Using a GIS driven analysis we combined bathymetry, geomorphic units and 10 years of fishers’ catch records from the Timor Reef Fishery (TRF) to produce a spatial model of productivity within the TRF. The productive zone is only a fraction of the fishery. And consequently intense localised impact can dramatically affect fishers’ income. A 3D seismic survey in the most productive zone of the fishery prompted an assessment of the impact on the fishery. Historical data demonstrated variability in seasonal production to be incompatible with meaningful comparisons between successive years. Refusal by the gas company to fund an independent survey lead to logbook data being the only available information to compare fishers’ catch simultaneously recorded inside and outside the survey area.

The assessment of fishers’ catch records, based on the non parametric Kolmogorov-Smirnov test suggested that the seismic survey negatively impacted fisher’s commercial activities, although this is disputed by the gas company. Two separate independent expert statisticians contributed their expertise to the interpretation of fishers records. This case highlights advantages of GIS based fishery management strategies and the inability of standard statistical methods to easily incorporate crucial ecological information.