FINAL APPLICATION TO THE AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT AND HERITAGE ON THE MARINE AQUARIUM FISH MANAGED FISHERY Against the Guidelines for the Ecologically Sustainable Management of Fisheries For Consideration Under Parts 13 and 13A of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 AUGUST 2004 DEPARTMENT OF FISHERIES, WESTERN AUSTRALIA LOCKED BAG 39, CLOISTERS SQUARE WA 6850 Application to the Department of Environment & Heritage for the Marine Aquarium Fishery TABLE OF CONTENTS 1. INTRODUCTION TO THE APPLICATION ................................................................. 6 1.1. DESCRIPTION OF THE INFORMATION PROVIDED ........................................... 6 1.2. OVERVIEW OF APPLICATION................................................................................ 7 2. BACKGROUND INFORMATION .................................................................................. 8 2.1. DESCRIPTION OF THE FISHERY............................................................................ 8 2.1.1. Location of the Fishery ......................................................................................... 8 2.1.1.1. Licence Area................................................................................................. 8 2.1.2. Number of Licensees............................................................................................. 9 2.1.3. Description of Gear .............................................................................................. 9 2.1.3.1. General.......................................................................................................... 9 2.1.3.2. Operating Description................................................................................. 10 2.1.4. Taxa Caught........................................................................................................ 11 2.1.4.1. Target .......................................................................................................... 12 2.1.5. Bait Usage........................................................................................................... 13 2.2. HISTORY OF THE FISHERY................................................................................... 14 2.2.1. Management History........................................................................................... 14 2.2.2. Catch and Effort in the MAF .............................................................................. 14 2.3. RECREATIONAL FISHERY .................................................................................... 15 2.3.1. Traditional Involvement in the Fishery............................................................... 16 2.4. MAJOR ENVIRONMENTS ...................................................................................... 16 2.4.1. Physical Environment ......................................................................................... 16 2.4.2. Economic Environment....................................................................................... 16 2.4.3. Social Environment............................................................................................. 17 2.5. CURRENT AND PROPOSED MANAGEMENT ARRANGEMENTS................... 17 2.5.1. Summary of Current Management Strategies and Justification......................... 17 2.5.2. Legislation and Policies Affecting the Fishery ................................................... 18 2.5.3. Proposed Future Management Arrangements.................................................... 18 2.6. RESEARCH STRATEGY.......................................................................................... 19 2.6.1. Recent/Current Research.................................................................................... 19 2.6.2. Proposed Future Research ................................................................................. 19 2.7. BIOLOGY OF SPECIES............................................................................................ 20 2.7.1. Aquarium Fish Species ....................................................................................... 20 2.7.2. Corals.................................................................................................................. 21 2.7.3. Invertebrates ....................................................................................................... 21 2.7.4. Live Rock/Sand.................................................................................................... 21 2.7.5. Syngnathids......................................................................................................... 22 3. METHODOLOGY ........................................................................................................... 24 3.1. SCOPE ........................................................................................................................ 24 3.2. OVERVIEW ............................................................................................................... 24 3.3. ISSUE IDENTIFICATION (component trees) .......................................................... 25 3.4. RISK ASSESSMENT/PRIORITISATION PROCESS.............................................. 26 3.5. COMPONENT REPORTS ......................................................................................... 27 June 2004 2 Application to the Department of Environment & Heritage for the Marine Aquarium Fishery 4. ASSESSMENT OF THE MARINE AQUARIUM FISHERY MANAGEMENT REGIME AGAINST THE AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT GUIDELINES FOR ASSESSING THE ECOLOGICALLY SUSTAINABLE MANAGEMENT OF FISHERIES ............................................................................................................................... 29 4.1. GENERAL REQUIREMENTS OF THE GUIDELINES .......................................... 29 PRINCIPLE 1 OF THE GUIDELINES ................................................................................. 34 OBJECTIVE 1. MAINTAIN VIABLE STOCK LEVEL OF TARGET SPECIES ............... 34 OBJECTIVE 2. RECOVERY OF STOCKS .......................................................................... 40 PRINCIPLE 2 OF THE GUIDELINES ................................................................................. 41 OBJECTIVE 1. BYCATCH ................................................................................................... 41 OBJECTIVE 2. PROTECTED/LISTED SPECIES................................................................ 42 OBJECTIVE 3. GENERAL ECOSYSTEM........................................................................... 43 5. PERFORMANCE REPORTS ......................................................................................... 47 5.1. RETAINED SPECIES................................................................................................ 47 COMPONENT TREE FOR THE RETAINED SPECIES .................................................... 47 5.1.1. Primary Species .................................................................................................. 47 5.1.1.1. Syngnathids................................................................................................. 47 5.1.1.2. Other Finfish ............................................................................................... 49 5.1.1.3. Seagrass/Algae............................................................................................ 54 5.1.1.4. Hard Coral................................................................................................... 56 5.1.1.5. Soft Coral.................................................................................................... 59 5.1.1.6. Hermit Crabs............................................................................................... 60 5.1.1.7. Other Invertebrates...................................................................................... 62 5.1.1.8. Living Rock ................................................................................................ 64 5.1.1.9. Living Sand................................................................................................. 65 5.2. NON RETAINED SPECIES ...................................................................................... 65 5.3. GENERAL ENVIRONMENT.................................................................................... 66 COMPONENT TREE FOR THE GENERAL ENVIRONMENT ......................................... 66 5.3.1. Removal of/damage To Organisms..................................................................... 66 5.3.1.1. Trophic Interactions.................................................................................... 66 5.3.1.2. Benthic Biota (non-target elements) ........................................................... 67 5.3.1.3. Anchoring ................................................................................................... 67 5.3.2. Addition/Movement of Biological Material ........................................................ 68 5.3.2.1. Translocation by Vessel Hulls .................................................................... 68 5.3.3. Other Environmental Impacts............................................................................. 68 5.3.3.1. Exhaust Fumes............................................................................................ 68 5.3.3.2. Oil Discharge .............................................................................................. 68 5.4. GOVERNANCE........................................................................................................