Dave Johnson*, Senior Manager - Environment and Research, AFMA

The key question for any environmental monitoring program is how will the information be used by managers to support better decision making? 

A clear example of where this is working effectively is in fisheries managed by the Australian Fisheries Management Authority, where commercial fishers, researchers, economists and managers work together in a well defined decision making process.

The Australian Fisheries Management Authority (AFMA) is responsible for maximising the return to the Australian community from our fisheries. We’re striving to do this in a way which ensures the sustainability of both commercial species and the broader marine environment.

So, how many fish should be allowed to be caught each year?

For target species – we base this on what is both ecologically and economically sustainable, that is, what catch limit will provide the maximum economic yield (MEY) for the fishery. For non-target species – we seek to put arrangements in place which minimise unwanted bycatch and interactions with protected species to ensure that fishing does not pose an unacceptable risk to those species.

However, it’s a big ocean out there and we can’t count all the fish. Instead, we have a comprehensive monitoring program in place which includes collecting information through a range of mechanisms. These include: Catch and Effort Logbooks (completed by fishers), Catch Disposal Records (completed by fishers and fish receivers), Crew member observer programs (fishing crews volunteering to collect additional information about their catches), Independent AFMA observers (at sea and in port), Fishery Independent Surveys, and through a Vessel Monitoring System (VMS).

This monitoring program is funded by the commercial fishing industry, and composes about one tenth of AFMA’s annual budget.

But it’s not just monitoring for the sake of it. Every data set delivers information we have specifically identified to help us manage fisheries. For target species, we apply the Commonwealth Harvest Strategy Policy (Commonwealth Harvest Strategy Policy 2007) which was signed off by both the Australian Fisheries and Environment Ministers in 2007. This policy requires clearly defined target and limit reference points which are based on a mix of Maximum Economic Yield and ecological sustainability. For non-target species, we apply a risk based Ecological Risk Assessment and Management framework (Ecological Risk Assessment for the effects of Fishing in Commonwealth Fisheries 2006) which uses qualitative and quantitative assessment techniques, depending on the level of information available and the scale of the fishery.

Harvest Strategies involve clearly defined decision rules, which can be applied on an annual basis, providing both clarity and certainty for all stakeholders interested in setting annual catch limits.

While this process is working well, some of the ongoing challenges we’re facing are:

• Detecting future climate change impacts on fish stocks. Although the Harvest Strategy policy remains useful in the context of climate change, being aware of the relative contribution of fishing and climate change impacts will become increasingly important when looking for broader environmental signals from fisheries data.

• Embracing new technologies. For example, electronic monitoring onboard fishing boats may present opportunities to increase the efficiency, cost effectiveness and scope of future data collection.

• Achieving data collection efficiencies, which is a key cost in the context of overall management for both our large and small fisheries.

So while Australian Fisheries is a good example of an integrated monitoring program, where data are collected and analysed as part of a defined decision making process, we will need to continue to adapt and modify the program, to meet these challenges for the future.

Meanwhile, the work by the CERF Marine Biodiversity Hub is also adding to our broader understanding of the marine environment, and providing new insights into the context for applying this monitoring program.

*Editors Note: Dave Johnson recently took on the role of director overseeing the CERF Program at the Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts..

References: 

Commonwealth Harvest Strategy Policy 2007 

Ecological Risk Assessment for the effects of Fishing in Commonwealth Fisheries 2006

Photos:  Measuring scampi, blue mackerel, Lakes Entrance

http://www.afma.gov.au/