Ocean Hauling EIA Report (2001)
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OCEAN HAULING EIA REPORT Prepared for: NSW Fisheries October 2001 Prepared by: SMEC Australia Pty Ltd ACN 065 475 149 Project Number: 31229.001 PREPARATION, REVIEW AND AUTHORISATION Project Name: Ocean Hauling EIA Report Project No.: 31229.001 Prepared by: Ros Taplin Signature: Position: Senior Consultant Date: 16th October 2001 Reviewed by: Michael Wiener Signature: Position Environmental Scientist Date: 16th October 2001 This report was prepared in accordance with the scope of services set out in the contract between SMEC Australia Pty Ltd (SMEC) and the Client. To the best of SMEC’s knowledge the proposal presented herein reflects the Client’s intentions when the report was printed. In preparing this report, SMEC relied upon data, surveys, analyses, designs, plans and other information provided by the Client and other individuals and organisations referenced herein. Except as otherwise stated in this report, SMEC has not undertaken further verification regarding the accuracy or completeness of these information sources. TABLE OF CONTENTS 1 INTRODUCTION ....................................................................... 1-2 1.1 BACKGROUND................................................................................1-2 1.2 METHODOLOGY .............................................................................1-2 1.3 CONSULTATION .............................................................................1-3 2 OCEAN HAULING FISHERY.................................................... 2-1 2.1 FISHERY WATERS..........................................................................2-1 2.1.1 Description............................................................................2-1 2.1.2 Surrounding Land Uses.........................................................2-1 2.2 FISHERY DESCRIPTION.................................................................2-2 2.3 OCEAN HAULING CONTROLSERROR! BOOKMARK NOT DEFINED. 2.3.1 Limited Entry..............................Error! Bookmark not defined. 2.3.2 Permits ......................................Error! Bookmark not defined. 2.3.3 Equipment Controls....................Error! Bookmark not defined. 2.3.4 Closures ....................................Error! Bookmark not defined. 2.3.5 Size Limits .................................Error! Bookmark not defined. 2.3.6 Zoning .......................................Error! Bookmark not defined. 2.3.7 Code of Conduct........................Error! Bookmark not defined. 3 IMPACT ASSESSMENT .. ERROR! BOOKMARK NOT DEFINED. 3.1 NOISE .....................................ERROR! BOOKMARK NOT DEFINED. 3.1.1 Impact Assessment....................Error! Bookmark not defined. 3.1.2 Mitigation Measures...................Error! Bookmark not defined. 3.2 LIGHT .....................................ERROR! BOOKMARK NOT DEFINED. 3.2.1 Impact Identification ...................Error! Bookmark not defined. 3.2.2 Mitigation Measures...................Error! Bookmark not defined. 3.3 AIR QUALITY...........................ERROR! BOOKMARK NOT DEFINED. 4 ENERGY AND GREENHOUSE ISSUESERROR! BOOKMARK NOT DEFINED. 4.1 DESCRIPTION OF FISHING FLEETERROR! BOOKMARK NOT DEFINED. 4.2 ENERGY AND GREENHOUSE ASSESSMENTERROR! BOOKMARK NOT DEFINED. 5 REFERENCES ................. ERROR! BOOKMARK NOT DEFINED. APPENDICES A Questionnaire to Councils 1 INTRODUCTION 1.1 BACKGROUND NSW Fisheries is currently preparing fishery management strategies for the State’s commercial marine fisheries. Concurrently, environmental assessments are being prepared under Division 5, Part 5 of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979. The assessments will estimate the level of pressure on the environment from the fishing activities and predict the likely impacts of implementing the draft fishery management strategies. The guidelines for the preparation of the environmental assessments issued by the Department of Urban Affairs and Planning (DUAP) requires that among other issues NSW Fisheries must address noise, light, air quality, and energy and greenhouse issues. SMEC Environment was commissioned by NSW Fisheries to prepare assessments addressing noise, light, air quality, and energy and greenhouse issues for three commercial fisheries, Estuary General, Ocean Hauling and Estuary Prawn Trawl. This report presents the assessment for the Ocean Hauling Fishery. 1.2 METHODOLOGY Ocean Hauling Fishing: • involves five different fishing methods; • is undertaken by about 375 fishing businesses; • occurs on beaches and in waters along the entire NSW coastline; and • involves over 17 species. This complexity has made it impossible to assess each activity and region in the Ocean Hauling Fishery separately. The methodology adopted involved: • consultation with NSW Fisheries, members of the fishing industry and local councils; • broadly describing each method of fishing and identifying the activities that may generate noise, light or air emissions; • identifying the types of land use that occurs surrounding beaches where Ocean Hauling Fishing is conducted; • combining the above two factors to identify whether there was any potential for significant adverse effects; and • identifying mitigation measures to minimise or reduce identified areas of impact. Greenhouse and energy issues were considered by examination of the fishing fleet and methods of fishing. To present the findings of the investigations this report contains four sections: 1. this brief introduction; 2. a description of the fishing activity and estuarine environment; 3. an impact assessment for noise, light and air quality issues; and 31229.001 October 2001 1-3 Ocean Hauling EIA Report 4. a consideration of greenhouse and energy issues. 1.3 CONSULTATION To facilitate an understanding of the Ocean Hauling Fishery and relevant environmental issues consultation was undertaken with members of the Ocean Hauling Management Advisory Committee (OHMAC), Local Councils and the staff of NSW Fisheries. i Consultation With OHMAC Members A number of members from OHMAC were contacted regarding issues in the Ocean Hauling Fishery. These members of OHMAC serve as industry representatives for commercial fishing operators in the Ocean Hauling Fishery, and have first-hand experience of the fisheries’ issues. The Ocean Hauling Fishery is subject to a large number of restrictions, the majority of which are imposed by NSW Fisheries. The National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) also imposes some restrictions in areas that are bounded by National Parks, and particularly beaches where access is through National Parks. Local councils play a limited role in controlling commercial fishing activities, with their input generally limited to access controls on beaches. Responses from OHMAC members indicate that the noise, light, air quality, and energy and greenhouse issues relating to Ocean Hauling tend to be fairly limited. Most commercial fishermen undertaking Ocean Hauling activities tend to be responsible and implement necessary measures to mitigate any possible impacts. The following list outlines the issues raised regarding noise, light and air quality/energy and greenhouse issues. • Noise Issues Noise is probably the main issue arising from Ocean Hauling activities. However, these issues are fairly limited. For the most part, Ocean Hauling activities that generate any substantial noise, such as motors or winches, tend to occur a reasonable distance from the coast. Hauling that occurs on beaches is most commonly done by hand, and so generates very minimal noise. Generally, Ocean Hauling occurs during daytime hours when noise considerations are less pertinent. Although not addressed as an issue, some Ocean Hauling fishers do access the beaches with four wheel drive vehicles equipped with winches. These would generate substantial levels of noise. • Light Issues Ocean Hauling is predominantly a daytime exercise and as such, there are very few light issues associated with Ocean Hauling. Any Ocean Hauling that occurs during the night tends to be in open waters well removed from any residential areas. • Air Quality/Energy and Greenhouse Issues The air quality and energy issues were considered to be minimal. Where hand beach hauling is concerned, there are no air quality or energy issues, except vehicle emissions associated with gaining access to the beach. Emissions in relation to the use of four wheel drive based winches for hauling were not raised. Boat based hauling does generate some issues through the use of motors, but these are considered to be minor. 31229.001 October 2001 1-4 Ocean Hauling EIA Report ii Consultation With Local Councils Questionnaires were sent to seven local councils, Eurobodalla Shire Council, Maclean Shire Council, Great Lakes Council, Lake Macquarie City Council, Port Stephens Council, Greater Taree City Council and Richmond Valley Council. A copy of the questionnaire is included as Appendix A. These councils were selected because there is a diverse range of commercial fishing carried out within their areas, including Ocean Hauling. Three responses were received, from Eurobodalla Shire Council, Greater Taree City Council and Port Stephens Council. The responses were, on the whole, very similar with all indicating that these Councils had very little to do with commercial fishing management, largely because the Councils do not have the staff expertise to effectively deal with fishery issues. As a result, management of commercial fishing is left to NSW Fisheries. No public complaints had been received at the three Councils about noise, light, air