Ecological Risk Assessment of Queensland-Managed Fisheries in the Gulf of Carpentaria
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Smart State smart fishing Ecological Risk Assessment of Queensland-managed Fisheries in the Gulf of Carpentaria A report to the Australian Government on the ecological risk assessment requirements set out in Wildlife Trade Operation approvals for Gulf fisheries under Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 approvals. May 2006 Ecological Risk Assessment of Queensland-managed Fisheries in the Gulf of Carpentaria A report to the Australian Government on the ecological risk assessment requirements set out in Wildlife Trade Operation approvals for Gulf fisheries under Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 approvals. Compiled by: Brad Zeller and Natale Snape—Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries May 2006 QI06061 ISSN 0727 6273 This document may be cited as: Zeller, B. and Snape, N. (2006). Ecological Risk Assessment of Queensland-Managed Fisheries in the Gulf of Carpentaria. Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries, Brisbane, Queensland. Acknowledgements: The Authors would like to thank the following people for their valued contributions to this report: Mark Doohan, Amanda Luxford, Fran Humphries, Anthony Roelofs, Neil Gribble, Rod Garrett, Jason Stapley, Stirling Peverell, Lew Williams, Brooke Young, Claire Andersen, Dr Malcolm Dunning and Sue Helmke - Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries, Queensland. Bill Passey - Professional fisher Dr Rick Fletcher - Western Australian Fisheries Dr Shane Griffiths - Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation Marine and Atmospheric Research, Cleveland. Dr Rik Buckworth - Northern Territory Department of Primary Industry, Fisheries and Mines The Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries (DPI&F) seeks to maximise the economic potential of Queensland’s primary industries on a sustainable basis. This publication provides information on an ecological risk assessment undertaken for a range of fisheries in the Gulf of Carpentaria. While every care has been taken in preparing this publication, the State of Queensland accepts no responsibility for decisions or actions taken as a result of any data, information, statement or advice, expressed or implied, contained in this report. © The State of Queensland, Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries 2006 Copyright protects this material. Except as permitted by the Copyright Act 1968 (Cth), reproduction by any means (photocopying, electronic, mechanical, recording or otherwise), making available online, electronic transmission or other publication of this material is prohibited without the prior written permission of The Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries, Queensland. Inquiries should be addressed to [email protected] (telephone +61 7 3404 6999). Ecological Risk Assessment of Queensland-Managed Fisheries in the Gulf of Carpentaria May 2006 Page 1 Abbreviations and Acronyms ACIAR Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research BRD Bycatch Reduction Device CHRIS DPI&F’s Coastal Habitat Resources Information System CSIRO Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation DEH Australian Government, Department of the Environment and Heritage DPI&F Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries, Queensland ECOTF Queensland East Coast Otter Trawl Fishery EPBC Act Commonwealth Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 ESD Ecologically Sustainable Development ERA Ecological Risk Assessment FRDC Fisheries Research and Development Corporation Gulf Gulf of Carpentaria LCW Legal Carapace Width LML Legal Minimum Length LTMP DPI&F’s Fisheries Long Term Monitoring Program NOO National Oceans Office NPF Northern Prawn Fishery NTFTF Northern Territory Finfish Trawl Fishery QB&FP Queensland Boating and Fisheries Patrol, DPI&F’s fishery enforcement unit GoCDFTF Gulf of Carpentaria Developmental Finfish Trawl Fishery QSIA Queensland Seafood Industry Association SOCI Species of Conservation Interest TAC Total Allowable Catch TRLTF Northern Territory Timor Reef and Line Trap Fishery WAPFTF Western Australian Pilbara Finfish Trawl Fishery WTO Wildlife Trade Operation – a statutory approval under the EPBC Act with attached conditions and recommendations exempting product taken in a fishery from export controls Ecological Risk Assessment of Queensland-Managed Fisheries in the Gulf of Carpentaria May 2006 Page 2 Table of Contents Abbreviations and Acronyms ..................................................................................2 Table of Contents .....................................................................................................3 List of Tables ............................................................................................................7 List of Figures...........................................................................................................7 Executive Summary .................................................................................................8 Executive Summary .................................................................................................8 Acknowledgments ..................................................................................................10 Introduction............................................................................................................11 Methodology ...........................................................................................................11 Scope ...................................................................................................................11 Overview..............................................................................................................12 Issue Identification (Component Trees) ................................................................12 Risk Assessment / Issue Prioritisation Process......................................................13 Component Reports..............................................................................................15 Retained Species.....................................................................................................16 Component Tree for Retained Species in the L4/L5 Line Fishery .........................16 Primary Species....................................................................................................18 Spanish Mackerel (Scomberomorus commerson) ..............................................18 Byproduct Species................................................................................................20 Grey Mackerel and byproduct species excluding 'Other Species'.......................20 Other species ....................................................................................................20 Component Tree for Retained Species in the Finfish Trawl Fishery......................22 Species composition .........................................................................................22 Primary Species....................................................................................................24 Crimson Snapper (Lutjanus erythropterus) .......................................................24 Saddletail Snapper (Lutjanus malabaricus).......................................................26 Red Emperor (Lutjanus sebae)..........................................................................27 Red Spot Emperor (Lethrinus lentjan) ..............................................................27 Other Emperors (Lethrinus spp.).......................................................................28 Byproduct Species................................................................................................28 Mangrove Jack (Lutjanus argentimaculatus) ....................................................28 Painted Sweetlip (Diagramma labiosum)..........................................................29 Goldband Snapper (Pristipomoides spp.) ..........................................................30 Other species ....................................................................................................30 Component Tree for Retained Species in the N9 Offshore Net Fishery .................31 Primary Species....................................................................................................31 Grey Mackerel (Scomberomorus semifasciatus)................................................31 Sharks ..............................................................................................................33 Blacktip whalers (Carcharhinus tilstoni and C. limbatus) .............................34 Proposed Management Actions.....................................................................34 Spot tail whalers (Carcharhinus sorrah) .......................................................35 Proposed Management Actions.....................................................................35 Other whalers (Carcharhinidae) ....................................................................35 Hammerheads (Sphyrnidae)..........................................................................35 Byproduct Species................................................................................................36 Sawfish (Pristidae)............................................................................................36 Spanish Mackerel (Scomberomorus commerson) ..............................................37 Ecological Risk Assessment of Queensland-Managed Fisheries in the Gulf of Carpentaria May 2006 Page 3 Guitarfish