TASMANIAN SEAFOOD INDUSTRY NEWS - VOLUME 10 FEB/MAR 2018

Page created by Christina Graves
 
CONTINUE READING
TASMANIAN SEAFOOD INDUSTRY NEWS - VOLUME 10 FEB/MAR 2018
VOLUME 10 FEB/MAR 2018

TASMANIAN SEAFOOD
     INDUSTRY NEWS
TASMANIAN SEAFOOD INDUSTRY NEWS - VOLUME 10 FEB/MAR 2018
AUTHORISED CUMMINS SERVICE, REPAIR AND SPARE PARTS AGENT
                                          ALL CUMMINS ENGINE, ONAN GEN SET FILTRATION NEEDS

                                            5 STATION STREET BRIGHTON TAS 7030 P 03 6262 5700
                                               F 03 6262 5788 E admin@dennymechanical.com.au

                                                      CHECKOUT OUR NEW LOOK WEB PAGE
     LOC AUSTRALIA Est. 1988                    www.dennymechanical.com
     INDEPENDENT
     MARINE
                                                                       Ever wanted a place to
     SURVEYS                                                   advertise / find / apply for jobs
      Domestic
       commercial
                                      FOLLOW                            in the seafood sector?
       vessels                        YOUR                               Now you can. Best part,
      Pleasure                       PASSION                             it is completely free...
       craft
      Regulatory
       and insurance
                                                                             SEAFOOD JOBS
       needs                                                                            TASMANIA
      Naval
       architecture
                                                                           Launching early 2018

     Call your Tasmanian AMSA
     Accredited Surveyors
     with experience in the
     fishing industry, coastal                                                         SHOW US
                                                                                          YOUR
     towage and pleasure craft:

     Steve Jones
     0417 918 855
                                                                                        DAY JOB
     Quentin Smith
     0428 751 411

                                                                          @SEAFOODJOBS
     www.loc-group.com/dcv
                                                                                        TASMANIA
      1800 688 816

2   TASMANIAN SEAFOOD INDUSTRY NEWS
TASMANIAN SEAFOOD INDUSTRY NEWS - VOLUME 10 FEB/MAR 2018
FROM THE
                                                  PRESIDENT
                                                  Salmon Farm Expansion
                                                  As you are all aware, the topic of salmon farms, the
                                                  Salmon Growth Plan and salmon farm expansion has
                                                  polarised many within the seafood industry.
                                                  Personal discussions with TSIC members clearly confirm some members are supportive, some members
TASMANIAN SEAFOOD INDUSTRY                        are against and some members are simply sitting on the fence with respect to current and future salmon
COUNCIL (TSIC)                                    farm operations and options.

Tasmanian Seafood Industry Council                TSIC has been following all salmon-related issues and proposals throughout this journey, and has provided
ABN 61 009 555 604                                continued formal and informal submissions and advice to the Government and the salmon farms as
PO Box 878, Sandy Bay TAS 7006                    required. Fundamental to any TSIC advice or policy is the TSIC Board-endorsed policy that supports a
117 Sandy Bay Road, Sandy Bay TAS 7005            ‘defensible’, ‘peer reviewed’ science-based decision-making process to regulate our marine resources and
Chief Executive: Julian Harrington 0407 242 933   preserve statutory access rights. Again, there are widely differing views about the science and regulation
 03 6224 2332                                    of salmon, but one thing I will say is that IMAS does bring independent science to the table, not just for our
 tsic@tsic.org.au                                salmon industry, but also our wild-catch fisheries. Not agreeing with a scientifically based IMAS outcome
 TasSeafoodIndustry                              does not change the fact that the science provided by IMAS is independent.
www.tsic.org.au
                                                  Recent TSIC Board-approved submissions to the Salmon Growth Plan and two Storm Bay expansion
                                                  proposals included the following recommendations:

Official Sponsors of Tasmanian Seafood            UU   The Government should commit to a formalised ‘filtering’ process within the proposed salmon farming
Industry News                                          zones as a first stage process for identifying potentially suitable and unsuitable exploration areas, with
                                                       minimal to no impact on wild-catch fisheries.
                                                  UU   The Government should establish a formalised seafood industry consultation process as part of this
                                                       preliminary filter process.
                                                  UU   The Government/SMRCA should fund IMAS to conduct updated or new habitat mapping for each
                                                       potential salmon farm zone, as this would clearly define hard reef habitat.
                                                  UU   There should be a review of the boundaries of the no grow zone and current grow zone around the
                                                       Actaeon/Recherche Bay area, with a view to providing a greater no-grow buffer around the Actaeon
                                                       Islands, as this is an abalone industry area of very high significance.
                                                  UU   TSIC encourages the Government and salmonid aquaculture industry to explore current and future
                                                       technologies to improve the environmental and operational performance of salmon farming, especially
                                                       around on-land grow-out technologies and options.
                                                  UU   New salmon farming options should not overlap current wild-catch/other marine farming activities in
                                                       order to maintain current statutory access rights.
                                                  UU   If a new salmon farm development impacts current wild-catch fishery catches/other marine farming
                                                       operations, compensation must be paid.
                                                  UU   A 1.5 nM buffer (as per TACL and TRLFA Policy) between any new salmon farm development and hard
                                                       reef habitat should be formalised within government policy.
                                                  UU   A formal TSIC member forum should be established to better explain salmon operations and future
                                                       expansion plans.
                                                  TSIC expects robust and ongoing independent monitoring of current and new farming zones, to ensure
                                                  benthic damage from salmon operations does not extend beyond the 35 m compliance boundaries
                                                  (i.e. under legislation, damage cannot be observed beyond 35 m from the lease boundary). When
                                                  this compliance boundary is breached, we will actively call for mitigating action to ensure recovery of
                                                  impacted areas.
                                                  As was the case with Macquarie Harbour, TSIC supported the controlled removal of fish from pens where
                                                  the 35 m compliance boundary was impacted in a manner that would allow the continuation of jobs,
Cover: Blackman Bay oyster lease                  support regional communities, provide stability of the salmon market price, but at the same time provide
                                                  the complex environment of Macquarie Harbour the opportunity to recover. We acknowledge that this
Credit: Ronan Nicholls                            is a very complex set of factors that TSIC considers, and I know there are many who would argue against
                                                  considering jobs, regional economies and market price, and focus only on environment. We cannot,
                                                  however, forget the families and subsidiary businesses that rely on salmon farming when making such
                                                  decisions. Following the removal of fish from areas where the 35 m compliance boundary has been
                                                  breached, TSIC supports the Government's policy that no environmental impact be observed within the
                                                  entire lease area before the region can be restocked.
Design & Print Management:
                                                  TSIC holds a very similar policy when discussing reductions in wild-catch TACs. That is, what level of TAC
Creative Hum
                                                  reduction minimises hardship but allows stock rebuilding to occur? And, stocks need to recover to an
 03 6231 9142
                                                  agreed level before an increase in TAC can be considered. The TSIC Board believes that these policies both
 info@creativehum.com.au
                                                  support and protect wild-catch resources and access rights while allowing an opportunity for salmon farm
www.creativehum.com.au
                                                  expansion in a responsible manner. 
Proudly printed in Tasmania
                                                  LINDSAY NEWMAN
                                                                                                                   VOLUME 10 FEBRUARY/MARCH 2018                    3
TASMANIAN SEAFOOD INDUSTRY NEWS - VOLUME 10 FEB/MAR 2018
CHIEF EXECUTIVE REPORT
    State                                                  AMSA Update                                             In amongst a busy schedule, I am expected to
                                                                                                                   review three pieces of legislation, 41 pages in
    Election                                               COST RECOVERY MODEL                                     total of legal talk, and provide feedback within
                                                                                                                   five DAYS!!!! Yet another example of unrealistic
    Welcome everyone                                       Following an AMSA Fishing Industry Advisory
                                                                                                                   expectations and the chewing up of my time as we
    to 2018, a year that is                                Committee (FIAC) meeting in Sydney during early
                                                                                                                   transition to AMSA.
    bound to bring with it                                 December and further information provided by
    a significant amount of                                AMSA during late December, TSIC now has a
    politics, with a State                                 better understanding of a proposed AMSA Cost            Maritime Training
    election sometime early
    in the year! Over the last
                                                           Recovery Levy model. In general, the proposed
                                                           Cost Recovery Levy provides the best imaginable
                                                                                                                   Package
    12 months, TSIC has had very positive discussion       outcome for Tasmanian Class 3 (fishing)                 Although TSIC continuously voiced concerns at
    with the Government around future resourcing           vessels.                                                all stages of the MAR Training Package review and
    and management of seafood, with some very                                                                      endorsement process, I was continually made
                                                           It is proposed that a vessel levy will be calculated
    successful outcomes to date, including the                                                                     to feel like I just didn’t understand the changes.
                                                           by totalling a fixed charge, plus a variable charge.
    development of a biotoxin laboratory in Tasmania,                                                              Regardless, TSIC retains the view that the changes
                                                           The fixed charge rate depends on vessel class,
    but more about that later. We have also had                                                                    will impact the length of training and cost of
                                                           area of operation and length category. The
    productive discussions with the Shadow Minister,                                                               delivering qualifications such as Coxswain 1,
                                                           variable charge is a proposed $40 fee per metre of
    to ensure the opposition is fully aware of the                                                                 Master < 24 and MED 3 qualifications. We are yet to
                                                           vessel. The overall principle is that larger vessels
    seafood situation.                                                                                             be convinced that the Case for change and Scope
                                                           that work well out to sea (Class B) will pay more
    As we enter full election mode, TSIC proposes                                                                  of review actually aligns with the actual changes
                                                           than smaller vessels that work in inshore waters
    to table a range of issues and ideas to all sides                                                              made, and we hold significant concerns that proper
                                                           (Class D or E).
    of politics in the lead-up to the election, but                                                                consultative processes were not followed. In
                                                           A comparison of the full AMSA cost recovery             summary, we do not believe that the modifications
    central to this discussion will be consolidating the
                                                           and MAST levy shows that approximately 75% of           are needed nor are they in the best interests of the
    regulation of our seafood industry, real-time data
                                                           fishing vessels in Tasmania will pay less under         end user – Industry.
    and quota transfer, control of Centrostephanus
                                                           the proposed AMSA Cost Recovery Levy. This,
    on our East Coast, removal of latent effort and                                                                It was only through the support of Minister
                                                           however, does not take into account potential
    transferability of certain licence and gear types,                                                             Rockliff, Skills Tasmania, the Tasmanian
                                                           increased fee for service and shifted costs related
    amongst more.                                                                                                  representative on the Australian Industry
                                                           to the NSCV under an AMSA delivery model.
    TSIC will provide members with information on                                                                  Skills Council (AISC) Will Kestin, as well as
                                                           Of significant benefit to all Tasmanian fishing         the equivalent Victorian counterparts that the
    party policies in the next TSIC Update Newsletter.
                                                           vessel operators is the announcement by the             endorsement process was stalled at the last
    If you do not receive this update, it is because we
                                                           Federal Government that they will provide a             hurdle.
    do not have your email address or you have not
                                                           $102.4 million package to support industry
    requested a hard copy be mailed. Call or email                                                                 In an attempt to ‘educate me’ about the
                                                           transition to the new National arrangements.
    the TSIC office to receive this Update Newsletter                                                              proposed changes, I attended a meeting with
                                                           This money will be used to transition into full
    (03 6224 2332 or tsic@tsic.org.au)                                                                             representatives from AMSA and Australian
                                                           cost recovery over a 10-year period. What does
                                                                                                                   Industry Standards, with representatives from the
                                                           this actually mean? It means you will only pay a
    Biotoxin Laboratory                                    proportion of the levy for the next 10 years. The
                                                                                                                   Federal Department of Education and Skills, Skills
                                                                                                                   Tasmania and AISC also present. I was fortunate
                                                           proposed rate of subsidy for the first five years is:
    In mid-December, TSIC, Oysters Tasmania and AST                                                                enough to have Rory Byrne from STT there for
    laboratory representatives joined Minister Jeremy       Year            Subsidy %                              support. The key message delivered during this
    Rockliff to formally open the Analytical Services      2018-19          100 i.e. no levy                       meeting was that all changes are required by
    Tasmania Biotoxin Laboratory at St Johns Park,                                                                 AMSA (not Industry) and that all changes align
                                                           2019-20          85.67
    New Town. This was a momentous occasion for                                                                    with the NSCV (Part D – Crew Competencies).
    two key reasons.                                       2020-21          66.93                                  TSIC still fails to see linkages between the changes
                                                           2021-22          48.46                                  and the NSCV. An outcome of the meeting was an
    Firstly, on-island testing will greatly reduce the
                                                           2022-23          41.85                                  expectation that I would review the 27 documents
    time taken from sample collection, screen result
                                                                                                                   associated with the MAR Training Package Review
    to final test result, meaning wild-catch fishers and   This $100 million package is a great outcome
                                                                                                                   and identify where we do not think changes align
    marine farmers can be operating more often than        for industry, and means that there will be
                                                                                                                   with the legislation and industry needs, all by
    under the Sydney laboratory testing model.             considerable savings for Tasmanian seafood
                                                                                                                   5 February.
                                                           operators for many years as we transition to
    Secondly, it was a truly outstanding effort for
                                                           the new system. We certainly thank the Federal          In partnership with the Office of the Victorian
    the AST staff to finalise equipment purchase,
                                                           Government for this support.                            Skills Commissioner and Seafood Industry
    setup and validation of testing and become fully
                                                                                                                   Victoria, and with the support of STT and Skills
    operational in such a short timeframe.
                                                           COST RECOVERY LEGISLATION                               Tasmania, we will continue to work through this
    I would like to extend my full appreciation to                                                                 issue on behalf of the Tasmanian seafood industry.
                                                           As part of the AMSA cost recovery levy process,
    Damien Norman, Tim Jordan and all other AST
                                                           the Department of Infrastructure, Regional              To conclude, I need to give a huge thank you to
    staff for making this happen. A further thanks
                                                           Development and Cities sought comment from              Rory Byrne and James Garde at Seafood and
    to the Government and Minister Rockliff for
                                                           industry to help inform drafting of legislation         Maritime Training (STT) for the considerable
    providing the $1.2 million funding that allowed
                                                           required to introduce an annual levy on domestic        support they have provided TSIC throughout this
    this to happen. More information about the AST
                                                           commercial vessels.                                     issue. 
    laboratory can be found on the next page.

                                                                                                                   JULIAN HARRINGTON

4           TASMANIAN SEAFOOD INDUSTRY NEWS
TASMANIAN SEAFOOD INDUSTRY NEWS - VOLUME 10 FEB/MAR 2018
LAB TESTING AT AST
A recent facilities upgrade at
Analytical Services Tasmania
(AST) has enabled local testing of
biotoxins in shellfish. AST has been
providing services to government,
industry and the general public for
more than 20 years.
To date this work has been predominantly
environmental testing or public health-related
work. The biotoxin facility extends that work
to provide testing for amnesic, diarrhetic, and
paralytic shellfish toxins in as little as
24-48 hours. Previously all biotoxin testing was
conducted in Sydney, creating delays in testing.
The upgrade was undertaken with consultation
from both TSIC and Oysters Tasmania to industry
specifications.
The new service provides fast and flexible testing
operating 52 weeks of the year, including the busy
Christmas and Easter breaks, with testing days
occurring on Mondays and Wednesdays. Twice
                                                      LEFT TO RIGHT: MINISTER JEREMY ROCKLIFF, JOSH POKE – OYSTER GROWER AND DAMIEN
weekly, year round testing can assist shellfish
                                                      NORMAN – ANALYTICAL SERVICES TASMANIA (AST)
growers in managing business, and enables
growers experiencing a closure to open at the
earliest opportunity.
This can lead to better local and interstate
                                                      On-island testing                                    This meant reopening for harvesting five days
                                                                                                           before the previous Sydney laboratory system
market access, while also protecting export           saves time and                                       would have allowed.
markets and the Tasmanian brand. The reliability
of testing has also been increased. The facility
                                                      money for industry                                   Initial screen results within 24 hours during this
                                                                                                           period allowed better business planning and
has gained testing accreditation for oysters,         Although the AST Biotoxin Laboratory has only        deployment of resources elsewhere.
mussels, pipis and scallops, and is working           been servicing the Tasmanian industry since
to extend the scope to other species that are         November 2017, the shellfish industry is already     John Sansom of the TRLFA has also taken
affected by biotoxins, including rock lobster,        reaping significant benefits. Sample turnaround      advantage of the new facilities, using the new lab
abalone and clams. AST plans to complete              times have been reduced from five to seven days      for sentinel mussel testing this season. The TRLFA
research that will enable this extension of testing   from sample collection to receipt of results under   has ten sampling sites along the East Coast where
later in 2018.                                        the Sydney laboratory scenario, to just two days     mussels are collected in areas with no oyster
                                                      under the AST model. Combined with the ability       or mussel farming. Sampling of these sentinel
The lab is also working on a new, more                                                                     species is critical for identifying the potential for
                                                      to submit two samples in a week, this means
streamlined method for PST analysis which has                                                              PST accumulation in rock lobsters.
                                                      that closure times may be reduced for harvesting
the potential to improve result turnaround for
                                                      areas, assisting business owners with planning       Within southern rock lobsters, the toxins
some samples. As part of this work, AST will
                                                      and cash flow.                                       accumulate in the hepatopancreas (the tomale),
participate in an international inter-laboratory
trial for the new test in mid-2018, organised         2017 saw unprecedented levels of biotoxins in        and take much longer to leave the lobster than
by two of the world leading laboratories in PST       waters along the East Coast associated with          other shellfish. The 2017/18 extended closure
analysis, Cawthron (NZ) and Cefas (UK).               a long-lasting algal bloom. This resulted in         of the Bicheno and Maria Island Zone has been
                                                      extended closures for shellfish harvesting, with     a result of toxins taking a long time to clear
In the next few months AST will begin to report                                                            from the lobster after the extensive bloom.
                                                      some farms closed for 12 weeks, for wild-catch
results directly to growers and samplers in                                                                Furthermore, hepatopancreas samples had to
                                                      industries such as rock lobster and abalone, and
addition to the regulator. For samples submitted                                                           be sent to Sydney, causing further delays to
                                                      voluntary closures for commercial divers.
by Monday morning this can enable growers to                                                               the opening of the Bicheno Zone – a leading
receive a result on Tuesday or Wednesday. While       Spring Bay Seafoods mussel operations were           example of how testing in Sydney affects fishing
AST does not have any official role in opening        closed for 17 weeks, and although the bloom had      operations.
or closing growing areas, this information can        mostly dispersed by late November 2017, mussels
provide significant benefits for business operation   were still above the safe consumption level until    The TRLFA welcomes future lobster sampling at
and decision making, particularly during algal        the end of the year.                                 AST, in addition to the sentinel species sampling,
bloom events.                                                                                              to improve regulatory response times. John
                                                      Spring Bay Seafoods’ Phil Lamb emphasised that       Sansom commented that “the new lab means
The biotoxin facility is co-located with the          the option of choosing between two test days in      not having to worry about courier difficulty and
algae testing facility at 18 St Johns Avenue in       a week allowed them to pay for an extra test in      delays.” Fortunately, commercial rock lobster
New Town. To see the lab in operation, call AST       the first week to obtain a first compliant sample,   fishers are able to relocate their fishing efforts
reception on (03) 6165 3300 to organise a tour.       following it up with a second sample a week later.   while some areas are closed. 

                                                                                                                 VOLUME 10 FEBRUARY/MARCH 2018                     5
TASMANIAN SEAFOOD INDUSTRY NEWS - VOLUME 10 FEB/MAR 2018
SOUTH-EAST COMMONWEALTH
                                         MARINE RESERVES

     iWest Insurance Brokers
     are specialists in sourcing
        Commercial Fishing
      Insurance in Tasmania.

         With over 35 years
     experience in the industry,
     we have access to a range
     of specialist underwriters
    including Nautilus Marine &
        Sunderland Marine.
                                         Do you know where you can and cannot fish
                                         with different gear types?
       For a second
      opinion on your
                                         X
    insurance, contact                          Activity is not allowed at all (i.e. totally prohibited).

        Mark West                        CA     Activity is allowable in accordance with a class approval from the Director of National Parks

    0457 100 200                         Note: A class approval for commercial fishing in the South-east Commonwealth Marine Reserves
                                         Network first came into effect on 01 July 2013. The current class approval was issued on 07
    mark@iwestbroking.com.au             January 2015 and will remain in effect for the remainder of the 10 year term of the South-east
                                         Commonwealth Marine Reserves Network Management Plan 2013-2023, unless it is suspended,
                                         cancelled, varied or revoked sooner by the Director of National Parks.

                                         More detailed South-east Commonwealth Marine Reserves Network management information is
                                         available from the Parks Australia website: www.environment.gov.au/topics/marine/marine-
                                         reserves/south-east

                                         For enquiries call the Director Marine Parks Management South, Marine Protected Areas Branch,
                                         Parks Australia on (03) 6208 2911.
               iWest Pty Ltd
      ABN: 82 142 469 403 AR: 346214
       An Authorised Representative of
      PSC Connect Pty Ltd AFSL: 344648

6     TASMANIAN SEAFOOD INDUSTRY NEWS
TASMANIAN SEAFOOD INDUSTRY NEWS - VOLUME 10 FEB/MAR 2018
OYSTERS TASMANIA

OYSTERS TASMANIA
SUE GRAU, EXECUTIVE OFFICER

New Year reflections
There was a frantic end to 2017 for some oyster
growers in the shellfish industry, with harvesting
for the Christmas season concentrated to a
small window between algal blooms and rainfall
events. Other farmers saw none of this action
with one growing area shut for a three week
period due to a sewage spill and Tasmania’s
mussel grower did not open until just after
Christmas because of the lingering impacts
of the algal bloom on the East Coast (see
the previous edition). POMS continued to be
detected in some of the growing areas previously
infected but weather probably contributed to
lowering water temperatures.

While the Tasmanian shellfish industry is still
facing a number of challenges over the next few
years, it seems that we are moving slowly from
the initial responsive phase through a period           HARVESTING IN LATE 2017 WAS SO FRANTIC FOR SOME GROWERS THAT EVEN
of recovery to one of adaption. Living with             THE EO AND HER FAMILY PITCHED IN
disease and harmful algal blooms may see some
innovation and changes to business models               As a sign of industry maturity, growers from          policy that will maximise harvesting days and
emerge in the longer term.                              POMS free or intermediate classified areas            food safety.
                                                        have indicated that they could cross subsidise
The year ahead will see Oysters Tasmania                                                                      Biotoxin management is a vital component of
                                                        infected areas, who will receive full fee reduction
continuing to support and advocate on behalf of                                                               the new ShellMAP and new on-island biotoxin
                                                        for industry levies. This will see a smaller
our growers with a number of priority projects.                                                               testing at the Government’s Analytical Services
                                                        balance to be distributed amongst the remaining
There is still a lot of summer to get through                                                                 Tasmania laboratory and has already saved
                                                        licence holders.
before a complete assessment of POMS is                                                                       some growers thousands of dollars. This is the
conducted around March. We will continue to             Importantly, this financial support from              importance of one extra harvesting day in the
work on the new quality assurance program,              Government is also complemented by a                  current climate. You can read all about the new
the ASI breeding program, a new governance              commitment to develop a new quality assurance         lab in the next article!
structure and reviewing our revenue raising             program ShellMAP (Shellfish Market Access
                                                                                                              Oysters Tasmania will continue to lobby on
events.                                                 Program), in close partnership with industry.
                                                                                                              behalf of the industry in the development and
                                                                                                              implementation of ShellMAP, which will feature

Continued levy relief                                   Maximising Safe                                       in the next edition. 

Tasmania’s shellfish industry is fortunate to           Harvest Days

                                                                                                                             LOC
have the ongoing support of the Tasmanian               Tasmania’s shellfish industry understands
Government during this time of recovery. As             that consumers of Tasmanian produce locally,
part of the POMS Industry Support Package the           nationally and around the world need to be
Government has waived licence fees and levies
for the shellfish quality assurance program over
                                                        confident about the testing and safety of our
                                                        quality shellfish products. A quality assurance
                                                                                                                             DOMESTIC
the last two years.                                     program is also essential for maintaining market                COMMERCIAL
Recognising the slow recovery from POMS                 access for the industry.                                       VESSEL SERVICES
and the additional challenges of sewage spills          An additional objective the industry would like
and the impacts of harmful algal blooms, the            to see incorporated into our quality assurance
Tasmanian Government announced an extension             program is to maximise the amount of safe                         DC Surveys
of the POMS Industry Support Package with a             harvest days. This is particularly relevant in the              AMSA Accredited
partial levy relief in late January. While the entire   opening and closing of growing areas for harvest,            FREECALL 1800 688 816
industry is affected by POMS due to restrictions        due to factors such as the presence of biotoxins
on stock movement and stock availability, the           during harmful algal blooms and significant              Contact Steve, your local surveyor
four growing areas that have been infected are          rainfall events. We will be working closely with                   0417 918 855
more adversely impacted by the disease.                 the Government to develop a ShellMAP that                       dcv@locgroup.com
                                                        develops strategies such as a harvest and hold

                                                                                                                    VOLUME 10 FEBRUARY/MARCH 2018               7
TASMANIAN SEAFOOD INDUSTRY NEWS - VOLUME 10 FEB/MAR 2018
JETTY TALK
    14 Dec 2017 – Media                                     The company that owned the fishing business was
                                                            fined $378,000 and was also ordered by the court
    Release NSW DPI                                         to forfeit all its shares in the lobster fishery, which
                                                            could be worth around one million dollars.
    OPERATION TALON – FOUR MEN                              In addition to this it was ordered to pay $70,000
    GIVEN MILLIONS OF REASONS NOT                           in costs.
    TO ILLEGALLY FISH
                                                            “The restaurant was charged with 30 offences,
    The biggest fines ever issued in NSW for illegal        including receiving fish for commercial use
    fishing have been handed down in a Sydney court,        without being registered and trafficking an
    with three men, a company and a Wollongong              indictable species of fish, and was fined
    seafood restaurant heavily penalised.                   $398,000. They were also ordered to pay
    NSW DPI Director Fisheries Compliance, Patrick          $150,000 in costs.
    Tully, said the three men, the company and the          “NSW DPI Fisheries officers conducted months
    Illawarra seafood restaurant were charged as part       of covert surveillance and used GPS vessel                The Diana contacted the rescue organisation,
    of Operation Talon, targeting the theft and illegal     movement data, daily catch log sheets, trap               which relayed the stricken boat’s coordinates.
    sale of thousands of dollars’ worth of eastern rock     records, tax invoices and financial records.
    lobster. One man was sentenced to imprisonment                                                                    On route, Mr Potter noticed a small white boat
    for at least two years and another received a           “This is a resounding result for DPI Fisheries            in another direction. He faced changing course
    12-month suspended sentence. Collectively the           officers who have worked hard on this case                or continuing towards the coordinates he’d been
    illegal syndicate face up to $2.5M in fines, court      for several years. It’s also a win for the hard-          given. “Going the wrong way could cost them their
    costs and forfeiture of valuable lobster fishing        working commercial fishers who fish legally and           lives,” he said.
    shares for hundreds of offences dating back to          responsibly throughout the State.”
                                                                                                                      Asking for a flare to be let off, orange smoke
    2012.                                                   The State’s commercial fisheries are carefully            began emanating from the white boat, confirming
    “Collectively the illegal syndicate were found          managed to ensure top quality NSW seafood                 it was the vessel. It later turned out the men had
    guilty of 217 offences, identified as far back to       is available to the community, including those            given the wrong coordinates due to an electrical
    2012,” Mr Tully said.                                   who can’t or don’t want to catch their own. The           fault. Mr Potter sidled the Diana up to the boat.
                                                            sustainability and economic value these fisheries         When seawater began choking its engine, the men
    “The men and businesses, including a commercial         bring rely on everyone observing the rules.               were told to get out.
    lobster fisherman, the company that owned the
    fishing business, a chef as well as the restaurant      The vast majority of fishers do the right thing;          “Another wave came over and the boat went down
    were found guilty of exceeding the possession           however, for those that don’t, NSW DPI Fisheries          in about 20 seconds, it was incredible,” Mr Potter
    limit for eastern rock lobsters, possessing fish                                                                  said.
                                                            Officers will not hesitate to bring illegal fishers
    illegally taken, receiving fish for commercial          before the courts where they can expect to face           Two made it off but a third man became stuck
    use without being registered and trafficking an         severe consequences.                                      under the boat’s canopy as it went down. “He was
    indictable species of fish. The offences relate to
                                                                                                                      pretty average when we got him, he was extremely
    around a tonne of rock lobsters purchased by
                                                                                                                      lucky,” Mr Potter said.
    the company on numerous occasions over an
    18-month period between 2013 and 2014.
                                                            10 January 2018 –                                         One of the rescued men, Jamie Quinn, praised his

    “The court heard that the fisherman deliberately
                                                            Mercury                                                   rescuers. “You guys saved the lives of the three of
                                                                                                                      us which we will be forever grateful,” he said on
    overfished the species, deliberately failed to
                                                            A MURES FISHING VESSEL AND                                Facebook.
    record his catch and then on-sold the illegally
    fished lobsters in a bid to systematically avoid        ST HELENS MARINE RESCUE COME
                                                            TO AID OF STRANDED RECREATIONAL
    fisheries management regulations.
                                                            FISHERMEN                                                 Planning for a Blue
    “The 50-year-old commercial fisher, previously
    from Wollongong, was fined $76,000 and ordered          Three men, plucked from the ocean against all             Future
    to pay $250,000 in costs for offences including         odds, have hailed their rescuers as lifesavers.
    falsifying log book entries, intentionally declaring                                                              GLOBAL SALMON CONFERENCE,
                                                            The men departed St Helens on Tuesday for
    fewer rock lobsters than he caught, and then            some recreational fishing around the continental          6-8 DECEMBER 2017, HOBART
    selling the difference illegally to the restaurant on   shelf. But while they were angling, their boat was        Scientists, industry, regulators and non-
    a number of occasions. He was also found guilty         taking on water. A blown fuse in the pump meant           government organisations came together in
    of failing to tag commercial caught rock lobsters       they didn’t realise until it was too late. Stuck 13       late-2017 for a Salmon Symposium at IMAS, with
    on a number of occasions as required by NSW DPI         nautical miles off the coast, the trio tried bailing      the purpose of drafting an integrated roadmap
    and also reusing tags to falsify catch.                 out the water and called in a mayday.                     for the future of the industry. This Symposium
    “The fisherman was convicted of 10 counts of            For the first time in months, a Mures fishing vessel      provided a platform to review world’s best
    trafficking in an indictable species of fish, in        – the Diana – happened to be in the area. It was          practices and future developments in farming
    addition to 96 other offences. In addition to his       the only boat nearby. St Helens Marine Rescue             systems, environmental management, biosecurity,
    fines, he was sentenced to a maximum three years        also heard the mayday, thanks only to a new radio         science and policy. To view the presentations
    in jail and a non-parole period of two years.           system it had installed last month.                       given by salmon leaders from Norway, Canada,
                                                                                                                      Faroe Islands and Scotland, visit www.imas.utas.
                                                                                                                      edu.au/home/home-features/global-salmon-
                                                                                                                      symposium-2018 

8           TASMANIAN SEAFOOD INDUSTRY NEWS
TASMANIAN SEAFOOD INDUSTRY NEWS - VOLUME 10 FEB/MAR 2018
DURATIO N:                         L OCATION :                    INTA KE:                       DELIVERY:                     SPECIFICATION S

             Two years                           Cradle Coast                 Term 1                        Face-to-face                   Specialise in
             full-time or                        campus                       (February 2018)               (workshops,                    Aquaculture
             part-time                                                                                      tutorials,
                                                 Newnham
             equivalent                                                                                     laboratories,
                                                 campus
                                                                                                            field trips)
                                                 Sandy Bay                                                  and online
                                                 campus

Associate Degree in Applied Science

Specialise in Aquaculture
The Associate Degree in Applied Science                   On completion of an Associate Degree                CA R E ER O P P O R T U NI T I E S
has been developed in response to industry                in Applied Science, graduates are
demand and is specifically designed to                    provided with:                                      New to Applied Science and never worked in
equip graduates with progressive work-ready                                                                   the industry before?
                                                          • an entry point to a career in aquaculture;
skills. Students learn how to solve workplace                                                                 For graduates new to science, this
problems using scientific theory, problem                 • an opportunity to accelerate progression in
                                                                                                              qualification could assist you to gain technical
solving techniques and critical thinking –                  a current organisation;
                                                                                                              roles in farms and hatcheries in both
essential skills sought by employers. Students            • an opportunity to open up a new career            freshwater and marine environments.
also develop their core skills and knowledge                path; or
in communication, teamwork and leadership                                                                     Already working in industry and want to fast
                                                          • a pathway into further study at the
and how to relate these skills back to the                                                                    track or leverage off past experience?
                                                            University of Tasmania.
discipline content.
                                                                                                              For graduates already working in science,
The program has a focus on work integrated
                                                          T H E COU R S E S T R U C T U R E                   the Associate Degree in Applied Science
learning opportunities such as industry guest                                                                 may enable you to progress into managerial
                                                          The Associate Degree in Applied Science
speakers, industry visits, projects, case studies                                                             positions and leadership roles.
                                                          is structured over two years full-time (or
and internships. Industry experts are actively            equivalent part-time), based on four teaching
                                                                                                              E X T END YO U R S T U DY I N TO A
involved in developing and teaching of the                terms of 10 weeks. The Associate Degree
course, utilising an innovative online delivery                                                               B AC H EL O R D E GR EE
                                                          comprises of study in 16 different topic areas,
platform, practical workshops and tutorials.              each with a ‘practice’ or hands-on learning         Students who complete the Associate
                                                          component, making a total of:                       Degree in Applied Science will receive
Aquaculture is the fastest growing primary
industry in Tasmania, which supports over                                                                     two years full credit into the University of
                                                          • 16 discipline subjects
3,000 full-time jobs and is growing every                                                                     Tasmania’s Bachelor of Applied Science (top
                                                          • 16 practice and portfolio subjects                up). Students wishing to articulate from the
year. The Associate Degree in Applied Science
Aquaculture is relevant to all aspects of the                                                                 Associate Degree in Applied Science into
                                                          CORE ST U DY AR EAS
Tasmanian industry, including salmon, trout,                                                                  another bachelor program may gain some
oysters, mussels and abalone. The Tasmanian               • Understanding Science                             credit, subject to the faculty’s discretion.
aquaculture industry is a world leader in                 • Applied Maths
quality, innovation and technology.
                                                          • Aquatic Biology
Aquaculture is the fastest growing primary                • Aquatic Chemistry
industry in Tasmania. The Associate Degree in
                                                          • Quality Management
Applied Science Aquaculture is relevant to all
                                                          • Sustainability
aspects of the Tasmanian industry, including
salmon, trout, oysters, mussels and abalone.              • Project Management
The Tasmanian aquaculture industry is a world             • Aquatic Health
leader in quality, innovation and technology.

Currently, an estimated 2,595 Full Time
Equivalent (FTE’s) are employed in the
Tasmanian aquaculture sector (inclusive of
salmonid processing)*.

*Seafood Industry Workforce Profile, May 2017.
Tasmanian Seafood Industry Council

APPLY NOW FOR A 2018 START

       For more infomation, please contact the University of Tasmania student recruitment team.
       Phone: 1300 363 864               Email: course.info@utas.edu.au              Website: utas.edu.au/college

                                                                                                                                  CRICOS Provider Code
                                                                                                                                (University of Tasmania):
                                                                                                                  VOLUME 10 FEBRUARY/MARCH00586B. 2018           9
TASMANIAN SEAFOOD INDUSTRY NEWS - VOLUME 10 FEB/MAR 2018
RODNEY TRELOGGEN
     Rodney Treloggen is one of                             Rodney’s first commercial trip out to sea was
     the best-known and respected                           aboard the Storm Bay with a bloke called Peter
     Australian seafood industry                            Bevan. “The Storm Bay was 60-foot long, and only
                                                            about two foot sticks out of the water.”
     representatives. He was in the
                                                            A big north-easterly came in on this first trip. “We
     rock lobster industry for 11 years,                    rolled our rings out all night.” The next morning
     President of the Tasmanian Rock                        Rodney pronounced, “I’m out of here,” and then
     Lobster Fishermen's Association                        proceeded to ride the three-metre swell into
     (TRLFA), then Chief Executive                          shore in the 10-foot aluminium dinghy and walked
     Officer and now a life member                          homewards towards the Gardens. So his first trip
     of the Association.                                    didn’t last long, not even 24 hours!

     Rodney was a board member of the Seafood               Rodney bought his first cray boat, the Suzanne,
     Services Australia, Tasmanian Fishing Industry         in 1983/84. The Suzanne was built by Bernard
     Council (now Tasmanian Seafood Industry Council)       Wilson and his father in Triabunna in the 1950s.
     and the Australian Seafood Industry Council. He        “She was a beautiful little sea boat,” Rodney
     was vice-chairman of Southern Rocklobster Ltd          reminisces. “Drew four-foot six and had 14 inches
                                                                                                                   technology, stayed with the old ways. “There are
     and was also a member of several other fisheries       of freeboard.” Rodney started crayfishing on board
                                                                                                                   some still using older technology today,” Rodney
     research groups and boards.                            the Suzanne. Back then, smaller crays fetched
                                                                                                                   explains.
                                                            $6.50 per kg, and with anything over 2 kg fetching
     Rodney began his fishing career at the tender age      $5.75. Most trips would be week-long, with the         A craft that had previously taken fishermen years
     of 12 fishing off the coast of 240 acres of family-    Suzanne returning most times with between 300          of experience to cultivate had been replaced
     owned land in St Helens. Using bailing twine and       and 400 kg. Rodney generally caught 100 bags a         overnight. Colour sounders made it easy for
     sheep’s heads, Rodney – along with his brother         year (roughly 5 tonnes) with 18 pots. “We’d work       newcomers to the industry to locate the best of
     and uncles, on a full moon and low tide – piled into   on catching 50 bags from November to December          the crays. Global Positioning Systems (GPS) soon
     their old brown dodge and headed out crayfishing.      and 50 bags from January to August… It was             followed, which led to the rapid expansion of chart
     “We used to tie the bailing twine around the           pretty predictable.”                                   plotters. GPSs revolutionised offshore fisheries
     sheep’s head and hang it down in the kelp… you’d                                                              and, ‘’have had the biggest single effect on the
     see the feelers come up through the kelp.” Rodney      The early days were tough, with no reliable
                                                                                                                   rock lobster stocks,” exclaims Rodney. Following
     recalls his cousin catching 13 crays in one scoop of   communications as such and being at sea for up
                                                                                                                   on from GPSs came ‘bottom contour mappers’,
     the dip net underneath the hanging sheep head.         to 10 days without seeing family. When Rodney
                                                                                                                   which allowed fishermen to gain insight into where
     “In those days, the crays were everywhere – there      first went to sea, he had an HF radio that was
                                                                                                                   the most probable feeding zones were in a given
     was no measure, you just kept the big ones and         notoriously unreliable when the weather was
                                                                                                                   area. “This information could then be downloaded
     threw the small ones back.”                            bad. “You only had RAD phone on and everybody
                                                                                                                   and shared with any number of other fishermen.”
                                                            listened to that anyway.” After HF radio came
     The first large fishing boat Rodney set out to sea     27 MHz radios with a single side band. Rodney          The last year Rodney fished was 1995, when he
     on was the 50-foot, steel Lisa Jane with Basil         erected a 30-foot aerial at home and had an            ran a boat called the Kate Louise. Kate Louise,
     Whittaker in 1975. The Lisa Jane had a manual          electrician split the bands so he could have a         being 67 feet overall, was a bit of a culture shock
     anchor winch, which Rodney loathed. “Used to           secret channel. This worked only for so long until     to Rodney. Nicknamed ‘Tall Timbers’, built on the
     hate it if you ever anchored anywhere in deep          someone else got theirs split the same. Next           North-West Coast, she was twin masted with step
     water for any reason because it was hard yakka.”       came UHF radios. “They were great UHF with a           masts in the top. Rodney ran her for 12 months for
     Rodney started large-scale fishing with Basil who      repeater-off channel… we could be in the top end       a retired air traffic controller and then he himself
     taught him, among other things, how to make            of Flinders Island and talk back to home, which        retired from commercial fishing, beginning the
     craypots and sling nets. Rodney credits Basil          was great.”                                            next chapter of his illustrious career, as Chief
     with being the catalyst behind his start in the                                                               Executive Officer of the Tasmanian Rock Lobster
                                                            Around this time, too, was the start of an era
     crayfishing industry. “He was a very good mentor                                                              Fishermen's Association (TRLFA).
                                                            of fish finders (colour echo sounders) and the
     and a great friend.”                                   conversion from paper charts to screens. Some          We would like to thank Rodney for his significant
                                                            of the older fishermen, not trusting the new           contribution to the Tasmanian fishing industry. 

                                                                                CAST YOUR
                                                                                     VOTE!
                                                                                                   Want to receive this magazine
                                                                                                   via email? via post?or both?

                                            you will receive an email soon detailing how to set your preference

10           TASMANIAN SEAFOOD INDUSTRY NEWS
VOX POP:
CLIVE PERRYMAN

What inspired you to
become a rock lobster                                                                                 Retirement
fisherman?                                                                                            of Rob Gott
To be truthful, I didn’t want to                                                                   As some of you would be aware, the
be a cray fisherman when I was                                                                   Director of Marine Resources, Rob Gott,
younger because I didn’t like
                                                                                                  has recently retired from DPIPWE. Rob
the idea of getting up early and
putting up with rough weather and                                                                 has been an active part of Tasmania’s
I used to get seasick pretty bad.                                                                seafood industry across many roles and
I was interested in metalwork at                                                                  over many years. His knowledge of our
school so I was lucky enough to
                                                                                                 seafood industry and its regulation will
get an apprenticeship as a fitter
                                                                                                 be a huge loss for both DPIPWE and the
and turner.
                                                                                                 seafood industry. On behalf of TSIC and
However, when the family boat
                                                                                                 the Tasmanian seafood industry, I wish
Berean was replaced in South
Australia for a fast boat, the                                                                      Rob all the best in his retirement.
opportunity was presented to use
it to go fishing in Tassie and I have   CLIVE WITH DAUGHTER LAYLA ON SOUTH
                                                                                                     Lindsay Newman, President,
been fishing for the last 20 years.     COAST TRIP
                                                                                                  Tasmanian Seafood Industry Council
What's your first memory of eating rock lobster?
My first memory of trying rock lobster (crayfish) to eat was at a Christmas party. There were
crays on the table and everyone was feasting on them. The grown-ups would pick off a leg
and show the kids how to get the meat out.

If you could change one thing about the seafood industry,
what would it be?
If I could change one thing about the seafood industry as a whole, it would be to be more
united and connected with one another. I believe that to truly achieve great outcomes,
more is achieved when there is a united approach to issues and goals.

The seafood display at the Australian Wooden Boat Festival is just one example how
a whole-of-industry approach has seen the seafood display become a truly amazing
showcase, something that we all can be proud of.
                                                                                                      McGuinness
What do you think will change in the industry over the next
                                                                                                       Fisheries
five years?
                                                                                                Specialising in the Sale/Lease/Purchase
Having grown up in the seafood industry and a small town where practically everyone was            of Commercial Fishing Packages,
involved in crayfishing, I have seen a lot of changes over the years.                                Quota & Commercial Vessels
When I went fishing with Dad as a young boy he had a paper echo sounder to find bottom
and landmarks and flags to find his pots. Now we have 3D bottom-mapping software to find
the bottom and GPS to locate pots. Technology is always evolving and will definitely keep
having an influence on industry.

What might (someone) be surprised to know about you?
People may be surprised to know that I can windsurf and also played bass guitar in a
pub band, although I don’t get much time to do these things lately!                               www.macfish.com.au
Which AFL team do you follow?                                                                                 FOR SALE:
                                                                                                         Commercial Vessels,
I like to follow Geelong in the AFL, as I spent two years there doing my apprenticeship and            Licence/Quota Packages
lived opposite Kardinia Park. I got to play on Kardinia Park twice in the local under 18s
grand finals.                                                                                                 WANTED:
                                                                                                Tassie Permits/Pots/Abalone/all types.
                                                                                                      Buyers and lessees waiting.

                                                                                                 admin@macfish.com.au

                                                                                                   VOLUME 10 FEBRUARY/MARCH 2018            11
TRLFA

     TASMANIAN ROCK LOBSTER
     FISHERMEN’S ASSOCIATION
     JOHN SANSOM, CEO

     This summer there have again been
     reported incidents of warmer water
     temperatures in some areas of the
     State affecting the quality of rock
     lobsters unloaded from fishing
     vessels.
     While this is not a widespread or major problem,
     it does appear to be a recurring issue more often
     than not in recent years. Although the cause
     of rising sea surface temperatures (SST) is still
     a matter of some debate, the effects can be
     expensive for industry operators.
     SST normally rise over the summer period.
     However, Tasmania can experience extreme
     events, like the marine heatwave of 2015/16, and
     incidents of higher than normal SST can occur
     with the passage of an intense, slow-moving
     high pressure system. The image below indicates                                                                                                      FIG 1.
     a 3 degree rise above the average SST during
     December. See FIG 1.
     The amount of dissolved oxygen in seawater varies     in an environment with an appropriate flow of         reduces density, providing more water/oxygen for
     according to temperature. As the temperature of       seawater/oxygenation to suit conditions. It is        fewer fish. Fishers with vessels that have wet wells
     seawater increases during the summer months,          also extremely important to minimise the time         must ensure that the vessel stays in locations that
     the amount of dissolved oxygen in that water          period for unloading catch, especially in hot         cause high vessel motion to increase seawater
     subsequently decreases, leaving less available        and/or windy conditions. Using wet hessian            flow. On board a tank vessel, the easiest solution
     oxygen for the lobsters on board a fishing vessel.    to cover fish bins reduces the temperature by         may be to increase the output of the seawater
     This results in lobsters requiring more water/        approximately 3 degrees and increases the             pump.
     oxygen when water temperatures increase to            humidity in the container, helping prevent
                                                                                                                 If these options do not suit a vessel’s operations,
     maintain optimum quality.                             lobsters from drying out.
                                                                                                                 then adopting one of the following methods will
     The below table, taken from the Southern Rock         For southern rock lobster to maintain its place at    increase the supply of oxygen to the vessel’s
     Lobster Manual Clean Green manual, shows that         the peak of the rock lobster market, all sectors of   seawater supply.
     with an increase in sea temperature from 17 to        the supply chain must employ the best handling
                                                                                                                 On a tank or well vessel, extra oxygen can be
     21 degrees, the required water flow for lobsters      practices to ensure the absolute highest quality
                                                                                                                 introduced to the seawater supply by aeration.
     increases by approximately 18%. See FIG 2.            product reaches the consumer.
                                                                                                                 On board a well vessel, a mechanically driven
     The quality of lobsters for the market begins with    There are some simple and inexpensive solutions       air compressor is required to pump air through a
     the handling and holding practices of fishers         that fishers can employ to mitigate the effects       simple piping system installed within the well to
     on board fishing vessels. It is the responsibility    of warm water and ensure that lobsters are in         aerate the seawater. A tank vessel is afforded the
     of the fisher to ensure that lobsters spend an        premium condition on board fishing vessels.           luxury of choosing a compressor or venturi pipe
     absolute minimum time out of water during                                                                   to supply air to the delivery side of the seawater
                                                           The easiest and simplest measure is of course
     the catching and sorting process and are kept                                                               pump and deliver aerated seawater through the
                                                           to put fewer lobsters on board the vessel. This

      Southern                            Oxygen                Water Flow                Air Flow
      Rock             temp°C
      Lobster                        Consumption (g h-1)       Required (L h-1)        Required (L h-1)
                          5                   9.1                    2985                    1740
                          9                  16.0                    5778                    3075
      Unstressed
                          13                 25.0                    9839                    4808
      Lobsters
                          17                  37.1                   15792                   7127
                          21                  52.1                   23908                  10017
                          5                  14.0                    4607                    2686
                          9                  45.0                    16251                   8647
      Active
                          13                 76.0                    29909                  14615
      Lobsters
                          17                  79.1                   33717                   15218
                          21                  87.1                  40000                   16758

                                                                                                      FIG 2.                                                    FIG 4.

12           TASMANIAN SEAFOOD INDUSTRY NEWS
ALL MARINE
                                                                                                             YOUR
                                                                                                    FIG 3.

                                                                                                               SURVEYS
                                                                                                             SAFETY
existing plumbing in the tank. Aerator units are      OVERSEAS
also available commercially in AC and DC power        Meanwhile in the United States, warming water
                                                                                                              Commercial and
                                                                                                             IS OUR vessel
supplies. Any aerator pump should be situated at      temperatures are causing greater concern. The
least 50 cm above the water level in the tank or      Gulf of Maine lobster population is expected to        recreational
                                                                                                             BUSINESS
well to prevent the risk of syphoning or flow back.   shrink 40-62% over the next 30 years because of
The other method of oxygenating the seawater          rising ocean temperatures, according to a study             surveys
on any type of lobster vessel is by diffusion. A      published on 22 January 2018. See FIG 4.
well vessel requires a simple piping system to be     As the water temperature rises – the north-west         AMSA accredited
installed on the bottom or top of the well with
numerous small holes, which deliver seawater
                                                      Atlantic Ocean is warming at three times the              Fully insured
                                                                                                               Locally owned
                                                      global average rate – the number of lobster eggs
squirted under pressure into the well. This system    that survive their first year of life will decrease,
                                                                                                                  and operated
only requires a pump similar to a deck hose           and the number of small-bodied lobster predators
pump. A tank vessel would require plumbing only       that eat those that remain will increase. Those          PeopleVisit:
                                                                                                                       you know
at the top of the tank. See FIG 3.
The examples given here are simple solutions for
                                                      effects will cause the lobster population to fall
                                                      through 2050, according to a study by researchers
                                                                                                             www.kedge.com.au
                                                                                                                and trust
existing vessels. If you are contemplating a major    at the Gulf of Maine Research Institute, the
                                                      University of Maine and the National Ocean and
                                                                                                               Operating
                                                                                                                or call Adam on
conversion to your vessel or even a new one,
                                                                                                                Tasmania wide
                                                                                                             0417   544 339
you should contact a suitably qualified engineer      Atmospheric Administration.
to discuss the requirements for the quantity of       Looking ahead 30 years, the researchers predict
lobsters you intend to hold.                          a lobster population ‘rewind’ to the harvests            Commercial vessel
An entire report on rock lobster water quality        documented in the early 2000s. In 2002, 6,800               surveys your needs
                                                                                                              to discuss
                                                      licence holders landed 63 million pounds of
is available from http://www.imas.utas.edu.                                                                        and our special
au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0020/743114/                lobster valued at $210.9 million. By comparison,         Recreational and
Optimising-Water-QUality-in-Rock-Lobster-             5,660 licence holders harvested 131 million               introductory  offers
                                                                                                                  insurance surveys
Post-Harvest-Processes.pdf                            pounds valued at $533.1 million in 2016.

                                                      Article courtesy of www.pressherald.com 
                                                                                                               Naval architecture
                                                                                                                and new builds

        CRAY QUOTA                                                                                            AMSA and MNZ Accredited
                                                                                                              Fully insured
        WANTED TO LEASE:
        Professional fisherman requires cray quota to lease
        on fair terms for the upcoming quota year.
                                                                                                              www.kedge.com.au
        Any quantity considered with prompt payment assured
        Terms and conditions negotiable.

        CONTACT           DAVE KIELY F.V ERIN-K                                                               03 6292 5782
        PHONE             0428 717 387                                                                        service@kedge.com.au
        EMAIL             dkiely57@hotmail.com

                                                                                                              VOLUME 10 FEBRUARY/MARCH 2018   13
AMSA

     AUSTRALIAN MARITIME
     SAFETY AUTHORITY

     National system for                                     PURCHASING AN EXISTING VESSEL

     domestic commercial                                     Like purchasing a second-hand car or house, it
                                                             is easiest to buy an existing vessel that is already
                                                                                                                                   Placing equipment such as
                                                                                                                                   AC units, equipment and
     vessel safety –                                         suitable for what you intend to use it for. If you
                                                                                                                                   spare gear up high can make
     transition update                                       will need to make changes to the vessel, including
                                                             its class of survey, you need to consider the                         your vessel too top heavy,
     Work is well underway and on track for AMSA to          associated modification and compliance costs.                         and increase the windage of
     start delivering national system services from 1        You should also check the survey history of the                       the vessel, causing increased
     July 2018. We are working closely with Marine           vessel and look at whether any ‘major’ surveys                        heeling moments. Your stability
     and Safety Tasmania to ensure a smooth transfer         such as the renewal survey or shaft survey are                        assessment may not account
     of services so you can continue to access the           coming up. The costs of these surveys will be
     services you need, when you need them.                                                                                        for loads this high, and this
                                                             higher, and remember, you will need to fix any
                                                                                                                                   equipment can obstruct the
     Australia’s Transport Ministers have recently           deficiencies that are found.
                                                                                                                                   ability of the life raft to float
     agreed to provide more than $100 million                The sale of a vessel in itself is never a trigger for
     in funding over the next 10 years to support                                                                                  free in an emergency.
                                                             needing a vessel stability assessment, so long as
     industry’s transition to national service               the vessel has been in commercial survey within
     arrangements.                                           the last two years. However, it is quite common
                                                             for one of a number of things to occur that will                demonstrates the vessel is stable for a given
     With the funding agreed, we are working to
                                                             then trigger the need for the vessel’s stability to             loading condition (the most unfavourable). The
     finalise the national system fees and levy charges
                                                             be assessed or re-assessed.                                     results are recorded on a stability compliance
     – taking into account industry feedback from
                                                                                                                             report and full stability booklet is not required.
     the levy consultation in 2016. We have recently         Certain modifications to the vessel or changing
     released on our website a proposed levy model,          the use of the vessel may trigger a stability                   For larger vessels or vessels with more
     including the subsidised charges for the next five      assessment. General triggers are:                               complex loadings and operations, a stability
     years along with some further information.                                                                              book is required, and when a vessel changes
                                                             UU   a change to the displacement of the vessel,                displacement or operation, the stability load
     AMSA, TSIC and our other advisory group                      which can include untracked creep in                       cases will need to be updated.
     members are working together to finalise a draft             displacement (items on board that have
     model. This model will then be subject to final              accumulated over time)                                     This is done by measuring the vessel’s lightship
     Australian Government approval and will not                                                                             particulars (the amount it displaces and
     become law unless legislation is passed by the          UU   vessel modifications or changes in operation,              location of its centre of gravity with only the
     Australian Parliament. In the meantime, AMSA                 including change in type of fishing, or                    bare essentials on board and dry tanks), then
     welcomes you to provide feedback by filling out              wanting to operate outside the geographical
                                                                                                                             calculating the worst loading cases it may
                                                                  restrictions listed on the vessel’s Certificate of
     the web form on the ‘contact us’ page on AMSA’s                                                                         encounter (with full tanks, people and catch on
                                                                  Survey.
     website.                                                                                                                board).
                                                             In the event that a vessel does need a stability
     The levy is calculated based on vessel class,                                                                           If you are unsure whether the changes you wish
                                                             assessment, there are a range of stability criteria
     length and area of operation and is calculated                                                                          to make will trigger the requirement for a stability
                                                             that can be applied.
     using a combination of a fixed and variable fee. No                                                                     assessment or other National Law requirements,
     levy will be charged in the first year while services   For vessels engaged in simple operations, a                     you can seek advice from an AMSA accredited
     transition and are standardised across Australia.       practical test can often be conducted that                      surveyor or contact AMSA for clarification. 

     LEVY CALCULATION EXAMPLE
     A 10-metre fishing vessel operating offshore and not beyond 30 nautical miles is classified as a class 3C vessel.

                                     Description                         2018–19             2019–20             2020–21                 2021–22            2022–23
                                     Class 3
      Variable charge                Area C                                  0                  $29                    $69                 $111                $128
                                     7.5-12 metres
                                     Class 3
      Fixed charge                                                           0               $6 x 10m            $14 x 10m              $22 x 10m           $26 x 10m
                                     vessel length=10m
      Total levy charge              Fixed + variable fee                    0                  $89                  $209                  $331                $388
     The national system will mean the fees for vessel services will be the same in all Australian states and territories. More information about the fees to be
     charged for certain services will be published soon.
     If you are wanting to access national system services – until the end of June 2018 it is business as usual. You can continue to contact MAST, or,
     for survey services, a private accredited surveyor. AMSA will let you know as things change and if and when you need to take any action.
     Go to www.amsa.gov.au/domestic for more information, advice and updates about these changes or follow us on Facebook.

14           TASMANIAN SEAFOOD INDUSTRY NEWS
IMAS

INSTITUTE FOR MARINE &
ANTARCTIC STUDIES

Rock Lobster Update
By Justin Rizzari
PUERULUS MONITORING
IMAS researchers have been monitoring
settlement rates of southern rock lobster pueruli
along Tasmania’s East Coast since the early 90s.
The monitoring sites along the East Coast
are located adjacent to Bicheno, South Arm,
Recherche Bay, and Flinders Island. In more than       TRADITIONAL CREVICE COLLECTOR (LEFT) AND NEW OYSTER MESH COLLECTOR (RIGHT)
20 years of monitoring puerulus, settlement rates
                                                       an increase in settlement in 2012, with reported      RED UNDER THE TAIL
have remained relatively low, and stable, with the
                                                       catch rates being better than the 2016/2017           Late last year a southern rock lobster was caught
exception of spikes in settlement at Bicheno in
                                                       season. Therefore, it is expected that the record     out of St Helens that had flesh with a distinct
1991 and 1995, and at Bicheno and Recherche Bay
                                                       high settlement rates observed in 2017 would be       reddish colour. The red colour comes from the
in 2012. Encouragingly, 2017 has been a record
                                                       evident in higher catch rates in 2022/2023.           astaxanthin pigment that is the same pigment
high year across all sites for puerulus settlement
except for Flinders Island.                            At the end of last year, researchers also sought      added to salmon feed to produce their red colour,
                                                       to revamp the puerulus collector design.              which salmon would also get in their natural diet
There is roughly a five year gap between when                                                                from eating crustaceans. Astaxanthin is a protein
                                                       Currently, puerulus collectors consist of heavy,
puerulus settle and when they become of legal                                                                bound to lipids to help stabilise lipids, and is
                                                       angled wooden slats that mimic natural crevice
size to be exploited by the fishery. Ideally,                                                                present in the shell of rock lobsters, but more
                                                       habitats. They need to be serviced by divers. At
puerulus settlement would be incorporated into                                                               importantly in this case, it is related to the eggs.
                                                       Flinders Island and Bicheno, a new, boat-hauled
the southern rock lobster stock assessment model                                                             Red-fleshed southern rock lobsters are almost
                                                       system of collectors constructed out of oyster
to help forecast future exploitable biomass.                                                                 always females and it is usually a sign that the
                                                       mesh are being trialled to enable puerulus
However, the relationship between puerulus                                                                   female has not been able to find a mate. When
                                                       monitoring to be more efficient. In the beginning
settlement and future catch rates is not yet                                                                 this happens, the ovary is resorbed rather than
                                                       of December 2017, we saw large swell hitting
reliable enough to incorporate into a formal stock                                                           spawned as eggs. The resorbed ovary contains
                                                       the coast around southern Tasmania, which
assessment. With that said, one pattern that does                                                            all the rich pigmented lipoproteins bound to
                                                       resulted in the puerulus crevice collectors at
seem to emerge is, when there are high peaks in                                                              astaxanthin that would have enabled the embryos
                                                       Recherche Bay being destroyed. The collectors
settlement, the catch rates five years later tend to                                                         to develop. When this is resorbed, the blood
                                                       are usually deployed on sand, and after the run
increase.                                                                                                    and flesh turns red. On an individual level a red
                                                       of swell, there was no sand at the monitoring
For example, the 1995/1996 and 1999/2000               site and the reef has extended out a further few      tail is ok and is perfectly healthy for humans
seasons had higher catch rates following spikes        metres. Therefore, another goal of redesigning        to consume. It is the same chemical group of
in settlement in 1991 and 1995. The 2017/18            the collectors is so that they can better withstand   carotenoids that occurs naturally in vegetables
season looks to be promising as well following         the elements commonly encountered on the              like carrots and is added to pretty much anything
                                                       southern and western coasts of Tasmania. This         we eat that is yellow or red, such as salmon,
                                                       would enable more collectors to be placed around      cheese, or margarine. However, on a population
                                                       the State, thereby providing better coverage of       level, red-fleshed lobsters are not ideal because if
                                                       puerulus settlement and robust data that could        there are many of them it indicates that the stock
                                                       be incorporated into future stock assessments.        is too depleted for successful mating. 

SOUTHERN ROCK LOBSTER TAIL FLESH                           TIME SERIES DATA OF PUERULUS CATCHES PER COLLECTOR AT BICHENO,
WITH NORMAL WHITE FLESH ON THE LEFT                        FLINDERS ISLAND, RECHERCHE BAY, AND SOUTH ARM
AND RED FLESH ON THE RIGHT

                                                                                                                   VOLUME 10 FEBRUARY/MARCH 2018                    15
You can also read