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Bycatch composition and the effect of bycatch reduction devices in the Queensland trawl fishery.

Tony Courtney, Keith Chilcott, Anthony Courtney, Shane Gaddes, Peter Kyne and Mark Tonks

Queensland Department of Primary Industries, DECEPTION BAY, AUSTRALIA

THEME: ASFB

Prawn trawl fisheries, such as those on the Queensland coast, generate a higher proportion of bycatch than any other form of fishing (see Alverson et al. 1994). The Queensland Government has made it mandatory, through the trawl fishery management plan, for all vessels operating in the fishery to use both turtle excluder devices (TEDs) and bycatch reduction devices (BRDs). The plan has also put forward a Review Event based on achieving a 40% reduction in bycatch by January 2005. With support from the Fisheries Research and Development Corporation (FRDC), QDPI researchers are quantifying the effect of TEDs and BRDs on bycatch catch rates. This is being undertaken using two approaches; 1) opportunistically measuring the bycatch on board commercial vessels, and 2) undertaking controlled charters to robustly test devices. At present fishers are allowed to use a variety of different types of BRDs. Results from the opportunistic sampling to date indicate that many of the devices that fishers are using have little or no significant affect. There is therefore, a need to tighten the regulations (for both the definitions and installation guidelines) so that only effective devices are used and correctly installed. The regulations need to be legally unambiguous for Fisheries Patrol officers to confidently police. Results from the controlled charters indicate that there is potential for fishers to reduce their bycatch by 15-30% using a variety of TEDs and BRDs, however, this is likely to incur some loss of targeted prawn catch. For select bycatch species (eg., stout whiting) the potential reduction is very promising (ie. > 60%). In summary, the results indicate that a long-term commitment by managers, fishers, enforcement, researchers and funding bodies is required to significantly reduce the bycatch generated in the Queensland trawl fishery.