SeaNet South Australia
SeaNet SA is hosted by the Wildcatch Fisheries SA
Current Projects:
Testing & Refinement of BRD in GSVP
Further funding was secured with the Adelaide & Mount Lofty Ranges Natural Resources Management Board to continue the successful bycatch reduction work in the Gulf St. Vincent Prawn Fishery. Special thanks to Tony Flaherty for his invaluable and ongoing support of the SeaNet program in SA to date. Other project partners include Industry, South Australian Research & Development Institute and Fisheries Supply QLD. This six month project will enable fishers to test and refine the BRD’s identified in the gear trials undertaken in 2010, which featured in the OCT 2010 edition of FRDC FISH magazine.
As part of the GSVP Innovation Framework this project will provide fishers and net makers an unprecedented opportunity to refine a BRD system through their local knowledge and experience, to ensure it is practical, effective and overcomes the nuances of the Gulf St. Vincent Prawn Fishery. Further more it provides an important bridge between the current and future FRDC Tactical Research Fund funding for detailed assessment of the management implications of this system.
Two of the scheduled eight trial nights were undertaken in early November to test and refine the new BRD system which produced positive results and a clearer picture of refinement direction required. Once again the video footage collected proved invaluable in understanding the interactions of bycatch with the BRD system. Industry and stakeholders are excited and confident that this project will produce a system which is both practical and effective, and produces clear economic and environmental benefits to the fishery. The dark (of the moon) FEB 2011 has been scheduled for the next phase of testing and refinement.
Codes of Practice
SeaNet SA in partnership with Industry, and AMLR NRMB developed COP for both the SA Blue Crab Pot Fishers and the Marine Scalefish Long line sectors. We are currently developing an extension strategy for this document including a digital DVD version, inclusion of mitigation tools in the OceanWatch BRD library, a “Warf Day” for fishers, stake holders, the media and the community to attend.
Where Does Seafood Come From?
SeaNet SA is pleased to announce that the Marine Discovery Centre is the proud owner of the first of many “Where Does Seafood Come From?” display units! The display is still a work in progress but we have something tangible for the kids to interact with and gain an insight into the secret lives of our local fishers! Project partners hope to add additional features and fisheries profiles in the coming months and years. Special thanks to;
• SA Women’s Industry Network for fiscal support, and input and advice as project partners in particular, Karen Holder
• The Marine Fishers, Blue Crab, and Gulf St. Vincent Prawn Associations, for their feedback and direction
• Industry Champions: Jeff Wait, Dennis Holder, Jason Saint and Trevor Simms, for their time and commitment to the program
• Ursula & Tim from the Marine Discovery Centre for input & support as project partners
• The SeaNet and OWA team for their advice, feedback and support
• Peter Welch for his silky voice over and advice
• Sam Stone for his original score
• Shane Roberts and Graham Hooper from South Australian Research & Development Institute for their feedback and photos
• The Adelaide & Mount Lofty Ranges Natural Resources Management Board achiever grants which supported SA WIN to construct the display unit
Introduced Marine Pests
It has been a busy month for Introduced Marine Pest work in SA and VIC. In October SeaNet SA tagged along to the South Australian Rock Lobster Advisory Council Inc. meetings on York Peninsula, Port Lincoln and Kangaroo Island to deliver the IMPS message and National Biofouling Guidelines to the Northern Zone Cray Fish Community before the start of their season. Thanks to EO Justin Phillips for accommodating this as part of their busy schedule.
Together with Associate Professor Sabine Dittmann and Post-Grad Shea Cameron (Flinders University) and Conservation Council’s Carl Charter we successfully put together a IMPS Information Session at the Pt. Lincoln Marine Science Centre. This session was open to the Commercial Dive Sector and Tuna Farm Managers. Shea spoke about a recent IMPS survey undertaken on the Eyre Peninsula and provided local examples in tanks and under microscope from Pt. Lincoln Marina. This provided an important local context and highlighted the importance of guidelines and reporting to reduce the risk of IMPS. Carl also provided information on the Conservation Councils Feral & Imperil program and kindly donated some ID dive slates to participants. We had a positive turn out and the session and messages were well received. Thanks to Sabine, Shea and Carl for their input, and fishers for their support.
In the absence of a Victorian SeaNet officer I attended the South East Trawl Fishing Industry Association (SETFIA) Skipper and crew training workshop in Portland (VIC), where I presented the IMPS proportion of the workshop. To the credit of Simon Boag (SETFIA Executive Officer) the workshop was a real success, and a model for raising management and environmental awareness amongst fishers. Something we should look at emulating in all fisheries. Thanks to Simon, Matt, Ron, Richard and the local South East Trawl fishers for their hospitality.
Fishute Project
The Fishute project is well underway through Kangaroo Island Community Education. The TEC class are enjoying the use of their new welding equipment (sourced through this project) by knocking up the stainless rings for 30 chutes for the SA Marine Scale Fish BRD. I took the opportunity to visit the school while in Kangaroo Island to talk to the students about OceanWatch Australia and the SeaNet program. Neil Macguffie’s video of the Fishute in action in the WA fishery went down a treat and the kids were full of questions. We spoke about SA fisheries, I also outlined the basis of Environment Protection & Biodiversity Conservation and Fisheries Act’s and the management and research framework employed in SA to ensure these local industries remain sustainable. Together with teacher Jason Westlake, we also spoke to the classes about their role in sustainable recreational fishing and supporting sustainable produce. Special thanks to Jason Westlake and Michael Fooks for their support and hospitality.
Previous Projects:
- The use of Circle Hooks to improve selectivity, while reducing mortality of target and non-target species
- Lakes and Coorong Bycatch Quantification Project
- Commercial Fishers fight against marine debris
- Rock Lobster Industry Saving Southern Seals and Sealions
- Best Practices to Reduce Interactions with Juvenile Mulloway, Crabs and Birds in the Lakes and Coorong Fishery
- Wilksch Net to target carp in the Murray River
- Marine Scalefish Fishery Best Practice – Longlining
- Marine Scalefish Fishery Best Practice - Net Fishery
- Best Environmental Practice in the Spencer Gulf Prawn Fishery
For more information contact Nathan Bicknell on Tel: (08) 83032717 or email nathan@oceanwatch.org.au
Partner Information
SeaNet SA is proudly hosted by Wildcatch Fisheries SA (WFSA) and supported by South Australia Research & Development Institute (SARDI) and the SA NRM Boards.
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