Byproduct species (including red emperor and cods) Ensure sustainability of byproduct species taken in the Demersal Fishery. Monitoring of commercial logbook returns. Significant change in catch composition on Demersal Fishery grounds. Annual catch increase in proportion of the total catch by more than 10% above the five year average. Combined byproduct species in 2011 was 23.3 tonnes (5%) - TRP not reached. 2) DFMAC to review fishery and make recommendations to the EDF and on-board monitoring to commence at the earliest practical opportunity. Amended arrangements to be implemented within 12 months of trigger being released. Bycatch species Ensure sustainability of bycatch species taken in the Demersal Fishery. Onboard monitoring of the adjacent Timor Reef Fishery. Total bycatch within the Demersal Fishery increases to 10% of total catch or a decline in a species relative numbers without a corresponding change in fishing area or fishing technique. Total bycatch in 2011 was 8% in the Timor Reef Fishery - TRP not reached. Onboard monitoring to continue annually. As per 2) above. Threatened, endangered or protected species and/or communities. Maintain the present level of interaction between demersal fishing operations and species and communities listed under the EPBC Act. Threatened, endangered or protected species and/or communities are identified in Northern Territory waters. Identifiable impacts observed by commercial fishers, fisheries observers or other agencies regarding the EPBC Act listed species or communities. No identifiable impacts observed in 2011 - TRP not reached. As per 2) above. Ecosystem components. Minimise the effects of fishing on ecosystem components. Identification of threatening processes. Identification of significant negative interaction with components of the natural ecosystem present on demersal fishing grounds. No negative ecosystem interactions identified in 2011 - TRP not reached. DFMAC to make recommendations to the EDF regarding appropriate remedial action. Amended arrangements to be implemented within 12 months of trigger being released.
comprised 12% of the total catch – TRP reached. to be provided to the EDF for appropriate action. Logbook arrangements to be implemented to cater for species specific reporting of each hammerhead shark species. Bycatch species Ensure ecological sustainability of bycatch species in all fisheries. Monitoring of commercial logbook returns. Onboard monitoring of ONLF. Total bycatch within the shark fishery increases to (↑) 10% of total catch in successive calendar years or a % decline in a species relative numbers without a corresponding change in fishing area or fishing technique. Total bycatch in the fishery was <1% of the total catch in 2011 – TRP not reached. As for Target Species above Threatened, endangered or protected (TEP) soecies including: Sawfish: Pristis clavata P. microdon P. zijsron Turtles: Caretta caretta, Chelonia mydas, Eretmochelys imbricata Ensure the continued protection of species and communities listed under the EPBC Act and the Territory Wildlife and Conservation Act 2000. TEP species and or communities are identified in NT waters. Identifiable impacts observed by commercial fishers, NT Fisheries staff or other agencies regarding the EPBC Act listed species or communities. There were 2 interactions with TEP species in 2011. One hawksbill turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata) and one dwarf sawfish (P. clavata) were reported captured and released alive – TRP not reached. MACs to review fisheries annually and make recommendations to the EDF. Fishery logbooks to be amended to include records of any interaction with endangered, threatened or protected species. Ecosystem components Minimise effects on ecosystem components Identification of threatening processes Identification of significant negative interaction with components of the natural ecosystem present on fishing grounds. No negative interactions with environment reported – TRP not reached. MACs to review fisheries annually and make recommendations to the EDF.
Northern Territory Government, Australia. Fishery Report No. 107. Coleman, A. P. M. (1998). FISHCOUNT. A Survey of Recreational Fishing in the Northern Territory. Summary. Department of Primary Industry and Fisheries Fishery Report 41. Coleman, A. P. M. (2004). The National Recreational Fishing Survey: Department of Business, Industry and Resource Development Fishery Report 72. Henry, G. W. and Lyle, J. M. (2003). The National Recreational and Indigenous Fishing survey. FRDC Project 99/158. NSW Fisheries Final Report Series No 48. Stevens, J. D., and Davenport, S. R. (1991). Analysis of Catch Data from the Taiwanese Gillnet Fishery off Northern Australia, 1979-1986. CSIRO Marine Laboratories Report 213. Walters, C. J., and Buckworth, R C (1997). Shark and Spanish mackerel Stocks assessed. Northern Territory Fishing Industry Council Newsletter, July 1997. 8(2), 14-15. Table 2. Management objectives and status against performance indicators for the Spanish Mackerel Fishery for 2011 Species or group Management objective Performance indicator Trigger Reference Point (TRP) Harvest status for 2011 Management action Spanish mackerel Ensure the sustainability of Spanish mackerel stocks. Estimated catch by all sectors does not exceed the estimated sustainable yield of Spanish mackerel (450 tonnes). Sustainable yield estimates are reviewed annually. Aggregate landings by all sectors reach 90% of the sustainable yield (405 t) and/or total fishery catch declines by 30% (based on whole weight) over the calendar year. Annual review. The total catch from the commercial and FTO sectors was 70% of the estimated sustainable yield. Had the Recreational and Indigenous sectors caught their full allocation the figure would account for only 87% of the estimated sustainable yield – TRP not reached. 1) Within three months of becoming aware of a triggered performance measure, NT Fisheries will review and consider appropriate management responses if necessary, including a clear timetable for implementation of management action. Continue existing research and review alternative yield estimate methodologies annually. Spanish mackerel Optimal utilisation of Spanish mackerel. Estimated catch share (as a percentage of total aggregate landings, by whole weight) for all sectors remains unchanged. Estimated catch share by any stakeholder group changes over the calendar year by more than 20% (based on whole weight). As per 1) above.
Byproduct Ensure the sustainability of byproduct taken in the Spanish Mackerel Fishery. Byproduct in the Spanish Mackerel Fishery increases significantly. Byproduct in the Spanish Mackerel Fishery increases to 10% of the total catch over the calendar year (based on whole weight). There was no byproduct caught in 2011 – TRP not reached. As per 1) above. Bycatch Ensure the sustainability of bycatch taken in the Spanish Mackerel Fishery. Bycatch in the Spanish Mackerel Fishery increases significantly. Bycatch in the Spanish Mackerel Fishery increases to 10% of the total catch over the calendar year (whole weight). There was no bycatch recorded during 2011 in this fishery – TRP not reached. As per 1) above. Threatened, endangered or protected (TEP) species Minimise effects of fishing operations on TEP species or communities. TEP species or communities are identified in NT waters. Impacts are observed by commercial fishers or fisheries observers. No TEP species interaction in – TRP not reached. As per 1) above.
clients (2.4%) were from other countries (Figure 6). Figure 6. FTO client days fished and client origins, 1994 to 2011 Economic Impact The FTO industry is an important contributor to the Territory’s tourism sector; with approximately 70% of FTO clients being visitors from interstate or overseas, bringing new money into the economy. A recent valuation of the NT guided fishing industry for the three years indicates the estimated average value of production is over $15 million per annum. The total economic impact of the sector for the same three year period is estimated at over $26 million per annum, with approximately 80% ($22 million) of this figure attributable to spending by interstate and overseas tourists. The estimated indirect employment impact is over 300 additional jobs (in the wider NT economy) per 100 direct FTO jobs. Monitoring The guided fishing tourism industry is monitored primarily through logbook returns information. Annual logbook data summaries are compiled to show the number of each species caught and released, fishing methods used, time and areas fished and client origins. In addition, NT Fisheries staff conduct onboard monitoring of this sector to obtain information on size structure and biology of key target species. Stock Assessment Methods and Reliability Data from FTO logbook returns and recreational fishing surveys are used for species-specific stock assessments. Details have been included in individual Fishery Status Reports elsewhere in this publication. Current Exploitation Status Although FTOs maintain a release rate of around 75% of their total catch, substantially increasing reef fishing effort is generating concern regarding the sustainability of several reef species with vulnerable life history characteristics (slow growth, late maturity) and a susceptibility to barotrauma. Releasing reef fish captured from water deeper than 10 m is no longer considered best practice and management strategies to most effectively conserve these fish stocks are being developed. Future Assessment Needs The logbook returns provide essential data to fishery managers. These are combined with data from recreational fishing surveys to provide an overview of the NT recreational fishing sector. Results from the most recent recreational fishing survey are expected in 2012. Summary All fisheries research on recreationally significant species is important to FTOs. The current relevant research programs focus on golden and other snappers, black jewfish, barramundi, sharks, Spanish mackerel and mud crabs. Detailed information is available in the relevant Fishery Status Report. Incorporation into Management Assessment of FTO and recreational fishing survey data, combined with outcomes from specific research programs, are considered when decisions are made regarding fishery area restrictions, regulation amendments,