Murphy
P 0458 601 057
E [email protected]
Tasmanian Salmonid Growers Association
Chairman: Chris Dockray
Project Manager: Adam Main
P 03 6214 0555
E [email protected] www.tsga.com.au
Tasmanian Shellfish Executive Council
PO Box 878 Sandy Bay 7006
Chairman: James Calvert 0418 352 639
E [email protected]
Secretary: Tom Gray 0419 398 640
Tasmanian Abalone Growers Association
Chairman: Mike Wing
PO Box 11, Dunalley 7177
P 03 6253 6007 F 03 6253 6009
Bruny Island Shellfish Growers Association
President: Jeff Whayman
P 0428 136 515
Tasmanian Oyster Research Council
Chairman: Ian Duthie 0409 411 322
E [email protected]
DPIPWE Marine Resources
Scallops, Giant Crab, Octopus, or Rock Lobster Inquiries
James Parkinson P 03 6233 6797 or
Hilary Revill P 03 6233 6036 or
David Jarvis P 03 6233 6380
Abalone or Marine Plant Inquiries
Matt Bradshaw P 03 6233 3512
Commercial Dive Inquiries or Inshore Clams
Greg Ryan P 03 6216 4227
Scalefish Inquiries
Frances Seaborn P 03 6223 6717
Recreational Fishing Inquiries
Rod Pearn P 03 6233 7042
Licensing Inquiries P 03 6233 2147
Quota Monitoring Inquiries P 03 6233 3539
Marine Farm Planning/Operations Inquiries
TBA P 03 6233 3527
Marine Farm Environment Inquiries
Graham Woods P 03 6233 7752
Special Permits
Grant Pullen P 03 6233 3157
Training
Seafood Training Tasmania
2a Gladstone Street, Battery Point 7004
Manager Rory Byrne
P 03 6233 6442 F 03 6223 2780
E [email protected]
Commonwealth Fisheries Association
CEO: Trixi Madon
PO Box 9022, Deakin, ACT 2600
P 02 6260 1283 F 02 6260 3505
E [email protected]
OceanWatch Australia
SeaNet Extension Officer, Tasmania
Cassandra Price
C/- PO Box 878, Sandy Bay 7006
P 03 6224 2890 M 0407 135 637
E [email protected]
WEBSITE LINKS
Australian Government
Australian Fisheries Management Authority
(AFMA)
www.afma.gov.au
Australian Maritime Safety Authority
www.amsa.gov.au
The Bureau of Meteorology
www.bom.gov.au/marine
CSIRO – Marine and Atmospheric Research
www.cmar.csiro.au
Department of Agriculture Fisheries and Forestry
(DAFF)
also includes:
Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource
Economics (ABARE)
Australian Quarantine and Inspection
Service (AQIS)
Biosecurity Australia (BA)
Bureau of Rural Sciences (BRS)
www.daff.gov.au
Department of Environment and Water
Resources (DEW)
www.environment.gov.au
Fisheries Research and Development
Corporation (FRDC)
www.frdc.com.au
Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ)
www.foodstandards.gov.au
OceanWatch also includes:
SeaNet
www.oceanwatch.org.au
Seafood Services Australia (SSA)
www.seafood.net.au
Seafood Training Australia (STA)
www.seafoodtraining.com.au
State
Department of Primary Industries, Parks,
Water and Environment
www.dpipwe.tas.gov.au and/or
www.fishing.tas.gov.au
Institute of Marine and Antarctic Studies (IMAS)
www.imas.utas.edu.au
Marine and Safety Tasmania
www.mast.tas.gov.au/domino/mast/newweb.nsf
Natural Resource Management (NRM)
www.nrmtas.com.au
Tasmanian Seafood Industry Council (TSIC)
www.tsic.org.au
Fisheries Wholesale
Master Fish Merchants Association
www.mfma.com.au/
Melbourne Wholesale Fish Market
www.chsmith.com.au/fish-prices/index.htm
Sydney Fish Market
www.sydneyfishmarket.com.au

Volume 25 No 4 Aug/Sept 2012 - Tasmanian Seafood Industry Council

Transcription

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