5th Meeting of the Scientific Committee Shanghai, China, September 2017

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1 5th Meeting of the Scientific Committee Shanghai, China, - 8 September 7 SC5-Doc4_rev The Australian Annual Report L. Georgeson, S. Nicol an P. Hobsbawn

2 4 Aug 7 SC5-Doc4_rev Australia s national report on 6 fishing activities to the South Pacific Regional Fisheries Management Organisation s Scientific Committee rev L Georgeson, S Nicol an P Hobsbawn Research by the Australian Bureau of Agricultural an Resource Economics an Sciences SPRFMO ocument number: SC-5-Doc4-rev September 7

3 4 Aug 7 SC5-Doc4_rev Commonwealth of Australia 7 Ownership of intellectual property rights Unless otherwise note, copyright (an any other intellectual property rights, if any) in this publication is owne by the Commonwealth of Australia (referre to as the Commonwealth). Creative Commons licence All material in this publication is license uner a Creative Commons Attribution. Australia Licence, save for content supplie by thir parties, logos an the Commonwealth Coat of Arms. Creative Commons Attribution. Australia Licence is a stanar form licence agreement that allows you to copy, istribute, transmit an aapt this publication provie you attribute the work. A summary of the licence terms is available from creativecommons.org/licenses/by/./au/ee.en. The full licence terms are available from creativecommons.org/licenses/by/./au/legalcoe. Cataloguing ata This publication (an any material source from it) shoul be attribute as: Georgeson, L, Nicol, S & Hobsbawn, P 7, Australia s National Report on 6 fishing activities to the South Pacific Regional Fisheries Management Organisation s Scientific Committee, Australian Bureau of Agricultural an Resource Economics an Sciences (ABARES), Canberra, August 7. Australian Bureau of Agricultural an Resource Economics an Sciences (ABARES) Postal aress GPO Box 858 Canberra ACT 6 Switchboar Facsimile info.abares@agriculture.gov.au Web agriculture.gov.au/abares Inquiries regaring the licence an any use of this ocument shoul be sent to: copyright@agriculture.gov.au. The Australian Government acting through the Department of Agriculture an Water Resources, represente by the Australian Bureau of Agricultural an Resource Economics an Sciences, has exercise ue care an skill in preparing an compiling the information an ata in this publication. Notwithstaning, the Department of Agriculture an Water Resources, ABARES, its employees an avisers isclaim all liability, incluing for negligence an for any loss, amage, injury, expense or cost incurre by any person as a result of accessing, using or relying upon information or ata in this publication to the maximum extent permitte by law. Acknowlegements This work is supporte by the Fisheries Resources Research Fun an ABARES. The authors thank George Day, Broie Maconal an Ryan Keightley (Australian Fisheries Management Authority) an Kerrie Robertson (Department of Agriculture an Water Resources) for their comments on the report. i

4 4 Aug 7 SC5-Doc4_rev Contents Introuction... Description of fisheries... 5 Fleet composition... 5 Catch, fishing effort an CPUE Fisheries ata collection an research activities... Logbooks an lanings... Vessel Monitoring System... Research... 5 Biological sampling an length/age composition of catches... 6 Summary of observer an port sampling programs... 4 Observer program... 4 Seabir interactions an mitigation measures... 4 Port sampling program... 5 Appenix A Common an scientific names... 6 References... 7 ii

5 4 Aug 7 SC5-Doc4_rev Introuction This version (rev) contains upate observer ata for 6, incluing observer coverage levels an orange roughy length-frequency ata for trawl methos. It also amens an error in the previous version regaring the composition of non-trawl catches in 6. This report provies an upate on fishing activity by Australian-flagge vessels in the South Pacific Regional Fisheries Organisation (SPRFMO) Convention Area. Australian operators in the SPRFMO Convention Area are authorise by permits that are issue by the Australian Fisheries Management Authority (AFMA) to target various species with mi-water an emersal trawl, traps, ropline, minor line, automatic longline an emersal longline. This report exclues ata from within the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of Australia an its external territories (e.g. Norfolk Islan). Tuna an billfish fisheries, over which the Western an Central Pacific Fisheries Commission has competence, are not reporte here. Scientific an common names for species mentione in this report are provie in Appenix A. Permits to fish in the SPRFMO Convention Area are grante by AFMA for a perio of up to months. Australian high-seas fisheries permits require the implementation of vessel monitoring systems, manatory observer coverage on all trawl vessels an a target of per cent observer coverage on all non-trawl vessels. In accorance with the requirements of Conservation an Management Measure (CMM) -7, AFMA s high seas permit conitions restrict vessels to fishing within the 6 Australian fishing footprint (Map ). All fishing operations in 6 were within this footprint. In 6 AFMA introuce changes to its high seas permits to require trawl vessels to eploy bir bafflers at all times when fishing gear is in the water. To provie accountability to the fishing inustry an Australian community in AFMA s management of fisheries resources, AFMA may publicly isclose the following fishing information for all fisheries, so far as it is consistent with Australia s obligations uner international law: a) total fishing season catch an effort statistics for each species aggregate by fishing metho, sector an/or fishery; b) the total area of waters fishe within a season by fishery, sector an/or metho, reporte at a minimum spatial resolution of one egree square. This oes not inclue catch or effort information where the ata represents less than five vessels; or c) any other catch an effort information, incluing spatial information, where the information represents ata from five or more vessels. AFMA may publicly isclose more etaile fishing information than that outline above where: a) the information has or will be use to guie fishery management ecisions (for example; research or information supporting the implementation of harvest strategies, Stock Recovery Plans, stock-base management measures); or Inclues: target, byprouct, bycatch an threatene, enangere or protecte species

6 4 Aug 7 SC5-Doc4_rev b) it is use to ensure that Australia meets its obligations uner international law (for example, isclosure to Regional Fishery Management Organisations). Australian ata that o not meet these criteria are not inclue in this report. However, these ata are submitte to the SPRFMO Secretariat in accorance with CMM -7. The same ata confientiality applies to the Secretariat s use an hanling of the ata unless the isclosure an use of ata is authorise by Australia. The threshol limits for vulnerable marine ecosystems (VME) inicators, which trigger Australia s move-on protocols, are 5 kg of corals an sponges in a shot for trawlers an kg of corals an sponges for any hook section (or metre section of line) for all line methos. These threshols were not triggere in 6. 4

7 4 Aug 7 SC5-Doc4_rev Description of fisheries A small number of Australian fishing vessels target emersal fish species in association with seamounts, riges an other features within Australia s historical (6) fishing footprint in the South Pacific Ocean (Map ). Historically, trawling targete at orange roughy on the South Tasman Rise comprise the major component of Australia s fishing effort in the SPRFMO area. Australian catch of orange roughy peake at 98 t in 998. In the latter years of the South Tasman Rise trawl fishery, very little orange roughy was caught; the catch was mostly smooth oreoory an spikey oreoory. The South Tasman Rise trawl fishery has been close to Australian fishing both within an outsie Australia s EEZ since 7. From the mi-s onwars, catch of alfonsino in the SPRFMO area increase to comprise a significant proportion of the trawl catch in some years. There was no trawl effort from 8 to. Non-trawl effort has historically been low an variable, targeting morwong species, blue-eye trevalla, ocean blue-eye an yellowtail kingfish. In 6, catch of rethroat emperor increase markely, with this being the most caught species by volume in the non-trawl component of the fishery. In recent years, all of the non-trawl component has been taken by bottom longline gears. Map Australia s fishing footprint (base on historical bottom fishing effort in the 6 reference perio) an ientifie fishing grouns in the SPRFMO Area Fleet composition Three Australian-flagge vessels fishe in the SPRFMO Convention Area in 6; one trawl vessel an two non-trawl vessels (Table ). 5

8 4 Aug 7 SC5-Doc4_rev Table Fishing effort, retaine catches an the number of Australian vessels that actively bottom fishe in the SPRFMO Area uner relevant high-seas permits, 6 Vessels that actively bottom fishe Non-trawl Year Trawl Retaine catch (t) Effort Vessels Note: Fishing effort is presente in hours for trawl an as thousans of hooks for non-trawl. Catch ata are base on logbook estimates. 6

9 4 Aug 7 SC5-Doc4_rev Catch, fishing effort an CPUE The total catch reporte in logbooks by Australian vessels in the SPRFMO Convention area was 7 t in, t in 4, t in 5 an 4 t in 6 (Table ). After a peak of 4,4 t in 998, annual catches by Australian trawl vessels in the SPRFMO Convention area have been less than 5 t for the past years. Trawl catch increase from 5 t in 5 to 84 t in 6. Orange roughy comprise 99 per cent of the 6 trawl catch (>8 t). Very small quantities of other fish were lane, incluing alfonsino, ribalo, morwong an oreoories. Total effort for the trawl fishery was trawl hours in 6, a ecrease from 6 hours in 5. The nominal catch per unit effort (CPUE) for orange roughy an other species lane in the trawl fishery shows variation over time, with no clear tren. As catch an effort are low an spatio-temporally variable, nominal CPUE inices for trawl gears are not presente graphically herein as they are not thought to be representative of changes in stock biomass. Total non-trawl catch reporte in logbooks by Australian vessels in the SPRFMO area was 56 t in 6, a ecrease from 77 t reporte in 5. Bottom longline was the only non-trawl metho use in 5 an 6. Morwong species constitute the single largest component of the total Australian non-trawl catch in the SPRFMO Convention area between 8 an 5; however, in 6, rethroat emperor comprise the largest lane volume, accounting for 8 per cent of the catch (44 t). The remainer comprise yellowtail kingfish (8 per cent; 8 t), Robinson s seabream (6 per cent; 6 t), flame snapper (8 per cent; t), jackass morwong (5 per cent; 8 t) an other species (4 per cent; 7 t). A change in the composition of lane catches towars emperors, sweetlips an eepwater snappers (as well as other more sub-tropical species) reflects a change in the main fishing grouns use by Australian non-trawl vessels in 6. Effort in the Australian non-trawl fishery has fluctuate over time. Effort was 7 79 hooks in 6, representing a slight ecrease from hooks in 5 but still above the hook five-year average for -6. The nominal CPUE for rethroat emperor in the nontrawl fishery in 6 was.97 t per hooks, representing a ecrease from.6 t per hooks in 5. The nominal CPUE for jackass morwong in the non-trawl fishery change from. t per hooks in to.6 t per hooks in 5 an less than. t per hooks in 6. If shots in which only morwong were caught are use, the nominal catch rate was aroun.8 t per hooks in 6. These rates shoul be viewe with caution as it is ifficult to separate shots that are targete at these species from shots targete at other species. Any trens woul nee further analysis to be of use in any potential inex of abunance. Other species caught show similar variations in CPUE. There was no fishing effort irecte at, or catch of, jack mackerel (Trachurus spp.) or jumbo flying squi (Dosiicus gigas) by Australian vessels operating in the SPRFMO Area in 6. Logbook estimates of catch, fishing effort an nominal CPUE are shown for key species in Table (trawl) an Table (non-trawl). Effort an catch-per-unit (CPUE) are base on logbook estimates. 7

10 4 Aug 7 SC5-Doc4_rev Table Number of active vessels, fishing effort (hours), annual catch (t) an nominal CPUE (t/trawling hour, in parentheses) of major species reporte in logbooks by Australian trawlers in the SPRFMO Area, 9876 Year No. of vessels Effort (hours) Catch of major species (t) an CPUE Total catch (t) Orange roughy Smooth oreo Spiky oreo Alfonsino Other species a (.8) a (4.) (.) 7 (.6) (.74) 6 (.) a 6 6 (.9) (.6) (.7) 448 (.) (.) (.46) 6 (.68) (.) (.4) 89 (.) 8 (.) (.4) 458 (.68) 98 (.8) 54 (.) 948 (.6) (.6) 86 (.) 4 (.) (.45) (.4) (.) (.) (.9) 6 (.) 67 (.4) (.) (.6) 6 (.6) 6 (.6) (.) (7.7) (.46) (.6) (.) (7.9) 74 (.58) (.) 8 (.8) (.6) 9 (.) (.9) (.) 86 (.) (.) 47 (.66) (.45) < (<.) < (<.) 67 (.5) (.49) < (<.) 7 (.7) (.95) (.4) 8 (.) < (<.) < (<.) < (<.) < (<.) (.9) < (<.) < a In earlier years, ata were combine over several years to comply with a confientiality policy on not reporting ata for fewer than five vessels. Note: Logbook weights are base on visual estimates by skippers of retaine catch weights. They o not always exactly match subsequent lanings. Effort ata from to 4 was revise in 6. Data rouning may mean that totals o not match exactly with summe tonnages of iniviual species. 8

11 4 Aug 7 SC5-Doc4_rev Table Number of active vessels, fishing effort ( s of hooks), annual catch an nominal CPUE (t/ hooks, in parentheses) of major species reporte in logbooks by Australian vessels using non-trawl gear in the SPRFMO Area, 9976 Year No. of vessels Effort ( hooks) Catch of major species (t) an CPUE Ocean blueeye trevalla (.) (.) (.7) 45 (.) 4 (.) (<.) 4 (<.) 6 (.) 7 (.4) (.) 5 5 (.) (.) 7 (.5) 4 (.5) 54 (.5) (.7) 7 (.6) (.4) 4 79 (.8) (.6) 6 (.7) (.6) 6 (.) (.4) (<.) 5 (<.) < (<.) < (<.) < (<.) 8 (.4) 44 (.6) a Morwong b Blue-eye trevalla Yellowtail kingfish c Rethroat emperor Other species Total catch (t) c a Historical effort not reporte ue to ata hanling issues an/or confientially restrictions. b Morwong catch from 997 to 9 is combine Nemaactylus macropterus an Nemaactylus spp. Morwong catches in subsequent years were Nemaactylus macropterus. c Some of the yellowtail kingfish an other species catches presente in previous reports for were foun to have occurre outsie the SPRFMO Area. Those catches have been remove an reporte catches now match the ata submission for. Prior to 6, any catches of rethroat emperor have been inclue in Other species. Historical catches an nominal catch rates for this species may be inclue retrospectively in future reports. Note: The logbook weights are base on visual estimates by skippers of retaine an iscare catch weights. They o not always exactly match subsequent lanings. Data rouning may mean that totals o not match exactly with summe weight of iniviual species. 9

12 4 Aug 7 SC5-Doc4_rev 4 Fisheries ata collection an research activities Australian vessels require a permit from AFMA to fish in the SPRFMO Convention Area. The permits are issue for a perio of up to months. AFMA requires operators to submit etaile logbook recors of fishing trips. During 6 observer coverage was maintaine as require uner CMM -7. All Australian-flagge auto-longline boats fishing in the SPRFMO area have electronic monitoring (e-monitoring) systems installe to monitor fishing activity an support verification of logbook reports when fishing in the Australian Fishing Zone. Footage collecte on the high seas is not currently reviewe, but it coul be use in future to supplement human observer coverage if the ata nees arises. Logbooks an lanings High seas permit conitions require operators to recor aily catch an fishing effort ata in logbooks on a set-by-set (or tow-by-tow) basis, incluing the location of fishing operations, an any bycatch an iscars. The current longline logbook is LNA Line Fishing Daily Fishing Log an the trawl logbook is EFTB Eastern Finfish Trawl Daily Fishing Log. Lanings are monitore by AFMA through formal catch isposal recors. Weights in logbooks are estimates only, so the catch isposal recor ata have been reporte in omestic official statistics since 7. Catch isposal recors are complete by both the fisher an license fish receiver at the point of unloaing to obtain accurate ata on fish numbers an verifie weight by species. Compliance checks are conucte on lanings as part of a risk-base compliance program. The logbook an catch isposal recor ata have been submitte to the SPRFMO Secretariat, as require by SPRFMO CMM -7. Vessel Monitoring System AFMA introuce a compulsory requirement for all Commonwealth-enorse fishing vessels to be fitte with Integrate Computer Vessel Monitoring Systems (ICVMS) in 7. For 6, there was a per cent compliance rate with VMS reporting requirements for Australian vessels operating in the SPRFMO area. AFMA uses the ICVMS to assist in planning inspections an operations, to assist the observer program in eploying scientific observers an to actively monitor compliance with area restrictions. Research Australia submitte a bottom fishing impact assessment of Australian fishing activity in the SPRFMO Area to the SPRFMO Science Working Group in (CSIRO ). In, AFMA commissione ABARES to assess the sustainability of the harvest of key commercial species in the SPRFMO Area by Australian vessels (Woohams et al. ). Results inicate that: ) The main ata that coul be use for sustainability assessments for eepwater species in the SPRFMO Convention Area are the catch an effort ata of fishery participants.

13 4 Aug 7 SC5-Doc4_rev ) Even if ata can be obtaine from all participants, catch an effort ata for eepwater fisheries are typically limite, an may not provie reliable inices of abunance for use in stanar stock assessment approaches. Assessments of this nature are likely to remain ifficult for any high seas emersal fishery. ) Alternative assessment approaches will therefore nee to be consiere for these eepwater fisheries. In, Australia, in collaboration with New Zealan, unertook research an literature reviews that informe the SPRFMO Scientific Committee iscussions on bottom fishing. Specific tasks inclue: Ientification of vulnerable benthic taxa in the SPRFMO Area an review of move-on rules for ifferent gear types (Hansen et al. ). Mapping of bottom fishe areas an consieration of fishing reference perios in the SPRFMO area (Penney ). In 6 the Australian Government fune a project conucte by the South East Trawl Fishing Inustry Association to examine ways to further ecrease seabir interactions with trawl fishing gear. This project resulte in AFMA approving the eployment of bir bafflers as a seabir mitigation measure. The bir bafflers are esigne to prevent seabirs from interacting with the warp wires whilst trawl gear is being towe, an resulte in significantly fewer seabir interactions than alternative seabir mitigation measures. In 7 the Australian Government has been working closely with the SPFRMO Deepwater Working Group (DWG) to evelop a revise bottom fishing CMM for the SPRFMO area (see relevant SC5 papers). This inclue Australia hosting a DWG workshop in Hobart, Tasmania, in May 7, at which progress was mae towars an assessment framework for SPRFMO eepwater fisheries (see relevant SC5 papers). Australia has also mae progress on an ecological risk assessment for eepwater chonrichthyans that coul interact with bottom fishing gears in the SPRFMO area (see relevant SC5 paper) an towars the assessment of orange roughy in the SPRFMO jurisiction (see relevant SC5 papers).

14 4 Aug 7 SC5-Doc4_rev 5 Biological sampling an length/age composition of catches Lengthfrequency ata are collecte by Australian observers in the SPRFMO Area an submitte annually to the SPRFMO Secretariat. Where the number of samples are aequate, length frequencies of orange roughy caught by trawl (Figure (4) an Figure (6)), an jackass morwong caught by emersal longline (Figure (4)) are presente. Orange roughy length is presente as stanar length an jackass morwong length is reporte as length to caual fork (LCF). Figure Length frequency of orange roughy measure by observers on Australian trawl vessels in the SPRFMO Area, 4 4 (n = 8) 4 5 Frequency Stanar Length (mm) Figure Length frequency of orange roughy measure by observers on Australian trawl vessels in the SPRFMO Area, 6

15 4 Aug 7 SC5-Doc4_rev Figure Length frequency of jackass morwong measure by observers on Australian longline vessels in the SPRFMO Area 4 (n = 4) 8 Frequecny LCF (mm)

16 4 Aug 7 SC5-Doc4_rev 6 Summary of observer an port sampling programs Observer program In 6, observer coverage levels met or exceee the minimum requirement ( per cent coverage for non-trawl, an per cent coverage for trawl trips). Observers i not recor any bycatch of marine mammals, seabirs or marine reptiles in trawl or non-trawl operations in the SPRFMO Area. AFMA recruits an trains the observers. Observers have a scientific backgroun or experience in the fishing inustry or other maritime inustries an must emonstrate skills in collecting biological ata at sea, fisheries research methoologies an collection of associate scientific ata. Observers also hol a marine raio operators certificate of proficiency (or similar qualifications), a sea safety certificate an meical certificate, an have complete an AFMA observer training course. Observers collect a range of ata on vessel characteristics, fishing activity, catch composition, iscaring an bycatch. There were no changes to observer requirements in 6. Observers i not recor any bycatch of marine mammals, seabirs or marine reptiles in trawl or non-trawl operations in the SPRFMO Area in 6. Table 4 Summary of emersal fishing effort, observer coverage an sampling in the SPRFMO Area in 6 Gear Trawl Non-trawl Logbook Observer Tow hrs/ No. of hooks Reporte catch (t) Tow hrs/ No. of hooks No. of fish measure , ,8 5 Seabir interactions an mitigation measures Australian longline vessels operating in high seas areas, incluing the SPRFMO area, are require to eploy tori (streamer) lines to eter seabirs. All trawl vessels must eploy bir bafflers on both warps while fishing gear is in the water. Longline vessels must not ischarge any biological material uring shooting an hauling, where possible, to avoi attracting seabirs to the vessel. Where it is necessary to ischarge biological waste ue to operational safety concerns, vessels shoul batch waste for two hours or longer. In 6, Australia was compliant with CMM 9-7 regaring the minimisation of seabir interactions. Australian vessels have recore low seabir interaction an mortality rates in the SPRFMO area an observer coverage levels met or exceee the minimum requirements. 4

17 4 Aug 7 SC5-Doc4_rev Port sampling program Australia oes not have a port sampling program for vessels that fish in the SPRFMO Convention Area. The lanings are monitore through catch isposal recors where the catch is verifie by an AFMA-registere fish receiver. These ata have been submitte to the SPRFMO Secretariat. 5

18 4 Aug 7 SC5-Doc4_rev Appenix A Common an scientific names Common Name Alfonsino Scientific Name Beryx splenens Blue-eye trevalla Hyperoglyphe antarctica Carinal fish Family Apogoniae Flame snapper Etelis coruscans Jackass morwong Nemaactylus macropterus Jack mackerel Trachurus spp. Jumbo flying squi Dosiicus gigas Ocean blue-eye trevalla Scheophilus labyrinthicus Orange roughy Hoplostethus atlanticus Rethroat emperor Lethrinus miniatus Robinson s seabream Gymnocranius granoculis Smooth oreoory Pseuocyttus maculatus Spiky oreoory Neocyttus rhomboialis Yellowtail kingfish Seriola lalani 6

19 4 Aug 7 SC5-Doc4_rev References AFMA (Australian Fisheries Management Authority), High seas: conservation an management measures to prevent significant averse impacts on vulnerable marine ecosystems, SPRFMO ocument SWG--DW-b, Tenth Scientific Working Group, Port Vila, 9 September. 5, Australia s electronic monitoring program. SPRFMO Paper SC--, Thir Meeting of the Scientific Committee, Port Vila, Vanuatu, 8 September October 5. Clark, MR, Dunn, MR & Anerson, OF, Development of estimates of biomass an sustainable catches for orange roughy fisheries in the New Zealan region outsie the EEZ: CPUE analyses, an application of the seamount meta-analysis approach, New Zealan Fisheries Assessment Report /9. CSIRO Marine an Atmospheric Research, Bottom Fishery Impact Assessment, SPRFMO Paper SWG--DW-a, Tenth Scientific Working Group, Port Vila, 9 September. Davies, AJ & Guinotte, JM, Global Habitat Suitability for Framework-Forming Col-Water Corals, PLoS ONE 6(4): e848. oi:.7/journal.pone.848. Hansen, S, War, P & Penney, A, Ientification of vulnerable benthic taxa in the western SPRFMO Convention Area an review of move-on rules for ifferent gear types, SPRFMO Document SC--9, First Meeting of the Scientific Committee, La Jolla, 7 October. Penney, A, Spatial analysis of Australian an New Zealan historical bottom trawl fishing effort in the Convention Area of the SPRFMO, SPRFMO Document SC--, First Meeting of the Scientific Committee, La Jolla, 7 October. Woohams, J, Stobutzki, I, Noriega, R & Roach, J, Sustainability of harvest levels by Australian flagge vessels in the high seas areas of the South Pacific Ocean an South Inian Ocean, ABARES report to client prepare for the Australian Fisheries Management Authority, Canberra, November. 7