(FRDC Project #2014/033) sardine and tailor off the East Coast during late winter and early spring Development Institute (SARDI) anticipated completion in October 2015 Jack mackerel stock structure Summary of information on the stock structure of jack mackerel in the SPF. The report suggests that further genetic studies may be required to confirm the existence of a separate stock CSIRO Completed May 2015: Jack mackerel stock structure in the SPF (Bulman et al. 2015a) Importance of small pelagic species in diet of Southern Bluefin Tuna (SBT) Report on the importance of small pelagic species in the diets of SBT. The report suggests that fishing for small pelagic species have only minor impacts on other parts of the ecosystem and that alternative food sources exist for species like tuna CSIRO Completed May 2015: Summary of SBT diet studies in relation to SPF species (Bulman et al. 2015b) Annual SPF fishery assessment (RR Project #2014/0819) Annual assessments of SPF stocks are required under the SPF Harvest Strategy. The report suggests that recent catch levels of all SPF quota species are sustainable SARDI Completed June 2015: Commonwealth Small Pelagic Fishery: Fishery Assessment Report 2014 (Ward et al. 2015b) Small Pelagics Research Co-ordination Program (FRDC Project #2013/064) Given the national interest in small pelagic resources and their utilisation a subprogram has been formed to coordinate the research undertaken. This will include sardines, jack mackerel, blue mackerel, redbait and small pelagics in the Northern Territory University of Tasmania (UTAS) Meeting of technical group scheduled for 2015 Technical workshop to explore mitigation options for TEPs in the SPF (FRDC Project #2015/046) The workshop discussed options for minimising marine mammal interactions from mid-water trawl operations in the SPF and identified research gaps. It was attended by fishing stakeholders, including trawler operators, government officials and marine life experts. Fisheries Research and Development Corporation (FRDC) Workshop held in June 2015; the final report was completed in July 2015 and is available on the .
Operation type Level of assessment Date # species assessed # species identified as being at high risk Purse seine ERA Level 2 PSA 2007 235 108 ERA Level 2 PSA – Residual Risk 2010 108 29 ERA Level 3 SAFE Assessment 2010 93* 0* Mid-water trawl ERA Level 2 PSA 2007 237 26 ERA Level 2 PSA – Residual Risk 2010 26 8 ERA Level 3 SAFE Assessment 2010 98* 0* *The ERA 3 SAFE assessment was for teleosts and chondrichthyans only. Bycatch and Discarding Workplan AFMA implemented Bycatch and Discard Workplans in 2009 and 2011 that specified measures to at reduce the risk of interaction between SPF gear and TEP species. The SPF Bycatch and Discard Workplan 2011-13 was reviewed by the SPFRAG in October 2013. The review noted that all action items in the 2011-13 Workplan had been progressed, however low levels of fishing effort prevented the full completion or implementation of some items. The action items were incorporated into a new workplan developed for 2014-15. The SPF Bycatch and Discarding Workplan is available at: . Vessel Management (VMPs) The accreditation for the SPF under Part 13 of the EPBC Act requires mid-water trawl boats to use effective mitigation approaches and devices to minimise interactions with dolphins, seals and seabirds. AFMA supports this requirement through VMPs designed for all mid-water trawl boats operating in the SPF. Conditions on SPF fishing concessions were amended to require all mid-water trawl vessels to have an AFMA-approved VMP before commencing fishing on 1 May 2013. VMPs are developed by AFMA in consultation with industry and set out individually tailored mitigation measures for each boat to minimise seabird, seal and dolphin interactions. Measures include using an AFMA-approved seal exclusion device to reduce seal interactions and avoiding the discharge of biological waste from boats to reduce seabird, seal and dolphin attraction. VMPs also outline the reporting requirements of any interactions with a listed or protected species. The existing VMP in the SPF outlines regional catch limits for the vessel and rules to ensure that effort is distributed across the fishery. Regional catch limits are applied to enable the collection of representative data across the fishery, and minimise any potential risk of localised stock depletion.
The VMP for the trawl vessel currently operating in the SPF is available from the AFMA website at: . Status of target stocks Resource concerns There has been no change to the stock status since the previous WTO status report and no resource concerns related to SPF target species. The ABARES Fishery Status Report 2013-14 lists all stocks of SPF species as ‘not overfished’, and all stocks except for Redbait west, as ‘not subject to overfishing’. Redbait (west) is assessed as ‘uncertain’ because of limited information available to assess its status. Results of recent stock assessments The annual assessment for 2014 (Ward et al. 2015b) concludes that there is no scientific evidence to suggest that any SPF species are being unsustainably harvested. Refer to Table 3 for survey information. Interactions with protected species Protected species interaction reports are produced quarterly and are available from the AFMA website at: . There were no reported interactions with TEP species in the SPF for 2014, or for the first quarter (1 January – 31 March) in 2015. For the second quarter 2015 (1 April – 30 June) there were: nine reported interactions with common dolphins (Delphinis delphis) 12 reported interactions with Australian fur (Arctocephalus pusillus doriferus) two reported interactions with shy albatross (Thalassarche cauta) one interaction with a mako shark (Isurus oxyrinchus). Management action taken to reduce impacts Interactions with protected species in the SPF in 2015 led to increased restrictions on fishing operations via the VMP. Subsequent dolphin interactions led to the Small Pelagic Fishery (Closures) Direction No. 1 2015 which introduced bans on night time fishing and triggered closures for any dolphin mortalities. Under the , zone 6 off southern New South Wales and Victoria was closed to trawling methods for a period of six months from 17 June 2015. This is a result of a common dolphin mortality recorded in zone 6 on 17 June 2015. The closure will be in force until midnight on 16 December 2015. AFMA has also sought advice from other sources on addressing protected species interactions. The outcomes of a SPF Technical Marine Mammal Mitigation Workshop convened by the Fisheries Research and Development Corporation on 25-26 June 2015 will be considered for future management actions. The report of the technical workshop is available on the .