Annual status report 2009 EastCoral Coast Fisher Spanishy Mackerel Fishery

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Annual Status Report 2009—Queensland Coral Fishery 1

Fishery profile 2008

Species targeted Fishery season

Broad range of species from the classes Anthozoa and 1 July 2008 to 30 June 2009 Hydrozoa including live corals (anemones, soft and hard corals); ornamental corals; living rock; coral rubble and coral sand.

Total harvest from all sectors Total number of commercial licences in 2008–09

97 t 59 licences

Commercial harvest Commercial licences accessing the fishery in 2008

97 t (59 t living rock, 19 t specialty coral, 10 t ornamental 24 coral, and 9 t other coral and coral rubble)

Recreational harvest Fishery symbol

No estimate level of harvest for 2008–09 D

Indigenous harvest Monitoring undertaken

No estimate level of harvest for 2008–09 Commercial logbooks (CFISH)

Charter harvest Accreditation under the EPBC Act

Not applicable to the fishery Expires 1 July 2012

Commercial Gross Value of Production (GVP) Logbook validation

No estimate available No

Sector contribution to total harvest Quota managed

Predominately commercial Yes – commercial Total Allowable Catch = 200 t (split between specialty coral (30%) and live rock/coral rubble/ornamental coral (70%))

Key fish resources Stock status

Classes Anthozoa and Hydrozoa Not assessed

Comment: Key species collected under the above families in the QCF will be considered for assessment as a part of the Fisheries Queensland1 stock status reporting program roll out in 2010.

1 Fisheries Queensland (formerly Queensland Primary Industries and Fisheries) is part of the Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation.

Annual Status Report 2009—Queensland Coral Fishery 2 Introduction

The Queensland Coral Fishery (QCF) is one of a range of harvest (hand collection) fisheries managed by the Fisheries Queensland, part of the Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation (DEEDI). Commercially collected coral taxa, coral rubble and sand, and living rock are marketed domestically and internationally. Coral taxa can also be collected recreationally from areas outside of State Marine Parks and the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park (GBRMP).

This report covers fishing activity during the 2008–09 financial year. Fishery Description

The QCF is a small scale, quota managed, hand harvest fishery (commercial Total Allowable Catch = 200 tonnes (t)) with 59 authorities. The quota is split between live Figure 1: Queensland Coral Fishery area. coral (30%) and live rock/coral rubble/ornamental coral (70%). Coral may only be taken by hand or by using hand-held non-mechanical implements, such as a hammer and Due to the strong market demand for live corals for use in chisel. Licence holders may also use underwater private aquaria, key target species are generally the breathing apparatus (SCUBA or hookah) when taking small and vibrant varieties of coral. Live rock is also a coral. Where a chisel is used, divers endeavour to major component of the fishery, due to its suitability as a remove only the coral itself, taking great care to minimise substrate for the smaller, brighter corals in aquarium the amount of substrate that is taken or damaged. These tanks. Anemones (Order Actinaria) are also a key target removal methods reduce freight costs (less weight and group in the coral fishery. volume) and also limit the environmental footprint of Corals can also be collected by recreational fishers for their harvesting. Recreational harvesters are not personal home aquaria. Recreational fishers are limited permitted to use SCUBA or hookah gear. by apparatus restrictions for the QCF (see Fishing methods). Additional regulations imposed under Marine Key Species Parks legislation limit the fishable area for recreational The commercial Coral Fishery is based on the collection fishers to waters outside of declared Marine Parks. of a broad range of species from the classes Anthozoa Fishing area and methods and Hydrozoa. The key components of the fishery are: • Live corals (includes anemones, soft and hard corals) The fishery operates along the east coast of Queensland within the bounds of the Offshore Constitutional • Ornamental (non-living) corals Settlement (Figure 1). Commercial operators in the QCF • Living rock (i.e. dead coral skeletons with algae and collect coral from waters along the Queensland east other organisms living on them) coast between 10°41’ S and 24°30’ S (not including areas closed through general fisheries closures or marine parks • Coral rubble (i.e. coarsely broken up coral fragments) zoning under the Commonwealth Great Barrier Reef • Coral sand (i.e. finely ground up particles of coral Marine Park Act 1975 and the Queensland Marine Parks skeleton) – only taken as incidental catch and may Act 1982. There are two small collection areas south of not be targeted within Marine Park waters. 24°30’ S, however access to these is restricted through Coral taxa from over 36 families are harvested for the live licence conditions. The fishery area also comprises two aquarium trade. Coral families targeted for the non- spatially defined high use Coral Collection Areas (CCAs) living, ornamental coral trade include: at Cairns and around the Keppel group of islands.

Annual Status Report 2009—Queensland Coral Fishery 3 • Pocilloporidae (cauliflower/bird's nest corals) 16 t in 2008–09. Most of the decrease was in the collection of ornamental coral (Figure 3). • Acroporidae (staghorn/velvet corals).

Main management methods used 80 2006-2007 70 Under Offshore Constitutional Settlement (OCS) 2007-2008 arrangements between the Commonwealth and 60 2008-2009 Queensland governments, management of coral 50 collection adjacent to the east coast of Queensland falls 40 30 under Queensland law. Fisheries in the Coral Sea (t) harvest Total 20 (outside of the OCS) are managed by the Commonwealth 10 Government. 0 The following management measures are in place for the Coral rubble Specialty Live rock Ornamental Other coral coral (LC1) commercial fishery under legislation and policy: Figure 2: Catch composition (QCF Logbook categories) of live • Limited entry: 59 Commercial Harvest Fishery Licences coral collected in the Queensland Coral Fishery for the quota are endorsed for the coral fishery. years 2006–07 to 2008–09 (Source: Fisheries Queensland CFISH database, 26 Feb 2010). • Limits on the number of boats and collectors There has been an increasing trend in the number of operating under a licence at any one time. individual pieces collected since 2006–07 with more • Collection by hand or hand-held implements only, specimens collected in 2008–09 than previous quota with the aid of artificial breathing apparatus allowed. years (Table 1). Specimens of the Families Mussidae

Since 1 July 2006 the commercial coral fishery has (15%) and Acroporidae (9%), Catalaphyllia jardinei (8%) operated under the "Policy for the Management of the were the most collected groups (by number). The overall Coral Fishery". Fisheries Queensland implemented diversity of species collected (by number) has been several changes to the operation and management of the similar between all quota years and CCAs indicating little fishery on 1 July 2009 following the review of the Policy in change in the targeting behaviour of the collectors 2008. The review outcomes were reported in the previous (Tables 2–4). An increase in the number of individuals Annual Status Report (see 2008 report). collected from the Family Mussidae in the Keppel CCA comprised most of this increase (Table 3), although there Catch statistics were also notable increases for Catalaphyllia jardinei, Euphyllia spp. (not glabrascens), Blastomussa spp. and Commercial Scolymia spp. outside of the Cairns and Keppel CCAs Approximately 97 t, comprising 59 t of living rock, 19 t of (Table 4). Collection levels of these species are tracked Specialty coral (LC2–LC5), 10 t of Ornamental coral and through the Performance Measurement System (see 9 t of other coral was harvested in the QCF in 2008–09 Table 5); Scolymia vitensis triggered the catch review (Figure 2). This represents 48.5% the commercial TAC of reference point and Fisheries Queensland has 200 t and was very similar to previous reported annual investigated this matter. catches following the introduction of the Coral Policy. Table 1: Number of individual pieces and weight of coral species The majority of harvest (73 t) came from the Cairns Coral collected in the Queensland Coral Fishery for the quota years 2006–07 to 2008–09 (Source: Fisheries Queensland CFISH Collection Area (CCA) and 6 t from the Keppel CCA in database, 26 Feb 2010). 2008–09 (Figure 3). Catches in the Cairns and Keppel No. of individual CCAs did not exceed the revised annual review reference Year Weight (kg) pieces points (RRP) for specialty coral, ornamental coral and live 2006–2007 75 740 26 157 rock. The RRPs were revised under the Policy review and 2007–2008 128 882 33 461 amended upwards to reflect the low risk the fishery 2008–2009 157 764 28 981 poses to coral and live rock sustainability in these areas. Coral collected outside the CCAs decreased from 22 t to

Annual Status Report 2009—Queensland Coral Fishery 4 Cairns Keppel Other

80

70

60

50

40

30 Total harvest (t) Total harvest

20

10

0 2006- 2007- 2008- 2006- 2007- 2008- 2006- 2007- 2008- 2006- 2007- 2008- 2006- 2007- 2008- 2007 2008 2009 2007 2008 2009 2007 2008 2009 2007 2008 2009 2007 2008 2009

Coral rubble Live rock Ornamental Other coral (LC1) Specialty coral

Figure 3. Regional breakdown of Live Coral (QCF Logbook categories) collected in the Queensland Coral Fishery for the quota years 2006–07 to 2008–09 (Source: Fisheries Queensland CFISH database, 26 Feb 2010).

Table 2: Number of individual pieces and weight of coral species collected in the Cairns Coral Collection Area in the Queensland Coral Fishery for the quota years 2006–07 to 2008–09 (Source: Fisheries Queensland CFISH database, 26 Feb 2010).

Number of individual pieces Weight (kg) Common Name 2006-2007 2007-2008 2008-2009 2006-2007 2007-2008 2008-2009 Acroporidae 3 841 5 454 5 878 2 274 2 282 2 178 Euphyllia spp. 2 305 4 842 5 880 856 1 235 1 392 Mussidae 3 009 4 361 3 969 861 727 875 Faviidae 1 042 2 016 2 308 559 725 854 Blastomussa spp 942 1 088 2 349 589 414 545 Goniopora/Alvepora spp. 3 877 4 453 4 929 681 564 543 Fungiidae 1 558 2 570 2 684 262 334 307 Pocilloporidae 763 924 1 193 260 304 290 Euphyllia glabrascens 1 781 2 452 2 881 256 243 285 Duncanopsammia spp. 1 308 2 262 2 279 193 263 266 Xeniidae 3 445 4 758 6 252 207 193 257 Coral rubble 0 0 0 53 0 243 Catalaphyllia jardinei 2 542 3 005 2 772 267 251 240 Soft coral 3 510 5 893 5 811 184 241 234 Poritidae 307 296 663 103 187 223 Nephtheidae 2 709 4 649 4 905 155 186 205 Tubipora musica 967 1 119 1 588 351 230 201 Actinaria 766 1 047 1 962 150 117 166 Turbinaria spp. 371 623 577 199 240 150 Corallimorph 279 324 1 239 75 29 131 Gorgonacea 1 036 1 157 1 131 229 126 127 Dendrophylliidae 391 1 760 989 114 223 109 Trachyphyllia geoffroyi 2 739 2 653 1 477 186 180 105 Button coral 1 758 2 410 1 378 173 212 102 Pectiniidae 361 559 865 47 55 98 Caulastrea spp. 381 570 583 148 98 81 Scolymia spp. 535 762 846 197 108 75 Oculinidae 372 316 377 116 48 53

Annual Status Report 2009—Queensland Coral Fishery 5 Number of individual pieces Weight (kg) Common Name 2006-2007 2007-2008 2008-2009 2006-2007 2007-2008 2008-2009 Zoanthidae 173 107 274 16 10 33 Merulinidae 144 152 254 59 33 30 Stylasteridae 233 1 079 333 21 86 26 Paralcyoniidae 486 77 9 47 27 23 Agariciidae 127 103 173 43 16 13 Sarcophyton 0 0 47 0 0 7 Blue coral 18 27 37 1 4 5 Milleporidae 71 30 50 7 2 3 Pennatulacea 62 15 10 8 1 1 Tubiporidae 47 25 5 12 1 1 Whip coral - unspecified 0 0 2 0 0 <1 Amplexidiscus spp. 5 0 0 1 0 0 Clavulariidae 29 0 0 26 0 0

Table 3: Number of individual pieces and weight of coral species collected in the Keppel Coral Collection Area in the Queensland Coral Fishery for the quota years 2006–07 to 2008–09 (Source: Fisheries Queensland CFISH database, 26 Feb 2010).

Number of individual pieces Weight (kg) Common Name 2006-2007 2007-2008 2008-2009 2006-2007 2007-2008 2008-2009 Mussidae 2 361 5 711 12 298 447 985 1 376 Faviidae 2 552 4 107 3 094 525 619 361 Catalaphyllia jardinei 2 378 2 101 1 979 405 322 237 Goniopora/Alvepora spp. 1 469 2 332 1 274 274 311 184 Duncanopsammia spp. 1 528 1 296 1 316 262 158 144 Pectiniidae 153 327 1 382 19 48 137 Montipora spp. 1 351 1 595 1 265 119 198 124 Euphyllia spp. 1 025 596 1 001 188 87 116 Soft coral 2 749 2 280 1 267 125 91 116 Dendrophylliidae 727 765 833 100 98 99 Fungiidae 79 103 146 11 27 98 Turbinaria spp. 237 330 214 50 73 93 Zoanthidae 25 0 6 2 0 60 Pocilloporidae 7 0 82 1 0 55 Scolymia spp. 107 326 533 8 32 52 Agariciidae 9 48 218 1 7 20 Tubipora musica 619 738 186 77 83 18 Gorgonacea 284 174 405 12 9 17 Xeniidae 1 229 1 009 350 49 40 14 Nephtheidae 575 440 333 23 18 13 Trachyphyllia geoffroyi 104 39 95 27 8 6 Poritidae 25 12 25 11 2 5 Actinaria 1 26 83 0 2 4 Corallimorph 75 0 50 10 350 3 Oculinidae 1 9 13 0 1 2 Caulastrea spp 10 0 9 2 0 1 Euphyllia glabrascens 245 93 10 37 13 1 Button coral 0 0 5 0 0 0 Paralcyoniidae 75 25 1 3 1 0 Alcyonacea 20 0 0 1 0 0 Blastomussa spp 387 14 0 65 2 0 Coral rubble 0 0 0 1056 0 0 Milleporidae 18 1 0 2 1 0 Stylasteridae 8 7 0 1 1 0 Tubiporidae 0 0 0 0 62 0

Annual Status Report 2009—Queensland Coral Fishery 6 Table 4: Number of individual pieces and weight of coral species collected outside of the Cairns and Keppel Coral Collection Areas in the Queensland Coral Fishery for the quota years 2006–07 to 2008–09 (Source: Fisheries Queensland CFISH database, 26 Feb 2010).

Number of individual pieces Weight (kg) Common Name 2006-2007 2007-2008 2008-2009 2006-2007 2007-2008 2008-2009 Acroporidae 1 237 5 939 7 349 6 088 4 692 6 104 Pocilloporidae 676 2 448 1 158 2 743 7 314 1 804 Turbinaria spp. 714 1 370 862 1 367 3 165 1 254 Faviidae 624 2 081 4 648 128 506 994 Mussidae 560 2 258 7 321 120 422 991 Catalaphyllia jardinei 835 6 602 8 469 244 768 837 Euphyllia spp. 1 080 1 502 3 733 256 282 464 Scolymia spp. 498 2 484 4 805 49 242 443 Dendrophylliidae 118 521 2 579 12 88 285 Fungiidae 1 010 1 645 2 753 156 201 281 Trachyphyllia geoffroyi 117 4 334 3 775 10 287 267 Pectiniidae 140 632 2 159 14 123 258 Blastomussa spp. 63 649 1 361 8 93 161 Button coral 122 1 304 2 044 11 100 160 Duncanopsammia spp. 521 1 967 1 482 79 213 158 Euphyllia glabrascens 609 1 156 1 210 100 216 134 Goniopora/Alvepora spp. 358 447 1 027 157 60 115 Agariciidae 20 26 73 3 2 77 Merulinidae 73 97 29 5 76 69 Milleporidae 53 565 172 79 141 56 Soft coral 476 308 846 20 12 37 Actinaria 196 504 430 31 71 34 Poritidae 21 58 43 2 7 26 Nephtheidae 355 487 623 14 21 25 Tubipora musica 40 108 201 9 27 24 Gorgonacea 230 104 261 206 37 20 Caulastrea spp 40 217 230 8 16 20 Corallimorph 47 105 252 9 7 19 Stylasteridae 61 162 109 4 12 9 Oculinidae 11 25 58 1 3 8 Zoanthidae 16 28 103 1 3 7 Xeniidae 22 213 162 1 9 6 Blue coral 51 69 3 282 271 0 Paralcyoniidae 10 0 2 0 0 0 Coral rubble 0 0 0 26 317 0 Pennatulacea 0 0 0 1 0 0 Siderastrea spp. 0 16 0 0 19 0

Recreational Spatial issues/trends

The quantity of coral taken recreationally within the Annual harvest levels are monitored for the two Coral fishery is minimal considering the limited known Collection Areas through the Performance Measurement distribution of coral outside Marine Parks and the gear System (Table 5). Harvest in these areas did not exceed restrictions imposed the review reference points.

Indigenous Socio-economic characteristics and trends

Indigenous use of corals has not been documented and There were 24 commercial QCF licences active in 2008– any participation in the fishery is considered to be 09. minimal (McCormack 2006). There are no Gross Value of Production (GVP) estimates for the fishery. The small size of the fishery, its multi-

Annual Status Report 2009—Queensland Coral Fishery 7 species focus and variations in market prices make it and coral bleaching, are likely to have greater ecological difficult to accurately estimate GVP. impacts than the fishery operations. A review of the ERA is planned for 2010. Biological and ecological information In May 2009, Fisheries Queensland implemented the Coral Stress Response Plan for the Coral and Marine Monitoring Programs Aquarium Fish Fisheries, providing a gradient of Logbook data provides Fisheries Queensland with management responses commensurate with the level of detailed information on catch trends in the commercial impact. This helps to ensure that fishery activities do not fishery. No independent monitoring is currently being exacerbate already stressed environments. The plan undertaken. represents a partnership between industry and government and formally links with the industry Interactions with protected species association Pro-vision Reef Inc’s Stewardship Action Plan and the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authorities’ Coral Due to the selective, relatively benign harvesting method Bleaching Response Plan. The Coral Stress Response and high attendance of fishing gear, operators pose Plan can be downloaded at negligible risk to protected species. Commercial http://www.dpi.qld.gov.au/documents/Fisheries_Comm operators report interactions with protected species in a ercialFisheries/Coral-stress-aquarium-fisheries-v6.pdf. Species of Conservation Interest (SOCI) logbook. There have been no reported interactions with SOCI during Sustainability Assessment 2008–09. Performance against fishery objectives Ecosystem Impacts Fisheries Queensland implemented the QCF Performance The physical impact on the broader ecosystem is Measurement System (PMS) in 2009. The PMS was considered negligible as a result of the selective fishing developed in consultation with the Harvest Management method and the small number of individual animals that Advisory Committee (MAC). Analysis of performance of are collected relative to the available resource. the QCF against these measures indicated that three review reference points triggered during the 2008–09 The Ecological Risk Assessment (Roelofs 2008) of the reporting year (Table 5). The triggered reference points fishery indicated that QCF operations are not likely to were discussed with industry representatives in relation negatively impact on natural food webs and critical to cause and effect. The triggered reference points do not predator/prey relationships. Broader ecosystem impacts warrant a management response other than for from natural events, such as cyclone damage to reefs continued monitoring.

Annual Status Report 2009—Queensland Coral Fishery 8 Table 5: Performance against the review events in the QCF Performance Measurement System.

Performance measure Performance

1. Annual catch (kg) of species of greater than negligible 1. Indicator partially measured ecological risk (listed below) is >30% higher or lower than Triggered for: mean catch over the previous 2 years • Gorgoniidae spp (-47%) or • Scolymia vitensis (+80%) 2. Greater than 80% of the annual catch of t of species of • Live rock (Keppel region) (-80%) greater than negligible ecological risk occurs in a single 6 x 6 nm logbook site. Comment • The decline in harvest of Gorgoniiidae spp. is attributed Species greater than negligible risk from the QCF as to a decrease in demand and decrease in effort determined by the coral fishery ERA are: • Increases in the reported harvest of Scolymia vitensis is • Trachyphyllia geoffroyi most likely an artefact of how this species is labelled • Acanthastrea lordhowensis and reported for import country requirements • Blastomussa merletti • Decrease in Live rock (Keppel region) has been due to • Blastomussa wellsi adverse weather conditions and low water visibility from • Scolymia vitensis freshwater run-off affecting the level of effort • Duncanopsammia axifuga Not triggered for : • Euphyllia glabrascens • Plerogyra spp • Trachyphyllia geoffroyi • Catalaphyllia jardinei • Duncanopsammia axifuga • Acropora spp • Euphyllia glabrascens • Gorgoniidae spp • Catalaphyllia jardinei • Entacmea quadricolor • Acropora spp • Live rock (Cairns and Keppel regions only) • Live rock (Cairns region)

Not measured for (data unavailable for analysis)

• Acanthastrea lordhowensis • Blastomussa merletti • Blastomussa wellsi • Entacmea quadricolor ) 2. Indicator not measured

Total annual catch in high use management areas (reported Not triggered through logbooks) – the Review Reference Points are: Product form Year Cairns (t) Keppel (t) Cairns 06–07 54 16 ƒ 80 t live rock (inc. rubble & LC1 rock) Live rock 07–08 51 12 ƒ 13 t live coral 08–09 48 3 ƒ 5 t ornamental coral 06–07 2 - Keppel Ornamental 07–08 2 <1 ƒ 24 t live rock (inc. rubble & LC1 rock) 08–09 2 <1 ƒ 11 t live coral 06–07 8 3 ƒ 1 t ornamental coral Specialty coral 07–08 8 3 08–09 8 3

Greater than 75% of quota used in <6 months Not triggered Only 48.5% of the overall quota was used in 2008–09

Bleaching severity & interaction with fishery is > Level 2 as Not triggered defined in Fisheries Queensland Coral Stress Response Plan.

Annual Status Report 2009—Queensland Coral Fishery 9 Performance measure Performance

Number of DEEDI ministerial letters referring to Not triggered sustainability concerns with the Coral Fishery: More than five Ministerial Letters are prepared per calendar year.

Greater than 10% of the active vessels in the fleet are used Not triggered to commit an offence under the Fisheries Regulation 2008. No commercial or recreational offences relating to the QCF were detected in 2008–09.

Quota usage 1. Triggered 1. Less than 25% of fishery quota used in >6 months. The cumulative usage of quota by 31 December 2008 in the QCF was below 25% for both quota components. 2. More than 10 licence holders use <25% of their quota holding Other coral: 23% (31 629/140 000 kg) Specialty coral: 16% (9552/60 000 kg)

2. Triggered Other coral: 11 licence holders Specialty coral: 11 licence holders Comment – both adverse weather and the downturn in the economy (decrease in demand) have influenced the lower levels of effort. No further action in relation to these triggered measures is proposed.

Proportion of industry adopting identified best practice Not triggered protocols* Membership statistics indicate that the indicator was not Greater than 80% of active operators have adopted best triggered in 2008–09 with the 88% of active licences practice protocols members of Pro-vision Reef.

*Measure now reflects protocols formalised in the industry developed Stewardship Action Plan implemented in 2009

Current sustainability status and concerns being discussed in global scientific forums. Fisheries Queensland continues to monitor the potential Fisheries Queensland is satisfied that there are no implications of this phenomenon on the fishery. resource concerns in this fishery at the current participation levels and with the suite of management Collaborative research controls that are in place. Natural catastrophic events There were no collaborative research projects in the such as coral bleaching and cyclones are likely to have reporting year. more localised impact on coral and anemone resources than fishery activity at the present level of effort in the Fishery Management fishery. The Coral Stress Response Plan and industry commitment to sustainable fishing practices through Compliance Report their Stewardship Action Plan provide confidence that During the 2008–09 quota year, 17 units were inspected should these impacts arise, responsible and sustainable by Queensland Boating and Fisheries Patrol (QBFP) in the fishing will ensue. QCF, including nine commercial fishing vessels, with the remainder comprising recreational fishers and marketer Research premises. No offences were detected. No significant Recent research and implications issues were identified by either industry or Fisheries Queensland. The effects of increasing acidity in the world’s oceans and its effect on calcification rates of corals are currently

Annual Status Report 2009—Queensland Coral Fishery 10 The compliance risk assessment for the Queensland stakeholders in the fishery are consulted about Coral Fishery was reviewed in November 2009 in order to significant changes in management arrangements. determine compliance priorities and allow the most effective use of QBFP resources. The risk assessment identified (i) recreational fishers taking coral for References commercial purposes; (ii) violation of Marine Parks McCormack, C 2006, Ecological Assessment of the Queensland zoning (commercial fishers); and (iii) keeping inaccurate Coral Fishery. A report to the Australian Government Department of the Environment and Heritage on the ecologically sustainable logbook records as the highest priorities for enforcement management of the Queensland Coral Fishery, Department of and compliance in the fishery. There were also a number Primary Industries and Fisheries, Brisbane, Australia. of activities rated as having a moderate risk and several Roelofs , A 2008, Ecological Risk Assessment of the Queensland activities identified as important enforcement tools, Coral Fishery, Department of Primary Industries & Fisheries, which are also being addressed. Brisbane.

Changes to management arrangements in the reporting year Information complied by

No changes have been made to the management Anthony Roelofs arrangements in the reporting year 1 July 2008 to 30 June Acknowledgements 2009. Anna Garland, Dr Brigid Kerrigan, Margie Atkinson and Dr Tracey Communication and education Scott-Holland

Promotion of regulations applying to both commercial Front cover image and recreational fishers, including those relating to Diver collecting coral on the Great Barrier Reef harvest fisheries, is an ongoing role for Fisheries Queensland.

Consultation with stakeholders in this fishery occurs through many mechanisms:

• On a strategic level the Queensland Fisheries Advisory Committee (QFAC) considers the QCF in the context of all Queensland fisheries and prioritises issues associated with it accordingly. Once fisheries management priorities have been determined, the department may establish a small number of Technical Advisory Groups (TAGs) to provide technical information that will assist Fisheries Queensland to pursue these priorities (which may or may not impact the QCF).

• The service may also establish technical working groups to generate information upon which to base decisions. These groups may be permanent or ad hoc and can be fishery-specific or broader. They may be established to provide advice to the Department or to inform the decisions of a body such a QFAC.

• Fisheries Queensland consults directly with industry members through attendance at industry association meetings, port visits, newsletters and other means.

There are also legislated requirements for consultation; such as Regulatory Impact Statements (RIS) that ensure

Annual Status Report 2009—Queensland Coral Fishery 11