Huveneers et al. FRDC TRF Shark Futures 2011/078 Determining the most suitable index of abundance for school shark (Galeorhinus galeus) stock assessment: review and future directions to ensure best recovery estimates C. Huveneers1, 2, C. Simpfendorfer3 & R. Thomson4 SARDI Publication No. F2012/000479-1 SARDI Research Report Series No. 673 ISBN: 978-1-9321563-46-1 FRDC PROJECT NO. 2011/078 SARDI Aquatic Sciences PO Box 120 Henley Beach SA 5022 April 2013 Final Report to the Fisheries Research and Development Corporation FRDC TRF Shark Futures 2011/078 i Huveneers et al. FRDC TRF Shark Futures 2011/078 Determining the most suitable index of abundance for school shark (Galeorhinus galeus) stock assessment: review and future directions to ensure best recovery estimates Final Report to the Fisheries Research and Development Corporation FRDC TRF Shark Futures 2011/078 C. Huveneers1, 2, C. Simpfendorfer3 & R. Thomson4 SARDI Publication No. F2012/000479-1 SARDI Research Report Series No. 673 ISBN: 978-1-9321563-46-1 FRDC PROJECT NO. 2011/078 April 2013 ii Huveneers et al. FRDC TRF Shark Futures 2011/078 This Publication may be cited as: Huveneers, C. 1, 2, Simpfendorfer, C. 3, and Thomson, R.4 (2013). Determining the most suitable index of abundance for school shark (Galeorhinus galeus) stock assessment: review and future directions to ensure best recovery estimates. Final Report to the Fisheries Research and Development Corporation FRDC TRF Shark Futures 2011/078. South Australian Research and Development Institute (Aquatic Sciences), Adelaide. SARDI Publication No. F2012/000479-1. SARDI Research Report Series No. 673. 58pp. 1South Australian Research and Development Institute 2Flinders University 3James Cook University 4 CSIRO Marine and Atmospheric Research Front cover photo © Malcolm Francis South Australian Research and Development Institute SARDI Aquatic Sciences 2 Hamra Avenue West Beach SA 5024 Telephone: (08) 8207 5400 Facsimile: (08) 8207 5406 http://www.sardi.gov.au DISCLAIMER The report has been through the SARDI Aquatic Sciences internal review process, and has been formally approved for release by the Research Chief, Aquatic Sciences. The authors do not warrant that the information in this document is free from errors or omissions. The authors do not accept any form of liability, be it contractual, tortious, or otherwise, for the contents of this document or for any consequences arising from its use or any reliance placed upon it. 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Printed in Adelaide: April 2013 SARDI Publication No. F2012/000479-1 SARDI Research Report Series No. 673 ISBN: 978-1-9321563-46-1 FRDC PROJECT NO. 2011/078 Author(s): C. Huveneers1, 2, C. Simpfendorfer3 & R. Thomson4 Reviewer(s): I. Moody & E. Brock Approved by: J. Tanner Science Leader – Marine Ecosytems Signed: Date: 8 April 2013 Distribution: FRDC, Flinders University, James Cook University, CSIRO, SAASC Library, University of Adelaide Library, Parliamentary Library, State Library and National Library Circulation: Public Domain iii Huveneers et al. FRDC TRF Shark Futures 2011/078 TABLE OF CONTENTS 1 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS ....................................................................................... 4 2 BACKGROUND .................................................................................................... 5 3 NEED ................................................................................................................... 8 4 OBJECTIVES ....................................................................................................... 8 5 METHODS ........................................................................................................... 9 5.1 Phase 1 ......................................................................................................... 9 5.2 Phase 2 ....................................................................................................... 10 5.3 Phase 3 ....................................................................................................... 10 5.4 Phase 4 ....................................................................................................... 10 6 RESULTS/DISCUSSION .................................................................................... 12 6.1 Phase 1 ....................................................................................................... 12 6.2 Phase 2 ....................................................................................................... 13 6.3 Phase 3 ....................................................................................................... 14 6.4 Phase 4 ....................................................................................................... 15 6.4.1 Summary of discussions ...................................................................... 15 6.4.2 Outcomes of day two discussions and recommendations summary ..... 20 6.4.3 Outcomes of Shark RAG discussions................................................... 25 6.4.4 Summary of recommendations resulting from the school shark workshop (to be reported to future Shark RAG meetings) .................................................. 26 7 BENEFITS AND ADOPTION .............................................................................. 28 8 FUTURE DEVELOPMENT ................................................................................. 30 9 PLANNED OUTCOMES ..................................................................................... 31 10 CONCLUSION ................................................................................................... 32 11 REFERENCES ................................................................................................... 34 12 APPENDIX 1: INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY ...................................................... 35 13 APPENDIX 2: STAFF ......................................................................................... 36 14 APPENDIX 3: GLOSSARY ................................................................................. 37 15 APPENDIX 4: WORKSHOP CHAIR CONSULTATION PROCESS .................... 38 16 APPENDIX 5: INFORMATION SUMMARIES OF POTENTIAL DATASETS TOWARDS A SCHOOL SHARK INDEX OF ABUNDANCE ....................................... 41 16.1 SESSF gillnet Fishery Independent Gillnet Survey ...................................... 41 16.2 Dataset described: SESSF Fishery Independent Trawl Survey ................... 44 16.3 GABTF Fishery Independent Trawl Survey ................................................. 47 16.4 First-shot surveys ........................................................................................ 49 16.5 Automatic Longline Trial .............................................................................. 52 iv Huveneers et al. FRDC TRF Shark Futures 2011/078 16.6 New Zealand catches and CPUE ................................................................ 54 17 APPENDIX 6: AGENDA OF SCIENTIFIC PARTICIPANTS PHONE MEETING.. 56 18 APPENDIX 7: LIST OF DOCUMENTS PROVIDED BEFORE WORKSHOP ...... 57 LIST OF TABLES Table 1. List of relevant people invited to attend the school shark workshop ............. 12 Table 2. Summary of discussions that took place at the end of the workshop. Discussions were held independently by the two main groups attending the workshop. .................................................................................................................................. 24 Table 3. Name, organisation, and involvement of staff .............................................. 36 Table 4. Consultation process for school shark workshop ......................................... 40 Table 5. Summary of data collected on major shark species from the SESSF FIS. Data from 2012 winter yet to be analysed. ................................................................ 46 v Huveneers et al. FRDC TRF Shark Futures 2011/078 2011/078 Determining the most suitable index of abundance for school shark (Galeorhinus galeus) stock assessment: review and future directions to ensure best recovery estimates PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR: Dr C. Huveneers ADDRESS: SARDI – Aquatic Sciences Marine Environment & Ecology 2 Hamra Avenue West Beach SA 5165 Telephone: 08 5207 5302 Fax: 08 8207 5481 OBJECTIVES: 1. Identify key scientists able to provide advice regarding suitable indices of abundance for school shark; 2. Organise a 2-day workshop to foster discussion about an index of abundance for the Southern and Eastern Scalefish and Shark Fishery school shark stock; 3. Discuss the limitations of the current stock assessment for school shark and the perceived discrepancies