Fishery Assessments and Export Approvals under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999
←
→
Page content transcription
If your browser does not render page correctly, please read the page content below
Fishery Assessments and Export Approvals under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 2021 report on the 2020 calendar year (and 2021 to 30 June) to the Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment Commonwealth Southern and Eastern Scalefish and Shark Fishery
SESSF: Fishery assessment and Export Approval Annual Report – for the 2020 calendar year (and 2021 to 30 June)
Contents
1 Introduction ......................................................................................................................................................... 4
2 Changes since the last annual report ................................................................................................................. 5
2.1 Description of the Southern and Eastern Scalefish and Shark Fishery..................................................... 5
2.2 Management Arrangements ...................................................................................................................... 5
2.3 Research and monitoring.......................................................................................................................... 14
2.4 Identified changes to catch data (target, byproduct and bycatch species) .......................................... 20
2.5 Status of target stocks............................................................................................................................... 24
2.6 Interactions with protected species ......................................................................................................... 25
2.7 Identified impacts of the fishery on the ecosystem in which it operates............................................... 28
2.8 Progress in implementing the conditions of the SESSF WTO declaration and Part 13 Accreditation for
the calendar year 2020 ........................................................................................................................................... 34
3 Summary of progress against rebuilding strategies ........................................................................................ 40
3.1 Upper slope dogfish management strategy ............................................................................................ 41
3.2 Blue warehou stock rebuilding strategy .................................................................................................. 44
3.3 Eastern gemfish stock rebuilding strategy .............................................................................................. 48
3.4 Orange roughy stock rebuilding strategy ................................................................................................ 51
3.5 Redfish stock rebuilding strategy ............................................................................................................. 54
3.6 School Shark Stock Rebuilding Strategy ................................................................................................... 57
4 References .......................................................................................................................................................... 61
Tables
Table 1. Summary of change since the 2020 annual report. For further detail, please refer to Section 2. ............... 4
Table 2. Species subject to either a commercial fish species rebuilding strategy or a protected species
management strategy. ................................................................................................................................... 6
Table 3. Changes in TACs for SESSF quota species from 2019-20 to 2020-21. Quota species marked with an
asterisk are subject to a multi-year TAC. ....................................................................................................... 8
Table 4. East Coast Deepwater Trawl Sector (ECD) non-quota species 2020-21 TAC. ................................................ 9
Table 5. Changes in TACs for SESSF quota species from 2020-21 to 2021-2022. Quota species marked with an
asterisk are subject to a multi-year TAC. ..................................................................................................... 11
Table 6. East Coast Deepwater Trawl Sector (ECD) non-quota species 2021-22 TAC. .............................................. 13
Table 7. Trap Fishing Sector non-quota species 2021-22 catch limit. ......................................................................... 13
Table 8. Current and recently completed research projects in the SESSF. ................................................................. 16
Table 9. Landed catch (tonnes) for quota species in the SESSF in calendar years 2019 and 2020. Catch data
includes research catch allowances. Source: AFMA CDR landed catch data (extracted 07/04/21). ...... 20
Table 10. Landed catch (tonnes) for the major non-quota (byproduct) species in calendar years 2019 and 2020.
Source AFMA CDR landed catch data (extracted 07/04/21). .................................................................... 22
Table 11. Catch (tonnes) by each SESSF sector in calendar years 2019 and 2020. Source: AFMA CDR landed catch
data (extracted 07/04/21). ........................................................................................................................... 22
Securing Australia’s fishing future AFMA.GOV.AU 2 of 62SESSF: Fishery assessment and Export Approval Annual Report – for the 2020 calendar year (and 2021 to 30 June)
Table 12. Trawl fishing effort by gear type and calendar year in the SESSF in calendar years 2019 and 2020.
Source: AFMA logbook records (extracted 27/04/21). .............................................................................. 23
Table 13. Gillnet fishing effort by calendar year in the SESSF in calendar years 2019 and 2020. Source: AFMA
logbook records (extracted 27/04/21). ....................................................................................................... 23
Table 14. Hook method effort by calendar year in the SESSF in calendar years 2019 and 2020. Source: AFMA
logbook records (extracted 27/04/21). ....................................................................................................... 23
Table 15. Trap fishing effort by calendar year in the SESSF in calendar years 2019 and 2020. Source: AFMA
logbook records (extracted 27/04/21). ....................................................................................................... 24
Table 16. SESSF Stocks with a changed status in 2019 and their status in 2018 (source ABARES Fishery status
reports 2020). ................................................................................................................................................ 24
Table 17. Number of reported interactions with TEP species in the GHAT by calendar year for 2020. Source:
AFMA protected species reports. ................................................................................................................ 26
Table 18. Number of reported interactions with TEP species in the CTS by calendar year for 2020. Source: AFMA
protected species reports............................................................................................................................. 27
Table 19. Species identified as potentially high risk under the most recent ERAs (2019)......................................... 31
Table 20. Species assessed as potentially high risk under the 2012 ERA process for the CTS otter board trawl,
Danish seine, shark gillnet and GABT otter trawl methods ....................................................................... 32
Table 21. Annual checklist of risk related triggers ........................................................................................................ 33
Table 22. Progress in implementing the conditions of the SESSF WTO declaration (14 February 2019 until 12
February 2022) for the calendar year 2020. ............................................................................................... 34
Table 23. Progress in implementing the conditions on the Part 13 accreditation for the SESSF.............................. 37
Table 24. Summary of progress against the Upper Slope Dogfish Management Strategy 2012 .............................. 41
Table 25. Summary of progress against the Blue Warehou Stock Rebuilding Strategy 2014 ................................... 44
Table 26. Summary of progress against the Eastern Gemfish Stock Rebuilding Strategy 2015................................ 48
Table 27. Summary of progress against the Orange Roughy Stock Rebuilding Strategy 2014 ................................. 51
Table 28. Summary of progress against the Redfish Stock Rebuilding Strategy 2016-2021 ..................................... 54
Table 29. Summary of progress against the School Shark Stock Rebuilding Strategy 2015 ...................................... 57
Securing Australia’s fishing future AFMA.GOV.AU 3 of 62SESSF: Fishery assessment and Export Approval Annual Report – for the 2020 calendar year (and 2021 to 30 June)
1 Introduction
All fisheries granted export approval under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation
Act 1999 (EPBC Act) are required to produce annual reports containing the information outlined in
Appendix B of the Australian Government’s Guidelines for the Ecologically Sustainable Management of
Fisheries – 2nd Edition (the Guidelines).
This report to the Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment (the Department) meets the
annual reporting requirements for the Commonwealth Southern and Eastern Scalefish and Shark Fishery
(SESSF) approvals under the EPBC Act. The information provided in this report details changes that have
occurred in the SESSF during the 2020 calendar year for the purposes of meeting a condition of the Wildlife
Trade Operation (WTO) declaration (from the last fishery re-assessment to the Department in February
2019): www.environment.gov.au/marine/fisheries/commonwealth/scalefish.
In addition, as this report is provided to support an assessment for reaccreditation, management activities
for 2021 calendar year (to date) is also included.
Table 1 provides an overview of information contained in this report. Detailed responses are provided
under relevant headings in the report.
Table 1. Summary of change since the 2020 annual report. For further detail, please refer to Section 2.
Section 2 Since the last report… Yes/No
2.2 Management Has there been any significant change to management arrangements and/or No
arrangements fishing practices that may affect EPBC Act approval criteria? If yes, please
provide relevant information.
2.3 Research and Has any research and/or monitoring of fishing activities including stock Yes
monitoring assessments or risk analysis been conducted? If yes, please provide relevant
information.
2.4 Catch data for Has there been any change in average annual catch data for target, Yes
target, byproduct byproduct and bycatch species including upward or downward trend in
and bycatch catches and its relevance to limit reference points or performance
species indicators? If yes, please provide details.
2.5 Stock status for Has there been any change in the stock status for target and byproduct Yes
target, byproduct species including any increase or decrease in the number of overfished or
and bycatch uncertain stocks, or where limit reference points or performance indicators
species have been triggered? If yes, please provide details.
2.6 Interaction with Has there been any change in the nature, scale, intensity of impact, and/or Yes
EPBC-listed management response in relation to interactions? If yes, please provide
protected species details.
2.7 Ecosystem Has there been any fishery and/or non-fishery change in the nature, scale, Yes
impact (e.g. intensity of impact, and/or management response including identification
habitat, food chains and mitigation measures? If yes, please provide details.
etc.)
Securing Australia’s fishing future AFMA.GOV.AU 4 of 62SESSF: Fishery assessment and Export Approval Annual Report – for the 2020 calendar year (and 2021 to 30 June)
Section 2 Since the last report… Yes/No
2.8 Conditions Has any progress been made towards implementing the conditions and/or Yes
and/or recommendations from the last fishery assessment or annual report under
recommendations the EPBC Act? If yes, please provide details.
2 Changes since the last annual report
2.1 Description of the Southern and Eastern Scalefish and Shark
Fishery
No changes since the re-assessment in 2019. A fishery description is available in the SESSF Management
Arrangement Booklet 2021.
2.2 Management Arrangements
No changes were made to the fishery’s management arrangements since the 2020 report that are likely to
affect the EPBC Act approval criteria: activities were undertaken in line with the relevant policies and
guidelines (including the SESSF Harvest Strategy) to ensure sustainable catch and improve bycatch
outcomes.
Drafting of a SESSF Fishery Management Strategy (FMS) is currently on hold. However, the various
components of the FMS are being updated as needed and this has not negatively impacted upon the
management of the fishery.
2.2.1 Offshore Constitutional Settlement (OCS) arrangements
AFMA continues to consult with other jurisdictions on shared stocks to help ensure that management
arrangements are sustainable:
New South Wales (NSW)
• AFMA regularly engages with the NSW Department of Primary Industries regarding shared stocks
and the implementation of OCS arrangements, including collaborative approaches to research such
as stock structure projects and stock assessments.
• Discussions on a potential transition of the management of the NSW Southern Fish Trawl Fishery
to the Commonwealth also continue.
Tasmania
• AFMA regularly engages with the Tasmanian Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and
Environment (DPIPWE) regarding shared stocks and implementation of OCS arrangements.
Securing Australia’s fishing future AFMA.GOV.AU 5 of 62SESSF: Fishery assessment and Export Approval Annual Report – for the 2020 calendar year (and 2021 to 30 June)
• Of particular interest between the two jurisdictions is the sharing of catch data for key commercial
and recreational species such as flathead, blue warehou and blue eye trevalla.
South Australia
• AFMA regularly engages with the South Australian Department of Primary Industries and Regions
(PIRSA) regarding shared stocks and implementation of OCS arrangements.
• AFMA and PIRSA are in ongoing discussions regarding state catches of school and gummy shark, as
well as jurisdictional responsibility for Bight redfish.
• In 2020, AFMA introduced complementary arrangements to limit the take of snapper in South
Australian waters by Commonwealth operators. Further detail is provided below.
Victoria
• AFMA regularly engages with the Victorian Fisheries Authority regarding shared stocks and
implementation of OCS arrangements.
• In March 2020, the Commonwealth and Victorian governments amended the relevant
Memorandum of Understanding (via an addendum) with respect to the fisheries in waters relevant
to Victoria. Agreement was reached to:
o increase the trip limit from 50 to 500 kilograms for molluscs, of which no more than 50
kilograms can be shells and shellfish of the Family Gastropoda (e.g. bailer shells), caught by
Commonwealth trawl boats; and
o increase the trip limit for Victorian operators from two school and gummy shark combined,
to five school and gummy shark combined, of which only one can be a school shark.
2.2.2 Rebuilding Strategies
The following species/stocks continue to be subject to formal stock rebuilding strategies: blue warehou,
eastern gemfish, upper-slope dogfish 1, orange roughy, redfish and school shark. AFMA continues to work
with stakeholders to control the level of fishing mortality for these species/stocks to facilitate rebuilding.
See Table 2 and Section 3 for more information regarding the progress of these strategies.
Table 2. Species subject to either a commercial fish species rebuilding strategy or a protected species management
strategy.
Rebuilding strategy Status of the strategy
Upper Slope Dogfish Management The retention of these species remains prohibited and large area closure
Strategy 2012 remain in place.
A scheduled review of the strategy was undertaken in 2020-21 and an
updated strategy is expected to be completed in late 2021 with no
substantive changes to the rules proposed.
A fishery-independent survey to establish a baseline index of abundance for
monitoring the recovery of these species into the future, has been funded for
2021-22 and 2022-23.
1
Includes non-commercial species listed as conservation dependent under the EPBC Act – included here because a
formal rebuilding strategy is in place.
Securing Australia’s fishing future AFMA.GOV.AU 6 of 62SESSF: Fishery assessment and Export Approval Annual Report – for the 2020 calendar year (and 2021 to 30 June)
Rebuilding strategy Status of the strategy
(refer to Table 24 for further information)
Blue Warehou Stock Rebuilding The rebuilding strategy underwent a five-year review in 2019.
Strategy 2014
Public comment was sought on the planned revisions to the strategy from 15
January to 12 February 2021. Copies of the revised strategy will be provided
to the Threatened Species Scientific Committee (TSSC) for its August 2021
meeting, before being considered by the AFMA Commission in September
2021.
(refer to Table 25 for further information)
Eastern Gemfish Stock Rebuilding A five-year review of the rebuilding strategy commenced in late 2020. The
Strategy 2015 review will be finalised in late 2021, with a view to having a revised strategy
implemented in early 2022. As per the blue warehou five-year review, the
TSSC will be kept up to date on progress, and public comment will be sought
in early 2022.
Options for establishing an alternative index of abundance are being
considered as part of the SESSF Research Strategy.
(refer to Table 26 for further information)
Orange Roughy Stock Rebuilding The rebuilding strategy underwent a five-year review in 2019.
Strategy 2014
Public comment was sought on the planned revisions to the strategy from 15
January to 12 February 2021. Copies of the revised strategy will be provided
to the TSSC for its August 2021 meeting, before being considered by the
Commission in September 2021.
(refer to Table 27 for further information)
Redfish Stock Rebuilding Strategy The five-year review of the rebuilding strategy will commence in late 2021.
2016-2021
Redfish is currently under assessment for listing by the TSSC. The Department
of Agriculture, Water and the Environment’s website states that the
assessment is due for completion in September 2021.
(refer to Table 28 for further information)
School Shark Stock Rebuilding A formal rebuilding strategy has been in place for school shark since 2007 on
Strategy 2015 the basis that the stock was below the limit reference point of 20 per cent of
pre-fishing biomass (B0). The rebuilding strategy is currently undergoing a
scheduled review.
The last stock assessment was undertaken in 2018 using a close kin mark
recapture (CKMR) stock assessment model for the first time. The CKMR
assessment indicated a positive stock trend, i.e. that rebuilding occurred
between 2000 to 2017.
(refer to Table 29 for further information)
Securing Australia’s fishing future AFMA.GOV.AU 7 of 62SESSF: Fishery assessment and Export Approval Annual Report – for the 2020 calendar year (and 2021 to 30 June)
2.2.3 2020-21 fishing season
2.2.3.1 TACs
The TAC setting process for the 2020-21 fishing season was in accordance with the SESSF Harvest Strategy.
The 2020-21 TACs for quota species are outlined in Table 3 and for non-quota species in the east coast
deepwater trawl sector in Table 4. Information relating to the TAC setting process for all SESSF quota
species can be found in the Southern and Eastern Scalefish and Shark Fishery Species Summaries 2021.
Table 3. Changes in TACs for SESSF quota species from 2019-20 to 2020-21. Quota species marked with an asterisk are
subject to a multi-year TAC.
Quota species 2019-20 TAC (t) 2020-21 TAC (t) Change since
2019-20 (t)
Alfonsino* 1 017 1 017 0
Bight redfish* 600 893 +293
Blue-eye trevalla 458 448 -10
Blue grenadier* 12 183 12 183 0
Blue warehou 118 118 0
(incidental) (incidental)
Deepwater flathead* 1 128 1 238 +110
Deepwater shark basket – east* 24 24 0
Deepwater shark basket – west* 235 235 0
Elephant fish* 114 114 0
Flathead* 2 468 2 010 -458
Gemfish – east 100 100 0
(incidental) (incidental)
Gemfish – west* 200 300 +100
Gummy shark* 1 785 1 775 -10
Jackass morwong* 469 468 -1
John dory* 395 452 +57
Mirror dory 188 137 -51
Ocean perch* 241 239 -2
Orange roughy – Albany & Esperance 50 50 0
(incidental) (incidental)
Securing Australia’s fishing future AFMA.GOV.AU 8 of 62SESSF: Fishery assessment and Export Approval Annual Report – for the 2020 calendar year (and 2021 to 30 June)
Quota species 2019-20 TAC (t) 2020-21 TAC (t) Change since
2019-20 (t)
Orange roughy – southern* 63 94 +31
(Pedra Branca) (Pedra Branca)
31 31 (incidental)
(incidental)
Orange roughy – eastern* 900 1 276 +376
Orange roughy – western* 60 (incidental) 60 (incidental) 0
Orange roughy – Cascade* 500 500 0
Oreo, basket* 185 185 0
Pink ling* 1 288 1 310 +22
(including 428 t (including 446 t eastern
eastern notional notional catch limit)
catch limit)
Redfish 50 (incidental) 50 0
Ribaldo* 422 422 0
Royal red prawn* 409 403 -6
Sawshark* 430 432 +2
School shark 189 195 +6
(incidental) (incidental)
School whiting 788 788 0
Silver trevally* 292 289 -3
Silver warehou* 450 450 0
Smooth oreodory – Cascade 150 150 0
Smooth oreodory – other* 90 135 +45
Table 4. East Coast Deepwater Trawl Sector (ECD) non-quota species 2020-21 TAC 2.
Non-quota species 2020-21 TAC
Boarfish 200 t whole weight, trigger limit. No change.
Orange roughy – incidental catch 50 t whole weight, trigger limit. No change.
2 The TACs for these species act as a trigger that, if reached, result in closure of the sector.
Securing Australia’s fishing future AFMA.GOV.AU 9 of 62SESSF: Fishery assessment and Export Approval Annual Report – for the 2020 calendar year (and 2021 to 30 June)
2.2.3.2 Other activities
Changes made in January 2020 during the 2019-20 season included 3:
• prohibited the retention of snapper (Chrysophrys auratus) taken in the West Coast, Spencer Gulf
and Gulf of St Vincent until 31 January 2023 and snapper in the South East region from 1 November
to 31 January each year until January 2023. These arrangements are complementary to the SA
Government management measures introduced in November 2019 to enable the rebuilding of
snapper stocks in waters adjacent to SA to a sustainable level in response to stock assessments that
indicated a decline in these stocks.
• removed a trip limit that prevented the holder of a Scalefish Hook Boat Statutory Fishing Right
(SFR) from taking more than a combined weight of 100 kg of sharks on a single trip. The removal of
the trip limit was supported by the South East Management Advisory Committee (SEMAC) at its
November 2019 meeting. The change is not expected to increase effort in the fishery but will
deliver improved economic efficiencies by allowing operators who are already permitted to target
sharks under a separate endorsement to do so on the same trip.
Changes to SESSF concession conditions that commenced on 1 May 2020 for the 2020-21 fishing season
included:
• an increase to the trip limit for molluscs caught by Commonwealth trawl boats in waters relevant to
Victoria from 50 to 500 kilograms, of which no more than 50 kilograms can be shells and shellfish of
the Family Gastropoda (e.g. bailer shells). This was agreed between the Commonwealth and
Victorian under the relevant Offshore Constitution Settlement agreement.
• the option for operators to commit to catching no more than 25 per cent of their pink ling quota
holdings in the east, in order to gain an exemption to the 200 kilogram trip limit for eastern pink
ling, was removed. An exemption now only applies if concession holders opt to limit their catch
under a co-management arrangement with South East Trawl Fishing Industry Association (SETFIA).
2.2.4 2021-22 fishing season
2.2.4.1 TACs
In addition to the 2020-21 TAC information above, the TACs for the 2021-22 fishing season are also
provided for the purposes of reassessment of the SESSF under the EPBC Act in 2022.
The TAC setting process for the 2021-22 fishing season was in accordance with the SESSF Harvest Strategy.
The TACs for quota species are outlined in Table 5 and TACs for non-quota species in the east coast
deepwater trawl sector in Table 6. A hagfish TAC was introduced for the first time in the 2021-22 fishing
season in the trap sector (Table 7) – further information is outlined under ‘Hagfish’ below. Information
relating to the TAC setting process for SESSF quota species can be found in the Southern and Eastern
Scalefish and Shark Fishery Species Summaries 2021.
3 These were reported in the last annual report.
Securing Australia’s fishing future AFMA.GOV.AU 10 of 62SESSF: Fishery assessment and Export Approval Annual Report – for the 2020 calendar year (and 2021 to 30 June)
Table 5. Changes in TACs for SESSF quota species from 2020-21 to 2021-2022. Quota species marked with an asterisk are
subject to a multi-year TAC.
Quota species 2020-21 TAC (t) 2021-22 TAC (t) Change since
2020-21 (t)
Alfonsino* 1 017 1 017 0
Bight redfish* 893 893 0
Blue-eye trevalla 448 241 4 -207
Blue grenadier* 12 183 12 183 0
Blue warehou 118 50 -68
(incidental) (incidental)
Deepwater flathead* 1 238 1 238 0
Deepwater shark basket – east* 24 24 0
Deepwater shark basket – west* 235 235 0
Elephant fish* 114 114 0
Flathead* 2 010 2 333 +323
Gemfish – east 100 100 0
(incidental) (incidental)
Gemfish – west* 300 343 +43
Gummy shark* 1 775 1 672 -103
Jackass morwong* 468 463 -5
John dory* 452 60 -392
Mirror dory 137 144 +7
Ocean perch* 239 304 +65
Orange roughy – Albany & Esperance 50 50 5 0
(incidental) (incidental)
Orange roughy – southern* 94 96 +2
(Pedra Branca) (Pedra Branca)
4
For the blue-eye trevalla TAC of 241 t, a limit applies for the seamount stocks of 108 t over the 3-year period with no
more than 54 t to be caught in a single year.
5
An additional 200 t of research catch allowance was allocated to support the GABT Orange Roughy Research
Program.
Securing Australia’s fishing future AFMA.GOV.AU 11 of 62SESSF: Fishery assessment and Export Approval Annual Report – for the 2020 calendar year (and 2021 to 30 June)
Quota species 2020-21 TAC (t) 2021-22 TAC (t) Change since
2020-21 (t)
31 31
(incidental) (incidental)
Orange roughy – eastern* 1 276 1 277 +1
Orange roughy – western* 60 60 6 0
(incidental) (incidental)
Orange roughy – Cascade* 500 500 0
Oreo, basket* 185 139 -46
Pink ling* 1 310 1 121 -189
(including 446 t (including 428 t
eastern notional catch eastern
limit) notional catch
limit)
Redfish 50 50 0
(incidental) (incidental)
Ribaldo* 422 396 -26
Royal red prawn* 403 605 +202
Sawshark* 432 509 +77
School shark 195 194 -1
(incidental) (incidental)
School whiting 788 917 +129
Silver trevally* 289 197 -92
Silver warehou* 450 450 0
Smooth oreodory – Cascade 150 150 0
(10 t revision
trigger)
Smooth oreodory – other* 135 90 -45
6 An additional 200 t of research catch allowance was allocated to support the Western Orange Roughy Research
Program.
Securing Australia’s fishing future AFMA.GOV.AU 12 of 62SESSF: Fishery assessment and Export Approval Annual Report – for the 2020 calendar year (and 2021 to 30 June)
Table 6. East Coast Deepwater Trawl Sector (ECD) non-quota species 2021-22 TAC.
Non-quota species TAC
Boarfish 200 t whole weight, trigger limit. No change.
Orange roughy – incidental catch 50 t whole weight, trigger limit. No change.
2.2.4.1 Hagfish
In 2015, one of the two permits allowing trapping in the SESSF was surrendered and a new permit issued
(Trap Fishing Permit Linked – Hagfish) with revised conditions to allow trapping for hagfish. Over the next
12 months AFMA will prioritise development of a research plan, in consultation with the relevant resource
assessment group (RAG), to ensure that the appropriate information is collected to inform future
management decisions for this fishery.
In March 2021, the Commission agreed to the following arrangements to apply to the use of hagfish traps
in the SESSF, for the 2021-22 fishing season, in particular:
• limit the take of hagfish to the common hagfish (Eptatretus cirrhatus) only;
• implement a maximum catch limit of 80 tonnes, to be distributed in two zones based on the
currently fished SESSF statistical zones (zones 10 and 20);
• each hagfish trap of 1m in length is required to have a minimum of 100 escape holes, each with a
minimum diameter set at 16mm. The number of escape holes will be scaled to the size of traps in
use in the SESSF. The minimum escape hole size is on the basis that when observers are on board,
the operator is to trial traps with different sizes (i.e., some with 16mm and some with 18mm) at a
ratio to be determined by AFMA Management, so that comparable data can be collected to inform
future decisions on escape hole sizes;
• implement a minimum observer coverage of 10 per cent in each of the currently fished SESSF
statistical zones (zones 10 and 20), with data collected by observers to be consistent with the data
needs currently described in the draft Research Plan; and,
• review existing logbook and catch disposal record (CDR) reporting to identify potential
improvements to reporting accuracy.
These arrangements will be reviewed before the start of the next season.
Table 7. Trap Fishing Sector non-quota species 2021-22 catch limit.
Non-quota species Catch limit
Hagfish 80 t whole weight. No more than 40 t north or south of latitude
36˚45' South
2.2.4.1 Other activities
Changes that commenced on 1 May 2021 for the 2021-22 fishing season (after the period of this report –
but relevant to reassessment of the fishery under the EPBC Act) include:
Securing Australia’s fishing future AFMA.GOV.AU 13 of 62SESSF: Fishery assessment and Export Approval Annual Report – for the 2020 calendar year (and 2021 to 30 June)
• the removal of the requirement for trawl boat operators fishing north of Latitude 36°45’ South
between 1 June and 30 September, who intended to land eastern gemfish, to notify AFMA 24 hours
before returning to port. This requirement was introduced during the 2016-17 fishing year to
ensure biological samples could be collected. Recent improvements in the collection of biological
data under the Integrated Scientific Monitoring Program (ISMP) mean that sampling targets are
typically achieved and reporting is no longer needed.
• A new direction, the Fisheries Management (Southern and Eastern Scalefish and Shark Fishery and
Small Pelagic Fishery Closures) Direction 2021, that maintains the closures under the Southern and
Eastern Scalefish and Shark Fishery and Small Pelagic Fishery (Closures) Direction 2016 (which
automatically repealed on 1 May 2021). The updated direction also includes one change that
realigns a boundary section of the South East Trawl Deepwater Closure (see Schedule 13) to more
closely reflect the 700 m depth contour (see Figure 1). This was supported by SEMAC (SEMAC 41).
Figure 1. Map of the South East Trawl Deepwater Closure boundary amendment
• the replacement of the E-Monitoring (Southern and Eastern Scalefish and Shark Fishery) Direction
2015 by the Fisheries Management (E-monitoring Southern and Eastern Scalefish and Shark Fishery)
Direction 2021 (the 2021 EM Direction). The 2021 EM Direction expands the requirement to have
an EM system installed for Gillnet, Hook and Trap Fishery (GHATF) dropline operators who fish
more than 100 days, as well as GHATF operators who fish more than 100 days using all methods
combined. A copy of the 2021 EM Direction can also be accessed on AFMA’s website
www.afma.gov.au/fisheries/southern-eastern-scalefish-shark-fishery.
2.3 Research and monitoring
Fisheries research is undertaken to support the achievement of management objectives. In the SESSF,
strategic research priorities are identified in the Southern and Eastern Scalefish and Shark Fishery Five Year
Strategic Research Plan 2016-2020. This plan provides a basis for industry, managers, scientists and other
interested parties to work together to address management and research needs for the fishery. A Strategic
Securing Australia’s fishing future AFMA.GOV.AU 14 of 62SESSF: Fishery assessment and Export Approval Annual Report – for the 2020 calendar year (and 2021 to 30 June) Research Plan for 2021-25 (inclusive) is been developed for the SESSF, consistent with AFMA’s framework for cost-effective research, and is expected to be finalised in August 2021. Each year the RAGs develop an annual research statement, these enable research to be tailored and prioritised for the needs of the fishery. The SESSF and the Great Australian Bight Trawl Sector (GABT) annual research statements for 2022-23 will be submitted to the AFMA Research Committee (ARC) in August 2021 and will be available at www.afma.gov.au/fisheries/southern-eastern-scalefish-shark-fishery. Further details on the AFMA research framework is available at www.afma.gov.au/research. A list of research projects relevant to the SESSF, including those supported by AFMA and the Fisheries Research and Development Corporation (FRDC) is given in Table 8. Information about completed projects funded by AFMA or the ARC are available at: www.afma.gov.au/research-reports and for FRDC at www.frdc.com.au. 2.3.1 Orange Roughy Research Programs AFMA and SETFIA developed the Western Orange Roughy Research Plan (WORRP) with the objective to collect catch and effort data, as well as biological information on the age and size structure of the western orange roughy stock, which will ultimately support a future stock assessment. The information collected is important in developing a robust set of indicators and reference points for orange roughy in the future. Under the WORRP, operators can apply for a scientific permit to participate in the program. If successful, operators will be allocated research catch allowance to fish in areas currently closed by the deepwater closure for the purpose of collecting data. Further information is available at www.afma.gov.au/WORRP. A similar program has been in place in the GABT since 2007. The GABT Orange Roughy Research Program was developed by AFMA and the Great Australian Bight Industry Association (GABIA) to allow monitoring and data collection to support a future stock assessment of orange roughy in the GABT. The program was continued in 2021, with 200 t of research catch allowance allocated to support the collection of data. Securing Australia’s fishing future AFMA.GOV.AU 15 of 62
SESSF: Fishery assessment and Export Approval Annual Report – for the 2020 calendar year (and 2021 to 30 June)
Table 8. Current and recently completed research projects in the SESSF.
Research project Status Principal Investigator Purpose
Estimating the abundance of Complete Robin Thomson, CSIRO Calculate an absolute estimate of spawning stock abundance with sufficient precision to inform a
school shark in Australia using new stock assessment and to update the Rebuilding Strategy.
close kin genetic methods (FRDC
Establish (and cost) the methods for an ongoing time series of cost effective, fishery independent,
project 2014/024)
school shark abundance estimates to improve the understanding of stock structure and broad
scale movements of school sharks.
Independent Expert Peer Review Complete Colin Simpendorfer The review panel was tasked by the AFMA to review the Close-Kin Mark-Recapture (CKMR) based
of the Close Kin Mark Recapture stock assessment for school sharks (Galeorhinus galeus), as well considering an associated
Assessment for School Shark industry-funded review of the assessment and the response of the stock assessment team to that
(190844) review
Monitoring of school shark Complete Robin Thomson, CSIRO Continue close kin sampling and analysis for school shark as the primary indicator of abundance
abundance and rebuilding in the for this species
SESSF using close kin mark
recapture (190841)
SESSF species stock structure Complete Jemery Day, CSIRO Undertake a desktop study to review available information to understand stock structure and
desktop review (190848) inform future management options to reduce management complexity associated with managing
separate stocks under a single access right. The study considered whether regional stocks are
likely to exist for pink ling, blue warehou, jackass morwong, and ocean perch.
Estimate the degree of integration between the different species and between the markets for
Demand conditions and Complete Sean Pascoe, CSIRO
fresh fish in Sydney and Melbourne, and the short term and long term effects of changes in
Dynamics in the SESSF: An
quantity supplied of key species in the SESSF on the price received on the Sydney and Melbourne
Empirical investigation (FRDC
fish markets
project 2018-017)
Adaptation of Commonwealth Active Ryan Murphy, AFMA Assess how well the existing Commonwealth fisheries management framework will cope with
fisheries management to climate climate change impacts and develop a methodology for AFMA and other fisheries to adapt their
change (FRDC project 2016-059) regulatory environment to climate change impacts on Commonwealth fisheries.
Securing Australia’s fishing future AFMA.GOV.AU 16 of 62SESSF: Fishery assessment and Export Approval Annual Report – for the 2020 calendar year (and 2021 to 30 June)
Research project Status Principal Investigator Purpose
Development and evaluation of Active Rich Little, CSIRO Develop and evaluate multi-species harvest strategies, including reference points, decision rules
multispecies harvest strategies and evaluation of future monitoring and assessment options.
in the SESSF (FRDC project 2018-
021)
An updated understanding of Active Karina Hall, NSW Department Clarify the stock structure, biology and catch composition of eastern school whiting in south-
Eastern School Whiting stock of Primary Industries eastern Australian waters using a range of modern methods. Then explore the effects on the
structure and improved stock outputs of an updated Tier 1 stock assessment for Eastern School Whiting.
assessment for cross-
jurisdictional management
(FRDC project 2019-030)
Removing seabirds from the Active Simon A. Boag, South East Develop strategies to remove seabirds from the danger zone (between trawl warps and the
otterboard trawler danger zone Trawl Fishing Industry water) to explore options for gaining exemptions from the "no biological material discharge while
(FRDC project 2018-196) Association (SETFIA) fishing" rule in the Commonwealth Trawl Sector of the SESSF.
Implementation of dynamic Active Andrew Penney, Pisces Develop methods to detect and quantify environmentally driven changes in species/stock
reference points and harvest Australis Pty Ltd productivity. Also consider how to account for these in stock assessments and evaluate options
strategies to account for for effective harvest control rules to respond to these changes.
environmentally-driven changes
in productivity in Australian
fisheries (FRDC project 2019-
036)
Multiple - Before After Control Active Ian Knuckey, Fishwell Examine effect of seismic testing on Danish seine catch rates of tiger flathead and eastern school
Impact (M-BACI) analysis of the Consulting Pty Ltd whiting.
effect of a 3D marine seismic
Consider the results of the survey with respect to future marine seismic exploration impact on
survey on Danish Seine catch
fisheries
rates (FRDC project 2019-072)
Improving and promoting fish- Active Matt Broadhurst, NSW Review the available domestic and international literature and data, to prioritise modifications to
trawl selectivity in the Department of Primary be formally assessed for their utility in minimising bycatch, while maintaining target catches
Commonwealth Trawl Sector Industries among trawls used in the CTS and GABT.
(CTS) and Great Australian Bight
Based on the outcomes of the initial review, assess the utility of existing and new modifications to
Trawl Sector (GABT) of the
trawls for minimising bycatch, while maintaining target catches in the CTS and GABT.
Securing Australia’s fishing future AFMA.GOV.AU 17 of 62SESSF: Fishery assessment and Export Approval Annual Report – for the 2020 calendar year (and 2021 to 30 June) Research project Status Principal Investigator Purpose Southern and Eastern Shark and Scalefish Fishery (SESSF) (FRDC project 2019-027) Potential transition of shark Active Ian Knuckey, Fishwell Undertake at-sea trials and explore the economic and ecological viability of allowing shark gillnet gillnet boats to longline fishing Consulting Pty Ltd boats to transition to using longline fishing method to target gummy shark in the Bass Strait. in Bass Strait - ecological, cross- Examine the implications for resource sharing and gear interactions across other sectors and sectoral, and economic fisheries (Commonwealth and State). implications (FRDC project 2019- 129) Revisiting biological parameters Active Karen Evans, CSIRO Oceans Examine the biological information used to undertake stock assessments carried out under the and information used in the and Atmosphere Hobart Commonwealth Harvest Strategy Policy. Develop an understanding of the implications and risks assessment of Commonwealth associated with using such information, including dated and borrowed information. Then develop fisheries: a reality check and a workplan that will include appropriate sampling regimes to update priority biological work plan for future proofing parameters for those species identified as at most risk. (FRDC project 2019-010) GHaT CPUE calculation Active Miriana Sporcic, CSIRO Update gillnet CPUE calculations to account for the change in reporting from catch by ‘shot’ to methodology (170826) catch by ‘metres of net’. Ecological Risk Assessments Active Miriana Sporcic, CSIRO Ecological risk assessments for several SESSF sectors: board trawl and Danish seine methods in (190815) the CTS (complete); gillnet (complete) and hook (not complete) methods in the GHATF. Project Python (SETFIA project Active Simon Boag, SETFIA To construct a prototype of a device that would close the trawl and stop the ingress of seals (both to develop a seal mitigation Australian fur seal and New Zealand fur seals) during haul back when activated. device) Scoping study for application of Active Robin Thomson, CSIRO A scoping study to assess close-kin as a risk assessment approach for blue-eye trevalla. CKMR to blue-eye trevalla caught in the SESSF (190842) Acoustic biomass estimates and Active Tim Ryan, CSIRO Undertake an acoustic biomass survey of the blue grenadier spawning aggregation using development of monitoring structured transect surveys during the 2021 fishing season. Also review data collected as part of Securing Australia’s fishing future AFMA.GOV.AU 18 of 62
SESSF: Fishery assessment and Export Approval Annual Report – for the 2020 calendar year (and 2021 to 30 June)
Research project Status Principal Investigator Purpose
metrics for blue grenadier opportunistic surveys undertaken in 2019 and 2020 with a view to incorporating these data in the
(200808). 2021 stock assessment.
AFMA Data services 2021 Active Paul Burch, CSIRO Manipulate and analyse all applicable SESSF data to produce stock summaries that include
(200823) catches, estimated discards, length and age information for all applicable SESSF species. These
are presented in three reports – SESSF Data Summary, SESSF ISMP Discard Report, and SESSF
Catches and Discards for TAC purposes.
Undertake targeting and companion species analyses to estimate unavoidable catches for school
shark, eastern redfish, eastern gemfish and blue warehou to assist with setting bycatch TACs.
Pink ling Tier 1 stock assessment Active Patrick Cordue, ISL Perform a tier 1 stock assessment for pink ling in 2021.
(200812)
Acoustic biomass estimates and Active Simon Boag, SETFIA Undertake acoustic biomass survey and collection biological data from the orange roughy
monitoring of Cascade Plateau Cascade Plateau spawning aggregation during the 2021-22 fishing season to support future stock
orange roughy (200819) assessments.
Monitoring the recovery of Active Alan Williams, CSIRO Commence a program to monitor the recovery of species managed under the Upper-slope
southern dogfish and Harrisson’s Dogfish Management Strategy by establishing a baseline index of relative abundance.
dogfish to support AFMA’s
Contribute to formulating the next steps in the monitoring program in the context of AFMA’s
upper slope dogfish
Upper Slope Dogfish management Strategy (USDMS).
management strategy (200820)
Securing Australia’s fishing future AFMA.GOV.AU 19 of 62SESSF: Fishery assessment and Export Approval Annual Report – for the 2020 calendar year (and 2021 to 30 June)
2.4 Identified changes to catch data (target, byproduct and
bycatch species)
2.4.1 Catch across the fishery
Landed catches for the calendar years 7 2019 and 2020 for quota (all species) and byproduct species (top 10
by tonnage) in the SESSF are shown in tables 9 and 10 respectively. Catch data for bycatch species are not
included here, but relevant information regarding the catch and risks associated with bycatch species are
included in sections 2.6 (protected species interactions) and 2.7 (ecosystem impacts).
While the catch may be higher than the TAC for some species, it should be noted that the timeframes are
not the same between the TACs (by fishing year) and the reported catches in this report (by calendar year).
None of the SESSF TACs have been exceeded within a fishing year.
Table 9. Landed catch (tonnes) for quota species in the SESSF in calendar years 2019 and 2020. Catch data includes
research catch allowances. Source: AFMA CDR landed catch data (extracted 07/04/21).
Quota basket 2019 catch 2020 catch (t) Change since
(t) 2019 (t)
Alfonsino 29.0 6.2 -22.8
Bight redfish 204.4 173.1 -31.3
Blue grenadier 6 927.1 12 184.3 +5 257.2
Blue warehou 23.2 3.0 -20.2
Blue-eye trevalla (basket) 307.6 219.1 -88.5
Deepwater flathead 712.8 649.0 -63.8
Deepwater sharks (basket) – eastern 25.3 15.5 -9.8
Deepwater sharks (basket) – western 94.1 88.0 -6.1
Elephantfish (basket) 49.6 42.5 -7.1
Flathead (basket) 2 101.2 2 075.5 -25.7
Gemfish – eastern 70.3 61.5 -8.8
Gemfish – western 110.7 75.2 -35.5
Gummy shark 1 809.4 1 945.3 +135.9
Jackass morwong 195.0 117.5 -77.5
7
Note that TACs are set for a fishing season (which runs from 1 May in one year to 30 April the next year).
Securing Australia’s fishing future AFMA.GOV.AU 20 of 62SESSF: Fishery assessment and Export Approval Annual Report – for the 2020 calendar year (and 2021 to 30 June)
Quota basket 2019 catch 2020 catch (t) Change since
(t) 2019 (t)
John dory 76.0 76.3 +0.3
Mirror dory 122.2 106.2 -16
Ocean perch 213.5 183.3 -30.2
Orange roughy – Cascade 23.6 211.7 +188.1
Orange roughy – eastern 724.3 1 319.9 +595.6
Orange roughy – NE remote 8 4.7 3.4 -1.3
Orange roughy – Albany and Esperance 0 0 0
Orange roughy – southern 92.5 79.3 -13.2
Orange roughy – western 29.1 187.9 +158.8 9
Oreos (basket) 96.9 138.9 +42
Smooth oreo - other 84.5 59.6 -24.9
Pink ling – total 869.8 905.6 +35.8
Eastern 437.1 447.3 +10.2
Western 432.7 458.3 +25.6
Redfish 27.1 24.7 -2.4
Ribaldo 127.7 140.2 +12.5
Royal Red Prawn 142.7 95.8 -46.9
Sawsharks (basket) 180.4 180.9 +0.5
School shark 223.9 136.7 -87.2
School whiting 505.6 550.7 +45.1
Silver trevally 3.9 42.6 +38.7
Silver warehou 334.2 298.0 -36.2
8
Orange roughy in this zone is not under quota.
9 Orange roughy – Western – Note that the commercial TAC was not exceeded, 180.2 t of the 187.9 tonne was caught
under research quota as per the WORRP www.afma.gov.au/western-orange-roughy-research-plan.
Securing Australia’s fishing future AFMA.GOV.AU 21 of 62SESSF: Fishery assessment and Export Approval Annual Report – for the 2020 calendar year (and 2021 to 30 June)
Table 10. Landed catch (tonnes) for the major non-quota (byproduct) species in calendar years 2019 and 2020. Source
AFMA CDR landed catch data (extracted 07/04/21).
Standard Name 2019 catch (t) 2020 catch (t) Change since 2019
(t)
Gould's squid 474.3 415.8 -58.5
Leather jackets (various species) 296.2 346.1 +49.9
Frostfish 487.4 303.1 -184.3
Latchet 271.5 226.8 -44.7
Red gurnard 168.8 135.6 -33.2
Stargazers 146.3 107.9 -38.4
King dory 119.4 115.3 -4.1
Octopuses 118.9 96.6 -22.3
Hagfishes 96.1 69.2 -26.9
Ornate angelshark 79.5 71.7 -7.8
2.4.2 Catch and effort by sector
The total catch per fishery sector in the SESSF is shown in Table 11. Catches in the Commonwealth Trawl
Sector (CTS) have shown an increase over the period. There has been very little change in catches in the
GHATF and GABT sectors since 2019.
The increase in catch for the CTS continues to be largely due to an increase in fishing for both blue
grenadier and orange roughy (refer to Table 9).
The trawl fishing effort (trawl hours) by calendar year for the different sectors in the SESSF is shown in
Table 12. Effort levels in the GHATF sector are detailed in Tables 13 to 15.
Table 11. Catch (tonnes) by each SESSF sector in calendar years 2019 and 2020. Source: AFMA CDR landed catch data
(extracted 07/04/21).
Sector 2019 catch (t) 2020 catch (t) Change since 2019 (t)
CTS 15 147 20 615 +5 468
GABT 1 569 1 521 -48
ECD 23 0 -23
GHATF 2 887 2 893 +6
Total 19 626 25 028 +5 402
Securing Australia’s fishing future AFMA.GOV.AU 22 of 62SESSF: Fishery assessment and Export Approval Annual Report – for the 2020 calendar year (and 2021 to 30 June)
Table 12. Trawl fishing effort by gear type and calendar year in the SESSF in calendar years 2019 and 2020. Source: AFMA
logbook records (extracted 27/04/21).
CTS ECD GABT
Year 2019 2020 2019 2020 2019 2020
Bottom otter trawl
Number of shots 13 061 12 064 7 0 2 493 2 849
Trawl hours 54 952 50 296 45 0 12 190 14 381
Danish seine
Number of shots 10 370 11 740 0 0 515 356
Midwater otter trawl
Number of shots 300 447 28 0 0 0
Trawl hours 607 1 128 66 0 0 0
Table 13. Gillnet fishing effort by calendar year in the SESSF in calendar years 2019 and 2020. Source: AFMA logbook
records (extracted 27/04/21).
Gillnet
Year 2019 2020
Number Shots 6 592 6 252
Length Gillnet (m) 32 483 878 31 011 037
Table 14. Hook method effort by calendar year in the SESSF in calendar years 2019 and 2020. Source: AFMA logbook
records (extracted 27/04/21).
Number of shots Number of hooks
Gear type 2019 2020 2019 2020
Dropline 3 952 2 275 422 482 144 093
Handline (mechanised) 633 96 24 -
Rod and reel 5 25 0 0
Set autolongline (demersal) 638 777 4 420 374 5 189 411
Set longline (demersal) 3 197 3 593 2 091 632 2 201 220
Trotline 1 1 500 600
Total hooks 8 426 6 767 6 935 012 7 535 324
Securing Australia’s fishing future AFMA.GOV.AU 23 of 62SESSF: Fishery assessment and Export Approval Annual Report – for the 2020 calendar year (and 2021 to 30 June)
Table 15. Trap fishing effort by calendar year in the SESSF in calendar years 2019 and 2020. Source: AFMA logbook
records (extracted 27/04/21).
Gear type 2019 2020
Traps 23 960 25 430
2.5 Status of target stocks
In the Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences (ABARES) Fishery Status
Reports 2020 (Patterson et.al. 2020), no solely Commonwealth managed stocks were classified as subject
to overfishing. Table 16 outlines the species with a changed status since the 2019 Status Reports. Fishing
mortality for orange roughy in both the southern and eastern zones has changed from ‘not subject to
overfishing' in 2018 to ‘uncertain' in 2019.
Table 16. SESSF Stocks with a changed status in 2019 and their status in 2018 (source ABARES Fishery status reports
2020).
2018 2019
SESSF sector Common name Fishing Biomass Fishing Biomass
(scientific name) mortality mortality
Commonwealth Orange roughy, southern Not subject to Overfished Uncertain Overfished
Trawl Sector zone (Hoplostethus overfishing
atlanticus)
Commonwealth Orange roughy, western Not subject to Overfished Uncertain Overfished
Trawl Sector zone (Hoplostethus overfishing
atlanticus)
The change to an ‘uncertain’ fishing mortality status for orange roughy in the southern and western zones
in 2019 was not due to additional information or new data. ABARES wanted to ensure consistency in the
status applied to stocks that have no recent validation of biomass, and therefore no reliable indicators to
determine whether the current level of fishing mortality will allow the stock to rebuild to above the limit
reference point within a biologically reasonable timeframe.
The most recent accepted assessment for orange roughy southern zone was undertaken in the year 2000,
which concluded that the stock was below than the limit reference point. The Pedra Branca area, which is
in the southern zone, is assessed and managed as part of the eastern stock. The 2017 eastern zone stock
assessment estimated the stock status in this area to be at 33 per cent of unfished biomass. While the
fishing mortality has been changed to uncertain in the southern zone, recent catches remain below the
TAC 10 and therefore it is considered that overfishing is unlikely to be occurring.
10 The Southern Zone TAC consists of a targeted TAC for the Pedra Branca area, and a bycatch TAC for the remainder
of the Southern Zone.
Securing Australia’s fishing future AFMA.GOV.AU 24 of 62SESSF: Fishery assessment and Export Approval Annual Report – for the 2020 calendar year (and 2021 to 30 June) There is no agreed assessment model for western zone orange roughy. An incidental bycatch TAC is set, and as such, there is no reliable index of abundance with which to estimate stock status due to avoidance behaviour. The Western Orange Roughy Research Plan (WORRP) was implemented in 2020 to collect catch and effort and biological data to support a future assessment of stock status in the western zone (see Section 2.3.1). Seven stocks continue to be classified as ‘overfished’ in the fishery status reports. They are: blue warehou, eastern gemfish, orange roughy (southern and western zone), gulper sharks, redfish and school shark. These stocks are subject to commercial fish species rebuilding strategies (aside from gulper sharks, which are classified as conservation dependent under the EPBC Act and managed under the Upper-Slope Dogfish Management Strategy as a non-quota species – see Section 2.6). AFMA continues to work with stakeholders to control the level of fishing mortality for these stocks to facilitate rebuilding. Refer to Table 2 and Section 3 for more information on the progress of these rebuilding strategies. 2.6 Interactions with protected species The numbers of interactions with threatened, endangered and protected (TEP) species which have been reported in SESSF logbooks during the period 2019-2020 are available at: www.afma.gov.au/sustainability- environment/protected-species-management/protected-species-interaction-reports (the most recent data is provided in Table 17 (GHAT) and Table 18 (CTS)). These data are presented by species, fishery sector and year. No interactions were recorded for the GABT sector. An interaction is any physical contact a person, boat or gear has with a protected species including catching and colliding with any of these species. Several management actions were undertaken to reduce interactions with dolphins, seabirds and seals. A summary of these actions are provided below. Securing Australia’s fishing future AFMA.GOV.AU 25 of 62
SESSF: Fishery assessment and Export Approval Annual Report – for the 2020 calendar year (and 2021 to 30 June)
Table 17. Number of reported interactions with TEP species in the GHAT by calendar year for 2020. Source: AFMA protected species reports.
Jan - Mar Apr - Jun Jul -Sept Oct - Dec Total 2020
Species
Alive
Dead
Unknown
Total
Alive
Dead
Unknown
Total
Alive
Dead
Unknown
Total
Alive
Dead
Unknown
Total
Alive
Dead
Unknown
Total
Birds 3 8 11 3 3 3 11 14
Albatross 2 2 2 2 1 1 3 3 2 6 8
Shy albatross 3 3 3 3 1 1 1 1 5 3 8
Southern royal albatross 1 1 1 1
Cormorants 3 3 3 3
Red cormorant 2 2 2 2
Petrels & shearwaters 2 24 26 2 24 26
Shearwaters 5 155 160 1 1 1 3 4 6 159 165
White chinned petrel 2 2 2 2
Terns 1 1 1 1
Seals 3 4 7 1 9 10 5 5 1 3 4 5 21 26
Australian fur seal 2 2 2 2 5 5 1 1 10 10
New Zealand fur seal 4 4 1 1 2 1 1 1 6 7
Dolphins 2 6 8 1 5 6 7 7 7 7 3 25 28
Bottlenose dolphin 3 3 1 1 4 4
Common dolphin 2 2 3 3 4 4 2 2 11 11
Killer whale (orca) 1 1 1 1
Longfin mako 2 2 4 1 1 2 2 2 1 4 5 4 9 13
Shortfin mako 1 12 13 20 1 21 5 5 18 18 1 55 1 57
Porbeagle 2 2 3 3 5 5
White shark 1 1 2 6 1 7 3 1 4 10 3 13
Total 20 230 250 15 44 1 60 1 31 32 8 55 63 44 360 1 405
Securing Australia’s fishing future AFMA.GOV.AU 26 of 62You can also read
