Status Report for Re-assessment for Export
Approval Under the EPBC Act
Coral Sea Fishery
August 2013
This report has been prepared by the Australian Fisheries Management Authority for
consideration by the Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and
Communities (SEWPAC) in accordance with the fishery’s declaration as a Wildlife Trade
Operation under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999.
CONTENTS
1.
Introduction ............................................................................................................................... 2
1.1.
2.
3.
Coral Sea Commonwealth Marine Reserve .................................................................................. 2
Description of the fishery ......................................................................................................... 2
Management .............................................................................................................................. 4
3.1.
3.2.
3.3.
3.4.
3.5.
3.6.
Management arrangements ........................................................................................................... 4
Consultation process ....................................................................................................................... 4
Harvest Strategies ........................................................................................................................... 4
Harvest Strategy Review ................................................................................................................ 4
Changes to management arrangements ........................................................................................ 5
Performance of the fishery ............................................................................................................. 5
4. Status of export approval/accreditation under the Environment Protection and
Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act) ............................................................................. 6
5.
Research and monitoring ......................................................................................................... 6
5.1.
5.1.
5.2.
5.3.
6.
Catch and Effort ....................................................................................................................... 7
6.1.
6.2.
6.3.
6.4.
6.5.
7.
Research Projects ............................................................................................................................ 6
Monitoring programs ..................................................................................................................... 6
Logbooks .......................................................................................................................................... 6
Observer coverage .......................................................................................................................... 7
Total catch of target species ........................................................................................................... 7
Bycatch ...........................................................................................................................................12
Ecological Risk Assessment ...........................................................................................................12
ERA Review Process ......................................................................................................................13
Catches of shark species to be CITES listed in 2014. ..................................................................13
Status of target stock............................................................................................................... 14
7.1.
Resource concerns..........................................................................................................................14
8.
Interactions with protected species ....................................................................................... 15
9.
Impacts of the fishery on the ecosystem in which it operates ............................................. 15
10. Conclusion ............................................................................................................................... 15
11. Progress in implementing conditions and recommendations .............................................. 16
1
1. Introduction
In August 2010 the Australian Fisheries Management Authority (AFMA) submitted the Coral
Sea Fishery Strategic Assessment Report (2010 submission) for assessment under the
Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act).
Following assessment, the Coral Sea Fishery (CSF) was declared an approved Wildlife Trade
Operation under the EPBC Act for three years, until 19 November 2013.
This accreditation was subject to a number of conditions and recommendations, the outcomes
of which are discussed in Table 4. Condition 3 provides that AFMA will produce and present
reports to the Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and
Communities (SEWPAC) annually as per Appendix B to the Guidelines for the Ecologically
Sustainable Management of Fisheries – 2nd Edition (Guidelines).
This report details changes in the CSF since the 2010 submission and management responses
to the conditions and recommendations of its accreditation. Where a heading in the
Guidelines is not listed, there have been no significant changes in that area since the 2010
submission.
1.1.
Coral Sea Commonwealth Marine Reserve
The Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities is the
lead agency for marine bioregional planning issues. On 16 November 2012 the Hon. Tony
Burke, the then Minister for Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities
announced Commonwealth marine parks, including the Coral Sea Marine Reserve, will be
implemented from July 2014 (see http://www.environment.gov.au/marinereserves/faap.html).
The government will be allocating approximately $100m in assistance to commercial fishers
and fisheries to adjust to changes that will result from the displacement of commercial fishing
from new Commonwealth marine reserves. This announcement and the scheduled
implementation of the Coral Sea Marine Reserve will have implications on fishing methods
and sectors (i.e. reduced catch and effort). It is also anticipated that at the completion of the
fishery adjustment package a smaller number of permit holders and sectors will be present in
the CSF. For that reason some of the actions under the CSF accreditation have been placed on
hold.
2. Description of the fishery
The CSF lies east of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park (GBRMP) and extends to the edge of
the Australian Fishing Zone (Figure 1). The fishery extends north from Sandy Cape (Fraser
Island), to Cape York. It excludes the areas of the Coringa-Herald and Lihou Reef National
Nature Reserves. Together the Nature Reserves cover approximately 17,000 square
kilometres of coral reef habitat. The CSF often experiences adverse weather conditions which
can make fishing difficult at certain times of the year.
The CSF is a diverse fishery employing a range of fishing methods to target a wide variety of
species. Participation in the CSF is limited to 16 fishing permits; this means that to enter the
fishery new entrants must purchase an existing permit and transfer this into their name.
AFMA maintains a register of all Commonwealth fishing permits on its website.
2
Figure 1. Area of the Coral Sea Fishery.
A wide range of finfish species are taken in the CSF, as well as sharks, lobsters, trochus, sea
cucumbers and live rock (limestone encrusted with coralline algae and other encrusting
species). Catch composition varies over time depending on the methods and areas fished. The
sectors and fishing permits of the CSF are based on fishing techniques. They are:

Line and Trap Sector – demersal longline, trotlines, droplines, setlines and handlines, and
demersal finfish traps

Trawl and Trap Sector – otter board trawl gear for fish and crustaceans and demersal
finfish traps

Sea Cucumber Sector – hand collection

Aquarium Sector – hand collection, barbless hook and line, scoop, cast and seine nets

Lobster and Trochus Sector – hand collection.
3
3. Management
3.1. Management arrangements
The CSF is managed through a combination of input and output controls as prescribed in the:
 Fisheries Management Act 1991 (the Act) and associated amendments and temporary
orders
 Fisheries Management Regulations 1992 and associated amendments and temporary
orders
 CSF Harvest Strategies developed in accordance with the Commonwealth Fisheries
Harvest Strategy Policy 2007 and implemented in 2008, and
 Conditions on fishing permits.
3.2. Consultation process
The following consultative bodies have been established to address management issues in the
CSF:


the CSF Stakeholder Group includes all concession holders and researchers directly
involved in the fishery
the CSF Expert Committee was formed to consider the review and development of the
Harvest Strategies.
3.3. Harvest Strategies
The Harvest Strategies for the CSF are based on a comprehensive suite of catch and effort
triggers recognizing the developmental nature of the fishery. The triggers aim to detect
changes in the fishery, provide for low cost implementation and allow for controlled
expansion as more information and management resources become available. There are
currently four individual harvest strategies for the CSF:
1. Hand Collection Sector: Aquarium
2. Hand Collection Sector: Lobster and Trochus
3. Hand Collection Sector: Sea Cucumber, and
4. Line, Trawl and Trap Sector.
3.4. Harvest Strategy Review
Harvest strategies for the Coral Sea Fishery (CSF) were developed during 2007 and adopted
in July 2008. Following a period of implementation AFMA considers a number of
amendments are necessary to better align the harvest strategies with AFMA’s capacity to
monitor and manage risk in the fishery. The four CSF Harvest Strategies were reviewed by
the CSF Expert Panel in 2009 and 2010. The reviews considered:

the recommendations from the independent CSIRO management strategy evaluation
of the CSF Harvest Strategies conducted in November 2009

the Harvest Strategies triggers and responses to ensure they are both efficient and
effective.
Further work is underway to validate and justify the triggers and to demonstrate that
management is appropriate, sustainable and defensible. Ongoing reviews are scheduled to be
undertaken by the CSF Expert Panel with the view to redraft the numerous individual sector
harvest strategies into a single document. The format of this revised CSF harvest strategy will
4
better align with the harvest strategy documents for other AFMA managed fisheries and is
expected to be more user-friendly.
3.5. Changes to management arrangements
A limited number of fishing permits are granted for the fishery each year under the Fisheries
Management Act 1991 (the Act). Permits are subject to conditions set out in section 32(5) of
the Act as well as conditions specified on the permits. Conditions vary depending on the
sector but may include gear restrictions, species size limits, trigger limits and total allowable
catch limits (TACs) as well as spatial controls.
Trip limits for certain deepwater shark species in the CSF were implemented through 2010-11
permit conditions. Although relatively few deepwater sharks are caught in the CSF, these
precautionary management arrangements will help protect these species from overfishing in
the future. This move is part of a broader strategy to mitigate the risks of overfishing to
deepwater sharks in all Commonwealth managed fisheries. To further restrict the impacts of
fishing on deepwater sharks, permit conditions for 2013-2014 were changed to prohibit the
take of deepwater dogfishes of the following species – Harrisson’s Dogfish (C. harrissoni),
Endeavour Dogfish (C. moluccensis), Southern Dogfish (C. zeehaani) and Greeneye Spurdog
(Squalus chloroculus) by all sectors. The condition also outlines that in the event deepwater
dogfishes of the species specified are taken alive, these species must be returned to the water
carefully and quickly.
Permit conditions for 2011-2012 were changed to prohibit the take of Humphead Maori
Wrasse by all sectors except the Aquarium Sector (which has a 50 specimen limit for the
season). This condition is unchanged for the 2013-2014 fishing season.
For the 2013/14 season the rotational zone plan for the Sea Cucumber Sector was varied to
increase the permitted number of days on Osprey reef to 30. The plan was varied to allow
some flexibility to operators during the season. This decision was made in consultation with
CSF Stakeholders and was based on a number of factors including:
 This will be less than the historical amount of days that could be fished in previous
seasons on Osprey reef
 Osprey reef is relatively large approximately 15nm in length
 Recently effort in the Sea Cucumber Sector has been low (8 days fished in 2011/12
and no fishing in 2012/13)
 The existing measures in the Sea Cucumber Sector Harvest Strategy (TAC’s and
move-on provision) will still be in place as fishing permit conditions.
The CSF Management Arrangement Booklet describes all management arrangements for the
2013-2014 fishing season. The booklet is available on AFMA’s website at
http://www.afma.gov.au/managing-our-fisheries/fisheries-a-to-z-index/coral-seafishery/publications-and-forms/.
3.6. Performance of the fishery
A statement of the performance of the CSF against its objectives, performance indicators and
performance measures is made in AFMA’s Annual Report available on AFMA’s website at:
http://www.afma.gov.au/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/AFMA-Annual-Report2011.12.pdf.
5
4. Status of export approval/accreditation under the Environment
Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act)
The CSF was last assessed under the protected species and export provisions of the EPBC Act
in 2010. The CSF was declared an approved Wildlife Trade Operation under Part 13A of the
EPBC Act on 19 November 2010, thus allowing export of product from the fishery until
19 November 2013. Details of the fishery’s progress against conditions and recommendations
of the export approval are detailed in section 10 of this report.
5. Research and monitoring
5.1. Research Projects
Research needs in the fishery are reviewed by the CSF Stakeholder Group. Operators have
worked with research organisations to undertake scientific monitoring programs. Observers
have also undertaken biological sampling of target and bycatch species. This information is
used to assess the impacts of the fishery on the marine environment and the effectiveness of
management measures and commitments under the bycatch action plan. Table 1 provides a
list of research projects undertaken or scheduled to be undertaken in the CSF.
Table 1. Summary of research undertaken or scheduled to be undertaken in the CSF.
Project
Purpose / Outcomes
Research
Provider
Status
Coral Sea Commonwealth
Marine Reserve: social and
economic assessment of
the impacts of commercial
and charter fishing
This project assessed the impacts of the
proposed marine reserve in the coral sea on
commercial and charter fishing
ABARES
commission
by SEWPaC
Completed June 2012
Coral Sea Fishery ERA –
Phase II TEP and
chondrichthyan species.
A report provided in December 2011 outlined
the outcomes of a species specific ERA of all
TEP and Chondrichthyan species likely to occur
in the Coral Sea region.
CSIRO
Completed March 2012
Reducing Uncertainty in
Stock Status: Coral Sea
Fishery Aquarium Sector
The Reducing Uncertainty in Stock Status
(RUSS) project formed part of an expanded
Fisheries Research Program aimed at
facilitating the classification of Australian
Government-managed fish stocks that were
classified as uncertain.
ABARES
Restricted release of
the Aquarium sector
draft report in
December 2011. Final
reports for all sectors
have not been released.
5.1. Monitoring programs
The monitoring program for the CSF includes information collected through logbooks and
catch disposal records, observer coverage and independent research. An overview of the
monitoring programs is provided below.
5.2. Logbooks
All concession holders in the CSF are required to complete the designated logbook by method
and catch disposal records. Logbooks provide for the recording of information on the vessel,
operator, gear, location, time and catch for each fishing operation. Information on bycatch
species, interactions with TEP species and other trip observations including bottom type,
scallop size and discard rates are also collected. Accurate data from logbooks will allow
continued monitoring of bycatch and discards in the fishery and assist in identifying any
emerging issues.
6
5.3. Observer coverage
A total of 90 fishing days were observed in the CSF for the fishing seasons (2009-10 to 201213). This involved six different boats and a range of fishing methods including line, trap and
hand collection (Sea Cucumber). The details of the observer coverage over this period are
outlined in Table 1.
Observer trips undertaken in the line, trawl and trap sector in the 2011-12 fishing year were
undertaken as per the typical integrated scientific monitoring program applied on board an
auto line voyage. These trips require biological data collection including completing catch
compositions and collecting length frequencies, wildlife abundance and interaction data as
well as other general data including daily log information, vessel and gear details and shot
specific information. Further information was collected on the capture and interaction of the
vessel with Gulper Sharks. The trips observed 100% of the shots by the vessel during the
voyages and no interactions with threatened, endangered or protected species were reported.
Table 1. Observer coverage for fishing seasons 2009-10 to 2012-13.
Fishing
Season
2009-10
2010-11
2011-12
2012-13*
Days
observed
Methods observed
Number
of trips
Number
of boats
Coverage of
total effort
16
Dropline
1
1
100%
7
Dropline
1
1
100%
17
Trap
1
1
11%
10
Hand Collection & Line Fishing
1
1
100%
20
Auto long-line
2
1
100%
8
Hand Collection (Aquarium sector)
1
1
72%
12
Auto long-line
1
1
60%
*July 2012 to May 2013
6. Catch and Effort
6.1. Total catch of target species
Catch and effort in the Coral Sea Fishery for the fishing seasons 2009-10 to 2012-13 are
provided in table 1. The differences in the catch data for particular fishing years within the
tables below are due to the different methods used to record the vessels landed catch (catch
weighed and recorded in catch disposal records) and the at-sea catch (catch estimates
recorded in logbooks).
Table 1: Total landed catch in the CSF between 2008-09 and 2011-12 (excluding Aquarium Sector).
Catch
Fishing
No. of
Methods
year
boats
(whole wt tonnes)
2009-10
4
2
Diving (hand collection), dropline
2010-11
54.3
4
Trapping, diving, line fishing
2011-12
39.3
3
Diving (hand collection), dropline, longline
2012-13*
16.5
1
Longline
*July 2012 to May 2013
7
Line, Trawl and Trap Sector
Over the past 3 fishing seasons catch and effort from the line, trawl and trap sector has
declined (table 1). The majority of catch was taken from the line sector with catches also from
the hand collection sector (table 2).
Auto-long line catches for the past three seasons have been below the harvest strategy species
triggers. In terms of the trigger pertaining to changes in catch composition (if the relative
catch proportion of any species changes by >30% from its historical average AND the catch
of this species is greater than 1t, invoke a Level 1 response on the relevant species), one
species (flame snapper) exceeded this trigger for the past two seasons while spikes in catches
were also observed for bar rockcod, blue-eye trevalla, and ruby snapper. Industry members
have advised that in recent years targeting practices have changed due to new marketing
opportunities for particular species. This has resulted in the spike in catches for these species
which is largely attributable to a change in depths fished. Ongoing monitoring and observer
coverage is scheduled to continue during 2013 on auto-line fishing vessels to monitor catch
rates and effort. Given the announcement and scheduled implementation of the Coral Sea
Marine Reserve (see section 9.1) and exclusion of auto-long lining from the fishery in mid2014, the potential risks of overfishing these species in the CSF are considered low.
Thereforeno further management restrictions will be considered during 2013.
Table 2: Logbook catch, effort and CPUE for line, trawl and trap methods for fishing years
2008-09 to 2011-12.
CPUE (total
Fishing year
Trap lifts
Catch (Kg whole weight)
catch/total effort)
0
0
0
2009-10
11,081
77,973
7.04
2010-11
0
0
0
2011-12
0
0
0
2012-13
CPUE (total
Fishing year
Trawl hours
Catch (Kg whole weight)
catch/total effort)
0
0
0
2009-10
0
0
0
2010-11
0
0
0
2011-12
0
0
0
2012-13
CPUE (total
Fishing year
Dropline hooks[1]
Catch (Kg whole weight)
catch/total effort)
216
1,239
5.7
2009-10
555
528
0.95
2010-11
864
295
0.34
2011-12
0
0
0
2012-13
CPUE
(total
Fishing year
Longline hooks
Catch (Kg whole weight)
catch/total effort)
0
0
0
2009-10
687
1,733.6
0.4
2010-11
244,100
39,264
0.16
2011-12
111,500
16,455
6.77
2012-13
Note fishing year 2012-13 is for the period July 2012 to May 2013
[1]
Hook numbers for dropline are calculated by multiplying the number of line lifts by the average number of
hooks per line.
8
Hand Collection (Sea Cucumber) Sector
Sea cucumber catch landed in the CSF for years 2009-10 to 2012-13 is provided in table 3.
Assessing the sea cucumber catch against the harvest strategy trigger limits for the past 3
seasons shows that all catches by species were below the catch limits (see table 4).
Table 3: Logbook catch, effort and CPUE for hand collection (sea cucumber) for fishing years 2008-09 to
2011-12.
Fishing year
Dive hours
Catch (Kg whole weight)
CPUE (total catch/total effort)
2009-10
31.5
1,887
59.9
2010-11
100
4,375
43.7
2011-12
92
2,772
30.1
2012-13*
0
0
0
*Reported up to May 2013
Table 4: Assessment of hand collection Sector: Sea Cucumber CDR catches against the Harvest Strategy
catch limits for years 2010-11 to 2011-12.
Common name
Species
Size
limit
Annual
quota per
permit
Total
Allowable
Catch
2010-11
Catches
2011-12
Catches
Black teatfish
Holothuria
whitmaei
Holothuria
fuscogilva
Holothuria
scabra
Thelenota
ananas
Actinopyga
mauritiana
Greenfish –
Stichopus
chloronotus
Lollyfish –
Holothuria atra
25 cm
500 kg
1 tonne
8 kg
407 kg
32 cm
2 tonnes
4 tonnes
1,201 kg
1,950 kg
16 cm
500 kg
1 tonne
30 cm
10 tonnes
20 tonnes
380 kg
732 kg
15 cm
5 tonnes
10 tonnes
15cm
5 tonnes
10 tonnes
15 cm
5 tonnes
10 tonnes
15 cm
75 tonnes
(including
the take of
the above
species)
150 tonnes
(including
the take of
the above
species)
White teatfish
Sand fish
Prickly redfish
Surf red fish
Any
combination of
greenfish and
lollyfish
Any other
single species
All species of
the Order
Aspidochirotida
59 kg
Aquarium Sector
For the past three fishing season the days fished for all species groups by the aquarium sector
has been below the harvest strategy trigger of 200 days’ fishing. Total specimen catches from
the aquarium sector have also been below the 40,000 specimen season trigger outlined in the
harvest strategy (see table 5). Catches of Humphead Maori Wrasse from the Aquarium Sector
over the past 3 years have included 11 specimens in 2011-2012 and 11 specimens in 20122013. This take is below the 25 specimen limit for an aquarium sector fishing permit. There
has been limited take of living rock in this sector for the past three fishing seasons.
The aquarium harvest strategy also requires a supplementary analysis designed to detect a
significant change (30%) in the relative proportion of catch. An assessment of the 2011-12
9
catches showed that 2 species groups were above their 30% range, this included Damselfish
and Gobies. Catches for the 2012-13 season show that these 2 species groups again above
their range (Table 5).
The CSF aquarium expert group members were contacted regarding 2011-12 catches in
February 2013 and comments were sought regarding the breaches in the triggers associated
with detecting a significant change in catch composition. Advice was also requested on the
need and level of management responses. The following comments were noted from panel
members:
 The potential risk of overfishing these species is considered low given the low fishing
footprint or coverage relative to the level of unexploited suitable habitat in a fishing
year
 It is also unlikely that all ‘goby’ or ‘damselfish’ species will be at the same risk from
fishing and noted that this is only the second year ‘gobies’ have been reported and
there is no obvious trend for ‘damselfish’ for the past 4 years
 The reporting of species groups both ‘gobies’ and ‘damselfish’ in logbooks are too
generic to determine if the trigger harvest levels are a concern for the species within
these groups.
In summary, given the potential risk of overfishing posed by the nature of the aquarium sector
is considered low and the available catch information does not indicate a worrying trend, no
further management restrictions are recommended at this time. In response to exceeding the
catch composition trigger, it is recommended to explore options to develop and implement
monitoring practices to include the reporting of catches at the species level (specifically for
‘goby’ and ‘damselfish’ species). This will help provide more information to better assess and
manage the impacts of fishing overtime.
10
Table 5 - Assessment of catches from the Aquarium Sector of the Coral Sea Fishery against triggers for years 2010-2011 to 2012-13*.
Season
Species
2010-2011
All
Angelfish
Damselfish
Gobies
Surgeonfish
Wrasse
Days
Number Percent
5 Yr Avg
79
40
59
19
74
79
27793
257
4521
121
2139
7292
100
0.92
16.27
0.44
7.7
26.24
31259
514
5723
753
1982
8128
All
Angelfish
Damselfish
Gobies
Surgeonfish
Wrasse
83
49
65
52
73
81
39819
211
8925
989
2797
9452
100
0.53
22.41
2.48
7.02
23.74
33361
192
6260
555
2246
7960
All
Angelfish
Damselfish
Gobies
Surgeonfish
Wrasse
71
49
59
52
68
68
35761
161
6785
1250
2991
9079
100
0.45
18.97
3.5
8.36
25.39
33361
192
6260
555
2246
7960
Number
Number
5 Yr
Percent Range
360-668 Below -30%
4006-7440
527-979 Below -30%
1387-2577
5690-10566
100
0.82
14.46
0.39
6.84
23.33
0.57-1.07
10.12-18.80
0.27-0.51
4.79-8.89
16.33-30.33
134-250
4382-8138
389-722
1572-2920
5572-10348
100
0.63
26.75
2.96
8.38
28.33
0.44-0.82
18.73-34.78
2.07-3.85
5.87-10.89
19.83-36.83
100
0.48
20.34
3.75
8.97
27.21
0.34-0.62
14.24-26.44
2.63-4.88
6.28-11.66
19.05-35.37
2011-2012
Above
Above
2012-2013
134-250
4382-8138
389-722
1572-2920
5572-10348
Above
Above
*Catch reported for the 2012-13 season up to 31 March 2013.
11
6.2.
Bycatch
The CSF catches in excess of 850 species. The species caught vary depending on the methods
used as well as the areas and times fished. Due to the variability in species caught and in
fishing effort across the different fishery sectors, the distinction between target and bycatch
species is difficult to make, if not a redundant distinction, since for the line, trawl and trap
sectors in particular, there are no clearly defined “target species” per se.
From the perspective of bycatch, it is noted that
- Bycatch is negligible for the Hand Collection Sector (Aquarium, Lobster and Trochus, Sea
Cucumber), as fishers can take target species discriminately.
-
Wilson et al. (2010) report that the Line, Trawl and Trap Sectors take a wide variety of
species, with operations varying both temporally and spatially. These fishing methods are
relatively non-selective. Anecdotal reports suggest the trap-caught fish can be released
alive if unwanted; however, post-release survival is not well documented for this fishery.
Possible ghost fishing from lost traps has been mitigated through the use of sacrificial
anodes on trap doors. The use of sacrificial anodes is a requirement under the fishing
permit.
Bycatch and Discarding WorkPlan
The most recent CSF Bycatch and Discarding Workplan was implemented for the period 1
July 2010 to 30 June 2012. As the fishery is undergoing a transitional phase due to the
announcement of the Coral Sea Marine reserve and the adjustment assistance package by Mr
Tony Burke, the Minister for SEWPaC in 2012, work to review and develop a new bycatch
workplan for the fishery is currently on hold until the completion of the adjustment package
and the remaining concession holders (sectors) in the fishery are known.
6.3.
Ecological Risk Assessment
The Coral Sea Fishery has undertaken a preliminary Level 1 Ecological Risk Assessment
(ERA) and a semi qualitative Level 2 ERA for Chondrichthyan and Protected (TEP) species.
Hand collection methods presented a low risk to all species considered. Finfish trapping also
presented a low risk to most species, with bathyl and reef sharks the only exception with
medium risk. No CITES listed (or soon to be listed in 2014) shark species were considered
high risk from the effects of fishing during the ERA process.
Marine turtles, bathyl sharks (>200m) and reef sharks were all afforded a high risk rating for
trawl and line methods, while pelagic and shelf sharks were given a high risk rating for line
methods only. There have been no reported interactions with turtles in the CSF. This is
supported by observer coverage which covers a minimum of 25% of trips.
The Lobster and Trochus, Aquarium, and Sea Cucumber sub-sectors employ methods which
are highly selective and able to avoid bycatch species. No species were identified as being at
high risk from hand collection methods under the ERAs conducted for the CSF to date. Hand
collection methods in the CSF are highly selective and do not result in bycatch; consequently
there is unlikely to be any discarding.
Line Sector
Trip limits for deepwater sharks were introduced in 2010 and discourage fishing where there is
a high bycatch of these species and more recently in 2013 the take of dogfish species was
12
prohibited. Additional trip limits for other potential high risk species will continue to be
implemented through the CSF Harvest Strategy.
Future bycatch mitigation measures may include the design and implementation of best
practice protocols for handling of sharks and other species of concern. In the future it may also
be necessary to further investigate the risk factors for turtles if interactions are detected and if
necessary, develop best practice handling protocols.
Trawl Sector
Bycatch reduction measures such as the use of Turtle Excluder Devices (TEDs) and trip limits
demonstrate sustainability. As with the line sector, trip limits for deepwater sharks were
introduced in 2010 and the prohibited take of dogfish species in 2013 discourage fishing where
there is a high bycatch of these species. Development of operating procedures outlining areas
(including depths) fished, timing of fishing (if appropriate) and other measures may further
assist in this regard.
Trap sector
No species were identified as being at high risk from demersal fin fish trapping under the
ERAs conducted for the CSF to date. Detailed reporting and the use of observers will continue
to be used to identify any emerging risks posed by the use of demersal finfish traps. Trap
design, including the nature of sacrificial anodes on trap doors, is regulated through permit
conditions. Best practice guidelines for handling and release of unwanted species and
operation of traps more generally may reduce any existing risks posed by this sector.
6.4. ERA Review Process
On 27 June 2011, AFMA convened a panel of representatives from CSIRO, ABARES,
AFMA, Queensland Fisheries and CSF concession holders (CSF Expert Panel). The CSF
Expert Panel considered the risks to target, bycatch and discard species in the CSF. Further
risk assessment work was completed by CSIRO on all TEP and chondrichthyan species (see
Fry 2012). The final report was completed in March 2012.
The results from ABARES’ Reducing Uncertainty in Stock Status (RUSS) project will assist
AFMA to assess the risks to target, bycatch and discard species in the Aquarium Sector, Line
and Trap Sector, Trawl and Trap Sector and the Hand Collection Sector. This wation of the
Coral Sea Marine Reserve will further reduce the environmental impacts in the fishery. Work
to progress the ERA review process is scheduled to re-commence post the fisheries adjustment
assistance package.
6.5.
Catches of shark species to be CITES listed in 2014.
Five pelagic shark species are to be listed under CITES in 2014;
 Scalloped hammerhead (Sphyrna lewini)
 Smooth hammerhead (Sphyrna zygaena)
 Great hammerhead (Sphyrna mokarran)
 Oceanic white tip (Carcharhinus longimanus)
 Porbeagle shark (Lamna nasus)
AFMA logbooks indicate that catches of Scalloped Hammerhead, Smooth Hammerhead and
Oceanic Whitetip sharks have occurred in the Dropline and Auto long-line sectors. No catches
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have been reported since 2009 and no catches of Great Hammerheads or Porbeagles have been
recorded (Table 6).
Table 6 - Logbook catches of shark species to be CITES listed in 2014 by method (1997 to 2013).
Smooth
Oceanic
Scalloped Hammerhead
Hammerhead
Whitetip Shark
Fishing Season
Auto long-line
Dropline
Handline
Auto long-line
Dropline
1997-98
7
1998-99
156
1999-00
200
367
2000-01
2004-05
1235
2005-06
12018
2006-07
1089
2007-08
1591
2008-09
68
100
400
7. Status of target stock
7.1.
Resource concerns
The majority of stocks in the CSF continue to be assessed as ‘uncertain’ under the Fishery
Status Reports 2011 (see Woodhams et al, 2011). However, compared to the 2010 assessment
some changes were reported in the 2011 fishery status assessment, these included:

the Aquarium Sector is now assessed as ‘not subject to overfishing’ and ‘not
overfished’ due to the maximum potential effort under the management constraints is
likely to have minimal impact on the stocks.

Surf Redfish and black teatfish are now assessed as ‘not subject to overfishing’ due to
the low catch, while the biomass remains ‘uncertain’ because there is no current
assessment for determining biomass status.

The Line and Trap Sector is now assessed as ‘not subject to overfishing’ due to the
fishing mortality levels are unlikely to constitute overfishing. The biomass assessment
for the numerous finfish and shark species remains ‘uncertain’ as there are currently no
assessments for determining the biomass status of these species.
Two CSF stocks are no longer formally assessed in the Fishery Status Reports 2011:

Trochus (Trochus niloticus or Tectus pyramis) - trochus catch has not been reported in
the Coral Sea Fishery since 2001. Although a catch trigger still applies to trochus, the
stock is not currently considered a key commercial species.

Sandfish (Holothuria spp.) - Sandfish catch has not been reported in the Coral Sea
Fishery since 2000. Although a TAC is in place for sandfish, the stock is not currently
considered a key commercial stock.
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8. Interactions with protected species
Since the 2010 submission there have been no interactions with TEP species recorded in
logbooks or observer reports. Given the low levels of fishing effort and the observer coverage
levels in the fishery the risk of interacting with protected species are considered low.
9. Impacts of the fishery on the ecosystem in which it operates
There has been no change since the last assessment of the fishery (in early 2010) under the
EPBC Act to the nature of the impacts of the CSF on the ecosystem or the way AFMA
manages the CSF to minimise ecosystem impacts.
10. Conclusion
AFMA Management considers that the CSF is being managed consistently with the 2010
assessment and in accordance with the accreditation of the CSF as a WTO under the EBPC
Act. Further, no CSF species have been classified in the Fishery Status Reports 2011 as
‘overfished/subject to overfishing’ and there have been no reported interactions with TEP
species since the 2010 submission.
AFMA has progressed implementation of conditions and recommendations resulting from the
2010 assessment as described in Section 10 below.
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11. Progress in implementing conditions and recommendations
Table 4 – Conditions and recommendations on the approved Wildlife Trade Operation declaration for the Coral Sea Fishery
Performance Criteria
Level of Achievement
Condition 1: Operation of the fishery will be carried out in accordance with Achieved.
the management regime in force under the Fisheries Management Act 1991
and the Fisheries Management Regulations 1992.
Condition 2: AFMA to inform SEWPAC of any intended amendments to Achieved. Since the CSF was declared an approved WTO
the CSF management arrangements that may affect the assessment of the SEWPAC have been advised of amendments to the management
fishery against the criteria on which EPBC Act decisions are based.
arrangements that may affect the criteria on which EPBC Act
decisions are based (see above at Section 3.5).
Condition 3: AFMA to produce and present reports to SEWPAC annually Achieved.
as per Appendix B to the Guidelines for the Ecologically Sustainable
Management of Fisheries - 2nd Edition.
Condition 4: AFMA to:
The CSF Expert Panel met in June 2011 to consider the risks to
a. by July 2011, convene a panel of experts to determine the risks to target, target, bycatch and discard species in the CSF. AFMA is to
finalise the risk assessment process once the results of
bycatch and discard species in the CSF
b. by July 2011 address concerns raised by the Independent Comment on ABARES’ Reducing Uncertainty in Stock Status are available.
the Methodology used for the Coral Sea Fishery qualitative risk
analysis—Part 1 with particular considerations to the recommendations The Aquarium Sector risks and Harvest Strategy review was
arising from this review
considered by the CSF Expert Panel in 2012. This draft report
c. develop and commence the implementation of appropriate risk will be considered at the next annual stakeholder meeting.
mitigation strategies for high risks identified through the risk assessment
processes for the CSF.
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Performance Criteria
Condition 5: AFMA to:
a. implement species specific identification and reporting of
chondrichthyan species taken in the CSF
b. should species grouping be required, AFMA to provide scientific
justification
c. implement management measures that limit the take of chondrichthyans
in the CSF to levels that are sufficiently precautionary to assist AFMA in
ensuring ecologically sustainable management of the take of
chondrichthyans in the CSF.
Level of Achievement
Ongoing. CSIRO completed a further assessment of
chondrichthyans and TEPS at the species level for each sector,
in 2012. This report will be further considered by the CSF
Expert Panel in conjunction with the final RUSS reports.
Progress to complete this condition is on hold until the
completion of the fishery adjustment package and the remaining
sectors in the CSF are known.
Condition 6: AFMA to manage the take of school shark (Galeorhinus
galeus) and eastern gemfish (Rexea solandri) in the CSF in a manner that is
complementary to the management strategies outlined in the School Shark
Stock Rebuilding Strategy 2008 and Eastern Gemfish Stock Rebuilding
Strategy 2008.
Achieved through ongoing monitoring. There have been low
catches of both school shark and eastern gemfish. The CSF
Harvest Strategies require monitoring of catch and effort trends
which is consistent with the rebuilding strategies for these two
species.
Condition 7: AFMA, in consultation with Australia’s CITES Scientific
Authority, to develop and implement a long term monitoring program for
Humphead Maori Wrasse (Cheilinus undulates) stocks related to the fishery.
The monitoring program should be capable of identifying, at a minimum,
species specific catch levels, size of specimens collected and any areas at
risk of localised and/or serial depletion in the area of the fishery.
.
Ongoing. Monitoring program for Humphead Maori Wrasse has
been developed and implemented in consultation with
Queensland Fisheries which has been contracted by AFMA to
provide the logbook service for the CSF Aquarium Sector.
Aquarium Sector concession holders are now required to report
the number of Humphead Maori Wrasse taken per trip, record
the size of the specimens collected and specify the area where
these were taken. This data is assessed annually.
Condition 8: By 30 September 2011, AFMA to review the data validation Commenced. AFMA has commenced a review of the data
program for the CSF and consider an appropriate data validation system for validation program for the fishery and consideration of an
the Aquarium sector.
appropriate data validation system for the Aquarium Sector.
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Condition 9: Consistent with the recommendations made in the
Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation Coral Sea
Fishery – Review of harvest strategies 2009 AFMA to:
a. validate and justify the triggers contained in the Harvest Strategies for all
sectors of the CSF; and
A further review of the Harvest Strategy trigger limits will be
undertaken as part of AFMA’s individual sector risk assessment
process with the CSF Expert Panel. AFMA expects to have the
validated/justified revised triggers approved by the CSF
Stakeholder Group at its next annual meeting.
b. report annually on the analysis of catches against these triggers and any AFMA has completed analysis of catches against the current
harvest strategy triggers and reports have been provided to the
management responses implemented as a result.
CSF Expert Panel and stakeholders for consideration. Following
consideration by the CSF Expert Panel, AFMA provided a report
of the analysis, including any management responses, to
SEWPAC in March 2013.
Recommendation 1: AFMA to:
a. ensure catch reporting and monitoring in the CSF, including species
specific and spatial information, is sufficient to monitor the performance
of the fishery, especially the Aquarium sector; and
b. actively respond to the finer scale information gathered in a) to inform
the management of the fishery.
AFMA has engaged Queensland Fisheries to provide logbook
services for the Aquarium Sector. Catch reporting and
monitoring, including spatial information, and harvest strategy
triggers for the aquarium sector were considered by the CSF
Expert Panel in 2012.
Recommendation 2: AFMA to continue to cooperate with other relevant
jurisdictions to pursue complementary management and research for species
harvested in the CSF.
AFMA has engaged Queensland Fisheries to provide logbook
services for the Aquarium Sector recognising that these
operators fish in State and Commonwealth waters.
Representatives from Queensland Fisheries attend CSF Expert
Panel meetings.
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12. References
Fry, G. 2012. Coral Sea Fishery ERA – Phase II TEP and chondrichthyan species.
Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO).
Wilson, D.T., Curtotti, R. and Begg, G. (eds) 2010. Fishery status reports 2009. Status of fish
stocks managed by the Australian Government, Australian Bureau of Agricultural and
Resource Economics – Bureau of Rural Sciences, Canberra.
Woodhams, J, Vieira, S & Stobutzki, I (eds) 2012, Fishery status reports 2011. Australian
Bureau of Agriculture and Resource Economics and Sciences, Canberra.
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