Global spotlight on Australian fishing and aquaculture - MULTI-PRONGED
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VOLUME 29
NUMBER 3
FISHERIES RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION NEWS SEPTEMBER 2021
Global spotlight on
Australian fishing
and aquaculture
MULTI-PRONGED ROCK LOBSTER STRATEGIES
SAFETY AQUACULTURE FOR FUTURE
STRATEGY ADVANCES HARVESTS
COMM U N I T Y R E S I L I E N C E
GRA N T S R O U N D T W O
NOW OPEN
Applications are now open
for Round 2 of the Stay Afloat
Community Resilience Grants.
25 grants of up to $2,000 are available to support initiative and
events designed to improve the mental health and wellbeing of
commercial seafood communities around the country.
The grants are available for seafood communities around
Australia to host community-led events that support discussions
on mental health, well-being and connectedness. Short on ideas?
Think about adding a BBQ and speaker to your next AGM or
meeting. In lockdown? Use the funds to support a book or movie
club coupled with a video catch-up.
Applications close on September 30, contact program
manager Jo Marshall on jo@seafoodindustryaustralia.com.au or
0408 008 344 to help develop your ideas or to submit an application.
For more information visit www.stayafloat.com.au/grants
www.stayafloat.com.au
facebook.com/StayAfloatAustralia
Stay Afloat Australia is the national mental health pilot program for the Australian seafood industry, run by Seafood Industry Australia and supported with funding
from the Australian Government Department of Health’s Mental Health Program
FEEDBAC
3
FRDC wel K
comes
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ments:
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.com.au
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SEPTEMBER 2021 Download from
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FISH is published by the FEATURES
FISHERIES RESEARCH
AND DEVELOPMENT
CORPORATION (FRDC)
The FRDC plans, invests in
and manages fisheries research,
development and extension
activities throughout Australia.
It is a statutory authority within
the portfolio of the Federal Minister
for Agriculture, jointly funded by
the Australian Government
and the fishing industry.
FRDC
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ACT 2600 COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT CUSTOMARY FISHING RECREATIONAL FISHING AWARDS
T 02 6122 2100 Recognition Gone Fishing Day focuses Outstanding marine
E frdc@frdc.com.au
Recognising the power
W www.frdc.com.au of citizen science on the world stage on mental health science students
To contact individual staff
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FISH is available free. CONSUMER INFORMATION INNOVATION AQUACULTURE
To subscribe, contact the FRDC: Nutritional details for Pioneering technology Raising rock lobsters,
T 02 6122 2100 popular seafood species saves Southern from hatchery
E frdc@frdc.com.au
FISH is online at www.frdc.com.au Bluefin Tuna to sea rafts
COPYRIGHT
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the FRDC’s FISH is acknowledged
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Otherwise reproduction is forbidden
under-catching PROFILE
without the written permission
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Development Corporation. Material
in FISH is copyright.
Ross Casey reflects
on the ‘good life’
DISCLAIMER
Information in FISH is not intended 10
as professional advice.
WORLD FISHERIES CONGRESS
The FRDC will not accept
responsibility for any liability arising Bringing international 31
from reliance on the contents.
science to fisheries INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENT
FISH is written and produced by
the FRDC and Coretext Pty Ltd. stakeholders Seaweed peak body
FRDC editor: Annabel Boyer to help drive growth
Coretext editor: Catherine Norwood
Senior designer: Fiona James
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E enquiries@coretext.com.au Reflections on two REPORTING
WILDCATCH FISHERIES
W www.coretext.com.au decades of progress Global fisheries
ISSN: 1833-4784 (Print)
statistics
How harvest strategies REGULAR
ISSN: 2202-7122 (Digital) are guiding good
Cover: Coretext management
Photo: Unsplash/Shutterstock
In brief 07
The FRDC acknowledges the
traditional custodians of the
24 Science briefs 08
lands on which FISH magazine is SAFETY New projects 40
produced, and pay our respects
Whole-of-industry
to their Elders past and present.
We acknowledge the special approach needed Final reports 41
relationship that Indigenous to tackle risks
Australians have with their Calendar/Movers... 43
traditional lands and waters.
F I SH S E P T E M B E R 2 0 2 1 |
4 COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
Keen amateurs prove
a major force in
scientific discovery
Tidal pool volunteers.
Words Gio Braidotti Photo: Earthwatch
Fisheries are a major Helping the discovery process Past efforts to prevent contaminated fish
from reaching consumers included a maximum
beneficiary as science Roger stresses that the projects are the real
deal and not a coy subterfuge to promote or size limit of 10 kilograms imposed by the
employs the value and communicate science. In fact, public participation Sydney Fish Market. This was based on the
premise that larger Spanish Mackerel would be
power of citizen scientists can be crucial to the discovery process.
This proved to be the case for Shauna Murray more likely to have accumulated the toxins.
at the University of Technology Sydney. She runs a Murray’s preliminary analysis in 2019
F
project to better detect ciguatera toxins in Spanish indicated this proposition was not necessarily
aced with major restrictions Mackerel (Scomberomorus commerson) caught in true, but she needed a larger study to identify
on activities during COVID-19 New South Wales waters and has established fish characteristics that properly indicate risk.
lockdowns during the past year, the state’s first ciguatera-testing facility as part When neither the scientists nor the Sydney
and a renewed focus on local of efforts to prevent it reaching consumers. Fish Market were in a position to generate the
environments, more people than Ciguatera are tasteless, heat-stable toxins samples needed, she reached out to commercial
ever have joined up to participate in scientific that cause serious illness, sometimes with and recreational fishers directly for help.
discovery through citizen science activities. long-lasting neurological symptoms. They “We got a great sector-wide response,” she
These typically involve monitoring or are produced by tropical microalgae and says. “The partnership operates quite simply. We
sampling the environment, classifying scientific accumulate up the marine food chain. reach out to fishers, open up a dialogue and send
data or analysing it, either in partnership with “We have known about the danger of out sample packs containing pre-labelled tubes,
researchers or within a community group. And ciguatera in Australia since colonisation, but instructions and what information to record.”
fisheries have been a particular beneficiary of in the past 10 years we have seen increasing Fishers provided about 100 samples of flesh
research activity undertaken by keen amateurs. cases reach further south into NSW, possibly and liver tissue during the most recent Spanish
Chair of the Australian Citizen Science as part of warming trends associated Mackerel season.
Association (ACSA) Erin Roger says with climate change,” says Murray. “We are now looking at running the same
engagement had been on an upward trend but From one recorded case in NSW prior to citizen science initiative for the next two seasons,”
it clearly accelerated with the pandemic. 2014, the numbers have increased: 31 incidents says Murray, who is also looking to expand the
“We saw a big uptake of citizen science have been recorded since then, including among ciguatera survey with the support of the NSW
activity with COVID-19 lockdowns, particularly recreational fishers. Testing in recent years Government’s Recreational Fishing Trusts .
projects that can be done on a computer or involve detected the toxins in about five per cent of The reliability and trustworthiness of citizen
observations of the local environment,” she says. sampled Spanish Mackerel caught in NSW. scientists’ contributions have often been open to
| SEPTEM B ER 2 0 2 1 FI SH
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT 5
speculation, but there is now published evidence to The review is freely available to the public
support the idea that these contributions are robust. (https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/
For example, Zooniverse, a portal hosted by gcb.15634).
Portsmouth and Oxford universities that links “The data is also helping us to understand the
the public to about 200 active science projects, ecosystem implications, with findings becoming
has achieved just under 600 million classifications more relevant the longer the project runs,” she adds.
that contributed to over 100 peer-reviewed The value and importance of Redmap has been
scientific papers. widely recognised. For example, it has twice been a
While some scientists are surprised by the finalist for the prestigious Australian Museum
quality and size of the impact of citizen Eureka Prize for Innovation in Citizen Science.
contributions, Roger says there is a good reason for However, with no long-term secure funding, the
it. “Science can look broadly or deeply at a problem, project has once again turned to the public for help
but not both. Citizen science offers a way to achieve by welcoming donations.
both depth and breadth.”
App engagement
Mapping change Monitoring biodiversity and sampling are A Victorian
This facet is particularly apparent with key activities in fisheries-related citizen recreational fisher
Redmap – the Range Extension Database and science projects (see Table 1), and Rogers, tags a rock lobster.
Photo: Victorian
Mapping project. It was started by Gretta Pecl from the ACSA, is impressed by the scope Fisheries Authority
at the University of Tasmania and launched of fisheries-related projects available.
in 2009. Redmap invites the Australian Fishers possess one type of data of immense
community to spot, log and map changes in importance to fisheries: how much they catch and
the distribution of marine species as part of keep. Yet when it comes to recreational fishers,
efforts to understand climate-driven impacts. catch data is often lacking or unclear.
“I started Redmap in recognition of the To help address this issue, fisheries managers
amount of knowledge held by fishers, divers and and researchers around the world are looking at
people that are routinely out on the water, but whether citizen science-style practices can help
that doesn’t make it into the scientific record,” close the information gap using smartphone app
Pecl says. “So, Redmap both extends our ability to technology as the reporting interface. Recreational fishers
provide mandatory
monitor marine environments while incorporating This approach combines mandated reporting in tag data and can
industry knowledge that science typically omits.” the recreational fishing area (where catch and size volunteer extra
First rolled out in Tasmania, but extended limits can apply) with citizen science and the information.
Photo: Victorian
nationally with support from FRDC, Redmap potential to make additional voluntary contributions. Fisheries Authority
relies on volunteers submitting photos of species While many voluntary projects have been
that are unusual for a particular area, with the enthusiastically supported, catch-size reporting
species identification verified by experts. Pecl projects in fisheries around the world have had Australians are
says she was surprised and impressed by the varied degrees of success. enthusiastic
level of knowledge in the community that proved In Australia, the combined approach is being contributors to citizen
science projects.
capable of distinguishing species accurately and analysed in an FRDC-funded project undertaken by Photo: Port Philip
determining which did not belong to an area. the University of Tasmania (UTAS) in partnership EcoCentre
Examples of anomalous sightings include with the Victorian Fisheries Authority (VFA).
Whale Sharks (Rhincodon typus) in waters off UTAS project leader Karlie McDonald says the
Perth and Gloomy Octopus (Octopus tetricus) VFA’s monitoring of recreational rock lobster
in Tasmania. These records are indicative of catches provides the basis for the analysis, and
a greater global trend that is seeing tropical combines mandated reporting and the opportunity
species extend into temperate zones over time. for additional voluntary information.
“Data from Redmap has contributed to Recreational fishers are required to tag the
25 journal articles and has helped establish that rock lobsters they catch and report the tags they
species shift isn’t random but is associated with use either online or through the VicRLTag app,
regions that are warming faster,” Pecl says. which was launched three years ago. This provides
In 2021, she published a continental-scale an estimate of the annual recreational harvest.
review of climate-driven redistributions, and she In addition to fishers reporting the mandatory
told FISH magazine that 20 per cent of the data data (catch numbers, lobster size and catch
used in that analysis came from citizen science. location), they can use the app to voluntarily
F I SH S E P T E M B E R 2 0 2 1 |
6 COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
report additional information. This might Table 1: Examples of citizen science projects in the fisheries sector.
include the method used to make the catch,
location details, sex of rock lobsters caught, Organisation Project
time spent fishing, instances when no catches OzFish DNA sampling project in south-western Sydney, a partnership between fishing
were made and general observations of rock conservation charity OzFish, Landcare NSW and Campbelltown City Council.
lobster abundance. This extra information 1800 431 308 or email OzFish at info@ozfish.org.au
provides much more sophisticated estimates Redmap Monitoring range shift of marine and aquatic species.
of catch rates and fishers’ satisfaction. https://www.redmap.org.au
McDonald says the launch of these Ciguatera survey Recruits recreational and commercial fishers to provide Spanish Mackerel
additional citizen science-style features in samples for ciguatera toxin testing.
the app were initially greeted by fishers with https://www.redmap.org.au/news/2021/02/09/ciguatera-fish-poisoning-survey/
enthusiasm. However, the VFA found the Australasian Fishes project Led by the Australian Museum, it includes a platform to upload images and
number of citizen scientists signed up to identify observations of fishes from Australia and New Zealand.
https://australian.museum/get-involved/citizen-science/fishes/
voluntarily provide additional information has
remained at about 10 per cent of recreational Sharks and Rays Australia Involves the general public in sawfish and shark research
and conservation work.
rock lobster recreational fishers annually.
https://www.sharksandraysaustralia.com
Surveys of fishers found the problem is
Recfishwest Reef Vision: Involves boat fishers in capturing footage of the state’s artificial
not due to flaws in the app design that make it
reefs using provided baited remote underwater video (BRUV) cameras to
difficult to use, or unwillingness to share data. help map and monitor the growth and development of these fish structures
“Fishers are more than willing to provide in Esperance, Dunsborough, Busselton, Mandurah and Exmouth, Western
information as demonstrated by an 85 per cent Australia.
Send Us Your Skeletons: Donated fish skeletons help with the long-term
response rate to our surveys,” McDonald says.
monitoring program of fish stocks and Western Australian fisheries science.
Rather, fishers said the existing app failed to https://recfishwest.org.au/get-involved/citizen-science/
provide any opportunity for them to review their
own data. This missed an important feedback
loop to help fishers understand what the collated app and with functionality that allows fishers However, scientists behind leading citizen
data means and what was being learnt from it. to review their personal catch data, create science initiatives, from the ACSA to Zooniverse,
“In other words, the app was constructed groups, add photos and share via social media. agree that is not going to happen.
as a one-way conversation, which is unusual They have observed there is something about
for citizen science initiatives,” McDonald A national obsession how humans observe that is driven by curiosity
says. “Citizen science projects thrive when McDonald’s findings highlight that, given the and allows them to spot and query the anomalies
information and conversations flow two ways.” opportunity, Australians are more than happy to and oddities that are often the precursor to
She recommends more-interactive apps be part of the discovery and learning process. important findings. It is a skill that cannot readily
that offer feedback opportunities for both This is backed up by an analysis performed by be taught to AI algorithms. On the contrary, data
fishers and managers to learn from each other, the University of New South Wales, where Thomas classified by the public (in the form of images
that report on the findings produced from the Mesaglio and Corey Callaghan found that Australians of galaxies from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey)
volunteered data. The app could also offer features are among the world’s most enthusiastic when it have subsequently been used to help train AI
that incentivise participation in recreational comes to volunteering biodiversity data to the in image recognition.
fishing, such as weather information. popular global platform, iNaturalist. “There’s not going to be an AI takeover, not at
“Ultimately, the optimum outcome is achieved They found that globally 1.4 million users have all,” Roger says. “Wherever science has a challenge
by an app design that fits a community of engaged contributed over 54 million observations, with to scale research spatially and temporally, there’s a
citizen scientists who are keen to learn within Australia the top contributing nation in the Southern role for the public. Besides, we see lessons flow both
a mandatory reporting system,” McDonald Hemisphere. Australia was also in the top four ways with citizen science projects, with science
says. “That means the apps should engender a overall contributing nations, with more than 1.6 benefiting from local knowledge, industry
sense of community so that fishers feel they are million observations of more than 36,000 identified experience and novel insights.” f
contributing to the sustainable management species, contributed by almost 27,000 users.
of the fishery. Fishers also need to understand The platform includes a featured project called
why they are being asked certain questions.” Australasian Fishes. MORE INFORMATION
A final report on her project is expected With iNaturalist, artificial intelligence (AI) is Australian Citizen Science Association
to be published in November 2021. used to help identify species from photos uploaded Project Finder https://citizenscience.org.au/
ala-project-finder/
Meanwhile, the VFA plans to launch phase by the public. Interestingly, the pattern-recognition
BioCollect https://biocollect.ala.org.au
two of the recreational rock lobster tagging capability of AI has actually raised the prospect that
FRDC RESEARCH CODES
program in September 2021. This includes a citizen scientists may one day be usurped, at least 2019-060, 2019-213, 2019-075
new reporting interface under the GoFishVic when it comes to classifying data.
| SEPTEM B ER 2 0 2 1 FI SH
IN BRIEF 7
In brief
Fisheries expert
in leadership program
The recently announced 28th cohort of the prestigious Australian Rural
Leadership Program (ARLP) includes fisheries consultant from Mount
Nelson, Tasmania, Andrew Sullivan, who is sponsored by the FRDC.
Sullivan is the director of Fish Focus Consulting and the
executive officer of both the Commonwealth Fisheries Association
and the Bass Strait Scallop Industry Association. He has extensive
experience and knowledge of Australia’s commercial fishing sector.
The program gives participants valuable opportunities to enhance
their capacity and create a network of like-minded leaders to positively
influence their organisations, industries and communities. The ARLP is
Australia’s longest and most in-depth experiential leadership program
designed to build leadership capability in people in rural, regional and
remote Australia. Participants attend 50 days of experiential learning
and mentoring across four sessions over a 15-month period.
The program, commencing in June 2022, will bring together a
diverse cohort of 25 to 30 leaders from across rural Australia. f
More information
https://rural-leaders.org.au/our-programs/arlp/
INDUSTRY-LED EXPORT EXPANSION
NEW FRDC DIRECTORS APPOINTED An $888,000 grant from the allow our producers to focus their
Minister for Agriculture and ■ Lyndal Thorburn, managing Australian Government has been time on delivering the world’s
Northern Australia David director, Viria Pty Ltd, New awarded to Seafood Industry Australia greatest seafood to all corners of
Littleproud has appointed seven South Wales. (SIA) to develop and expand markets the globe.
non-executive directors to the Assistant Minister for Forestry for Australian seafood exports. “Importantly, this funding will
FRDC, five of whom are new to and Fisheries Jonathon Duniam The grant will be used to explore support whole of industry,
the board. says the FRDC’s mission is to expanding Australia’s seafood regardless of sector or location.
Directors re-appointed are: act as a national thought leader, exports into new markets and It will allow us to immediately put
■ Colin Buxton, Adjunct Professor, facilitating knowledge creation, markets with high growth potential, boots on the ground to quickly
Fisheries, Aquaculture and collaboration and innovation to such as North Asia, South Asia, the deliver much-needed support
Coasts Centre, Institute of shape the future of fishing and Pacific, Europe and the Americas. to the sectors who need it most.”
Marine and Antarctic Studies, aquaculture in Australia for the Rock lobster and abalone will be a SIA will engage two trade export
University of Tasmania; and benefit of the Australian people. key focus. managers to build capacity for
■ Saranne Cooke, director, “Research and innovation will Seafood Industry Australia CEO seafood exporters across Australia.
Leading Age Services Australia, play a key role as the sector looks Veronica Papacosta says a key piece The grant will also go towards
New South Wales to new opportunities and continues of the program will be the creation promoting the Great Australian
New directors are: to recover from the impacts of the of a ‘one-stop shop’ for seafood Seafood brand under brand
■ Dr Chris Calogeras, director, pandemic. exporters. Australia. By working in partnership
C-AID Consultants, Queensland; Outgoing directors are Kate “There is a plethora of information, with Austrade, SIA will help design
■ Suzanne (Suzi) Hullick, National Brooks, Katina (Katie) Hodson resources and databases out there a promotion schedule for Australian
Head of Indigenous Banking, Thomas, Mark King, John Lloyd for seafood exporters; however, it seafood in export markets. f
Westpac Bank, Northern and Lesley MacLeod. can be difficult for producers to keep More information
Territory; Chair of the FRDC board, track of them all and know how to jessica@seafoodindustryaustralia.
■ Boris Musa, chief executive appointed separately in March find them,” Ms Papacosta says. com.au
officer, Mainstream Aquaculture, 2020, is former Senator for NSW “We are planning to create a digital
Victoria; John Williams. f platform that will curate all the
■ Alex Ogg, manager, National More information https://www. resources in one place. This will
Energy Resources Australia; and frdc.com.au/about/frdc-directors
F I SH S E P T E M B E R 2 0 2 1 |
8 SCIENCE BRIEFS
ECOSYSTEMS
Coastal mangroves provide essential
habitat for thousands of species and are
fundamental to a productive ecosystem.
Photo: Vishwasa Navada K/Unsplash
FOOD SCIENCE
SMART SOLUTION TO SEAFOOD SPOILAGE
A simple device that measures easily applied to other seafood adverse impact on human
the increasing level of vapour and could enable “real-time” health and can cause
coming from seafood as it monitoring of spoilage in food poisoning.
begins to deteriorate provides seafood to ensure food safety The research found
a new and simple way to for consumers. that as spoilage in the
identify spoilage. Researchers Spoilage is estimated to salmon samples increased,
at Flinders University in South account for at least 10 per triggering more amine
Australia have developed a cent of all seafood production. vapours, so too did the
solid-state fluorescent sensor The core of the new spoilage intensity of the readings on
that is loaded onto filter papers, analysis technology is the the treated filter papers. The
Engineering tides to which instantly and accurately ability of the sensor to detect research team is optimising
measured the rate of spoilage vapours from biogenic amines, its materials to develop more
restore coastal wetlands in Atlantic Salmon (Salmo which increase with rising robust sensors for daily use
University of New South Wales (UNSW) salar) during trials. levels of bacteria as seafood in commercial applications.
researchers have designed and built a Flinders University’s begins to spoil. Results of the research were
system that mimics tides to help restore professor of aquaculture Jian High levels of biogenic published in the journal
vital coastal wetlands, enhancing their Qin says the technology can be amines in seafood have an Food Chemistry. f
ability to sequester carbon and support Photo: 123RF
wildlife, including birds and fish.
Over three years, a trial of the system at TECHNOLOGY
Kooragang Island, in the Hunter River estuary
FOLLOW YOUR FAVOURITE SHARKS IN REAL TIME
north of Newcastle, saw saltmarsh vegetation
Anzac, Bindi and Sunny – these by the OCEARCH Shark Tracker. awareness into science, technology
cover in the area rise from 0.2 per cent
are the names of just three sharks OCEARCH is a US-based non-profit engineering and maths subjects.
in November 2017 to 45 per cent by
living in the waters off Western organisation that aims to facilitate Through the program, you can
December 2020.
Australia that shark lovers and research and education through track a wide range of shark species
The team from the Water Research other marine enthusiasts can public access to data and its global around the world and see the
Laboratory within UNSW Engineering has follow in near real time as they shark-tracking program. It also patterns of their travel since being
developed the ‘Tidal Replicate Method’, an move along the coast. All three provides curriculum materials tagged. OCEARCH has more than
artificial tidal regime calculated to create the Tiger Sharks (Galeocerdo cuvier) for students, with a focus on 400 tagged sharks in its global
best ecological conditions for the specific are part of an international cast using its shark-tracking program database, which can be followed at
wetland area. It does this by controlling gates of sharks tagged and monitored to incorporate environmental www.ocearch.org/tracker/ f
on tidal channels that connect the wetlands to
the river, regulating the amount of water
flowing into the wetland.
A similar project at the nearby Tomago WORD-WISE ITEROPAROUS. Describes species that
Wetlands site – a Ramsar-listed area spread reproduce multiple times. They produce
over 400 hectares – delivered similar outcomes SEMELPAROUS. Describes species that offspring in successive cycles such as annual
for saltmarsh growth, resulting in increased reproduce only once and then die, such as or seasonal. Examples include perennial plants
numbers of migratory shorebirds. f some arrow squid species. and anchovies. f
| SEPTEM B ER 2 0 2 1 FI SH
CONSUMER INFORMATION 9
What seafood brings to the table
New nutritional information on popular seafood species will help fishers market their catch
and help consumers understand the benefits of their seafood selections as part of a healthy diet
By Catherine Norwood
T
he bank of detailed nutritional These panels are essential to labelling “These extra components are considered as
information about Australia’s many requirements under the Australia New general health claims under the Food Standards
seafood species continues to grow, Zealand Food Standards Code, when Code, as opposed to basic nutrition information,” he
with analyses of 25 fish and three seafood is packaged for retail sale. explains. “An example would be zinc content. Zinc is
crustaceans added to the available data. “If Australia’s consumption of seafood was not required for a nutrition information panel, but it
Senior food scientist at Queensland’s to increase, there would be improved health can be added, and this would be considered a general
Department of Agriculture and Fisheries outcomes for consumers as well as a growth health claim. Other examples of general health
Andrew Forrest has led the project for in the domestic market,” says Forrest. claims would be reporting of vitamin E content,
the FRDC. The new data brings the total or omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acid content.”
number of commercial wildcatch species Expanded analysis He says the analysis confirmed Australian
with detailed nutritional profiles to 41. Forrest says the species initially identified for seafood as a high-quality source of protein, with
Previous research has provided a fat analysis analysis changed as the project rolled out in other health-supporting components. Many
of 250 species of Australian seafood, including consultation with industry, adapting to seasonal species had similar nutritional profiles, although
levels of the valued healthy omega-3 fatty acids. availability and priority catches. Three prawn species not similar enough for a common nutritional
However, more detailed analysis that includes were added at the request of industry, and there was labelling. The greatest variation was in fat
information about minerals and vitamins is strong interest in profiles for many other species content – the omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids.
required for nutritional information panels. that the existing project was unable to take on. For those keen to develop nutritional
Forrest says the new data will help remove For fishers or retailers keen to provide the basic panels for packaged seafood products, the
a barrier to retail markets and could help nutritional information, Forrest says the costs of (now closed) Australian Seafood Cooperative
increase consumption of seafood in Australia the required testing are in the order of $300 for a Research Centre (ASCRC) published Industry
by allowing more products to be offered in pre- single species. However, the FRDC project tested Guidelines for Seafood Health and Nutrition
prepared consumer-ready portions, complete for a much larger range of nutritional elements, Messages to work through the process.
with the required nutritional panels. beyond those required for basic compliance. The FRDC’s Fishfiles website (www.fishfiles.
com.au) currently provides a central repository
for nutritional data and consumer information,
Table 1: Species sourced for nutritional profiling.
as a companion to the Status of Australian
Fish species Scientific name Fish species Scientific name
Fish Stocks Reports (SAFS) (www.fish.gov.
Albacore Thunnus alalunga Australian Sardine Sardinops sagax au). This includes nutritional profiles for 21
Amberjack Seriola dumerili Sea Mullet Mugil cephalus species previously developed by the ASCRC.
Barcheek Coral Trout Plectropomus maculatus Snapper Chrysophrys auratus Forrest sees the growing database of
Barramundi (wild) Lates calcarifer Spanish Mackerel Scomberomorus commerson nutritional information as a valuable resource
Bight Redfish Centroberyx gerrardi Spotted Mackerel Scomberomorus munroi
for the sector as a whole. However, he points
out that SAFS identifies 148 species as
Crimson Snapper Lutjanus erythropterus Swordfish Xiphias gladius
commercially important in Australian fisheries,
Dusky Flathead Platycephalus fuscus Tailor Pomatomus saltatrix
which leaves many species still to be profiled.
Eastern School Whiting Sillago flindersi West Australian Dhufish Glaucosoma hebraicum The latest nutritional profiles are
Goldband Snapper Pristipomoides multidens West Australian Salmon Arripis truttaceus available on the FRDC website at
King Threadfin Polydactylus macrochir Yellowfin Bream Acanthopagrus australis https://www.frdc.com.au/project/2017-145 f
Luderick Girella tricuspidata Prawn species
Patagonian Toothfish Dissostichus eleginoides Banana prawn Penaeus merguiensis MORE INFORMATION
Andrew Forrest
Red Emperor Lutjanus sebae Blue Endeavour Prawn Metapenaeus endeavouri
andrew.forrest@daf.qld.gov.au
Redthroat Emperor Lethrinus miniatus Brown Tiger Prawn Penaeus esculentus FRDC RESEARCH CODES
Saddletail Snapper Lutjanus malabaricus 1994-136, ASCRC 2008-905, 2017-145
F I SH S E P T E M B E R 2 0 2 1 |
10 WORLD FISHERIES CONGRESS
Sharing
international
fisheries
T
he World Fisheries Congress 2021 is
billed as the ‘Olympics for fisheries
science’, but organisers of the
science with
2021 event have worked hard to
incorporate the fishing industry and
seafood supply chain into the Adelaide program.
stakeholders
Congress chair Gavin Begg says this
marks a new direction for the congress, which
has traditionally focused on an audience
of scientists and fisheries managers.
“There have always been implications
for industry from past events. But we
wanted to make industry a much more
prominent player. Whatever comes out of
the congress at the end of the day, industry
is affected by the impacts,” Begg says.
The 8th World Fisheries Congress will run
from 20 to 24 September. Originally set to be
held at the Adelaide Convention Centre, the
organisers made the difficult decision to hold an
entirely virtual Congress in early August, due
to the worsening COVID-19 situation around
the country. They are now working on ways to
ensure the virtual congress will be every bit
Butterfly Perch
as engaging and memorable, utilising the full
Photo: Ocean Imaging capacity of the virtual platform Touchpoint.
Virtual lunchtime sessions from around
the country will showcase Australian fishing
and aquaculture for an international audience.
Competitions and other calls to action will
create opportunities for virtual engagement
beyond conference talks and Q&A sessions.
For example delegates will be able to share
their favourite seafood recipes, research
photos or share where in the world they are.
Begg says the strength of interest in
participating in the event, particularly to
present research, management concepts
and innovations in industry, has remained
By Catherine Norwood strong. There were 1400 abstracts for congress
presentations submitted for the originally
As stakeholders affected by new fisheries science and scheduled event in 2020, and a similar number
management decisions, fishers and aquaculture operators submitted for the rescheduled event this year.
“About 900 of these are from
will be important participants in discussions generated at international contributors, so the strength
the World Fisheries Congress 2021 of interest is still there,” Begg says.
| SEPTEM B ER 2 0 2 1 FI SHWORLD FISHERIES CONGRESS 11
Industry input
Seafood Industry Australia (SIA) and Seafood WORLD FISHERIES CONGRESS 2021
New Zealand are both active members of the The plenary speaker in the International fisheries science congress,
congress steering committee, which has tried opening session on 22 September with the overarching theme ‘Sharing our
to establish an industry flavour to events. oceans and rivers – a vision for the world’s
“If industry people want to attend, even
will be Martin Exel from Austral fisheries’.
for one day, then we’ve tried to consolidate Fisheries, who is also managing Monday 20 September to
the sessions we think will be of most interest director of SeaBOS (Seafood Friday 24 September 2021
to them on Wednesday 22 September and To view the official program, visit
Thursday 23 September,” Begg says.
Business for Ocean Stewardship). www.wfc2021.com.au
The plenary speaker in the opening
session on 22 September will be Martin Exel THE AUSTRALIAN SOCIETY FOR FISH
from Austral Fisheries, who is also managing BIOLOGY VIRTUAL EVENTS
director of SeaBOS (Seafood Business for
Ocean Stewardship). This is a collaborative Mentor/Mentee program:
venture between 10 of the world’s largest The Australian Society for Fish Biology
seafood businesses and the Stockholm (ASFB) will work before the congress to link
Resilience Centre in Sweden that aims to up mentors with potential mentees. This
transform wild capture and aquaculture mentorship will then be facilitated through
fisheries to sustainable seafood production the congress’ virtual platform.
and promote a healthy ocean, globally. Tuesday 21 September 6.30-8.30 pm
Exel’s presentation will be followed
by sessions on topics that include Student mixer:
resource allocation, co-management, A student mixer will be open for all students
supply chains, traceability, marketing and attending the World Fisheries Congress.
advances in fishing gears and vessels. Introductions and mixing will be facilitated
through the congress’ virtual platform.
Contingency plans
“We’ve worked closely with an international Above Martin Exel ASFB 50 event
committee on the program, and the feedback we Photo: Supplied All ASFB members will be invited to attend
have received about virtual events is that the Q&A a virtual event to celebrate the ASFB’s
sessions are what people are really interested in. Delegates will also be able to submit questions 50th anniversary year – even if they are
“More than 30 live-streamed sessions to presenters via a discussion forum, from the not attending the WFC (i.e. not registered
focused on key topics have been brought into the time presentations become available in the week delegates).
program to provide dedicated time to discuss, prior to the congress until the end of the congress.
consider and debate issues relevant to the Begg says the timing of some sessions during
fisheries community. This will provide both the the five-day event has also been changed to cater
audience with an opportunity to ask the panel for international audiences; there are now some
MORE INFORMATION
questions during the 1.5 to two-hour sessions early morning and evening presentations. www.wfc2021.com.au
that will include keynote presentations.” All presentations, including recordings of live- FRDC RESEARCH CODES
All congress presentations have also streamed sessions, will be available on demand for 2018-059, 2019-152
been prerecorded, and delegates will have delegates for several months after the congress. INDIGENOUS HERITAGE
a chance to view recordings in the week And those who register to attend in person but The World Fisheries Congress will
be hosted on the lands of the Kaurna
prior to the actual event. This will allow find they need to swap to virtual participation
people of the Adelaide region.
them to make more of Q&A sessions, which due to COVID restrictions will be able to do so,
will be a major feature of the congress. receiving a refund for the price difference. f
F I SH S E P T E M B E R 2 0 2 1 |strategy evaluation (MSE) methods, which
For all the fish
use computer simulations to ‘road test’ fishery
monitoring and management plans.
A lot has happened since then, he
in the sea
says. “For example, evaluating fisheries
management by simulating and implementing
harvest strategies is now pretty much
standard practice, and there’s been a general
improvement in global fisheries standards.”
Words Chris Clark, Illustration Sonia Kretschmar This includes adopting ecosystem-based
fisheries management (EBFM) globally, with
varying degrees of success. EBFM is a holistic
S
approach that considers the health of all species,
As Australia prepares to ince 1992, the World Fisheries including inter-species interactions, the effects
of environmental changes, pollution and
host the World Fisheries Congress has brought the global
fishing community together to other stresses on habitat and water quality.
Congress 2021 in September, tackle problems through sharing “We’ve made a lot of progress on single-
species fishery management, and we are
eminent marine ecologist knowledge and solutions. Ahead
of the 8th Wowrld Fisheries Congress, a virtual improving ecosystem-based approaches to
Keith Sainsbury reflects on event coordinated from Adelaide from 20 to management. But we’re not there yet,” Sainsbury
24 September this year, FISH magazine asked adds. The cost of data collection and the
key developments within marine ecologist Keith Sainsbury to compare associated monitoring remain a challenge.
fisheries management since fisheries management now with 25 years ago,
when the congress was last held in Australia. Bycatch in focus
Australia hosted the second At the time of the 1996 congress in At the 1996 Brisbane congress, the issue of
world congress 25 years ago Brisbane, Sainsbury had already spent bycatch was unexpectedly highlighted when a
years helping to develop management protestor chained herself to the venue doors to
| SEPTEM B ER 2 0 2 1 FI SHOCEAN STEWARDSHIP 13
“The Australian Fisheries Management Authority (AFMA) does
ecological risk assessments for more than 5000 bycatch species and
is able to manage high-risk species. The risk assessment methods
were not available back in 1996.”
Keith Sainsbury
raise awareness of seahorses and their increasingly The MSC requires the fishery to achieve a properly is how we get some indicator for the
precarious existence resulting from both targeted good score on each of three principles – sustainability of the ecosystem as a whole and
fishing and as bycatch of trawl fishing. sustainability of the target species, ecosystem/ link that to management. That’s the big science
“There are ways of tackling these bycatch bycatch management and fishery governance – challenge. Sustainable marine ecosystems go
issues now,” Sainsbury explains. “The Australian and to have an auditable ‘chain of custody’ beyond how a fishery is managed,” he says.
Fisheries Management Authority (AFMA) between fish capture and fish sale to the “Understanding and accommodating
does ecological risk assessments for more consumer. ecosystem impacts is becoming more
than 5000 bycatch species and is able to He says MSC certification is a transparent difficult as major changes affect ecosystems
manage high-risk species. The risk assessment third-party system. Many Australian fisheries through climate change, pollution, coastal
methods were not available back in 1996.” have achieved MSC certification, including development, recreational fishing, aquaculture,
As a commissioner of AFMA for 16 years, the Western Rock Lobster (Panulirus cygnus), shipping and introduced pest species.
Sainsbury supported bycatch management the South Australian Pipis (Donax spp.) “Changes in a fishery must be
as part of the broader EBFM approach in and Australian Sardine (Sardinops sagax), managed in this wider context in which
Commonwealth fisheries. However, its application several small pelagic species, Blue Grenadier attribution of impacts is difficult.”
across all Australian jurisdictions has been (Macruronus novaezelandiae), several prawn Sainsbury says the level of environmental
a “mixed bag”, he says, with some fisheries fisheries, Patagonian Toothfish (Dissostichus activism around global fisheries, and the need
applying it well and others hardly at all. eleginoides) and pearl oyster, among others. for social acceptability or social licence, also
In Commonwealth fisheries, AFMA must “You can look at any of those with remains high.
report its progress on managing bycatch, MSC certification covering Commonwealth “There’s a broad, social interest in what
but not all other jurisdictions have clear and state-managed fisheries and they all happens in fisheries and the marine environment.
processes regarding bycatch and discarding, demonstrate good practice,” Sainsbury adds. How we include those interests in governance
and the reporting of these activities. Sainsbury also sits on the advisory arrangements is going to be quite important. For
“Western Australia also does a good panel for Australia’s Status of Australian example, the interactions between commercial
job of this,” says Sainsbury. “Some states Fish Stocks Reports, the fifth edition of and recreational fishing are big issues,” he says.
don’t do this well and some just report which was released in June 2021. (The He argues that generally Australia has
bycatch they’re concerned about, but not first reports were published in 2012.) done well in fisheries management over
other species. This is where you get people While he acknowledges the value of recent decades because of a good policy
chaining themselves to the door.” having the Commonwealth, state and territory framework and science capability.
jurisdictions publish national status reports, he However, Australia – and the world
Standard for sustainable fisheries is critical of the low threshold of ‘sustainability’ – now face different challenges.
Issues such as bycatch management, including the applied – a sustainable rating typically requires “I don’t think that management has
practice and impacts of discarding, are important just 20 per cent of unfished stock abundance (or kept up with the needs. Australia was early
to another initiative that has emerged during the biomass) – rather than the higher international to improve fishery policy and science,
past 25 years: the Marine Stewardship Council definitions, such as maximum sustainable yield. and that improved management.
(MSC). It was officially launched in 1997 as an “The challenge now is twofold. At one
international, independent non-profit organisation Future directions end, the challenge is to bring the ecosystem-
with a mission to establish a sustainable fishing Sainsbury also sees room for refining the based approach more properly into focus and
standard. Today, 446 fisheries globally, including ecosystem-based approaches to fishery application. At the other end, we’ve still got
20 in Australia, are certified as sustainable. management and expects that to be a jurisdictions that just aren’t doing management
Sainsbury was on the MSC Board of Trustees big focus of the 2021 congress. very well, so we must lift that tail,” he says.
for 12 years and remains a member of the MSC “We’ve developed good indicators around “The real, global challenge will be developing
Technical Advisory Board. He is well known for target species, bycatch and habitats, which new tools for effective ecosystem-based fishery
his championing of the Marine Stewardship can help us understand parts of an ecosystem. assessment and management, and it’s where
Council approach and certification process. The thing we’ve never been able to pin down I’m putting much of my effort now.” f
F I SH S E P T E M B E R 2 0 2 1 |14 CUSTOMARY FISHING
The recognition of
Indigenous fishing in
Australia’s history is
growing, helping to bridge
cultural divides and
integrating more diverse
perspectives into the
sector’s future
Celebrating the story of Indigenous
fishing on a world stage
Aboriginal fishers from Maningrida
retrieving fish from a net.
Words Anne Crawford Photo: Supplied by Matt Osborne
T
his month, Matt Osborne will “It’s about resetting the relationship to from the process, but nonetheless it’s a
address the World Fisheries Congress be collaborative and supporting in terms of colourful, rich history worth celebrating.”
to tell the story of customary and recognising traditional owner views in fisheries The historic trade in Sandfish (Holothuria
Indigenous fishing in Australia. management and not being overly fearful scabra) – the Sea Cucumber, also known
Osborne, a Kaurna and Narungga about what that might mean,” he says. as Trepang – set up centuries ago with the
man with extensive experience in Indigenous “This story is something that can add Macassans (Indonesians) by Aboriginal people
fisheries, is the program leader for aquaculture and a lot of value and historical connection in northern Australia, is a well-documented
regional development, Department of Primary and significance on the world stage. To say example. It is now a lucrative export trade.
Industry and Resources, Northern Territory. that our fisheries are sustainable and our Osborne’s grandmother spoke of her
In addressing the congress, he hopes to put fisheries also sustain the oldest living culture father and grandfather fishing on boats in the
a ‘new lens’ on the story, one that celebrates the in the world – that’s how sustainable they Yorke Peninsula, South Australia, helping local
history of Indigenous people in helping create are and that’s a powerful message.” settlers identify fishing grounds and lending
Australia’s commercial fishing industry and their knowledge of fish resources. They had
their successes today, rather than seeing access Commercial pioneers commercial fishing licences and exclusive
to marine resources as a source of conflict. Indigenous fishing in Australia was a access to the area around Point Pearce.
Recognising the instrumental role Indigenous forgotten sector within the industry But then came a period when Aboriginal
people have played in the sector adds a ‘positive for a long time, Osborne says. people were actively removed from the fishing
story’ about the Australian fishing industry “It’s an important story that has examples industry, says Osborne. A licence change affecting
that counteracts the often defensive nature across Australia about the pioneering days the Narungga people allowed them to fish in other
of discussion around fishing rights, fishing and the roles Indigenous people played areas, but also prevented that licence from being
allocations and the pressures of commercial supporting commercial fisheries. Various transferable – so when they died that licence
economies determining access, says Osborne. government practices later removed them no longer existed. Indigenous participation in
| SEPTEM B ER 2 0 2 1 FI SHCUSTOMARY FISHING 15
Below Traditional fish trap built and operated
by Donald Bonson, Northern Territory.
Photo: Sam Nowland Below Matt Osborne in New Zealand to present on
Bottom Matt Osborne takes his children Oliver Indigenous fishing at the 2019 Maori Fisheries Conference.
and Laela fishing. Photo: Carrie Osborne Photo: Delahey Miller
Osborne will appear as a plenary
speaker at the World Fisheries Congress on
23 September. His session will be live-streamed
for virtual attendees.
The eighth World Fisheries Congress will be
held in Adelaide and online from 20 to 24
September and has the theme ‘Sharing our oceans
and rivers – a vision for the world’s fisheries’. It is
the largest gathering of fisheries research, industry
and management sectors in the world.
What is customary fishing?
“The definition of customary fishing needs
some work between how the Indigenous
community is happy for it to be represented
and what it means to them, versus how it’s
reflected within the regulations,” says Osborne.
“The standard definition is that customary
fishing is non-commercial and abides with laws
and customs of those people, but then different
The Ngarrindjeri people have been harvesting jurisdictions [in Australia] treat that differently,”
Pipi (Donax deltoides), known as ‘kutis’ in he says.
Ngarrindjeri, for thousands of years. They wholly There is no consistent approach between
own the harvesting enterprise Kuti Co – majority government, states and jurisdictions nor an
funded by the Indigenous Land and Sea agreement on a definition of customary fishing
Corporation – and are working with Goolwa and how that is represented in the regulations,
PipiCo in the Coorong, South Australia. he says.
Narungga nation people have negotiated a new For example, a section within NT fisheries
Traditional Fishing Agreement – the first in the legislation exempts customary fishing from aspects
country – and are making progress establishing an such as size limits and gear. Other jurisdictions,
aquaculture business on the Yorke Peninsula (see however, rely on Native Title and legal decisions,
‘Narungga aspirations to bring benefits home’ and complex legal arrangements to access rights.
the Sandfish trade was prevented through FISH magazine, June 2021). To Indigenous people, fishing has a strong
regulation in the early nineteenth century. Osborne credits some of these successes as cultural meaning.
However, the story of customary fishing is part of recalibrating the narrative to both “To a lot of Indigenous groups, part of their
changing for the better and the conversation recognise and celebrate Indigenous and customary identity is in the ocean and waters – they call
around it growing, Osborne says. fishing. Cases of successful Indigenous themselves ‘saltwater’ or ‘freshwater’ people,”
“In the Northern Territory, for example, we participation in the sector are increasingly being says Osborne.
have established a small-scale fishing licence – a aired and celebrated. Creation stories, songlines and ceremonies
low-cost entry to fishing that enables people to are associated with the marine and freshwater
establish a business in remote communities – Changing attitudes environments, while archaeological sites
and a mentoring program. “I think it’s been an attitudinal and cultural such as midden sites, burials and fish traps
“As part of our program within fisheries, change, particularly in some of the key demonstrate a visual and physical connection,
we’re out there teaching commercial fishing organisations who really showed some the presence of families and forefathers. f
skills, safe fishing practices. That is resulting leadership in early days. There have been a few
in an increase of fish for people in remote ‘champions’ getting up at national fishery forums MORE INFORMATION
communities to eat and in commercial fishing in the past 10 or 15 years,” Osborne says. Matt Osborne, Matthew.Osborne@nt.gov.au
activity in these communities as well. It’s Among these he counts organisations FRDC RESEARCH CODE 2015-205
also about offering people the chance to including the FRDC, which established the
INDIGENOUS HERITAGE
reconnect and develop some opportunities Indigenous Reference Group and funded research, Matt Osborne will present on the topic
and pride in the work they’re doing in the biennial industry conference Seafood of Indigenous fisheries at the 8th World
situations that are pretty disadvantaged.” Directions and magazines such as FISH. They Fisheries Congress held from 20-24 September
This program is taking place in Wadeye, have all helped communicate the importance 2021, in Adelaide, South Australia, on the
traditional lands of the Kaurna people.
Maningrida, Tiwi and Elcho islands. of the sector and the experiences within it.
F I SH S E P T E M B E R 2 0 2 1 |16 INNOVATION R&D PLAN OUTCOME 2
Best practices and
production systems
Southern Bluefin Tuna.
Photo: Al McGlashan
Close-kin
mark-recapture
making its mark
An idea lying dormant for years re-emerged
at the right time, helping to rebuild global
stocks of Southern Bluefin Tuna and
revolutionising fisheries stock assessments
Words Bianca Nogrady
| SEPTEM B ER 2 0 2 1 FI SHINNOVATION 17
M
ark Bravington was attending a meeting at the
International Whaling Commission in the late 1990s when
he first heard of the idea of using genetic matches between
parent and offspring to calculate the size of a population.
Norway had amassed a significant database
of DNA and tissue samples from whale hunting as a way to keep
an eye on illegal whaling. Norwegian statistician Hans Skaug had
twigged that this DNA database could be analysed for matches
between parent minke whales and their offspring, and that the
greater the number of these familial connections that turned
up in the database, the smaller the population must be .
“The idea struck me as completely brilliant,” says Bravington, a
statistician at CSIRO in Hobart. The only problem was, it did not work.
“It was the right idea but at the wrong time. Genetic technology
wasn’t advanced enough to deliver on the potential. It was also the
wrong species: it didn’t work in minke whales for a variety of reasons.”
So that brilliant idea died, and Bravington forgot all about it.
Five years later, he was working on Southern Bluefin Tuna
(SBT) (Thunnus maccoyii), trying to assess just how healthy or
unhealthy stocks were, and it was not going well. “It was just
an awful mess and extremely contentious,” he recalls.
Revelations of large, unreported catches had undermined the
data used to assess the stock. There were also worrying signs that the
spawning stock and recent year classes were the lowest on record.
Bravington recalled the Norwegian minke whale study, and wondered
if it might work in tuna. He took the idea to geneticist colleague Peter
Grewe, and the two of them put forward a proposal to CSIRO to explore it.
First steps
With additional funds from the FRDC they undertook the first major
survey of SBT using this approach. The study was based on about 14,000
tissue samples taken from fish caught by commercial fishers. It took five
years to complete and identified 45 parent–offspring pairs. The results
showed the species was slightly more abundant than previously thought.
That technique – now called close-kin mark-recapture – looks set to
revolutionise the way the health and productivity of fisheries are assessed.
“Close-kin mark-recapture is a census, and a very reliable and
precise one if sufficient kin pairs are retrieved,” says Grewe.
The beauty of this method lies in its simplicity. At its core
is the genetic and mathematical truth that the greater the
proportion of related individuals found in a random sample
of a population, the smaller that population must be.
“Every fish has two parents,” says Campbell Davies, who
leads CSIRO’s international fisheries research. “And every fish
genetically ‘marks’ or ‘tags’ its parents via its DNA.”
Matching a parent to its offspring is genetically easy to do
and very accurate. Researchers collect a predetermined number
of tissue samples from a population of fish. The number of
samples is decided based on available estimates of the size of
that population and the species’ life history. Researchers then
count how many parent–offspring matches they find.
The more matches they find, the smaller the population,
because the smaller the population, the higher the probability
of both the parent and the offspring being in the sample.
F I SH S E P T E M B E R 2 0 2 1 |You can also read
