Report of the Expert Panel on a Declared Commercial Fishing Activity: Final (Small Pelagic Fishery) Declaration 2012 October 2014 Letter of Transmittal to the Minister Dear Minister I am pleased to present the report of the Expert Panel to Assess a Declared Commercial Fishing Activity (Final (Small Pelagic Fishery) Declaration 2012). The report assesses and advises on: the likely nature and extent of direct interactions of the Declared Commercial Fishing Activity with species protected under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act (EPBC Act), particularly seals and dolphins the potential for any localised depletion of target species (arising from the Declared Commercial Fishing Activity) to result in adverse impacts to the Commonwealth marine environment, including the target species’ predators protected under the EPBC Act actions that could be taken by operators of the Declared Commercial Fishing Activity or relevant regulatory authorities to avoid, reduce and mitigate adverse environmental impacts of the activity monitoring or scientific research that would reduce any uncertainties about the potential for adverse environmental impacts resulting from the Declared Commercial Fishing Activity. The panel’s advice on these issues was informed by consultation with national and international experts in the relevant fields, by targeted, commissioned research and by broader stakeholder consultation. The panel members hope that this report will assist your assessment of the environmental impacts of the Declared Commercial Fishing Activity and help inform future government decision making on the Small Pelagic Fishery. Mary Lack Chair Expert Panel on a Declared Commercial Fishing Activity Contents
South Australian Research and Development Institute (SARDI) Aquatic Sciences research for information Mr Simon Boag and Mr Fritz Drenkhahn, South East Trawl Fishing Industry Association Commercial fishing operations: trawl Submission to Interim Declaration Nomination of experts Invited submission Mr Jon Bryan, Conservation Member, Small Pelagic Fishery Resource Assessment Group (SPFRAG) Conservation Phone meeting Mr Anthony Ciconte, Commercial fisher Commercial fishing Submission to Interim Declaration Professor Doug Butterworth, Department of Maths and Applied Maths, University of Cape Town, South Africa Fisheries science Written response to request for information Dr Ad Corten, Chief Scientist, Corten Marine Research, Netherlands Fishing operations and bycatch Written response to request for information Dr Bram Couperus, Researcher, Institute of Marine Resources and Ecosystem Studies, University of Wageningen , Netherlands Fishing operations and bycatch Written response to request for information Mr Martin Exel, General Manager, Environment and Policy, Austral Fisheries Commercial fishing operations: trawl Meeting Dr James Findlay, Chief Executive Officer, Australian Fisheries Management Authority Fisheries management Meeting and written responses to requests for information and questions Mr George Day, Senior Manager, Demersal and Midwater Fisheries, AFMA Fisheries management Meeting and written responses to requests for information and questions Mr Peter Douglas. Douglas Fishing Super Fund Commercial fishing operations Submission to Interim Declaration Dr Elizabeth Fulton, Principal Research Scientist and CEO’s Science Leader Fellow, CSIRO Oceans and Atmosphere Flagship Fisheries science: ecosystem modelling Meeting Mr Gerry Geen, Director, Seafish Tasmania Pty Ltd Commercial fishing operations: mid-water trawl Submission to Interim Declaration Meeting Mr John Holdsworth, Blue Water Marine Research, New Zealand Recreational fishing Written response to request for information. Dr Patrick Hone, Executive Director, Fisheries Research and Development corporation (FRDC) Fisheries science: relevant fisheries research Written and verbal response to request for information Ms Rebecca Hubbard, on behalf of Stop the Super Trawler Alliance Conservation Submission to Interim Declaration Nomination of experts
protected in the Australian Whale Sanctuary) Balaenoptera physalus Fin whale Vulnerable Cetacean Migratory Medium Medium Caperea marginata Pygmy right whale Cetacean Migratory Medium Medium Eubalaena australis Southern right whale Endangered Cetacean Migratory Medium Medium Megaptera novaeangliae Humpback whale Vulnerable Cetacean Migratory Medium Medium Cetaceans: Toothed cetaceans Berardius arnuxii Arnoux’s beaked whale Cetacean Medium Medium Delphinus delphis Common dolphin, common dolphin Cetacean Medium Medium Feresa attenuata Pygmy killer whale Cetacean High Medium Globicephala macrorhynchus Short-finned pilot whale Cetacean High Medium Globicephala melas Long-finned pilot whale Cetacean High Medium Grampus griseus Risso’s dolphin, grampus Cetacean High High Hyperoodon planifrons Southern bottlenose whale Cetacean High Medium Kogia breviceps Pygmy sperm whale Cetacean Medium Medium Kogia sima Dwarf sperm whale Cetacean Medium Medium Lagenodelphis hosei Fraser’s dolphin, Sarawak dolphin Cetacean Migratory High High Lagenorhynchus cruciger Hourglass dolphin Cetacean High High Lagenorhynchus obscurus Dusky dolphin Cetacean Migratory Low Low Lissodelphis peronii Southern right whale dolphin Cetacean High High Mesoplodon bowdoini Andrew’s beaked whale Cetacean High Medium Mesoplodon densirostris Blainville’s beaked whale, dense-beaked whale Cetacean High Medium Mesoplodon ginkgodens Gingko-toothed beaked whale Cetacean High Medium
Mesoplodon grayi Gray’s beaked whale Cetacean High Medium Mesoplodon hectori Hector’s beaked whale Cetacean High Medium Mesoplodon layardii Strap-toothed beaked whale Cetacean High Medium Mesoplodon mirus True’s whale Cetacean High Medium Orcinus orca Killer whale, orca Cetacean Migratory Medium Medium Peponocephala electra Melon-headed whale Cetacean Medium Medium Phocoena dioptrica Spectacled porpoise Cetacean Not assessed Not assessed Physeter macrocephalus Sperm whale Cetacean Migratory Medium Medium Pseudorca crassidens False killer whale Cetacean High Medium Sousa chinensis Indo-Pacific humpback dolphin Cetacean Migratory Medium Medium Stenella attenuata Spotted dolphin, pantropical spotted dolphin Cetacean Migratory Medium Medium Stenella coeruleoalba Striped dolphin Cetacean High High Stenella longirostris Long-snouted spinner dolphin Cetacean Migratory Medium Medium Steno bredanensis Rough-toothed dolphin Cetacean Medium Medium Tasmacetus shepherdi Shepherd’s beaked whale Cetacean Medium Medium Tursiops aduncus Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphin Cetacean Migratory High High Tursiops truncatus Common bottlenose dolphin Cetacean High High Ziphius cavirostris Cuvier’s beaked whale Cetacean High Medium Dugong Dugong dugon Dugong Marine Migratory Medium Medium Seabirds (central place forager species bolded) Anous minutus Black noddy Marine Low Low Anous stolidus Common noddy Marine Low Low Anous tenuirostris melanops Australian lesser noddy Vulnerable Marine Low Low Apus pacificus Fork-tailed swift Marine Migratory Not assessed Not assessed Ardea alba/Ardea Great egret, white egret Marine Not assessed Not assessed
modesta/Egretta alba Migratory Ardenna tenuirostris (listed Marine as Puffinus tenuirostris) Short-tailed shearwater Marine Migratory Medium Medium Botaurus poiciloptilus Australasian bittern Endangered Not assessed Not assessed Calonectris leucomelas (listed Migratory as Puffinus leucomelas) Streaked shearwater Marine Migratory Medium Medium Catharacta skua Great skua Marine Medium Medium Daption capense Cape petrel Marine Medium Medium Diomedea epomophora epomophora (listed Marine and Migratory as D. epomophora (sensu stricto)) Southern royal albatross Vulnerable Marine Migratory Medium Medium Diomedea exulans amsterdamensis Amsterdam albatross Endangered Marine Migratory Medium Medium Diomedea exulans antipodensis Antipodean albatross Vulnerable Marine Migratory Medium Medium Diomedea exulans exulans (listed Marine and Migratory as D. dabbenena) Tristan albatross Endangered Marine Migratory Medium Medium Diomedea exulans (sensu lato) Wandering albatross Vulnerable Marine Migratory Medium Medium Diomedea exulans gibsoni/D. gibsoni Gibson’s albatross Vulnerable Marine Migratory Medium Medium Diomedea sanfordi Northern royal albatross Endangered Marine Migratory Medium Medium Eudyptula minor Little penguin Marine Low Low Fregetta grallaria grallaria White-bellied storm petrel (Tasman Sea, Australasian) Marine Medium Medium Fregetta tropica Black-bellied storm petrel Marine Medium Medium
Fulmarus glacialoides Southern fulmar Marine Medium Medium Garrodia nereis Grey-backed storm petrel Marine Medium Medium Haliaeetus leucogaster White-bellied sea eagle Marine Migratory Not assessed Not assessed Halobaena caerulea Blue petrel Vulnerable Marine Medium Medium Larus dominicanus Kelp gull Marine Low Low Larus novaehollandiae Silver gull Marine Low Low Larus pacificus Pacific gull Marine Low Low Lugensa brevirostris Kerguelen petrel Marine Medium Medium Macronectes giganteus Southern giant petrel Endangered Marine Migratory Low Low Macronectes halli Northern giant petrel Vulnerable Marine Migratory Low Low Morus capensis Cape gannet Marine Low Low Morus serrator Australasian gannet Marine Low Low Neophema chrysogaster Orange-bellied parrot Critically endangered Marine Not assessed Not assessed Oceanites oceanicus Wilson’s storm petrel Marine Low Low Pachyptila desolata Antarctic prion Marine Not assessed Not assessed Pachyptila belcheri Slender-billed prion Marine Not assessed Not assessed Pachyptila salvini Salvin’s prion Marine Not assessed Not assessed Pachyptila turtur Fairy prion Marine Medium Medium Pachyptila vittata Broad-billed prion Marine Not assessed Not assessed Pandion haliaetus Osprey Marine Migratory Not assessed Not assessed Pelagodroma marina White-faced storm petrel Marine Low Low Pelecanoides urinatrix Common diving petrel Marine Low Low Phaethon rubricauda Red-tailed tropicbird Marine Low Low Phalacrocorax fuscescens Black-faced cormorant Marine Medium Medium Phoebetria fusca Sooty albatross Vulnerable Marine Medium Medium
Sterna dougallii Roseate tern Marine Migratory Not assessed Not assessed Sterna fuscata Sooty tern Marine Low Low Sterna hirundo Common tern Marine Low Low Sterna paradisaea Arctic tern Marine Low Low Sterna striata White-fronted tern Marine Low Low Sterna sumatrana Black-naped tern Marine Low Low Sternula nereis nereis Australian fairy tern Vulnerable Not assessed Not assessed Sula dactylatra Masked booby Marine Low Low Thalassarche bulleri platei Buller’s albatross, Pacific albatross Vulnerable Marine Migratory Medium Medium Thalassarche cauta cauta (listed Marine and Migratory as T. cauta (sensu stricto)) Shy albatross, Tasmanian shy albatross Vulnerable Marine Migratory High Medium Thalassarche chlororhynchos bassi/T. carteri Indian yellow-nosed albatross, Atlantic yellow-nosed albatross Vulnerable Marine Migratory Medium Medium Thalassarche chrysostoma Grey-headed albatross Endangered Marine Migratory Medium Medium Thalassarche eremita Chatham albatross Endangered Marine Migratory High Medium Thalassarche melanophris Black-browed albatross Vulnerable Marine Migratory High Medium Thalassarche melanophris impavida (listed Marine and Migratory as T. impavida) Campbell albatross Vulnerable Marine Migratory Medium Medium Thalassarche salvini Salvin’s albatross Vulnerable Marine Migratory Medium Medium Thalassarche steadi White-capped albatross Vulnerable Marine Medium Medium
subelongatus Hippocampus whitei White’s seahorse, crowned seahorse, Sydney seahorse Marine Low Low Histiogamphelus briggsii Crested pipefish, Briggs’ crested pipefish, Briggs’ pipefish Marine Low Low Histiogamphelus cristatus Rhino pipefish, Macleay’s crested pipefish, ring-back pipefish Marine Low Low Hypselognathus horridus Shaggy pipefish, prickly pipefish Marine Low Low Hypselognathus rostratus Knifesnout pipefish, pipefish Marine Low Low Kaupus costatus Deepbody pipefish, pipefish Marine Low Low Kimblaeus bassensis Trawl pipefish, Bass Strait pipefish Marine Low Low Leptoichthys fistularius Brushtail pipefish Marine Low Low Lissocampus caudalis Australian smooth pipefish, smooth pipefish Marine Low Low Lissocampus fatiloquus Prophet’s pipefish Marine Low Low Lissocampus runa Javelin pipefish Marine Low Low Maroubra perserrata Sawtooth pipefish Marine Low Low Micrognathus andersonii Anderson’s pipefish, shortnose pipefish Marine Low Low Micrognathus brevirostris A Thorntail pipefish, thorn-tailed pipefish Marine Not assessed Not assessed Microphis manadensis Manado pipefish, Manado River pipefish Marine Low Low Mitotichthys meraculus Western crested pipefish Marine Low Low Mitotichthys mollisoni Mollison’s pipefish Marine Low Low Mitotichthys semistriatus Halfbanded pipefish Marine Low Low Mitotichthys tuckeri Tucker’s pipefish Marine Low Low Nannocampus subosseus Bonyhead pipefish, pipefish Marine Low Low Notiocampus ruber Red pipefish Marine Low Low Phycodurus eques Leafy seadragon Marine Low Low Phyllopteryx taeniolatus Common seadragon, weedy seadragon Marine Low Low Pugnaso curtirostris Pugnose pipefish, Pug-nosed pipefish Marine Low Low
Solegnathus dunckeri Duncker’s pipehorse Marine Low Low Solegnathus hardwickii B Pallid pipehorse, Hardwick’s pipehorse Marine Not assessed Not assessed Solegnathus lettiensis Gunther’s pipehorse, Indonesian pipefish Marine Low Low Solegnathus robustus Robust pipehorse, robust spiny pipehorse Marine Low Low Solegnathus spinosissimus Spiny pipehorse, Australian spiny pipehorse Marine Low Low Solenostomus cyanopterus/paegnius Robust ghost pipefish, ghost pipefish Marine Low Low Solenostomus paradoxus Ornate ghost pipefish, harlequin ghost pipefish, ornate ghost pipefish Marine Low Low Stigmatopora argus Spotted pipefish, gulf pipefish Marine Low Low Stigmatopora nigra Widebody pipefish, pipefish, black pipefish Marine Low Low Stipecampus cristatus Ringback pipefish, pipefish Marine Low Low Syngnathoides biaculeatus Double-end pipehorse, double-ended pipehorse, alligator pipefish Marine Low Low Trachyrhamphus bicoarctatus Bentstick pipefish, bend stick pipefish, short-tailed pipefish Marine Low Low Urocampus carinirostris Hairy pipefish Marine Low Low Vanacampus margaritifer Mother-of-pearl pipefish Marine Low Low Vanacampus phillipi Port Phillip pipefish Marine Low Low Vanacampus poecilolaemus Longsnout pipefish, Australian long-snout pipefish, pipefish Marine Low Low Vanacampus vercoi Verco’s pipefish Marine Low Low Other teleost fish Hoplostethus atlanticus Orange roughy Conservation dependent Not assessed, not listed at the time of ERA Not assessed Rexea solandri Gemfish Conservation dependent Not assessed, not listed at the time of ERA Not assessed Thunnus maccoyii Southern bluefin tuna Conservation dependent Not assessed, not listed at the time of Not assessed