APPENDIX B1 Bycatch Reduction Devices 1 Volume 3 Appendices This is the third of four volumes of the Environmental Impact Statement on the Ocean Trawl Fishery Public ConsultationDocument July 2004 Note: The NSW Department of Primary Industries, incorporating NSW Fisheries, was established on 1 July 2004. Any reference in this document to NSW Fisheries is a reference to the NSW Department of Primary Industries. Public consultation document July 2004 APPENDIX B1 Bycatch Reduction Devices 3 Table of Contents Table of Contents................................................................................................................................ 3 Appendix B1.1 Bycatch Reduction Devices used in OTF.................................................................. 4 Appendix B1.2 Vessel Capacity Rules .............................................................................................16 Appendix B2.1 Summary of biological characteristics of used to determine resilience for primary, key secondary and secondary species of the OTF.................................................................... 19 Appendix B2.2 Decision rules for determining resilience for primary, key secondary and secondary species of the OTF.................................................................................................................... 27 Appendix B2.3 Summary of fishery impact factors of used to determine the fishery impact profile for primary, key secondary and secondary species of the OTF................................................ 28 Appendix B2.4 Decision rules for determining fishery impact profile for primary, key secondary and secondary species of the OTF............................................................................................ 33 Appendix B2.5 Stock assessment classes proposed to be used in determining stock assessments of primary, key secondary and secondary species of the OTF ..................................................... 34 Appendix B2.6 List of non-commerncial species caught by fishery independent surveys using ocean fish and prawn trawl gear ......................................................................................................... 35 Appendix B2.7 Risk Assessment of non-commercial species of the OTF ) ..................................... 42 Appendix B2.8 Detailed information supporting risk assessment for threatened species ................ 46 Appendix B2.9 Determination of risk averse and risk prone characteristics for habitats affected by the Ocean Trawl Fishery ........................................................................................................ 120 APPENDIX D1 Implementation table for the Ocean Trawl Fishery Management Strategy.......... 121 APPENDIX D2 Supporting Policy for Ocean Trawl Bycatch Reduction and Prawn Yields....... 132 APPENDIX D3 Arrangements for trawling in waters south of Barrenjoey Headland (and within 3 nautical miles) ........................................................................................................................ 137 APPENDIX D4 Relative catches of Primary and Key Secondary Species by Ocean Trawl Fishery Sector 139 APPENDIX D5 Arrangements relating to the management of trawling for school whiting........ 141 APPENDIX D6 Using changes in commercial landings as an indicator of stock status ................ 143 Appendix D7 Species Synopses for the Primary and Key Secondary Species............................... 147 Public ConsultationDocument July 2004 Environmental Impact Statement on the Ocean Trawl fishery 4 Appendix B1.1 Bycatch Reduction Devices used in OTF Ocean Prawn Trawl Bycatch Reduction Devices (BRD’s) BRD’s are a requirement in the OPT fishery in accordance with a closure notice prepared under s8 of the Fisheries Management Act 1994. BRD Specification Square Mesh Panel Attachment 1 Nordemore Grid Attachment 2 Blubber Chute Attachment 3 Composite Square Mesh Panel Attachment 4 Diamond BRD Attachment 5 V-Cut Attachment 6 Fish Eye Attachment 7 Big Eye Attachment 8 Note: Discussions re taking place on alternative management arrangements and possibly new trawl gear for fishers that target whiting. It is intended that the BRDs in the prawn fishery will be further improved — for example, phase out the current square mesh panel and refine other BRDs. Public consultation document July 2004 APPENDIX B1 5 Attachment 1 SPECIFICATIONS FOR THE SQUARE MESH PANEL The position of the panel The square mesh panel must be positioned in the top of the anterior (front) section of the cod- end and the base of the panel must be either, 1. within 40 meshes of the cod-end drawstring, or 2. within 40 meshes of any restriction that is placed around the cod-end during trawling, or 3. within 3 meshes of the line in the cod-end where the number of meshes is increased (ie, 3 meshes above the start of the bell). NB. If more than one drawstring is used, the drawstring closest to the tail of the cod-end is taken to be that referred to in these specifications. The minimum size of the panel The minimum size of the panel (surface area) of a square mesh panel will depend upon the number of panels and the size of mesh used. To ensure that panels are of an appropriate shape (ie. A square or rectangle) a minimum width also applies, and the length of a panel must be greater than the width. No more than four panels are permitted. Table 1 For panel(s) with mesh smaller than 75mm Minimum Total Area Minimum width of each panel 1 Panel 450cm2 18cm 2 Panels 600cm2 17cm 3 Panels 750cm2 15cm 4 Panels 900cm2 15cm Table 2 For panel(s) with mesh greater than 75mm Minimum Total Area Minimum width of each panel 1 Panel 450cm2 18cm 2 Panels 550cm2 16cm 3 Panels 650cm2 14cm 4 Panels 750cm2 13cm Material that may be used to construct the panel Netting (ie. Typical trawl net) or rigid mesh (ie. Plastic or metal) may be used to construct the square mesh panel. Netting inside a rigid frame may also be used. The netting that formes the BRD must be hung so that the meshes are open and square shaped (ie. Not a diamond — hung on the bar) If netting is used to construct a panel, the netting must be of 55mm mesh size or greater (ie. Measured via conventional means — on the diagonal with a weighted measuring device). If a rigid mesh is used, the minimum length for each side of the mesh is 27mm (40mm between diagonal corners — measured via vernier callipers). Note: Guide only. Public ConsultationDocument July 2004 Environmental Impact Statement on the Ocean Trawl fishery 6 Other conditions The mesh panel must not be covered, tied up, or restricted in any manner (ie. Fish must be able to freely escape). A single piece of rope may however be used to stop the trawl net distorting. • To ensure that the mesh in a netting panel remains open, ‘minimum bating rates’ apply as follows (ie. This does not apply to rigid mesh panels) • 55mm—60mm mesh must be at least 2 points to each bar on the panel • 60mm—75mm mesh must be at least 3 points to each bar on the panel • >75mm mesh must be at least 4 points to each bar on the panel • A ‘point’ is defined as the corner of a mesh that attaches to the square mesh panel. • A ‘bar’ is defined as the side of a single mesh within the panel, to which the ‘points’ of the trawl net are attached. Public consultation document July 2004 APPENDIX B1 7 Attachment 2 Public ConsultationDocument July 2004 Environmental Impact Statement on the Ocean Trawl fishery 8 Attachment 3 Soft mesh BRD (blubber chute) sewn into the net having a minimum mesh size of 40 mm, and a maximum mesh size of 100 mm and 100 mm a minimum total length of 3 metres. Escape cut of a minimum length of 45 cms Net Public consultation document July 2004 APPENDIX B1 9 Attachment 4 Composite Square Mesh Panel Bycatch Reduction Device Compulsory aspect of the diamond BRD: 1. The panel is sewn into the top of the net, with its base a maximum length (length B) of 1.2m forward of the cod-end drawstring. 2. The dimensions of section A (the main square mesh panel) must be a minimum of 60cm long by 30cm wide with a minimum of 65cm mesh hung on the bar (ie. hung square). 3. The larger panel surrounding section A must consist of 40mm to 50mm mesh hung on the bar. 4. The panels must be sewn into the net in accordance with the bating rates (transversals to bars, normals to bars) detailed in the diagram below. Trawl 150 T 100 T 47 T 40 - 45mm diamond mesh 24 B Recommended to use 40 - 45mm mesh hung on the bar (ie. hung square) Compulsory to use a minimum of 10 B 65mm mesh hung on the bar Section (ie. hung square). This main A panel must be at least 60 cm long and 30cm wide 21 N 42 B 6 B 12 T 23 T 2 N 100 T 100 to 200 T Length B NB: T = Transversals N = Normals B = Bars End of cod-end Attachment 5 Public ConsultationDocument July 2004 Environmental Impact Statement on the Ocean Trawl fishery 10 Public consultation document July 2004 APPENDIX B1 11 Attachment 6 Public ConsultationDocument July 2004 Environmental Impact Statement on the Ocean Trawl fishery 12 Attachment 7 Public consultation document July 2004 APPENDIX B1 13 Attachment 8 Public ConsultationDocument July 2004 Environmental Impact Statement on the Ocean Trawl fishery 14 Public consultation document July 2004 APPENDIX B1 15 Public ConsultationDocument July 2004 Environmental Impact Statement on the Ocean Trawl fishery 16 Appendix B1.2 Vessel Capacity Rules 1.0 Calculation of hull, engine and net units 1.1 Hull units = Length x Breadth x Depth x 0.6 2.83 1.2 Engine units = the published continuous (brake kilowatt) rating for