Bird mitigation in the SESSF trawl sector

by Matt Woods | Aug 19, 2021

Seabird mortality because of fishery interactions is an issue of global conservation concern. Incidental mortality of seabirds caused by interactions with the warp wires of trawl vessels in Australia’s Commonwealth-managed Southern and Eastern Scalefish and Shark...

5-year RD&E Plan for NT fisheries and aquaculture

by Matt Woods | Aug 17, 2021

Fisheries research, development and extension (RD&E) plans are essential for guiding investment but can be challenging to pull together between diverse sectors. With distinct stakeholder groups and large geographical separation, the Northern Territory presents...

Realising Economic Returns of Reducing Waste Through Utilization of Bycatch in the GAB Trawl Sector of the SESSF

by Matt Woods | Jul 21, 2021

One of the most challenging issues facing trawl fisheries around the world is bycatch and discards. In most Australian trawl fisheries, more fish are discarded than are retained. This is a problem at multiple levels including social licence, negative environmental...

Review of Abalone Dive Rates

by Matt Woods | Jul 21, 2021

The Tasmanian wild harvest abalone fishery for Blacklip Abalone and Greenlip Abalone accounts for 25% of the total global wild caught abalone. Harvesting is undertaken by divers who are paid a $ per kilo rate by quota holders. This arrangement has led to discontent...

Improved targeting of arrow squid

by Matt Woods | Jul 20, 2021

Sources of variation in catches and catch rates of Gould’s squid in fisheries off southeast Australia are many and varied. This project identified a range of sources but nothing clear or obvious that could potentially be implemented to improve targeting in these...

Understanding Factors Influencing Under-caught TACs, Declining Catch Rates and Failure to Recover for many Quota Species in the Southern and Eastern Scalefish and Shark Fishery

by Matt Woods | Jul 20, 2021

Despite improvements in the status Southern and Eastern Scalefish and Shark Fishery (SESSF) fish stocks, three key indicators of the performance of the fishery have raised concerns: the fishery is failing to catch the TAC’s of many quota species despite historically...

Informing Structural Reform of South Australia’s Marine Scalefish Fishery

by Matt Woods | Jul 20, 2021

South Australia’s Marine Scalefish Fishery is diverse in the species caught, fishing gears used and licence conditions. This makes the management of the fishery very challenging. Industry and government are working collaboratively to address this complexity with the...

Interactions with marine mammals in the SESSF Shark Gillnet Fishery – exploring the possibility and viability of gillnet boats converting to a hook fishery in Bass Strait

by admin | Dec 2, 2020

Gillnets are the main gear type used in the Shark Gillnet and Shark Hook sector of the Southern and Eastern Scalefish and Shark Fishery.  In some parts of the fishery, the use of gillnets leads to interactions with threatened, endangered and protected species. ...