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Industry and researchers develop innovative industry based monitoring program for abalone | FN 0557 |
Harry Gorfine, Marine and Freshwater Resources Institute
June, 2003 |
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The Victorian abalone fishery yields around 14% of the global supply of wild abalone and is the State’s most economically valuable fishery. This industry has a history of supporting research of their fishery and has directly participated in several research projects over the years.
The Marine and Freshwater Resources Institute (MAFRI) and the abalone industry through Seafood Industry Victoria (SIV) are collaborating on a year-long project to develop a comprehensive industry-based monitoring program to be undertaken by abalone fishers.
As Dr Harry Gorfine, leader of MAFRI’s Abalone Sub-program explains, the reason for the Industry’s desire to collect more scientific information stems from the development and application of MAFRI’s length-based abalone fishery assessment model.
“Fisheries models are used to synthesise existing scientific data and to generate reliable predictions of how abalone populations will respond to fishing pressure.” Dr Gorfine says. “Model predictions are an important component of the suite of tools used to provide scientific advice to fishery managers.”
MAFRI, with funding from Fisheries Victoria and the Fisheries Research and Development Corporation, has therefore invested to develop a model specifically suited to the unique characteristics of abalone population dynamics.
“The biology of abalone varies markedly between different populations and significant differences can be found between populations that are not far apart.” Dr Gorfine explains.
This means that you can’t reliably predict such things as what the average size of abalone is on a reef, even from observations made on nearby reefs.
“For the model to provide reliable assessments, it is important to have more information on how such characteristics of abalone populations vary across the state” Dr Gorfine says.
Essentially the application of the new MAFRI model highlighted the need to obtain new information from many more abalone populations than had previously been studied.
This would have been too costly for researchers to try to do on their own, but with the assistance of abalone divers, much information could be collected from a large range of new areas.
Mr Ross McGowan, CEO of SIV estimates that the industry could provide approximately 5000 potential sampling opportunities during the fishing season.
“This grant is helping develop ways for industry members to contribute new data on abalone, to improve the modelling and assessment of their fishery.” Mr McGowan says.
“Training of abalone divers and their deckhands in techniques for collecting scientific data and samples will also be a central component of the project.”
The monitoring program will use an electronic shellfish measuring board and data logger, which stores data while fishers are at sea. This equipment was developed by the abalone industry and its use will allow more detailed information on the catch to be collected than has been previously possible.
Mr Steve Michael, MAFRI’s project scientist has drawn upon his extensive experiences as a commercial rock lobster and abalone fisher in New Zealand, and as a scientific observer for the Australian Fisheries Management Authority, as well as the experiences of local abalone fishers in the design phase of the monitoring program. Mr Michael is now building a team of willing industry divers from all regions across the state to assist in the development and testing of the industry based monitoring program
Divers interested in participating in this study should contact Steve Michael at MAFRI on 5258 0234 or 0438 525155.
For general information about this project please contact Mr Harry Gorfine at MAFRI on 5258 0220 or Mr Ross McGowan at SIV on 9824 0744.
This project is funded by Fisheries Victoria and the Fisheries Research and Development Corporation.
The advice provided in this publication is intended as a source of information only. Always read the label before using any of the products mentioned. The State of Victoria and its employees do not guarantee that the publication is without flaw of any kind or is wholly appropriate for your particular purposes and therefore disclaims all liability for any error, loss or other consequence which may arise from you relying on any information in this publication.
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