Status reports of fisheries & aquatic resources

360 Pages·2015·7.46 MB·English

by  Information Systems

Status reports of the fisheries and aquatic
resources of Western Australia 2014/15
State of the fisheries
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Cover photos: Shannon Conway

Status reports of the fisheries and aquatic
resources of Western Australia 2014/15
State of the fisheries
Edited by W.J. Fletcher and K. Santoro
Produced by the Fisheries Research Division based at the WA Fisheries and Marine Research Laboratories
Published by the Department of Fisheries
3rd Floor, The Atrium
168 St Georges Terrace
Perth WA 6000
Website: www.fish.wa.gov.au
ABN: 55 689 794 771
ISSN 2200-7849 (Print)
ISSN 2200-7857 (Online)
Suggested citation format:
Entire report:
Fletcher, W.J. and Santoro, K. (eds). (2015). Status Reports of the Fisheries and Aquatic Resources of Western Australia
2014/15: The State of the Fisheries. Department of Fisheries, Western Australia.
Individual status report:
Hart, A., Brown, J., O’Malley, J. (2015). Roe’s Abalone Fishery Status Report. In: Status Reports of the Fisheries and
Aquatic Resources of Western Australia 2014/15: The State of the Fisheries eds. W.J. Fletcher and K. Santoro,
Department of Fisheries, Western Australia, pp. 39-48.
CONTENTS
OVERVIEW FROM THE DIRECTOR GENERAL ......................... 1 North Coast Prawn Managed Fisheries Status
EDITOR'S INTRODUCTION ...................................................... 2 Report ...................................................................... 173
HOW TO USE THIS VOLUME ................................................... 4 North Coast Nearshore and Estuarine Fishery
OVERVIEW OF THE STATUS OF KEY ECOLOGICAL Status Report .......................................................... 182
RESOURCES (ASSETS) ........................................................... 9 North Coast Demersal Fisheries Status Report ..... 189
ECOSYSTEM STRUCTURE AND BIODIVERSITY ................ 9 Mackerel Managed Fishery Report: Statistics Only207
GENERAL ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS ......................... 11 Pearl Oyster Managed Fishery Status Report ........ 211
WEST COAST BIOREGION .................................................... 21 Beche-de-mer Fishery Status Report ..................... 216
ABOUT THE BIOREGION ................................................ 21 North Coast Crab Fishery Status Report ................ 220
SUMMARY OF FISHING AND AQUACULTURE AQUACULTURE ............................................................. 228
ACTIVITIES ..................................................................... 21 COMPLIANCE AND COMMUNITY EDUCATION ............. 229
ECOSYSTEM MANAGEMENT ......................................... 21 SOUTH COAST BIOREGION ................................................ 232
ECOSYSTEM BASED FISHERIES MANAGEMENT .......... 22 ABOUT THE BIOREGION ............................................... 232
Introduced Pests Status Report ............................... 28 SUMMARY OF FISHING AND AQUACULTURE
FISHERIES ..................................................................... 30 ACTIVITIES .................................................................... 232
West Coast Rock Lobster Fishery Status Report ..... 30 ECOSYSTEM MANAGEMENT ....................................... 232
Roe’s Abalone Fishery Status Report ...................... 39 ECOSYSTEM BASED FISHERIES MANAGEMENT ........ 233
Abrolhos Islands and Mid West, South West Trawl Introduced Pests Status Report ............................. 236
Managed Fisheries and South Coast Trawl Fishery FISHERIES .................................................................... 236
Status Report ............................................................ 49 South Coast Crustacean Fisheries Status Report . 236
West Coast Blue Swimmer Crab Fishery Status Greenlip/Brownlip Abalone Fishery Status Report 240
Report ........................................................................ 55 South Coast Nearshore and Estuarine Finfish
West Coast Nearshore and Estuarine Finfish Resources Status Report ........................................ 247
Resources Status Report ......................................... 65 South Coast Purse Seine Fishery Report: Statistics
West Coast Purse Seine Fishery Report: Statistics Only .......................................................................... 258
Only ............................................................................ 81 Temperate Demersal Gillnet and Demersal
West Coast Demersal Scalefish Resource Status Longline Fisheries Status Report ........................... 261
Report ........................................................................ 84 South Coast Demersal Scalefish Resource Report:
Octopus Fishery Status Report ................................ 96 Statistics Only .......................................................... 272
AQUACULTURE ............................................................. 100 AQUACULTURE ............................................................. 275
COMPLIANCE AND COMMUNITY EDUCATION ............ 101 COMPLIANCE AND COMMUNITY EDUCATION ............. 275
GASCOYNE COAST BIOREGION ......................................... 104 NORTHERN INLAND BIOREGION ....................................... 278
ABOUT THE BIOREGION .............................................. 104 ABOUT THE BIOREGION ............................................... 278
SUMMARY OF ACTIVITIES POTENTIALLY IMPACTING SUMMARY OF FISHING AND AQUACULTURE
THE BIOREGION ................................................................. 104 ACTIVITIES .................................................................... 278
ECOSYSTEM MANAGEMENT ....................................... 106 ECOSYSTEM MANAGEMENT ....................................... 278
ECOSYSTEM MONITORING AND STATUS ................... 109 ECOSYSTEM BASED FISHERIES MANAGEMENT ........ 278
Introduced Pests Status Report ............................. 115 FISHERIES .................................................................... 280
FISHERIES ................................................................... 116 Lake Argyle Silver Cobbler Fishery Report: Statistics
Shark Bay Prawn and Scallop Managed Fisheries Only .......................................................................... 280
Status Report .......................................................... 116 AQUACULTURE ............................................................. 282
Exmouth Gulf Prawn Managed Fishery Status COMPLIANCE AND COMMUNITY EDUCATION ............. 282
Report ...................................................................... 123 SOUTHERN INLAND BIOREGION ....................................... 285
West Coast1 Deep Sea Crustacean Managed ABOUT THE BIOREGION ............................................... 285
Fishery Status Report ............................................. 130 SUMMARY OF FISHING AND AQUACULTURE
Gascoyne Demersal Scalefish Fishery Status ACTIVITIES .................................................................... 285
Report ...................................................................... 134 ECOSYSTEM MANAGEMENT ....................................... 285
Inner Shark Bay Scalefish Fishery Status Report.. 142 ECOSYSTEM BASED FISHERIES MANAGEMENT ........ 285
Shark Bay Blue Swimmer Crab Fishery Status FISHERIES .................................................................... 288
Report ...................................................................... 149 Licensed South-West Recreational Freshwater
AQUACULTURE ............................................................. 154 Angling Fishery Report: Statistics only ................... 288
COMPLIANCE AND COMMUNITY EDUCATION ............ 154 Licensed Recreational Marron Fishery Report ...... 291
NORTH COAST BIOREGION ............................................... 157 AQUACULTURE ............................................................. 297
ABOUT THE BIOREGION .............................................. 157 COMPLIANCE AND COMMUNITY EDUCATION ............. 297
SUMMARY OF ACTIVITIES POTENTIALLY IMPACTING STATEWIDE ......................................................................... 300
THE BIOREGION ................................................................. 158 ECOSYSTEM BASED FISHERIES MANAGEMENT ........ 300
ECOSYSTEM MANAGEMENT ....................................... 160 FISHERIES .................................................................... 301
ECOSYSTEM MONITORING AND STATUS ................... 164 Marine Aquarium Fish Managed Fishery Report:
Introduced Pests Status Report ............................. 172 Statistics Only .......................................................... 301
FISHERIES ................................................................... 173 Specimen Shell Managed Fishery Status Report .. 306
STATUS REPORTS OF THE FISHERIES AND AQUATIC RESOURCES OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA 2014/15 i
Hermit Crab Fishery Report: Statistics Only ........... 308 Indian Ocean Territories Fishery Status Report .... 324
APPENDICES ...................................................................... 310 Finfish Ageing Laboratory ....................................... 329
APPENDIX 1 ................................................................. 310 Activities of the Marine Biosecurity Research Group
Fisheries Research Division staff publications during 2014/15...................................................... 330
2013/14 .................................................................. 310 Activities of the Freshwater Biosecurity Research
APPENDIX 2 ................................................................. 313 Program 2014 ........................................................ 333
Table of catches from fishers’ statutory monthly Monitoring of the Southwest artificial reef trial in
returns for 2013/14 ............................................... 313 2013 & 2014 .......................................................... 338
Estimated Western Australian Aquaculture APPENDIX 4 ................................................................. 342
Production for 2013/14 ......................................... 318 Annual performance for commercial fisheries
APPENDIX 3 ................................................................. 321 subject to export approval under the
Research Division - Other Activities ........................ 321 Commonwealth Government’s Environment
Activities of the Pemberton Freshwater Research Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999342
Centre and the Aquaculture & Native Fish Breeding APPENDIX 5 ................................................................. 351
Laboratory 2014/15 ............................................... 321 Fisheries Research Division staff adjunct positions
Activities of the Fish Health Unit during 2014/15 323 and supervision of students ................................... 351

ii DEPARTMENT OF FISHERIES
OVERVIEW FROM THE DIRECTOR
GENERAL
The Status Reports of the Fisheries and Aquatic Resources of remained closed during 2014. The stock of crabs in
Western Australia (SRFAR) provide the public with an Cockburn Sound is again showing signs of environmental
annual update on the state of the fish stocks and other aquatic impacts on its growth and recruitment, as is the case for the
resources of Western Australia (WA) managed by the West Coast Beach Bait Fishery and the management
Department of Fisheries (Department). These reports outline arrangements for these will be examined further this year.
the most recent assessments of the cumulative risk status for
The fishing methods that may affect the habitat (e.g.
each of the aquatic resources (assets) within WA’s six
trawling) are highly regulated with over 90% of WA
Bioregions using an Ecosystem Based Fisheries Management
coastline unaffected from these types of activities. The
(EBFM) approach. This world leading approach details all
overwhelming majority of WA fisheries have also been
the fisheries and fishing-related activities within each of the
assessed as posing only negligible or minor risks to bycatch
Bioregions which reports on the activities and processes
species, listed species, habitats or the broader ecosystem.
undertaken by the Department to manage the broader aquatic
The small number of fisheries identified as posing some risk
environment, such as habitats, ecosystems and aquatic pests.
now has targeted research programs to reduce their
The SRFAR summarises the status of fisheries and aquatic interactions (e.g. whale entanglements).
resources following the 2013-14 or 2014 seasons, the
A summary of these status reports is included in the
Departmental activities undertaken during 2014/15 plus any
Department’s Annual Report to Parliament, which includes
outcomes from preceding years. It documents recent changes
the Department’s non-financial (fishery) performance
to management or policy settings, compliance and education
indicators which is available through the Department’s
operations along with the assessments generated from the
website (www.fish.wa.gov.au).
ongoing monitoring of stock levels and ecosystem condition.
This document therefore provides a comprehensive reference The comprehensive set of information used to generate the
for the current status of all WA aquatic resources including bioregional and resource level status reports presented in this
document has provided the Department with the basis to
those of major importance to the commercial and recreational
fishing sectors, the aquaculture industry, the tourism adopt a world leading methodology to implement the
industry, and for those in the community interested in the Government’s third party certification initiative. All
commercial fisheries in WA have been pre-assessed against
overall health of WAs aquatic environment.
the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) certification criteria.
WA is one of the only fisheries jurisdictions in the world to
This is acknowledged worldwide as the gold standard for
fully implement such a comprehensive and practical EBFM
fishery certification schemes and the government has recently
framework. This provides a comprehensive, risk based
decided on the affiliated Aquaculture Stewardship Council
framework for the overall management of aquatic resources
(ASC) to be the system to enable third party certification of
because it explicitly considers all ecological resources and
WAs aquaculture industries. WA’s rock lobster fishery was
community values within a Bioregion to determine which of
the first in the world to gain certification back in 2000. Some
these require direct management intervention. A key finding
additional fisheries have now progressed through the full
from these current status reports is that the comprehensive
MSC process and also gained certification (Exmouth Gulf
systems of management for fishing and aquaculture activities
and Shark Bay trawl). A number of other fisheries are
in WA do not present an unacceptable risk to the marine,
currently undergoing this process including the first ever
estuarine and freshwater ecosystems underpinning them. The
MSC assessment of a combined commercial and recreational
overwhelming majority of aquatic ecological resources in
fishery for Peel Harvey blue swimmer crabs. This exciting
WA continue to be at acceptable levels of risk except where
MSC initiative is designed to help public confidence that
they are being affected by adverse environmental conditions
WA’s fisheries and resources are being sustainably managed.
or non-fishing related impacts.
I would like to take this opportunity to express my
Approximately 97% of commercial fisheries are now
appreciation to all Departmental staff who contributed to this
targeting stocks where current management controls are
important, annual performance review of WA’s aquatic
either maintaining or achieving an acceptable breeding stock
resources. In addition, many commercial and recreational
level from the effects of fishing. The issue identified in last
fishers, science collaborators and other stakeholders
year’s report for the stock of Australian herring has resulted
throughout the State are to be commended for their positive
in a rebuilding strategy being implemented which included
support for the Department’s monitoring and research
additional management actions for both the commercial and
programs and management initiatives, without which such a
recreational sectors. A further four fisheries in the Gascoyne
high level of sustainability would not be achieved.
and the West Coast Bioregion were assessed as having
inadequate breeding stocks but as a result of the negative
impacts of environmental perturbations, not fishing. The
high mortality of adults and extremely poor recruitment
levels observed for scallops in Shark Bay and the Abrolhos HEATHER BRAYFORD
Islands region initiated during the marine heatwave of 2011 DIRECTOR GENERAL
has continued with limited recovery so these fisheries
October 2015
STATUS REPORTS OF THE FISHERIES AND AQUATIC RESOURCES OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA 2014/15 1
EDITOR'S INTRODUCTION
The Status Reports of the Fisheries and Aquatic Resources of reference source, it also meets the reporting requirements of
Western Australia 2014/15 uses the Ecosystem Based the Department, including the need to annually report on the
Fisheries Management (EBFM) framework which is now the ‘state of fisheries managed under’ the FRMA4 to the Western
basis for management of Western Australia’s aquatic Australian Parliament and to the Commonwealth
resources (Fletcher, et al., 20101, 20122). This is consistent Government, on the performance of fisheries that are relevant
with the Department’s full implementation of a risk-based under their EPBC Act. In addition, with the government
approach to resource management. How this document fits initiative to have all WA commercial fisheries undergo pre-
within this process is outlined in Editor’s Figure 1. assessment for MSC certification this has resulted in some
slight changes in the terminology that may be used within
The introductory section for each Bioregion outlines the key
some sections of these reports in order to match that used in
ecological resources (assets) and summarises their current
the MSC assessment criteria and also that presented in the
overall (cumulative) risk status. The assets that are examined
in each bioregion include each of the IMCRA3 meso-scale Status of Key Australian Fish Stocks reports5.
ecosystems plus the key habitats, captured species and listed The report is directly accessible on the Department’s website
species categories. There is also a section for the external (www.fish.wa.gov.au), where users are encouraged to
drivers, such as climate change, coastal development and download relevant sections for personal use. If quoting from
introduced pests/diseases, which may affect the Department’s the document, please give appropriate acknowledgment using
ability to effectively manage WA’s aquatic resources. Given the citation format provided at the front of the report.
the increased activities and regional level assessments that
Finally, I would like to thank all of my Departmental
are occurring as part of the Marine Stewardship Council
colleagues across all Divisions who have assisted in the
(MSC) initiative, these sections are being progressively
production of this volume and its many status reports. Thanks
expanded.
are once again due to Ms Karen Santoro who has managed
Within each Bioregion, the set of individual fishery reports both the coordination and publication processes to enable the
are resource-based rather than activity (sector) based. The production of this important report.
different fisheries accessing the same category of ecological
assets (resources) are covered in a single report (e.g. West
Coast Nearshore and Estuarine Finfish) which contains
descriptions of all the commercial and recreational activities.
Taking this Bioregional approach to the management of

ecological assets ensures that the aggregate catch harvested
DR RICK FLETCHER
from each stock is identified to enable their cumulative effect
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR RESEARCH
to be assessed. This approach is also consistent with the
Department’s IFM initiative and the proposed new Act. The October 2015
structure of the reports should enable readers to more easily
assess the interrelationships between fisheries and how the
catch is shared among sectors.
The long-standing involvement by our commercial,
recreational and aquaculture stakeholders in specific research
projects and monitoring programs is recognised. This
includes the provision of logbook data, voluntary
participation in recreational fishing surveys, provision of
biological samples, access to vessels and information which
are essential to the generation of many of the status reports
presented in this document. The input from other science
groups located within WA plus those from other parts of
Australia and internationally is also acknowledged.
While the Status Reports of the Fisheries and Aquatic
Resources of Western Australia 2014/15 provides the general
public, interested fishers and other stakeholders with a ready

1 W.J. Fletcher, J. Shaw, S.J. Metcalf & D.J. Gaughan (2010) An Ecosystem Based
Fisheries Management framework: the efficient, regional-level planning tool for
management agencies. Marine Policy 34 (2010) 1226–1238
2 Fletcher, W.J., Gaughan, D.J., Metcalfe, S.J., Shaw, J. (2012) Using a regional level,
risk-based framework to cost effectively implement Ecosystem Based Fisheries
Management (EBFM). In: Kruse, G.H., Browman, H.I., Cochrane, K.L., Evans, D.,
Jamieson, G.S., Livingston, P.A., Woodby, D., Zhang, C.I. (eds) Global Progress on
Ecosystem-Based Fisheries Management. pp. 129-146. Alaska Sea Grant College
Program. doi: 10.4027/gpebfm.2012.07

3 Commonwealth of Australia (2006) A guide to the Integrated Marine and Coastal
Regionalisation of Australia - version 4.0 June 2006 (IMCRA v4.0). 4 Section 263 of the FRMA.
http://www.environment.gov.au/coasts/mbp/publications/imcra/pubs/imcra4.pd 5 Flood et al. (2014) Status of Key Australian Fish Stocks. Fisheries Research &
f Development Corporation, Canberra
2 DEPARTMENT OF FISHERIES
EDITOR’S FIGURE 1
An outline showing how the SRFAR fits within the risk based annual planning cycle now used for determining Departmental
priorities and activities.

STATUS REPORTS OF THE FISHERIES AND AQUATIC RESOURCES OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA 2014/15 3
HOW TO USE THIS VOLUME
To obtain full benefit from the information provided in this Assessment of Regional Level
edition of the Status Reports of Fisheries and Aquatic
Ecological Resources (Assets) in
Resources of Western Australia, the following outlines the
various terms and headings used in the text, the fishery status each Bioregion
overview table (which also appears in the Department of
Fisheries Annual Report 2014/15 to Parliament) and the The high level set of ecological resources/assets that are to be
ecological resource level reports. managed under the FRMA for each bioregion have been
The terms and headings are a combination of the reporting identified (see Introduction Figure 1). The ecological
structures first outlined in the National Ecologically resources/assets in each Bioregion include the ecosystems
Sustainable Development (ESD) reporting structure (Fletcher and their constituent habitats, captured species and listed
et al. 2002)1, plus the Ecosystem Based Fisheries species. A step-wise, risk-based approach is used to integrate
Management (EBFM) framework (Fletcher et al. 2010, the individual issues identified and information gathered into
2012)2 and the Resource Assessment Framework (DoF, a form that can be used by the Department. Implementing
2011)3. The terminology used in reports has now been EBFM only requires the consideration of each of these
updated to be consistent with the MSC criteria, and where elements to determine which (if any) requires direct
possible, that used within the Status of Key Australian Fish management to achieve acceptable performance. Full details
Stocks reports4. of how the EBFM process is undertaken are presented in
Fletcher et al. (2012) with a summary description outlined
In addition to the explanations provided below, acronyms are
below.
expanded at their first occurrence in a section of the text. It
also needs to be noted that references are only presented as Ecosystems: Within each Bioregion, one or more meso-
footnotes once within each report. scale ecosystems, as defined by the IMCRA process, were
identified with some of these further divided into estuarine

and marine ecosystems where relevant (Introduction Figure
Bioregions 2).
Habitats: The habitat assets in each Bioregion were divided
With the adoption of the EBFM approach, a fully bioregional
into estuarine and marine categories and again where
structure is used for these reports whereby a ‘Bioregion’
necessary the latter category was further divided into
refers to a region defined by common oceanographic
nearshore and offshore components.
characteristics in its marine environment or by
climate/rainfall characteristics in its inland river systems. Captured Fish: The captured fish were subdivided into
finfish, crustaceans and molluscs with each of these further
The marine bioregional boundaries used here are consistent
divided into estuarine/embayments, nearshore, inshore and
with “A guide to The Integrated Marine and Coastal
offshore demersal and pelagic (finfish only) suites (see also
Regionalisation of Australia” - version 4.0 June 2006
(IMCRA v4.0)5 except for the inclusion of the Gascoyne DoF, 2011).
Coast as a separate Bioregion. This reflects its nature as the Listed species: This category, which includes Endangered,
transition zone between tropical and temperate waters. Threatened and Protected Species (ETPS) under State or
Commonwealth Acts, was subdivided into listed ‘fish’ (e.g.
The precise boundaries of the Bioregions reflect functional
White Sharks, Corals) and listed ‘non-fish’ (e.g. mammals) as
geographic separations and data recording systems. Each
defined in the FRMA.
individual Bioregion has been provided with a general
introduction outlining the main features of its aquatic
environment plus the major commercial and recreational Risk Assessment Status
fisheries and aquaculture industries that operate in the area.
This section also outlines the current cumulative risk status of The risks associated with each individual ecological asset are
each of the high level, ecological resources/assets located examined separately using formal qualitative risk assessment
within each Bioregion (see below). (Consequence x Likelihood) or more-simple problem
assessment processes, as detailed in Fletcher (2015)6. This
1 Fletcher, W.J., Chesson, J., Fisher, M., Sainsbury, K.J., Hundloe, T., Smith, A.D.M. and enables the analysis of risk (using a five year time horizon)
Whitworth, B. 2002. National ESD reporting framework for Australian fisheries:
The ‘how to’ guide for wild capture fisheries. FRDC project 2000/145, Fisheries for objectives related to captured species, habitat and
Research and Development Corporation, Canberra. community structure/ecosystem sustainability, plus social and
2 Fletcher, W.J., Shaw, J., Metcalf, S.J. & D.J. Gaughan (2010) An Ecosystem Based economic outcomes to be completed in a practical and
Fisheries Management framework: the efficient, regional-level planning tool for
consistent manner. The implications for the likely level of
management agencies. Marine Policy 34 (2010) 1226–1238
reporting and management responses that are required for
Fletcher, W.J., Gaughan, D.J., Metcalf, S.J., Shaw, J. 2012. Using a regional level, risk-
based framework to cost effectively implement Ecosystem Based Fisheries each of the different risk categories are outlined below.
Management (EBFM). In: Kruse et al. (eds) Global Progress on Ecosystem-Based
Fisheries Management. pp. 129-146. Alaska Sea Grant College Program. doi: The accepted international definition of risk is “the
10.4027/gpebfm.2012.07 uncertainty associated with achieving objectives” (ISO,
3 Department of Fisheries (2011) Resource Assessment Framework for Finfish
Resources in Western Australia. Fisheries Occasional Publication. No. 85
4 Flood et al. (2012) Status of Key Australian Fish Stocks. Fisheries Research & 6 Fletcher, W.J. (2015). Review and refinement of an existing qualitative risk
Development Corporation, Canberra, 420 pp. assessment method for application within an ecosystem-based management
5http://www.environment.gov.au/coasts/mbp/publications/imcra/pubs/imcra4.pdf framework. ICES Journal of Marine Research 72:1043-1056
4 DEPARTMENT OF FISHERIES