FISHERIES OCCASIONAL PUBLICATION

WESTERN ROCK LOBSTER FISHERY EFFECTS OF FISHING ON THE ECOSYSTEM SCIENTIFIC

REFERENCE GROUP

Chairman’s Report No. 3, February 2005

FISHER No. 29

Published Fisheries 168-1 rrace

November 2005

ISSN 1447- 2058

IES OCCASIONAL PUBLICATION

by Depa tment ofr70 St. George's TePerth WA 6000

Western Rock Lobster Fishery Effects of Fishing on the Ecosystem

Scientific Reference Group Chairman’s Report No. 3 February 2005

Published in November 2005

Fisheries Occasional Publication No. 29 ISSN 1447- 2058

2

Western Rock Lobster Fishery Effects of Fishing on the Ecosystem

Scientific Reference Group

Chairman’s Report No. 3 February 2005

The Western Rock Lobster Effects of Fishing on the Ecosystem Scientific Reference Group (the SRG) was convened jointly by the Department of Fisheries and the WA Fishing Industry Council (WAFIC). The SRG met on Tuesday 1 February 2005 at the Fremantle Sailing Club, and this document is the official report from that meeting. Scientific Reference Group Composition

• Independent Chair Bernard Bowen (Acting Chairman) • Executive Officer Tim Bray (RLIAC Executive Officer and non-member) • Dr Simon Thrush Principal Scientist Marine Benthic Ecology – NIWA • Dr Andrew Heyward Australian Institute of Marine Science • Dr John Keesing Strategic Research Fund for the Marine Environment • Prof. Colin Buxton Director – Tasmanian Aquaculture & Fisheries Institute,

University of Tasmania • Dr Chris Simpson Department of Conservation and Land Management • Dr Jim Penn Director Research, Department of Fisheries

Advisors to the Scientific Reference Group

• Dr Rick Fletcher Supervising Scientist, Department of Fisheries • Dr Nick Caputi Supervising Scientist Invertebrates, Department of

Fisheries • Dr Russell Babcock CSIRO • Dr Lynda Bellchambers Research Scientist, Rock Lobster ecology Department

of Fisheries Observers

• Prof. Neil Loneragan Director – Centre for Fish and Fisheries Research (Murdoch University)(appointment pending)

• Rhys Brown Acting Rock Lobster Manager • Guy Leyland Executive Officer (Western Australian Fishing Industry

Council) • Peter Trott Commercial Fisheries Management Officer (Rock

Lobster) Apologies

• Dr John Keesing Strategic Research Fund for the Marine Environment (arrived mid afternoon)

• Mr Ron Edwards Chairman

3

Prior to meeting the SRG was provided with the following documents:

• Agenda (Attachment 1); • The Western Rock Lobster Effects of Fishing on the Ecosystem – Scientific

Reference Group, May 2004 Report No2. (Attachment 2); • Commonwealth Scientific Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) Project –

Ecological interactions in coastal marine ecosystems (Attachment 3); • Strategic Research Fund for Marine Environments (SRFME) – Collaborative

project September 2004 – Ecological interactions in coastal marine ecosystems: Rock Lobster (Attachment 4);

• SRFME – Collaborative project September 2004 – Ecological interactions in coastal marine ecosystems: Trophodynamics (Attachment 5);

• SRFME project – Biodiversity of marine fauna on the Central West Coast – Administrative summary (Attachment 6);

• Ecological interactions in coastal marine ecosystems (the fish communities and main fish populations of the Jurien Bay Marine Park (Attachment 7);

• Fisheries Research and Development Corporation (FRDC) funding application – The effects of western rock lobster fishing on the deepwater ecosystems off the west coast of Western Australia (Attachment 8); and

• FRDC December 2004 Milestone Report – The effects of western rock lobster fishing on the deepwater ecosystems off the west coast of Western Australia (Attachment 9).

CHAIRMAN’S REPORT The Chairman opened the meeting and welcomed members, advisors and observers. The agenda was adopted and apologies noted. The Chairman gave some background and contextual comment as to the objectives of the meeting. Mr Tim Bray provided the new members of the SRG with a detailed explanation of the processes of the SRG and how the SRG was initially formed. Mr Bray also outlined what the SRG had achieved since its inception and where the SRG was heading. The SRG as required, annually and in a strategic way every five years, to perform the following functions:

• an assessment of known and recently identified risks and review established projects against milestones and objectives;

• seek formal input from the Ecological Sustainable Development (ESD) steering committee with regard to the status of existing risks and the identification of new risks;

• provide the ESD Steering Committee with its justification for risk ratings for a new risk or an already identified risk; and

• be a source of advice when changed circumstances may influence risk ratings. While the SRG offers independent advice it is not responsible for the implementation of research projects or the timing of research to fulfil any plans it develops. Mr Bray

4

went on to provide information concerning the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) and the role of the SRG in the process of certification and re-certification. The role of the SRG is to provide independent expert advice and report directly to the Rock Lobster Industry Advisory Committee (RLIAC) in relation to the effects of rock lobster fishing on the surrounding ecosystem. A copy of the SRG’s report is to be sent to the ESD steering (or similar) committee and is made available to the Minister for Fisheries as part of RLIAC’s advice. The SRG is required to provide advice on:

• the ecological effects of removing lobster biomass; • how to improve our measurement and assessment of the risk to the

environment from the removal lobster biomass; and • the experimental designs / techniques that are necessary to gather data for

analysis to address these questions. The SRG was informed of the day’s proceedings (see agenda – Attachment 1). A key function of the SRG is to advise on the development of a strategy to provide quantitative information on risk assessment concerning the ecosystem effects of the West Coast Rock Lobster Fishery. As a consequence of previous meetings and comments from members, a conceptual model (Attachment 10) was developed. From this model evolved a number of research projects, which have included (among others) the following:

• The effects of western rock lobster fishing on the deepwater ecosystem off the west coast of Western Australia (Attachment 8); and

• A range of complementary research projects such as the SRFME collaborative research projects conducted in or around the Jurien Bay Marine Park and Rottenest Island, which investigate trophodynamics and rock lobster in relation to ecological interactions in coastal marine ecosystems (Attachments 4 & 5). The SRFME projects involve:

o Investigation of linkages between organisms and habitats; o Biodiversity of marine fauna on the central west coast (Attachment 6);

and o Ecological interactions in coastal marine ecosystems (The fish

communities and main fish populations of the Jurien Bay Marine Park) (Attachment 7).

The SRG was informed that now was the opportunity to consider and discuss these projects, and raise questions and/or amend the current SRG conceptual model accordingly. SRG members were asked to consider the current SRG conceptual model in light of the project presentations that they would hear during the day’s proceedings as well as those projects that have already been completed or are yet to begin. The SRG held the view that there was a general lack of knowledge or information on the interaction of the fishery with the ecosystem and therefore it was necessary for initial work to be focussed on identifying and observing ecosystem patterns before attempting to research ecosystem processes.

5

The SRG was concerned with the whole fishery and noted the complementary work being conducted by other organisations (SRFME) in shallow water. It therefore considered the priority was the need for information on the ecological impacts in deepwater, where the SRG proposed a rock lobster density gradient approach to obtain important baseline information. The density gradient approach may provide adequate information on which to assess the ecosystem effects of rock lobster fishing and if not it would provide the necessary information on which to design a project based on fished and unfished areas. It was suggested that the detection of any fishing effects on the ecosystem should be against a criteria of “as good as or better than a comparison of fished and un-fished areas”. The SRG believed that targeted studies could determine relationships between fishing pressure, lobster population size structure and benthic structure, and hence provide a quick and cost-effective way of determining some of the impacts of fishing on benthic ecosystems. The SRG members identified the need to develop a Research Plan to improve the information base to enable a more robust scientific assessment of the ecosystem effects of rock lobster fishing. The SRG members were advised that another objective of the day’s proceedings was to investigate and identify any gaps in the current research (including gaps previously identified by the group). These gaps would then be communicated to RLIAC and the Department of Fisheries and hence to external sources to encourage further collaborative work on these gaps and to strengthen applications for funding. Some SRG members commented on the rate of progress in relation to the implementation of the proposed Research Plan and the gathering of basic information and suggested that Gantt charts would be a useful tool for presenting a summary of actions and milestones that have been met and those that are still progressing. The SRG considered this to be important to illustrate to stakeholders the timeframe in which issues were to be dealt with. Other suggestions involved the inclusion of a diagram illustrating the drivers and other processes involved in the SRG processes and research plan design, plus the addition of some text explaining to stakeholders more details of the drivers involved. These suggestions have since been incorporated into the SRG’s draft Research Plan, which will be considered by the SRG at its next meeting. Dr Jim Penn explained to the other members of the SRG the MSC re-certification process and what was required from all parties involved, including the SRG. Members discussed the requirements and processes and noted how it differed from that of the original certification procedure.

6

RESEARCH PROJECTS TO INVESTIGATE THE ECOLOGICAL IMPACT OF ROCK LOBSTER FISHING Presentations detailing research projects currently underway or planned that investigate the ecological impact of rock lobster fishing in Western Australia are outlined below under the headings of (i) SRFME Project Update and (ii) FRDC/Department of Fisheries Project Update. SRFME project update – shallow water ecosystem impacts Dr Russell Babcock, from the CSIRO, gave a presentation to the SRG on several SRFME research projects concerning the impact of commercial rock lobster fishing on the shallow water ecosystems within Western Australia (attachment 11). These research projects (which are independent of the SRG, the Department of Fisheries and RLIAC) are either currently underway or planned to commence once funding has been obtained. The projects were presented to the SRG, to provide members with an opportunity to identify the potential contribution of such projects to the overall understanding of the effects of rock lobster fishing on the ecosystem and to identify any gaps in the research that could be filled by future projects. The first research project Dr Babcock presented was the ‘Ecological Interactions in coastal marine ecosystems: Rock Lobster and Trophodynamics’. The presentation provided a description of the Jurien Bay Marine Park projects investigating linkages between organisms and habitats, which are funded by SRFME. The second research project was a trophodynamic-modelling project. This project focused on the development of a model for ecosystem based fisheries management on the central Western Australian coast. The SRG, at the time of the meeting was informed that this project was in the process of being submitted for funding support. Dr Babcock has now confirmed that the funding for this project has been approved and is now operational. The SRG was able to assess the potential contribution of the two research projects to the general understanding of the effects of fishing for rock lobster on the ecosystem and it helped identify gaps in knowledge that could be the basis of future research projects. Some SRG members raised the issue of how Dr Babcock defined shallow water compared with deep-water environments in his research project. Dr Babcock stated that his definition of the two separate environments resulted from the distance from the high tide mark and the depth of water (less than 20 meters). Other SRG members were concerned that the study sites chosen for the shallow water research still allowed some form of rock lobster fishing to occur. It was stated that the chosen sites may not be as useful as they could be for comparing the differences between fished and unfished rock lobster areas and hence the impact of rock lobster fishing on the ecosystem.

7

However, SRG members saw significant benefits in comparing the sanctuary zones (no fishing) with the scientific reference zones (some level of fishing) in investigating the interaction between fish species, predators and rock lobster. It is important to note that there is no level of fishing allowed to occur in the sanctuary zones, however, the scientific reference zones allows both commercial and recreational rock lobster fishing. Dr Babcock further informed the SRG that they were working with the Western Australian Museum (implementing a joint field program) to identify all fauna and flora in the study sites and the drift that occurs between the different areas. Dr Babcock highlighted that all research projects being conducted under SRFME were collaborative projects between CSIRO and other organisations (e.g. CALM, Department of Fisheries, universities and the museum). Some SRG members questioned the ongoing commitment to the collaborative projects being undertaken and whether or not there was a risk that the projects could stop due to lack of funding/support. Dr Babcock replied that these projects involved both internal and external funding and ‘in kind’ support. However, if some organisations were to cease their involvement with some of the projects, the mapping of shallow water environments and habitats project would still go ahead as planned by CSIRO. Dr Babcock reiterated that CSIRO would appreciate more funding and ‘in kind’ support for projects from other organisations. SRG members raised the issue that the SRFME projects conceptual model presented by Dr Babcock did not include all of the information that was presented in the material supplied to the SRG. The SRG considered that the SRFME projects conceptual model being presented needed to be clear in what questions were being asked and investigated to achieve the desired outcomes. In this regard the SRG felt that all elements that needed research to be conducted on them should be displayed in the SRFME conceptual model irrespective of their chances of obtaining funding approval. Dr Babcock explained to the SRG that the conceptual model and prioritisations occurred on the basis of the roles of predators in the zones and was not designed to be part of the SRG objective of assessing the ecological effects of rock lobster fishing. However, it could incorporate some aspects if funding support was available. The SRG was informed that the marine park and sanctuary zone areas being studied were developed and created through a negotiated process with a variety of stakeholders and therefore were not ideal scientific study sites. The larger of the scientific reference zones was established primarily to protect finfish and not to make comparisons between fished and unfished rock lobster areas. Both commercial and recreational rock lobster fishing is allowed throughout all scientific reference zones. SRG members discussed the relevance of the current Jurien sanctuary zones and suggested that they needed to be investigated to see how relevant they would be in providing the answers to the current research questions being posed regarding ecological effects of rock lobster fishing.

8

The SRG was also concerned that past CSIRO work did not consider the ‘bigger picture’ of the rock lobster population over a broad area and what crucial ecosystem impacts were associated with broad population changes. Members highlighted the importance of measuring the volume of wrack and associated fish fauna in each zone as it had been shown in previous studies to provide important habitat structure for a range of invertebrates and finfish species. The volume of wrack is also important to the trophic dynamics of near shore waters, significantly contributing to secondary production in these shallow waters. Dr Babcock explained to the SRG that the current SRFME projects would be able to answer any of the issues raised by SRG members, however, it would be over a longer period of time than the current SRFME project timeframe and could only be done with additional funding/support. SRG members highlighted the current lack of a modelling component, considered to be vital in linking the small-scale ecosystem based research projects with the overall ‘big picture’ components. The SRG was informed that the SRFME collaborative projects program at Jurien was created to provide a mechanism that would bring all the different components of the ecosystem projects together for shallow water environments. The SRG had concerns that the synthesis of the different research projects was a major project in itself and would require a great deal of time to be properly implemented, and therefore was considered to be too large a piece of work for one graduate student. Dr Babcock informed the SRG that there were other groups interested in this field of work, not only graduate students, and he hoped that this would continue throughout the duration of this study. Dr Babcock informed SRG members that if he had access to unfished areas for his research projects, then the research being conducted would be significantly enhanced. A great deal more information regarding the systems could be provided, especially if the project could be extended to other areas along the coast and out into the deep-water environment. Some SRG members believed that more unfished sites needed to be made available to the project in order to strengthen the results. It was stated that it could take 5 to 15 years to produce meaningful results for some of the elements needing study. SRG members continued to question the value of the current SRFME research study sites while commercial and recreational fishing was still allowed to occur. Some SRG members felt that the sites may have no value what so ever as any level of fishing could compromise the results produced. The SRG commented that the fishery had to be proactive in creating representative unfished study sites that included both shallow and deep-water environments for the purpose of meaningful research. In creating such research study sites, there would be very specific requirements regarding their selection (e.g. habitat type, reef, sand, depth). The SRG was informed by Dr Babcock that the research areas required did not have to be large in size to obtain meaningful results, as it had been shown that small scale areas were sufficient as long as they were representative enough to be scaled up to reflect the overall picture. The SRG considered it more important to have small or multiple study sites than one larger study site.

9

Dr Babcock informed the SRG that the CSIRO research projects were not meant to answer or cover all of the marine park issues rather they addressed particular strategic components of the questions being asked. Once this is completed, other groups and organisations in conjunction with CSIRO would do further assessment of the strategic issues and the questions that needed to be addressed. SRG members were informed that if successful in obtaining funding from FRDC, the three year ecosystem trophodynamics-modelling project would be undertaken by a full time experienced modeller from mid 2006. During the project, there would be a two-year overlap between fieldwork and modelling. In summary:

• The SRG recognised the complimentary research related to rock lobster being performed by CSRIO in relation to the SRFME shallow water studies around Jurien Bay.

• The lack of replicated areas with no rock lobster fishing that are un-confounded by habitat variation are likely to limit the ability of this study to fully address the ecosystem effects of rock lobster fishing in the shallow waters off the Jurien Bay Marine Park area.

• The SRG noted that research in other bio-geographical zones that overlap with the fishery are also needed.

• SRG members were also concerned that the trophodynamics modelling studies as described by Dr Babcock will not be sufficient to provide insight into the ecosystem effects of rock lobster fishing.

FRDC/Department of Fisheries project update – Deepwater Ecosystem Impacts Dr Lynda Bell-Chambers, Research Scientist (Rock Lobster ecology) from the Department of Fisheries, gave a detailed update on the research project “The effects of western rock lobster fishing on the deepwater ecosystem off the west coast of Western Australia” (attachment 12). This presentation provided an overview to the SRG members on the milestone report (attachment 9) submitted to FRDC in December 2004.

The key points from Dr Bell-Chambers presentation were as follows; 1. Review of existing physical and biological information

a. Departments and companies that have conducted seabed mapping or bathymetry along the coast of WA have been contacted and data from previous studies that was available has been obtained.

b. Collecting GPS co-ordinates from fishermen has been trialed, however, fishers where unwilling to release the data. Different approaches are being tried.

c. Max Sea, a seafloor-mapping program is in the process of being installed on the R.V. Naturaliste for seafloor mapping.

2. Selection of Study sites in Jurien Bay

10

a. The Jurien Bay Independent Breeding Stock Survey (IBSS) data has been validated and analysed to enable a range of sub regions from the IBBS area to be selected to represent areas of high and low lobster density for habitat assessment.

b. Sites for the habitat assessment via underwater video transects were chosen to represent the range of density combinations.

3. Depletion Study

a. A depletion study was conducted on an isolated reef off Dongara from the 9 to 12 November 2004.

b. The vast majority of the catches were females; only 4 males were caught, throughout the study.

c. There were no significant differences in the size classes of animals caught during the study.

Seabed mapping data and seabed biological habitat type data was turning out to be very difficult to obtain. A variety of sources had been approached for this information without any success. SRG members questioned whether or not an on board commercial vessel observer program would help to get operators GPS co-ordinates of their fishing locations. However, after further discussion, the suggestion was rejected, as the data collected would still be confidential and it could breach trust between researchers and commercial fishers. The SRG was informed that this kind of data was already being collected through an array of means (compliance checks, log book data and breeding stock survey). Dr Bell-Chambers explained that five separate sites off Jurien in deepwater had been selected for the research project. These areas were selected based on habitat type and lobster densities (high and low). Dr Bell-Chambers also explained about the new depletion survey that was conducted off the Dongara coast. SRG members suggested that fishing should have continued in the area of the depletion survey after the study had been completed, to investigate if there were any rock lobsters migrating into the area (edge effects), which could have impacted on the results. SRG members were informed that the particular reef system used for the depletion study was isolated from surrounding reef systems, and therefore the possibility of neighbouring lobsters migrating into the survey site during the study period was extremely low. The SRG would like to see transects connecting Dr Babcock’s shallow water study sites to Dr Bell-chambers deepwater study sites. SRG members also commented that the issue of acoustic tracking projects needed to be continually pursued to investigate the movements of deepwater lobsters and whether they create their own habitat in deepwater environments. SRG was informed that the deepwater project was very close to developing a ‘density – map’ of lobster densities in the deepwater environment within the study site. This ‘density – map’ would illustrate the different levels of lobster density (high to low) within a given habitat range.

11

The SRG members noted the difficulties that had been encountered in relation to gathering information on deep-water habitats and the distribution of rock lobsters of different size classes. Nevertheless, SRG members were of the view that the current studies should provide a valuable pilot scale assessment of the gradient approach as outlined in the SRG draft Research Plan (yet to be finalised). DEVELOPMENT OF DRAFT RESEARCH PLAN SRG members agreed that there was a need to complete the documentation of the SRG Research Plan for ecosystem research on the Western Rock Lobster Fishery as soon as possible. When completed it would enable all parties to see what action was required and the timeframes involved. SRG identified that there were already a number of projects underway and that it was important to have the fully documented Research Plan to provide co-ordination and an overview of those projects that would achieve the SRG’s objectives. Mr Bray gave a detailed explanation of the draft Research Plan, providing an overview of the key areas, objectives, guiding principles and current projects that had been funded. Mr Bray further elaborated on why the ecosystem Research Plan was necessary for the fishery, stating that by setting down what is required to better understand the effect of fishing for western rock lobster on the ecosystem, the coordination of research resources could occur effectively and efficiently. The results of the research could then be used to address management issues, and most importantly those issues and risks identified in the ecological risk assessment process conducted for the fishery. SRG members were particularly mindful of the need to include explanatory notes within the Research Plan document to define terms in the context of the Plan. Discussion focused on the SRG conceptual model included in the Research Plan. Members agreed that in the event that no effects of rock lobster fishing on the ecosystem were identified during the initial study, the model should include a loop to take the process back to the start. This loop back would allow the investigation of other possible effects, or effects in other locations. The need for more statistically and/or ecologically more powerful but longer-term studies could also be considered through this mechanism. The SRG discussed and agreed that the Research Plan needed an explanatory section before the tables outlining the research projects currently being undertaken and those still being considered for funding. The section should also summarise what had been achieved to date and highlight any gaps in the current understanding and knowledge of the Western Rock Lobster Fishery’s impacts on the ecosystem. Also the table’s section of the Research Plan required a column that would inform stakeholders of the linkages to the conceptual model to provide them with an understanding of how each research project fitted into the model, and the role a particular project played in achieving the desired outcomes. It was suggested that the project tables should be separated into shallow water and deepwater projects and that Dr Bellchamber’s project and other targeted projects to

12

answer the SRG’s objectives should be listed first to separate them from the projects that were not central to the SRG’s objectives. The content of the draft Research Plan was then discussed. Dot points or statements contained within the plan would require an explanatory paragraph to show how each point or statement had been developed. The Research Plan also required a statement in the first 1-2 pages that provided an overview of the process and described the main drivers associated with it. Sections such as the ‘Background’ of the plan were highlighted as requiring expansion to include a more detailed explanation of the drivers (e.g. Marine Stewardship Council (MSC), Environmental Protection Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act), etc). The SRG identified the need to develop an operational plan for current projects that included timelines, which would be an attachment to the Research Plan. The SRG suggested that the Research Plan contain a pre-amble which would explain to stakeholders that the SRG had recognised the important issues associated with the deepwater environment and the need for research to be conducted on its ecology. The SRG also suggested including the descriptions of projects as appendices to the Plan. The SRG discussed its role in regard to the SRFME projects on shallow water ecology. The SRG was informed that it had no ability to direct any SRFME projects, rather the SRG role was to consider what areas the SRFME projects were currently investigating and identify any knowledge gaps still requiring attention and the projects that would be needed to fill those gaps. The SRG could also give its support to research funding applications. It was noted that the SRG could be asked to provide advice to two Ministers regarding marine park issues, even though it had not initiated any research in the area. The SRG was informed that at this stage neither the Department nor the SRG had received any ministerial advice or confirmation that this would be the case. SRG members believed they should continue to perform their current function until they receive formal instruction from the Government. The SRG decided that the Research Plan be redrafted and circulated to all SRG members for consideration and comment prior to the end of February. Once finalised it would be released for stakeholder comment. Action: Mr Tim Bray, Mr Peter Trott, with input from the Department of Fisheries Research Division, to re-draft the Eco SRG Research Plan and circulate it to all members for consideration and comment prior to the end of February. (timeline has now been extended to September 2005).

13

CONCLUDING REMARKS The SRG concluded that the SRFME project needed a modelling component that would synthesise all the results into a ‘big picture’ for the shallow water rock lobster stock rather than having results for individual sites, habitats and water depths. This would link all information from the project and help focus planning of future projects. Some SRG members believed that the project to develop such a model should be given priority funding by FRDC. The SRG reiterated that the main focus of its work was on investigating rock lobster habitat in deepwater to try and identify the ecological impacts associated with low and high rock lobster densities. Bernard Bowen CHAIRMAN February 2005 Next meeting : To be advised

14

ATTACHMENT ONE

AGENDA

15

Rock Lobster Ecosystem Scientific Reference Group

AGENDA

9:00am

Fremantle s

1 February 2005

ailing club

9:00am Introduction and welcome

Chair

9:15am pologies Chair A

9:20am Noting of report from last meeting

Chair

9:30am Process matters • Strategic process of which the SRG is a part • Meeting objective and process for achieving it

TB

10:15am MORNING TEA 10:35am Details of work underway or planned for:

at k

•

The effects of western rock lobster fishing on the deepwater ecosyst est coast of Western Australia. – projec , milestone report

RB

LBC

• Description of the set of Jurien projects lookinglinkages between organisms and habitats – worfunded by SRFME Trophody• namic Modelling: an applied tool for ecosystem based fisheries management on the central WA coast - project seeking funding approval Relevance of work undertaken at Rottnest in thedesign of similar larger scale projects

• ems off the wt und rwaye

12:30pm LUNCH

1:30pm Con•

address the outputs envisaged by

SRG sideration of draft SRG ecosystem research plan Is the plan consistent with the SRG conceptual model?

• Is it likely that the respective elements of the plan will completelythe SRG conceptual model?

16

• What are the gaps in the plan and how should they best be filled?

ormal agreement of SRG findings / conclusions to be

omes not minutes)

SRG Fsigned off (outc

Other business

Chair

5:00pm Meeting Close

Chair

17

ATTACHMENT TWO

Eco SRG May 2004 Report No2.

18

Western Rock Lobster Fishery Effects of Fishing on the Ecosystem

Scientific Reference Group

Report No. 2 May 2004

The Western Rock Lobster Effects of Fishing on the Ecosystem Scientific Reference Group (the SRG) was convened jointly by the Department of Fisheries and the WA Fishing Industry Council (WAFIC). The SRG met for the second time on Friday 14 May in Fremantle, and this document is the official report from that meeting. Scientific Reference Group Composition

• Independent Chair Ron Edwards (RLIAC Chairman) • Executive Officer Tim Bray (RLIAC Executive Officer and non-member) • Simon Thrush Principal Scientist Marine Benthic Ecology – NIWA • Luke Smith Australian Institute of Marine Science • John Keesing Strategic Research Fund for the Marine Environment • Colin Buxton Director – Tasmanian Aquaculture & Fisheries Institute,

University of Tasmania • Chris Simpson Department of Conservation and Land Management • Jim Penn Director Research, Department of Fisheries

Advisors to the Scientific Reference Group

• Rick Fletcher Principal Scientist Marine Policy, Dept of Fisheries • Nick Caputi Supervising Scientist Invertebrates, Department of

Fisheries • Roy Melville-Smith Principal Research Scientist, Department of Fisheries • Russell Babcock CSIRO • Linda Bellchambers Research Scientist, Rock Lobster ecology Department

of Fisheries Observers

• Steven Gill Executive Director, Western Rock Lobster Council • Trevor Ward Scientific Certification Systems Audit Team Member • Tony Smith Scientific Certification Systems Audit Team Member

Apologies

• Andrew Heyward AIMS • Alistar Roberston UWA • Nic Dunlop Conservation Council of WA

Prior to meeting the SRG was provided with the following documents:

• Agenda (Attachment 1);

19

• Eco SRG Report No1. (Attachment 2) • Establishment of the “Western Rock Lobster Fishery / Sea Lion Interaction

Scientific Reference Groups” (Attachment 3); • Department of Fisheries “ecosystem effects of fishing” draft application to

FRDC as at May 2004 (Attachment 4) • Comment from FRDC on “ecosystem effects of fishing” draft application

(Attachment 5) SUMMARY OF PROCEEDINGS The Chairman opened the meeting and welcomed members, advisors and observers. The agenda was adopted and apologies noted. The Chairman gave some background and contextual comment as to the objectives of the meeting. In particular reference was made to a meeting of the Department of Fisheries, WAFIC and the Western Rock Lobster Council with the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) certification audit team Scientific Certification Systems (SCS) in February. At that meeting it was reported to the SRG that the audit team were interested in better understanding the SRG advice from its first meeting and the operational aspects of the SRG process. In essence, this need for elaboration between the audit team and the SRG was the primary purpose of the second meeting of the SRG. To facilitate this better understanding the Chairman invited Dr Trevor Ward and Dr Tony Smith to attend as observers. The Chair also invited them to give a brief presentation to the SRG on the importance of the SRG targeting its advice at the ongoing certification requirement that specifically dealt with the need to develop a Environmental Management Strategy (EMS) and the range of research approaches that the audit team thought appropriate in the context of the EMS requirement. Dr Ward began by providing background to the initial review process of the western rock lobster fishery necessary to obtain Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) certification. In particular Dr Ward made mention that the audit team’s task was to assess the fishery entirely and create specific requirements for ongoing certification only where the assessment judged that certain areas needed further attention. In the western rock lobster case the areas identified by the certification team centred on the ecological effects of fishing and this was reflected in the ongoing certification requirements. Dr Ward quoted one particular requirement which was to develop an Environmental Management Strategy (EMS).

Within 24 months of certification, an Environmental Management Strategy for the fishery will be prepared and distributed for public comment and input. The EMS will address impacts of the fishery on the environment, and will include proposed objectives, strategies, indicators and performance measures. The EMS will specify an operational plan, including implementation actions and a supporting program of research. Future research should aim to provide information on the impacts of the fishery on the ecosystem that is at least as scientifically valid as that produced by studies of fished versus unfished areas.

20

The audit team stated that they support the SRG concept and recognise the composition as appropriate for the task. The presentation then went on to outline the teams expectations as to what was meant by having a research plan that targetted the EMS requirement. The expectations are that:

• the SRG advice be clear and unambiguous as to how the research plan recommended will meet the requirement within the timeframe of certification; and

• there be a formal sign off process to each report of the SRG. Dr Smith then outlined the various scientific approaches that the audit team considered to be applicable and relevant to meeting the ongoing requirement. These were as follows:

1. Need for an empirical approach supported by modelling • Manipulative (e.g. Before After Control Impact methodology) • Existing contrasts (e.g. gradients in exploitation)

2. Using three key types of knowledge / data • Distribution of exploitation (space / time) • Distribution of habitats and communities (space / time) • Response measures

3. Scope of the studies should be comprehensive • Shallow and deep / Kalbarri to Capes

4. Phased approach is appropriate • Preliminary -> pilot -> full scale (completed process could conceivably

take 10-15yrs) 5. The opportunity for an “early investment return” from shallow water studies

should be actively considered. In the discussion that followed the presentation it was clarified that the audit team’s particular questions centre on their interest in gaining a better understanding as to:

• why the SRG focus appears to be on deep water studies; • the mix between studies that focus on “pattern” (e.g. habitat mapping and size

composition and density) versus “process” (e.g. trophic dynamics and behaviour); and

• how the research plan met the requirement in the certification timeframe. The SRG felt that ostensibly the conclusions reached at its first meeting were not at odds with the expectations of the audit team or significantly different from the outline of possible research strategies provided by the SRG. However, it was clear to the SRG that there needed to be a better explanation of the research plan it had devised with respect to how the various elements of the package related to each other in a way that ensured there was a sensible sequence of work that had appropriate milestones. With these matters clarified, the SRG heard from Department of Fisheries research scientists how existing data sets and data being collected or soon to be collected could be of use in assisting the SRG to address the certification requirement. The information of particular use to the SRG process was:

21

1. Fishery Independent Egg Production

• Existing long time series of data that could be used to provide indicators of variation in lobster density, size composition for different bottom types.

2. Reproductive biology study

• Size of maturity variations with geographic water temperature factors • Potential to analyse the influence of density dependent effects on size of

maturity • Obtain plots of fishing activity from compliance patrol vessels and

potentially from the commercial fleet

3. Catch composition data from Independent Breeding Stock Survey (IBSS) • Abundance of lobster by size and sex and location (Lancelin, Jurien,

Dongara)

4. Trawl surveys – video and grab sampling - useful for habitat type identification in (some relevant areas e.g. Geographe Bay)

Establishing guiding principles for the research plan The SRG agreed that it was important to state upfront some key and guiding principles that should sit above the research plan:

1. The objective of the research plan was to identify the effects of rock lobster fishing on the ecosystem.

2. The research plan should be set out in such a way that identified key elements of

the plan and established clear milestones for reporting purposes. 3. It was essential to integrate the research plan with other relevant studies (e.g.

SRFME) to ensure that the plan was inclusive, adaptive and not isolated.

4. The research plan needed to employ a variety of methods so as to draw lines of inference relevant to the question at hand, rather than adopting a single methodology and pursuing it (perhaps erroneously) to an end point.

5. It was important that studies and the research methodology be based on a phased

approach, i.e. choice of an appropriate study site => preliminary analysis => pilot study => full-scale study. This process then needed to be replicated both in time and space.

6. The initial focus of work should be to identify and observe pattern which would

lead to studies focused at understanding process.

7. The determination of the magnitude of ecological effects needed to be done in a heuristic manner.

22

Determining the scope of the SRG Research Plan The SRG revisited the hypothesis developed at the first meeting in the context of the audit team’s presentation. The SRG agreed that the research plan needed to consider the effect of fishing throughout the species distribution, in particular in both shallow and deep waters. Therefore the hypothesis should be:

“Removal of lobsters does not have a significant or irreversible effect on the ecosystem.”

At the first SRG meeting a distinction between the level of knowledge in shallow (less than 30 m) as opposed to deep water was made. This distinction was made on the basis that there was significantly more data available on the shallow water ecology of lobsters than there was for deep-water lobsters. The SRG is also prepared to accept that the current risk of fishing having a significant or irreversible effect on the ecosystem in shallow waters was less than that which could potentially exist in deep water because the percentage of lobsters taken in shallow waters as a percentage of shallow water lobster abundance was relatively low (< 10%). That said the SRG was of the view that there was more that needed to be understood in the shallow water ecosystem and that shallow water studies would be an important component of the overall research plan. In particular work to be undertaken by SRFME studying the midwest coastal marine ecology and a separate, but related, project studying the effects of rock lobster fishing within the Jurien Bay Marine Park was very relevant and should be considered as an explicit components of the SRG’s research approach. The SRG believed such studies could be used to assess the uncertainty surrounding the role large lobsters might have had in shallow water ecosystems. Shallow water studies potentially represent the best opportunity to provide some outcomes directly related to the ongoing requirement for certification. Furthermore, the shallow water studies provide an excellent opportunity for skills and knowledge development that is likely to be applicable in deep-water studies. The SRG noted that the Minister for Fisheries and the Minister for Environment had agreed in principle that the SRG should provide advice on the development of the Jurien Bay study. It was also noted that given SRFME was represented within the composition of the SRG there were tangible opportunities for good synergies between the studies. The SRG needed to consider in detail work that needed to be undertaken in shallow water. This was a subject for a future meeting. Determining the effects of lobster biomass removal on the deep-water ecosystem When referring to the deep-water ecosystem the SRG was describing those waters inhabited by western rock lobster greater than 30 metres, between Cape Leeuwin and Kalbarri.

23

In meeting 1 and 2 the SRG discussed research strategies that specifically targeted the requirement for ongoing certification and the timeframes within which it was vital to produce results. The SRG held the view that broadly there was a lack of knowledge or information on the ecosystem throughout the distribution of the western rock lobster, and therefore it was vital for initial work be focussed on identifying and observing ecosystem pattern before attempting to understand ecosystem process. This prioritisation by the SRG was important because targeted studies could determine relationships between fishing pressure and lobster size structure and benthos while providing a quick and cost-effective way of determining the strength of the effect of fishing on benthic ecosystems. Furthermore, the process evaluation phase of the research program needed to be based on the outcomes of the “pattern” phase. Importantly, the SRG noted that pattern focussed studies assumed that gradients in effects could be found and that there was a need for such studies to be replicated in space and time. Equally importantly the SRG noted that if this approach proves unviable then the only recourse was to close an area(s) for a fished versus unfished comparison. That said the SRG agreed that observing ecosystem pattern was an important first step for all forms of ecosystem study whether based on gradients in fishing effort or fished versus unfished. This being the case there were certain efficiencies to be achieved in the context of an overall adaptive management approach from focusing initially on observing and understanding ecosystem pattern. The SRG agreed that the critical elements of the pattern phase were:

1. A habitat description; 2. The relationship between habitat types and lobster size; and 3. The identification of lobster habitat in the geological sense.

The importance of appropriately detailed habitat maps could not be overstated. Such maps would form the basis upon which ecosystem studies of the effects of lobster fishing on the ecosystem could be appropriately designed. Currently no such habitat map exists, although the detail to produce such a map existed within a variety of data bases including fishers’ GPS, and could readily be collated. No significant natural history knowledge of deep-water ecology off the west coast existed. In both the first and second meetings, the SRG discussed at length the likely success or otherwise of a variety of study approaches (e.g. linear, longitudinal, gradient and fished versus unfished) and found that without a basic understanding of the ecosystem pattern the design of any ecosystem study could be fundamentally flawed. In particular the absence of baseline natural history knowledge meant that choices in project design that related to an area of study, identification of indicators and what would represent a measurable change in the chosen indicators would largely be guess work. It was the opinion of the SRG that the resultant uncertainty and inability to extrapolate results from a manipulative study at this point meant that such an approach would be premature and put at risk the opportunity to develop a solid plan of

24

research that had a far better chance of producing valid results about a complicated issue. When appropriate designs were employed and appropriate data could be collected this basic ecological information would be analysed to determine relationships between changes in lobster density, size-structure, habitat structure and benthic community composition and this information could be used to improve the assessments of risk to the ecosystem and focus further research to address the key questions. The SRG stressed that its initial focus on observing and understanding pattern was not a substitute for other work that could be categorised as being ecosystem studies. The SRG was of the view that the pattern phase of the research plan would lay a good foundation upon which ecosystem studies (gradient or fished versus unfished) could be appropriately designed and applied. Phase 1 - Pattern Recognition Select initial study area and subsequent areas by identifying the lobster habitats1 using the following techniques: 1. Produce a broad scale habitat map to select potential study sites then identify and

quantify gradients in fishing pressure to chose a site for an initial pilot study by collating information from existing data bases such as:

• Fishery Independent Egg Production (FIEP) data to provide indicators of variation

in lobster density, size composition for different bottom types. • Obtaining plots of fishing activity from compliance patrol vessels and from the

commercial fleet. • Review existing benthic habitat and seabed data for the shelf waters between

Cape Leeuwin and Kalbarri. • Conduct broad large-scale rapid assessment protocols (RAP)in waters between

Cape Leeuwin and Kalbarri to determine areas of interest. The selection of appropriate study areas was not entirely dependent upon collection of new data and information. The SRG advised that existing sources of information could be used that enable potential study areas to be identified relatively quickly in a “desk top” fashion to the point where a more targeted and in the field assessment of the appropriateness of the study area or areas could be undertaken. The SRG anticipated that this initial phase should not take longer than three months. Because the FIEP and effort information will be of most use, any delay in conducting the Review and RAP referred to above should not delay site selection.

1 The SRG defines the term “habitat” in this context to include the physical (e.g., rocks and sand waves) and biological (sponge gardens, emergent bivalves) features on the seafloor that provide structural complexity (on > 1m2 spatial scale) and are likely to act as surrogate variables enabling broad-scale rapid assessment of benthic communities). As differences in biological features may be a consequence of fishing, care needs to be taken in the use of biological features in site selection.

25

If an appropriate gradient in a selected site was identified the next step should be to:

2. Test for patterns in habitats and the benthic community while controlling for environmental co-variables using the following techniques.

• Acoustic survey of hard structure and associated ground truthing of epifauna

and infauna ‘habitat’ using video techniques. • Limited grab sampling to later determine infaunal composition and sediment

type. • Use existing length based fishery models to investigate possible size

compositions for unfished stocks. • Use video to observe localised lobster behaviour with habitat types and

interaction with baited pots. • Using existing catch records and environmental data assess the influence of

climate variation on catchability at sites. • Use a range of methods to estimate selectivity and catchability (depletion

experiments different gear options (e.g. pots with larger necks, divers or tangle nets) and multiple tagging.

This information could then be used to relate lobster density (and size structure) to fisheries data to facilitate the scaling up of information from specific study sites to the fishery. It would also be combined with information collected in “1” above to determine relationships between habitat and lobster size and density. The process to guide steps 1 and 2 should closely follow principle 5 i.e. studies and the research methodology be based on a phased approach, i.e. choice of an appropriate study site => preliminary analysis => pilot study => full-scale study. This process then needs to be replicated both in time and space. If efforts to identify a study site with a measurable and significant gradient were not successful then the SRG advised that to address the ongoing certification requirement it would be necessary to pursue a fished versus unfished strategy. The SRG noted that a fished versus unfished approach would also require the baseline data to be collected from steps 1 and 2. Therefore the preferred method of identifying gradients in fishing pressure was considered to be consistent to an approach that may need to use fished versus unfished. Phase 2 – Ecological Process Studies The second phase of the program would require two basic scales of ecological study – aimed at understanding ecological process. Both would need to be developed based on the outcome of the “pattern phase” but it was envisaged they would include small-scale and detailed studies of feeding and impacts on benthos (via diet studies, isotopes and cage experiments) and larger scale manipulation of fishing intensity and subsequent monitoring. The SRG will add greater detail to the nature and extent of these studies at the earliest opportunity based on results from the pattern phase. However, the SRG agreed on key elements of the two forms of ecological studies to provide some guidance and a sense of direction.

26

Small-scale studies on feeding and impacts on benthos should incorporate the following elements:

1. Carbon and nitrogen isotope analysis of lobsters to provide information on diets, trophic relationship and whether the basis of lobster diets are plant, animal, detrital or a combination.

2. Gut analysis studies to examine diets and compare with long-term trophic source both on a seasonal and inter-annual basis.

3. Aquarium tests to investigate relationship(s) between lobster size and prey size 4. Behavioural studies aimed at investigating the role of lobster size and

abundance in structuring the environment Larger scale manipulation of fishing intensity and subsequent monitoring would need to incorporate an empirical study to determine the effect of lobster fishing on the ecosystem. Relevant study methods could include examining existing contrasts / gradients in exploitation and a range of studies that rely on manipulation of effort to either create a gradient or a fished and unfished scenario. In particular the Before After Control Impact (BACI) methodology could be of use.

27

SRG model for addressing MSC ongoing requirements of certification To assist in establishing a collective understanding of the approach that is to be at the heart of the research plan the SRG developed a conceptual model as to how the process would evolve and develop knowledge that is directly applicable to testing the hypothesis and in doing so answer the threshold question contained within the ongoing requirements of certification. This model is illustrated in Figure 1.

SELECT AREA(S) (based on FIEP, effort gradient data)

ENSURE MEANINGFUL GRADIENT* NO

YES NO GRADIENT IDENTIFIABLE (No. of sites are required) (determined following a No. of attempts)

ECOLOGICAL PROCESS STUDIES FISHED V UNFISHED STUDY

ASSESS ECOSYSTEM EFFECT

MANAGEMENT RESPONSE (inc Marine Protected Area option)

*The task of finding a meaningful gradient is encapsulated here in a single component of the conceptual model, but is actually a complex iterative task. Ideally, or ultimately, a "meaningful gradient" will be defined as a meaningful gradient in biological assemblage structure across sites that are otherwise undistinguishable based on physical attributes. Thus the examination of gradients will need to be structured in such a way that it takes into account both physical and biological habitat structure. It is recognized that fully meeting these criteria will only be possible by the ongoing incorporation of data from initial examinations of sites identified by FIEP and more detailed habitat mapping studies.

Figure 1. Eco SRG conceptual model of research plan to determine the effect of rock lobster fishing on the ecosystem. Note that management responses can occur throughout the process as information is feed into the risk assessment and evaluation process of which the SRG is a part.

28

Concluding Remarks The SRG provided some comment on the draft research project prepared by the Department of Fisheries Research Division with particular reference to the objectives and the actions linked to those objective in light of the discussion that took place over both the first and second SRG meeting. The SRG was very keen to see that some progress was made on developing in detail the research plan with auditable milestones and most importantly that phase 1 of the program was implemented without delay. The SRG noted the next meeting would be coordinated sometime in August and it was likely that a longer window (i.e. a number of days) will be provided to the SRG to further develop the research plan. Ron Edwards Chairman July 2004

29

ATTACHMENT THREE

Project – Ecological interactions in coastal marine ecosystems

30

AGENDA 4.5.2 ATTACHMENT VII Ecological Interactions in coastal marine ecosystems Summary of Objectives, Outcomes and Structure

OOUUTTLLIINNEE The key research and management questions that exist in the context of Ecological Interactions in the Midwest are as follows:

1. What are the trophic linkages of exploited species to other ecosystem components

2. What are the pathways of transport of organic matter and nutrients between habitats and across the shelf

3. How do exploited species in particular utilize the range of available coastal shallow water habitats (e.g. foraging in seagrass, sheltering on reefs)

4. What are the potential trophic (indirect) effects of variations in predator density 5. What is the relative magnitude of spatial and temporal variability within and

between key habitats and species. (e.g. can we detect direct or indirect effects of fishing against the background of natural variability in recruitment or other variation at the habitat, seasonal and inter-annual levels).

6. How will populations of predatory species respond to variations in top-down (marine park protection) and bottom-up (primary productivity) processes. This component of the study will provide baseline data with which to assess the effects of fishing.

The goals outlined above can be achieved through an integrated research program involving state institutions, Universities and CSIRO. In order to maximize the information gained in the Midwest region, studies of ecological interactions can usefully be divided into the following sub-sections. These do not map directly onto the goals above, rather they provide a practical framework through which to plan the research program. Not all of the goals will be achieved fully in this three year program (e.g. point 6) but all are necessary as the foundation of a long term project to assess ecological interactions in the context of ongoing human use and management of these coastal ecosystems.

1. HABITAT CHARACTERIZATION AND BENTHIC COMMUNITY BIODIVERSITY STUDIES.

Objectives: To provide a comprehensive assessment of biodiversity in the Jurien area, contribute taxonomic resources to other parts of the program, characterize habitat types using quantitative assessment of biological assemblages, and link quantitative habitat characterization with historic ecological studies in the Midwest Outcomes: The project will provide a landscape-scale spatial framework for other parts of the Midwest program (Goal 3). It will also provide a baseline for assessment of change in benthic species assemblages resulting from climate change, climate variability or changes in human usage of the system (Goal 5). Strategic linkages: This work will link with and extend studies initiated by the CSIRO SRFME program and CALM (rocky reefs) and DEP/ECU (seagrasses). Postdoctoral fellows will link with and help to expand existing research in this area. WAM will be involved in more spatially extensive aspects of this component.

31

2. STUDIES OF MAJOR PREDATOR GROUPS (ROCK LOBSTER, FINFISH).

Objectives: Quantify relative abundance and size structure of major predator groups in different habitats, quantify movements of predators and relative rates of usage of different habitats, quantify prey abundance and diet of key predator spp. in different habitats and relate variability in observed habitat utilization patterns to ontogenetic stages of predator species. Studies will be replicate in each type of MPA zone to provide a basis for estimating spatial variability and provide for future comparisons. Outcomes: The project will measure how key species use their environment and provide data that will be vital to the ecologically sustainable use of key natural resources (Goals 1,2,3). It will also provide the basis for assessing whether future and current attempt to manage these resources are effective (Goal 6). Strategic linkages: PIs at CSIRO, WAF, and Edith Cowan University will supervise a PhD student working on shallow water rock lobster. PhD student (and postdoctoral fellow) will use conventional and acoustic tracking to gather information on habitat utilization patterns, mobility and home range extent of rock lobster (and key finfish species). Discussions to further develop the finfish components of the study are continuing with Murdoch University. This work will also link (informally at this stage) with surveys conducted in the Jurien area by CALM, as well as deep water lobster work planned by WAF.

3. TROPHODYNAMIC STUDIES. Objectives: This project will quantify, using stable isotope and/or biomarker techniques, the trophic interdependencies of key consumer and predator species with differing sources of primary production (seagrass, macroalgae, detritus). The project will supplement these results with direct diet observations and experimental studies to confirm the nature of isotopic signatures and validate assumptions based on field sampling. Outcomes: The project will provide a means of understanding the relative importance of different trophic pathways in maintaining key species and key ecosystem functions, independent of inferences made through direct observations of diet and movement (Goals 1,2). The project will measure how key species use their environment and provide data that will be vital to the ecologically sustainable use of key natural resources. A conceptual model of trophic linkages in Midwest coastal ecosystems will be developed using this data. The project will provide and ecosystem-level basis for assessing the effectiveness of future and current resource management (Goal 6). Strategic linkages: PIs at CSIRO and Edith Cowan University will collaborate with a Postdoctoral fellow on shallow water trophodynamics and supervise a PhD student in this area. Passive transport of benthic primary producers will be directly measured as part of Core-SRFME/ECU collaboration (Vanderklift), and may be modeled as part of the hydrodynamic section of the mid-west collaborative program. The relative importance of trophodynamic linkages revealed in these studies will be examined using stable isotope ratios as part of Post-Doctoral fellowship at Edith Cowan University that will collaborate with proposed WAF/UWA deep water lobster trophodynamic studies also using similar techniques. General outcomes: Ultimately this suite of studies will allow reasonably detailed quantitative models of Midwest coastal ecosystems to be developed, through the

32

input of underpinning data, as well as through an iterative process of validation and observation. As an outcome of this we will be able to address the question of how populations of predatory species will respond to marine park protection. (Goal 6). This will initially be possible through modeling but ultimately will also provide a baseline for eventual testing of any MPA effects (Goals 5,6). This combination of approaches will provide powerful tools to help manage ecosystems which are faced with increasing number of competing demands.

MMAANNAAGGEEMMEENNTT SSTTRRUUCCTTUURREE

The key institutions and personnel involved in the implementation and oversight of this project will be: • Principal SRFME Collaborators – CSIRO (Russ Babcock & Mat Vanderklift),

ECU (Glen Hyndes), Murdoch (Ian Potter), WAM (Fred Wells) • Post-doctoral fellows (x 2) – To be appointed. • PhD students (x3) Murdoch, ECU, CSIRO • Involved agencies – CALM, (Nick D’Adamo), WAF (Roy Melville-Smith &

Linda Bellchambers),

A Jurien Bay Working Group comprised of Principal Collaborators, Postdoctoral Fellows and Key Agency Contacts will be established to take responsibility for coordinating the research program. The role of the committee will be to ensure that each project’s objectives are resolved clearly and satisfactorily in the context of the overall program. These objectives will form the basis of clear outcomes against which the projects will need to deliver. The same sort of process will apply to the methods and the budget, although with respect to the methods projects will need to have a degree of flexibility initially. This will allow for trials and pilot studies to be run so that optimal configurations for sampling design and techniques can be settled on. The working group will also resolve technical and logistic issues that arise on an ongoing basis. Reporting, and submission of proposals for parallel projects that will use this program as leverage for additional work in the area will also be coordinated as part of the working group’s role. The Working Group will be chaired by a CSIRO representative. Within this structure, Institutional collaborators will be responsible for the activities and objectives of their subprogram. Data generated by the projects will, as with other SRFME projects ultimately reside with the State, but the working group will facilitate the compilation and sharing of a central information and data base to be shared among the projects.

33

SRFME MIDWEST COAST COLLABORATIVE PROJECTS

EEccoollooggiiccaall IInntteerraaccttiioonnss iinn ccooaassttaall mmaarriinnee eeccoossyysstteemmss Rationale A three-year program to investigate ecological interactions in midwest coastal reef communities will be built around the Jurien Bay Marine Park, using multiple-use management zones within the park as large scale manipulations of predator abundance. This focus will give the program an emphasis that distinguishes it from core SRFME projects and takes advantage of the unique opportunities developing in the midwest area. Two groups of predators, finfish and spiny lobster, are of primary interest and the zoning of the park, into areas subject to all kinds of fishing, lobster fishing only, and no-take restrictions, will facilitate the understanding of their respective ecological roles. Part of the rationale for basing SRFME collaborative projects in the Midwest relates to opportunities presented by the Jurien Bay Marine Park, however it will take some time for differences in predator abundance to develop and for the park to reach its potential as a useful tool for ecological research. Therefore this proposal constitutes only the first part of a long-term program for understanding ecological interactions in coastal ecosystems which will probably need to run for as long as ten years. Nevertheless it is important for studies to commence as soon as possible, for two reasons. Firstly, the convincing demonstration of any direct or indirect effects of fishing revealed by changes of fishing pressure in the park will rely on a BACI design. Therefore we must act now to begin collecting all the necessary baseline data. Secondly, important information relating to trophic structure of coastal communities and how it varies among habitats as well as seasonally and interannually, can be collected now and will be a vital part of interpreting and potentially predicting any changes in ecological interactions that emerge as a result of park zoning. Trophodynamic studies undertaken as part of the program will mesh with other proposed and ongoing studies to provide a much better understanding of the flow of energy and nutrients at a range of spatial scales, from the small scale between habitats to larger cross-shelf scales2. An understanding of habitat variability is also essential for the stratification of baseline sampling designs. A conceptual diagram of the processes and patterns to be investigated is provided in Fig. 1.

2 Note that this would include only the inner portion of the shelf to approximately 30m

34

Fig. 1. Simple conceptual diagram of potential trophic interactions in shallow coastal waters. The quantification of relative importance or size and direction of the various components is the goal of the range of studies proposed. The diagram is not intended to be exhaustive, and other elements could be added. More detail has been included in the inshore scenario.

foraging fish & inverts

wrack drift

algal drift export

seagrass drift export

ontogenetic shifts

seagrass

reef

sand

sand

sand

seagrass

seagrass

reef

reef

migration

migration

Offshore Inshore

KEY

habitat patch

transitory foraging

passive transport

directional movements

3

31

1

2

2 1

4

While some of the central themes of the research have been studied previously, the work proposed here goes beyond this earlier work in several important respects. For instance, although benthic community structure on rocky reefs has been described at Marmion, this will be the first work to systematically study habitat structure in detail across a seaward gradient and to quantitatively define habitat types. While movements of lobsters have been tracked before, the temporal scale was limited to days or weeks, and the spatial scale to hundreds of meters. In the studies proposed here, lobsters (and fish) will be tracked on scales of months and over several kilometers. Lobster feeding has been studied before in the midwest, but it was restricted to very nearshore habitats. This work will extend those studies by using modern techniques including stable isotopes and multivariate statistics, to better understand how lobsters (and fish) interact with the broader ecosystem. By linking with studies of seagrass and algal drift export, such trophodynamic studies will help explain why particular areas of coast may be consistently more productive than others. In addition, all this work will be novel, at least in terms of Western Australian ecosystems, because it forms the first stage of an ecosystem based approach to examining the effects of fishing/MPAs. The lack of such studies is a major gap in our understanding of marine ecosystems both in Australia and worldwide. Finally although this proposal provides a clear outline and direction for the research it is expected that the fine detail of tactical objectives and methodology of the various research streams will evolve as they progress, in order to maximize efficiency and synergies provided by the overall program. Outline The key research and management questions that exist in the context of Ecological Interactions in the Midwest are as follows:

1. What are the trophic linkages of exploited species to other ecosystem components

2. What are the pathways of transport of organic matter and nutrients between habitats and across the shelf

35

3. How do exploited species in particular utilize the range of available coastal shallow water habitats (e.g. foraging in seagrass, sheltering on reefs)

4. What are the potential trophic (indirect) effects of variations in predator density

5. What is the relative magnitude of spatial and temporal variability within and between key habitats and species. (e.g. can we detect direct or indirect effects of fishing against the background of natural variability in recruitment or other variation at the habitat, seasonal and interannual levels).

6. How will populations of predatory species respond to variations in top-down (marine park protection) and bottom-up (primary productivity) processes. This component of the study will provide baseline data with which to asses the effects of fishing.

The goals outlined above can be achieved through an integrated research program involving state institutions, Universities and CSIRO (Fig. 2). In order to maximize the information gained in the Midwest region, studies of ecological interactions can usefully be divided into the following sub-sections. These do not map directly onto the goals above, rather they provide a more practical framework through which to plan the research program. Not all of the goals will be achieved fully in this three year program (e.g. point 6) but all are necessary as the foundation of a long term project to assess ecological interactions in the context of ongoing human use and management of these coastal ecosystems.

1. Habitat characterization and benthic community biodiversity studies. These will inform studies of major predators and trophic linkages and provide the basis for detecting longer term changes benthic communities. They will go beyond Core and Linkage SRFME studies currently being conducted in the region to provide detail vital to the effectiveness of both studies of major predators and trophodynamic studies. Quantitative sampling will be stratified at the habitat level as well as among different management zones and will provide a quantitative basis for evaluating the relative importance of energy flow among various ecosystem components. Any indirect effects of fishing on benthic communities (seagrass and reefs) will manifest themselves at this level.

These studies will need to include both rocky reef and seagrass habitats and require measurements of diversity, biomass and productivity of benthic primary producers, as well as invertebrates (including epifauna and epiflora). An understanding of seasonal variability is required in order to make accurate estimates of productivity as well as to allow any top down trends to be discerned from among seasonal and inter-annual variability. Our knowledge of variability in marine ecosystems often suffers from a lack of long term comparative data sets. Studies in the Midwest region provide an opportunity to understand ecological variability on decadal timescales by including historical comparisons of seagrass habitats surveyed in the 1980s (Seven Mile Beach, Cliff Head). More extensive sampling targeted at documenting overall biodiversity will be conducted by WAM taxonomic experts, alongside the quantitative sampling. Strategic linkages: This work will link with and extend studies initiated by the CSIRO SRFME program and CALM (rocky reefs) and DEP/ECU (seagrasses). Postdoctoral fellows will link with and help to expand existing research in this area. WAM will be involved in more spatially extensive aspects of this component.

36

Figure 2. Midwest Collaborative Study Ecological interactions. The diagram indicates the main thematic components of the study, key institutional involvements, and their potential inter-relationships.

ROCK LOBSTERAbundance

Pop structure etc.Tracking

Habitat utilizationDiet

ECU/CSIRO/WAFPhD

FINFISHAbundance

Pop structureTracking

Habitat utilizationDiet

Murdoch(Postdoc, PhD+)

DEEP WATER ROCK LOBSTER WAF (postdoc)

REEFSDiversityBiomass

Productivity Seasonality

CSIRO/WAM

SEAGRASSBiomass

ProductivitySeasonality

DiversityCSIRO/WAM

TROPHODYNAMICSStable isotopesConsumption Drift transportECU/CSIRO

(Postdoc, PhD)

ECO-PHYSIOLOGY COLLABORATIVEECU Postdoc, MSc

HYDRODYNAMICS COLLABORATIVE PROJECT

FRDC ?

WA Fisheries & other FRDC

Conceptual/Data linkages

Physical collaboration

MIDWEST COLLABORATIVE PROGRAMOperational Linkages

FISH TRACKING ECU & TAFI

Benthic Community & Biodiversity

Midwest Collaborative

SRFME core project

HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVESCSIRO/WAM

2. Studies of major predator groups (rock lobster, finfish). These studies will include descriptions of abundance, population structure, diet, recruitment, home range and seasonal movement patterns of rock lobster as well as ecologically and commercially important finfish (e.g. labrids, sparids, dhufish). They will also provide a sound basis for understanding trophic relations at higher levels and will lay the groundwork for understanding what, if any, are the direct and indirect effects of fishing on coastal ecosystems. In addition to these key species, a broader sampling strategy will be conducted to assess the relative abundance and diet of the overall fish community using a range of techniques such as netting or rotenone stations, and will be closely linked to trophodynamic studies. Sampling of the Jurien Bay Marine Park will be aimed at comparing the compositions of its fish communities and determining key aspects of the biology of selected fish species in a range of corresponding habitats in protected and unprotected areas. Strategic linkages: PIs at CSIRO, WAF, and Edith Cowan University will supervise a PhD student working on shallow water rock lobster. Discussions to further develop the finfish components of the study are continuing with Murdoch University. This work will also link (informally at this stage) with surveys conducted in the Jurien area by CALM, as well as deep water lobster work planned by WAF.

37

3. Trophodynamic studies. Many important floral and faunal components of

habitats are highly mobile, traveling large distances from one habitat to another. This transport includes the supply of drift algae or seagrass, as well as movements of reef-associated predators into other habitats to feed, or as part of seasonal foraging, ontogenetic or reproductive movements. By quantifying the abundance and origin of drift material, and by modeling the transport of algal and detrital particles we will begin to quantify the ecological linkages between habitats. Movement studies of key predatory species will provide information on the relative importance of different habitats for feeding and foraging. Stable Isotope ratios (δ13C, δ15N) will be used to validate and calibrate the relative magnitude of energy flows within the system, as well as the potential for habitat related and ontogenetic differences in trophic relationships of key species such as lobster. Strategic linkages: PhD student (and postdoctoral fellow) will use conventional and acoustic tracking to gather information on habitat utilization patterns, mobility and home range extent of rock lobster (and key finfish species). This will link with planned WAF deep-water acoustic tracking as well as shallow water acoustic tracking programs (ECU, TAFI) all of which are subject to success of FRDC proposals. (CSIRO has up to 24 acoustic loggers that can be made available for this). Passive transport of benthic primary producers will be directly measured as part of Core-SRFME/ECU collaboration (Vanderklift), and will be modeled as part of the hydrodynamic section of the mid-west collaborative program. These data will allow us to understand the spatial scale of ecological interdependencies and ecologically relevant management units. The relative importance of trophodynamic linkages revealed in these studies will be examined using stable isotope ratios as part of Post-Doctoral fellowship at Edith Cowan University that will collaborate with proposed WAF/UWA deep water lobster trophodynamic studies also using similar techniques.

Ultimately this suite of studies will allow reasonably detailed quantitative models of Midwest coastal ecosystems to be developed, through the input of underpinning data, as well as through an iterative process of validation and observation. Such models are currently being developed as part of SRFME core objectives and should begin coming online around the time that the Midwest Collaborative program is being completed. They will provide powerful tools to help manage ecosystems which are faced with increasing number of competing demands. Methods Habitat characterization. In the first year of the program benthic reef assemblages in the Midwest region between Cervantes and Dongarra will be sampled to include 4 areas along this latitudinal gradient. This will extend and compliment sampling areas already established by CSIRO at Jurien and Green Head, as well as areas previously sampled in the Cervantes and Dongarra regions. Within each region reef sites will be sampled along cross-shelf gradients of exposure, depth and turbidity based on the working hypothesis that assemblages will be stratified along this gradient, and will differ systematically as physical habitat characteristics change among coastal, lagoon and offshore reefs. Sites will also be stratified among the various marine park zones to provide a basis for long-term comparisons of benthic community structure under different management regimes (e.g. Sanctuary & Fished zones, Fig. 3).

38

Figure 3. Maps showing draft management zoning and habitats of the Jurien Bay Marine Park.

Jurien Bay Region

39

Sampling at each site will include characterization of physical site attributes (nutrients, TSS, light profiles), depth and reef topography (rugosity chain method). Wave exposure indices will be calculated as the product of uninterrupted fetch and annual wind vectors. Benthic communities will be characterized on the basis of algal and invertebrate assemblages sampled at 5 haphazardly deployed quadrats from each site. Sampling will employ methods identical to those used in ongoing CSIRO and UWA benthic surveys, with algae harvested from 0.25 m2 quadrats, and benthic invertebrates >1cm sampled using 1m2 quadrats. Wherever possible the studies will link with previous baseline work at Jurien (e.g. sites surveyed by Edgar and Barret) and ongoing studies of physical parameters such as the CALM water quality sampling. The data will be converted to biomass for analysis using multivariate techniques using unconstrained and constrained analyses to derive and test the validity of habitat groupings. Related multivariate techniques (e.g. CAP) will be used to explore the degree of correlation of various physical parameters with assemblage structure. These habitat groupings will provide an objective basis for any subsequent habitat mapping, as well as for the calibration and validation of numerical habitat prediction models currently under development as part of CSIRO SRFME programs. Seagrass habitats will be sampled for primary producers and epifauna using the methods of Edgar (1990) to provide baseline data for epifauna and epifloral groups at Jurien as well as a historical assessment of change over a period of 20 years at Cliff Head and Seven Mile Beach. Seagrass habitats sampled will include those currently under study as part of SRFME Linkage and Collaborative grants, as well as Seven Mile Beach and Cliff Head sites of Edgar. G. Edgar has agreed to provide information on the exact location of sample sites from the 1980’s. Alongside this quantitative sampling, targeted expert sampling to assess species richness and biodiversity will be conducted by WAM expert taxonomists who will sample extensively at the quantitative study sites at the same time. This aspect of the work will provide a more exhaustive inventory of species present in the area. Museum staff will also be available to identify invertebrates collected in the quantitative samples expediting the processing of this data. Studies of major predator groups: I. rock lobster. The Western Australian rock Lobster Panulirus cygnus is the dominant invertebrate predator in coastal and shelf ecosystems between Northwest Cape and Cape Leeuwin. As such it is likely to have an important role in the dynamics of these ecosystems. Because of ontogenetic changes in the spatial distribution of western rock lobster these dynamics are likely to be complex, and interactions with a large commercial fishery have the potential to add further layers of complexity. Puerulus settle on shallow coastal reefs, where they spend the first solitary months of their lives sheltering in small crevices in limestone reefs during the day and foraging at night in algal turf and seagrass habitats. Diet studies on these post-pueruli have been conducted at 7 Mile Beach site on reefs < 4 m deep (Jernakoff et al. 1993). As they grow the young lobsters become less solitary and move into larger caves and crevices on deeper reefs where they shelter during the day. Early juveniles use small holes in the face and ledges of reef. At the onset of gregarious behaviour (16-20 mm CL) they find larger spaces as their body size increases (Fitzpatrick et al.

40

1989, Jernakoff 1990). This type of habitat can occur on shallow inshore reefs but it remains to be confirmed that lobsters mover further offshore to find suitable habitat resulting in an ontogenetic movement to deeper reefs. Less is known about the foraging and feeding of lobsters and the range of habitats that they use at this stage, which lasts until about the age of 4 years when many of the lobsters undertake long distance migration into deeper waters (>30m), well off the coastal reef systems. It is at around this time that the lobsters reach legal size and enter the fishery. Natural diet has been studied at 2 sites, Cliff Head and Seven Mile beach, on seagrass dominated reefs less than 4m deep (Joll and Phillips 1984). Edgar (1990) looked at diets of 2+ to 4+ lobster at Seven Mile and Cliff Head and where foraging habitat was mainly Halophila and Amphibolis beds. Gaps in our knowledge of rock lobster ecology in shallow waters relate primarily to two areas; habitat use and feeding, and population structure. Our understanding of how lobsters use deeper reefs, sandy areas, seagrass habitats such as Posidonia meadows, and the principal prey items in these habitats, is not complete. The proposed work will extend earlier studies by studying variation in lobster ecology at scales extending across the coastal lagoons. It will also link habitats and feeding ecology through studies of movement patterns and the use of techniques such as stable isotope analyses (through links with the trophodynamic study). We know that lobsters of different sizes tend to be found in different habitats. Post-puerulus and early juvenile share habitats on the same reef, between 2+ and 4+ we know they aggregate under reef ledges (0-30m) but that is all, and we know that past 4+ most will migrate to a deeper habitat (30-100 m). It is unclear how the population structure of lobsters in shallow water may have changed as a result of fishing. Anecdotal historical reports describe large rock lobster as being present or common in shallow reef systems in the past, yet such individuals are now very rare in shallow coastal reef systems. Consequently historical role of rock lobsters in shallow coastal ecosystems (and the indirect effects of fishing on ecosystem structure and function) is currently difficult to assess. This work will establish baseline data that will enable future comparisons of lobster ecology in fished and unfished areas. In order to effectively study or to demonstrate the potential role of predation by rock lobster on coastal benthic communities, we require populations of lobsters with differing population structures and that vary over a range of population densities. The reason for this is simple; for example we may design caging experiments to exclude lobsters but if they are not present the exclusion will make little difference to the experimental results. This may be especially relevant to determining the influence of larger rock lobsters. One way of gaining access to such populations of lobsters is to use fished and unfished areas. Such areas are currently being established at Jurien and are potentially extremely useful experimental tools. However it is not clear whether strong contrasts in lobster density or population structure will develop. Studies of rock lobster populations in other parts of the world have shown, using no-take marine protected areas (MPAs), that there are significant changes to population structure but also to total biomass inside these areas relative to fished areas (Kelly et al 1999, Edgar and Barrett 1999, Lafferty and Kushner 2000) but such changes are not observed universally, possibly because they lack suitable habitat (Mayfield et al 2000) or, where species are highly mobile, because MPA boundaries fragment suitable habitat (Acosta 2001). Since most P. cygnus reach legal size and move into deeper water at the age of around 4 years, and most of the Sanctuaries within the Jurien Marine Park are located in relatively shallow waters, it may be that there is little if any detectable effect of fishing on shallow water populations.

41

Developing an understanding of the variation in density and population structure of rock lobsters, and its resulting consequences, is intimately related to ontogenetic shifts in habitat utilization. Broadly speaking lobsters settle on inshore reefs as puerulus and live in inshore areas until approximately the age of 4 yrs at which time they move into deeper shelf waters. Due to developments in acoustic tracking technology over the past 20 years, it is now possible to track lobsters over larger spatial scales (km) a larger range of sizes/ages 3 than was previously the case. For instance animals as young as 3 years can now be tagged without interfering with their activity. The establishment of protected areas will also mean that it will be possible to track larger older animals in the population for the first time. Whether there are finer scale habitat preferences of lobsters within this framework is not clear. For example is there an incremental shift of lobsters from coastal and lagoon reefs to offshore reefs as they grow older? Tagging studies on Garden Island test reef using spaghetti tags have all suggested fidelity to one reef until migration (Chittleborough 1970, 1974) but individual movements were not tracked. Do lobsters prefer particular reef habitats? Habitat preference only tested for post puerulus (Jernakoff 1990). Also vital to understanding the interactions of rock lobsters with benthic assemblages is the collection of data on how diet may vary with lobster size. Edgar (1990) has looked at ontogenetic diet change at 7 Mile and Cliff Head but did not have access to larger lobster that may accumulate in protected areas. Finally we need to know how lobsters use their habitat and the extent to which they move from one to another. The only movements studied are from a short term study of movement on the scale of a few hundred meters (Jernakoff 1987) and a mark-recapture study of migration from inshore to offshore which leaves significant gaps in our understanding of what lobsters do over significant periods of time while undertaking migrations of up to hundreds of km (Chubb 1995). Lobster density and population structure will be measured twice yearly in October/November and June/July, on reefs less than 20 m depth. Potentially a third sampling season will be included, in January/February, to better document any changes in shallow water populations related to the “whites” migration. The reefs studied will be stratified according to habitat type, reef depth and cross-shelf location to account for physical habitat variability. In addition the population studies will be stratified with respect to levels of protection from fishing pressure, and include sanctuary zones, zones open only to commercial rock lobster fishing, and zones open to all kinds of fishing. Reef size, size of sanctuary and distance from sanctuary will be factored into analyses as co-variates. Adult and sub-adult lobsters will be censused by divers using 50 x 5 m transects deployed parallel to the reef slope over reef habitat. Within each strata there will be two sites, and six transects per site. The Carapace Length (CL) of all lobsters seen within transects will be estimated visually by trained and pre-calibrated divers (MacDiarmid 1991) and the sex of all lobsters determined to provide data on sex ratios. Moult stage will be recorded, as will any damage to lobsters (e.g. broken antennae, missing legs). Data, including general habitat type, will be recorded in 5m blocks to enable subsequent spatial analysis. Surveys of juvenile lobsters (< 40 mm CL) will be conducted at the same sites using 5 x 1 m transects, following methods similar to those employed in previous studies in the region (e.g. Edgar 1990), including nocturnal surveys. Lobster diet will be directly determined from the gut contents of lobsters collected by divers within 1 hour of sunrise. Collections will be made throughout the year, with approximately equal samples from three seasons, coinciding with population surveys. Data will be collected from the entire available size range of lobsters, and sampling will take place within all of the strata sampled in the population surveys.

42

Lobsters will be put on ice immediately after collection, gut contents dissected within 3 hours, and preserved in 70% ethanol. Contents will be identified to the lowest possible taxonomic level, classified according to trophic level, and quantified using image analysis of relative abundance. Lobster movements will be assessed across a range of spatial scales using several techniques. Standard Capture-Mark-Recapture using “spaghetti” tags inserted ventrally between the tail and carapace will be used to attempt to capture some information from the commercial and recreational fisheries. A subset of these animals will be tagged using colour coded tags placed around the base of the antennae and will allow for medium term re-sighting and identification of lobsters by divers. This methodology allows animals to be individually identified without handling and has proven useful in assessing levels of site fidelity over periods of 6-12 months. These data will be supplemented with direct observations of nocturnal lobster foraging behaviour where possible. Approximately 20 lobsters will be tagged using acoustic tags (VEMCO VR2) using tags attached dorsally to the carapace using cable ties. This will allow larger scale movements of animals to be tracked with an accuracy of approximately ±100 m (Egli and Babcock in press) using an array of at least 24 receivers that will cover an area approximately 19 km2. In particular, 3+ and 4+ year class animals will be targeted post-moulting in November and December as “whites”. Therefore in order to establish whether some animals remain resident on coastal reefs the tracking will be done in a sanctuary zone, most likely the large zone immediately to the south of Jurien and focused around the Booka Reef area.

43

Studies of major predator groups: II. fin fish. The study will focus on sampling (1) sanctuary zones, (2) scientific reference zones and (3) unprotected zones at three main locations, i.e. Fisherman Islands, Jurien Bay/Hill River and Cervantes/Grey. Within each zone, sampling will be conducted in nearshore shallow, lagoonal/mid-depth and offshore deeper waters using appropriate techniques for sampling different habitat types, i.e. reefs, seagrass and sand. A preliminary sampling trip will be conducted to establish appropriate sampling sites that will take into account advice from CSIRO. Sampling trips will subsequently be conducted seasonally for a period of two years using the following regime: Reef habitats Reef habitats at nearshore, lagoonal and offshore reef sites will be surveyed using underwater visual census (UVC). Transects will differ from the lobster sampling in that nine transects will be completed for each sampling session at each site, and the transect dimensions will be 25 x 10 m. Habitat will be classified visually in 5 m blocks. . Size compositions of recreationally and commercially important species and of any other abundant species will be recorded. Baited underwater video will be used to complement these surveys using the methods of Willis and Babcock (1999) as outlined in the project outline. Nearshore sand and seagrass habitats Nearshore bare sand and seagrass habitat will be sampled to determine which species use these habitats as nursery areas prior to migrating to reef areas and will thus provide data that are crucial to understanding the life histories of important fish species. Nearshore unvegetated sites will be sampled using 21.5 m and 102.5 m long seine nets. Four replicate samples will be obtained using each net in each of the three zones of the three main locations. Four replicate trawls will be conducted during the day in each season using a small tri-net in unvegetated and seagrass habitats in lagoonal habitats in the three zones at each location. The trawl net will be towed at a speed of ca 3 - 4 km h-1 and for a distance of ca 150 m. The distance trawled during each replicate will be measured using a Garmin GPS Map 185 global positioning system, which, together with the width of the mouth of the net, will enable the area of substrate trawled to be determined. Traps and rod and line fishing will be used to determine which predatory species are found in the lagoonal seagrass and reef habitats at night. These habitats will be sampled in each season. Fish movement Tagging using acoustic tags and receivers and also colour coded tags will be used to trace the movements of individual fish of selected species, as described in the original project outline. Tagging will assist in determining whether individual fish demonstrate home range and/or territorial behaviour, as occurs, for example, in some species of labrids, pomacentrids and some serranids. Biological studies (1) Dietary composition. For dietary analyses the individuals of selected species will be conducted seasonally in the three main locations of the marine park both inside and outside sanctuary zones. Fish will be collected using line fishing, spearing and fish trapping or netting. Samples of the full size range of each of these species will be collected from the different habitat types that they occupy to elucidate any ontogenetic or habitat-related variations in diet. Stomachs will be removed and stored in 70% ethanol. The diets will be analysed using traditional methodology that will enable the size-related changes in the diet of those species to be elucidated.

44

Comparisons between the dietary composition of the fish faunas in different habitats will be made using non-metric multi-dimensional scaling ordination. Margaret Platell has extensive experience using appropriate methods for analysing diet. (2) Reproductive biology and age compositions. Samples of selected recreationally and/or commercially important species will be collected to determine key aspects of their reproductive biology and their size and age compositions. Trophodynamic studies. The study will be split into two main subcomponents; (1) stable isotope analyses; and (2) movement and biomass of wrack. Stable isotopes Examining the diets of consumers has traditionally been used as a mechanism to study food webs in marine systems. However, dietary studies can underestimate the importance of some organisms to the food web due to their rapid digestion. Furthermore, dietary studies do not provide information on whether particular organisms are assimilated. It is therefore difficult to trace the origins of nutrients and energy using dietary approaches. Measurements of natural 13C/12C and 15N/14N isotopic ratios have been shown to be a useful tool for identifying and tracing the source of carbon and nitrogen in aquatic food webs (e.g. Kitting et al. 1984, Thresher et al. 1992, Newell et al. 1995, Loneragan et al. 1997, Marguillier et al. 1997). When an organism assimilates carbon and nitrogen from a source it either assimilates the isotopes indiscriminately, or displays a preference for one isotope (the fractionation ratio) for both carbon and nitrogen, thereby acquiring δ13C and δ15N that reflect the source. With the use of mixing models (e.g. Phillips & Gregg 2003), the δ13C and δ15N values of an organism can be used to infer the source of carbon and nitrogen it has assimilated, provided that the δ13C and δ15N ratios of all possible sources are known and differ to each other. This component of the study will be split into two sections. The first phase of the study will examine the stable isotope signatures of a range of primary producers and consumers in a range of habitats in different regions of Jurien Bay. This part of the study will provide broad information on the flow of energy and nutrients in the food web of Jurien Bay. In other words, it will provide data on the contribution of the major primary producers to the food web of this marine system, and whether there are trophic linkages among different habitats. The second phase of the study will examine the spatial patterns in the influence of primary producers in unvegetated habitats and the extent to which primary producers from reefs and seagrass meadows influence the food web of unvegetated areas with increasing distance from those plant dominated habitats. Broad trophic study We propose to undertake detailed analyses of stable isotope signatures for rock lobster and selected fin fish species with a view to gaining a better understanding of, not only how trophic relations vary among species, but also whether they vary ontogenetically due to changes in diet of individuals of increasing size. Habitat use may also vary ontogenetically, therefore we will explore variation in trophic signature between habitats and the possibility that isotopic signatures may be the result of the interaction between size and habitat.

45

The study will concentrate on collecting samples of consumers [finfish (e.g. Pink snapper) and major invertebrates (e.g. Western rock lobster)] from a range of dominant habitats in Jurien Bay, as well as collecting dominant primary producers (seagrasses and seagrass epiphytes, reef macroalgae, phytoplankton and benthic micro-algae) from the region. Since detritus is likely to form a major link in the food web, samples of different fractions of detritus will be collected to determine its composition in different regions of Jurien Bay. Fish and invertebrates will be collected from reef, seagrass and unvegetated habitats in three regions of Jurien Bay using trawls or gill nets or by spearing. Where possible, this project will link into the dietary studies by MU, but additional samples may be required for the collection of adequate sample sizes. White flesh will be removed for stable isotope analyses. Macro-invertebrates will be collected through dive collections or coring. Flesh samples will be removed and stored for stable isotope analyses. Where invertebrates are too small to remove sufficient flesh, individuals will be pooled as one sample. Samples of live algae will be collected from reefs, and seagrass and epiphytic algae will be collected from seagrass meadows adjacent to reefs. Plants will be removed of any epiphytic material. At least three replicate samples will be collected for each organism from each habitat and region. For major consumers, attempts will be made to collect samples from different size groups to examine ontogenetic shifts in stable isotope signatures. Since diets may vary seasonally, samples will be collected during two time of the year (summer/autumn and winter/spring). Since δ13C and δ15N values among primary producers can be similar, alternative biomarkers may be required to allow differentiation of primary producers as sources for consumers. Sulphur isotopes have been shown to be useful to distinguish between benthic and pelagic food webs. For this reason, we will analyse sulphur isotope for target key benthic and pelagic species for these analyses. All samples will be processed for 13C/12C and 15N/14N ratios using an ANCA-NT/20-20 stable isotope ratio mass spectrometer at ECU. The δ13C and δ15N values will subsequently be calculated and compared using a multiple-source mixing model (e.g. Phillips and Gregg 2003). For targeted species, samples will be processed for sulphur and sent to other facilities for analyses [need to restrict this as analyses are expensive]. Many studies have used the assumption that δ13C displays minimal enrichment while δ15N displays a stepwise enrichment (3-5 ‰) between different trophic groups. However, this can be highly variable among different organisms, particularly for δ15N (Ponsard & Vanderklift 2002). Interpretation of stable isotope data requires information on the enrichment of both δ13C and δ15N through the various trophic steps. However, there is limited information available on enrichment of these isotopes for the organisms that will be examined in this study. We therefore propose to carry out a series of experiments to examine the trophic enrichment of δ13C and δ15N and sulphur exhibited by some major consumers. Selected invertebrates will be placed in aquaria and provided with food for which the δ13C and δ15N values are known. Consumers will be kept in the aquaria for up to two months to ensure that SI signatures derived from their existing diet has been replaced by that derived from their new diet. At the end of the experiments, consumers will be removed from the aquaria, euthanased and flesh removed for SI analyses. Differences between the δ13C and δ15N values will indicate the level of

46

enrichment (or depletion). For fish and large macro-invertebrates, the turnover of δ13C and δ15N in the flesh is likely to occur over an extensive timeframe, thereby limiting any opportunity to carry out aquaria experiments to examine enrichment in these organisms. We therefore propose to collaborate with personnel at the TAFE Maritime Centre, where fish are being reared in captivity. We will examine the δ13C and δ15N of a suite of fish species (e.g. Pink snapper, Black bream and Dhufish) and their food source. Spatial influence As previously noted, trophic studies using stable isotopes are useful when the SI signatures of the various primary producers are widely disparate. Current work at ECU (G. Hyndes and P. Lavery) is showing that the seagrasses Posidonia spp. and Amphibolis spp. have highly enriched δ13C values relative to algal species. However, the SI signatures of brown, red and green algae are relatively similar to each other, making it difficult to distinguish these groups as potential sources. The second phase of the stable isotope study will therefore attempt to fill some of the gaps that have become event from the broad stable isotope study. Potentially, by the end of Phase 1, we will not have a clear understanding of the principal sources of C and N in unvegetated areas that are adjacent to reefs and seagrass meadows, yet the transport of material from these other major benthic habitats is likely to provide significant production into these unvegetated areas. The second phase of the study (year 2) is likely to focus on examining the change in stable isotope signatures in the benthic infauna and epibenthic fauna in unvegetated areas with increasing distance away from seagrass meadows and reefs. A current study by Mat Vanderklift is examining the hypothesis that δ13C in seagrass fauna should change gradually with distance from reef, reflecting the gradual change in the relative importance of reef-derived macroalgae and seagrass. The proposed study will expand on this hypothesis by examining the hypothesis that δ13C in fauna associated with unvegetated areas should change gradually with distance from reef and seagrass meadows, resulting from a shift in the relative importance of reef-derived macroalgae and seagrass. Artificially enriching either the δ13C or δ15N of some of the major primary producers may be required to provide a clear demarcation of the SI signatures of those sources that will allow SI signatures to be tracked along transects away from reefs or seagrass meadows. Alternatively, other biomarkers, such as sulphur, fatty acids or amino acids, may be required to fulfill this task. Results from current preliminary work at CSIRO and ECU will be used to help direct and refine this part of the project. Movement and biomass of wrack Accumulations of wrack are a prominent feature of the coastline of south-western Australia. Algae from reefs and seagrasses and their associated epiphytic material become dislodged, particularly during winter storms, and are transported into adjacent habitats. It has been estimated that approximately 20% of production from reefs and seagrass meadows passes through the nearshore regions (Hansen 1984), where it has been shown to provide important habitats for a range of invertebrates and finfish species (Robertson & Lenanton 1984, Lenanton et al. 1981). Currently, a SRFME PhD study at ECU (K. Crawley) is further examining the importance of this wrack material to the habitat structure and trophic dynamics of nearshore waters in the Perth metropolitan region. This study is showing that fish species have a clear preference for particular volumes and types of wrack and that prey species have a clear preference for brown algae as a food source.

47

We propose to examine the movement patterns of wrack from reef and seagrass meadows into subtidal, unvegetated areas in Jurien Bay. The transport of this material is likely to contribute significantly to secondary production in these areas. We will also examine the biomass and composition of wrack material in these areas. This will be achieved through:

• Stratified random design using towed video transects, and ground truthing using large quadrats to quantify the volume/biomass of different wrack types in different regions during different times of the year. Sampling will be conducted over at least four (seasonal) sampling occasions.

• Tracking of wrack using either acoustic tags and receivers for tracking the movement of wrack, or using conventional tags or colour-dyed plant material and towed video transects to record presence of “tagged” material in adjacent unvegetated areas. The acoustic tagging approach will be dependent on the success of an FRDC application through TAFI and ECU.

RESOURCES AND BUDGET The key personnel involved in the implementation and oversight of this project will be: • Principal SRFME Collaborators – CSIRO (Russ Babcock & Mat Vanderklift),

ECU (Glen Hyndes), Murdoch (Ian Potter), WAM (Fred Wells) • Post-doctoral fellows (x 2) – To be appointed. • PhD students (x3) Murdoch, ECU, CSIRO • Involved agencies – CALM, (Nick D’Adamo), WAF (Roy Melville-Smith &

Linda Bellchambers)

The inclusion of full time Post-doctoral fellows in the program has significant financial implications, adding between $140,000-$150,000 p.a. to

the project budget. Under the supervision of principle investigators and SRFME collaborators the post-doctoral fellows will run the projects on a

day to day basis and supervise field work of students involved. Students can support much of the logistics of establishment and maintenance, but additional support, probably in the form of casual field assistants is likely to be required. A significant level of in-kind support for the project will be

sought from CSIRO, CALM and WAF which have either existing programs at Jurien Bay or strong interests in developing better understanding of

ecological linkages on the WA coast. CALM and WAF have indicated that it will also provide as much in-kind support as possible.

48

Project Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 Total SRFME %

trophodynamics SRFME 87,193.82 88,298.42 81,188.16 256,680.40 57.83% ECU 57,428.40 58,084.18 55,445.91 170,958.49

rocklobsters SRFME 74,721.65 29,965.60 30,003.70 134,690.95

ECU/Murdoc 40,824.32 36,632.39 36,921.08 114,377.79 fish SRFME 99,798.51 105,018.61 81,233.48 200,235.423 40.05%

Murdoch 100,362.45 104,375.52 94,965.90 299,703.87 biodiversity SRFME 59,607.40 59,607.40 119,214.80 55.86%

WA Musem 47,100.00 47,100.00 94,200.00 SRFME total 321,321.38 282,890.03 192,425.3

4 710,821.57 51.14%

partner total 245,715.17 246,192.09 187,332.89

679,240.15 48.86%

total 567,036.55 529,082.12 379,758.23

1,390,061.72

It was originally envisaged that only $600,000 of the total project cost could be funded by the SRFME collaborative research fund and that support from any interested University and Agency partners would need to provide the

balance of the project’s requirements. The level of support pledged by partners has been very substantial and will make this a world-class

program. Nevertheless there is still a $110,821 gap between the funds requested and the available SRFME funds. This gap needs to be addressed before the project is completed, but should not prevent the program from

starting as there is a high likelihood of attracting additional funds.

MANAGEMENT STRUCTURE

A Jurien Bay Working Group comprised of Principal Collaborators, Postdoctoral Fellows and Key Agency Contacts will be established to take responsibility for coordinating the research program, resolving technical and logistic issues that will arise on an ongoing basis, and coordinating

reporting and proposals for projects that will use this program as leverage for additional work in the area. The Working Group will be chaired by a

CSIRO representative (Russ Babcock). Within this structure, Institutional collaborators will be responsible for the activities and objectives of their subprogram. Data generated by the projects will, as with other SRFME

projects ultimately reside with the State, but the working group will facilitate the compilation and sharing of a central information and data base

to be shared among the projects.

TIMELINE

The timeline for the proposed work runs for three years, from spring 2004, though it is anticipated that the work will be only the first stage of longer term studies in the region. Research perspectives of at least 5-10 years will be required to effectively address issues such as inter-annual variability in recruitment, and MPA related changes in fish population structure. This program provides the broad baseline

3 reduced by 30% cash contribution from Murdoch Research Office

49

essential for such long-term studies. SRFME investment into research in the areas outlined in this proposal, particularly on effects of fishing, is seen as being critically important in that it will provide ecological data relevant to a broad array of long-term environmental issues faced by the State’s natural resource management agencies.

Within the program, work will concentrate on data collection in the first two

years and analysis and write up in the third and final year .

Project Timeline Yr 1 Yr 2 Yr 3

spr sum aut Win spr sum aut win spr sum aut win trophodynamics field sampling X X X X X X X X diet analysis X X X X X X X X analysis and write up X X X X X X X X X X X rocklobsters field sampling X X X X X X X X diet analysis X X X X X X X X acoustic tracking X X X X analysis and write up X X X X X X X X X X X fish field sampling X X X X X X X X diet analysis X X X X X X X X acoustic tracking X X X X analysis and write up X X X X X X X X X X X biodiversity field sampling X X analysis and write up X X X X X X

50

ATTACHMENT FOUR

Strategic Research Fund for Marine Environments (SRFME) – Collaborative project September 2004 – Ecological interactions in coastal marine ecosystems:

Rock Lobster

51

Strategic Research Funds for the Marine Environment SRFME Midwest Coast Collaborative Projects Application by Edith Cowan University September 2004

ADMINISTRATIVE SUMMARY PROJECT TITLE Ecological Interactions in coastal marine ecosystems: Rock Lobster PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR Dr Glenn Hyndes Senior Lecturer School of Natural Sciences Edith Cowan University 100 Joondalup Drive JOONDALUP WA 6027 Phone: 6304 5798 Fax: 6304 5509 Email: g.hyndes@ecu.edu.au CO INVESTIGATOR CONTACT DETAILS Dr Russ Babcock Senior Research Scientist CSIRO Marine Research Underwood Ave Floreat WA 6014 Phone: 9333 6535 Fax: 9333 6555 Email: russ.babcock@csiro.gov.au Dr Mat Vanderklift Research Scientist CSIRO Marine Research Underwood Ave Floreat WA 6014 Phone: 9333 6536 Fax: 9333 6555 Email: mat.vanderklift@csiro.gov.au COMMENCEMENT AND COMPLETION DATE Commencement date: 1 December 2004 Completion date: 30 November 2007 BUDGET SUMMARY Project Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 TotalRock lobster SRFME 74,721 29,966 30,004 134,690 ECU 41,123 36,752 37,041 117,706Total 116,665 67,707 68,024 252,396

52

PROJECT DESCRIPTION BACKGROUND A three-year program to investigate ecological interactions in midwest coastal reef communities will be built around the Jurien Bay Marine Park (Figure 1), using multiple-use management zones within the park as large scale manipulations of predator abundance. This focus will give the program an emphasis that distinguishes it from core SRFME projects and takes advantage of the unique opportunities developing in the midwest area. Two groups of predators, finfish and spiny lobster, are of primary interest and the zoning of the park, into areas subject to all kinds of fishing, lobster fishing only, and no-take restrictions, will facilitate the understanding of their respective ecological roles.

Figure 1. Map showing draft management zoning of the Jurien Bay Marine Park

53

Outline

The key research/management questions that exist in the context of Ecological Interactions in the Midwest are as follows:

• What are the trophic linkages of exploited species to other ecosystem components?

• What are the pathways of transport of organic matter and nutrients between habitats and across the shelf?

• How do exploited species in particular utilize the range of available coastal shallow water habitats (e.g. foraging in seagrass, sheltering on reefs)?

• What are the potential trophic (indirect) effects of variations in predator density? • What is the relative importance of any anthropogenic variation in ecological

interactions relative to natural variability at the habitat, seasonal and interannual levels (e.g. can we detect indirect ecological effects of fishing against the background of natural variability)?

• How will populations of exploited predatory species respond to marine park protection (i.e. what are the direct effects of fishing)?

The goals outlined above can be achieved through an integrated research program involving state institutions, Universities and CSIRO. In order to maximize the information gained in the Midwest region, studies of ecological interactions can usefully be divided into the following sub-sections. These do not map directly onto the goals above, rather they provide a more practical framework through which to plan the research program. 1. Habitat characterization and benthic community biodiversity studies. 2. Studies of major predator groups - finfish 3. Studies of major predator groups - rock lobster 4. Trophodynamic studies. Ultimately this suite of studies will allow reasonably detailed quantitative models of Midwest coastal ecosystems to be developed, through the input of underpinning data, as well as through an iterative process of validation and observation. Such models are currently being developed as part of SRFME core objectives and should begin coming online around the time that the Midwest Collaborative program is being completed. Studies of major predator groups - rock lobster The Western Australian rock Lobster Panulirus cygnus is the dominant invertebrate predator in coastal and shelf ecosystems between Northwest Cape and Cape Leeuwin. As such it is likely to have an important role in the dynamics of these ecosystems. Because of ontogenetic changes in the spatial distribution of western rock lobster these dynamics are likely to be complex, and interactions with a large commercial fishery have the potential to add further layers of complexity. Puerulus settle on shallow coastal reefs, where they spend the first months of their lives solitary and sheltering in small crevices in limestone reefs during the day and foraging at night in algal turf and seagrass habitats. As they grow the young lobsters become less solitary and move into larger caves and crevices on deeper reefs where they shelter during the day. Less is known about the foraging and feeding of lobsters and the range of habitats that they use at this stage, which lasts until about the age of 4 years when many of the lobsters undertake long distance migration into deeper waters (>30m), well off the coastal reef systems. It is at around this time that the lobsters reach legal size and enter the fishery.

54

Gaps in our knowledge of rock lobster ecology in shallow waters relate primarily to two areas: habitat use and feeding; and population structure. Our understanding of how lobsters use deeper reefs, sandy areas, and seagrass habitats such as Posidonia meadows with respect to shelter and foraging, and the principal prey of lobsters in these habitats, is not complete. We know that lobsters of different sizes tend to be found in different habitats but it is unclear how the population structure of lobsters in shallow water may have changed as a result of fishing. Anecdotal historical reports describe large rock lobster as being present or common in shallow reef systems in the past, yet such individuals are now very rare in shallow coastal reef systems. Consequently, the historical role of rock lobsters in shallow coastal ecosystems (and the indirect effects of fishing on ecosystem structure and function) is difficult to assess. In order to effectively study or to demonstrate the potential role of predation by rock lobster on coastal benthic communities, we require populations of lobsters with differing population structures and that vary over a range of population densities. The reason for this is simple. For example, we may design caging experiments to exclude lobsters but if they are not present, the exclusion will make little difference to the experimental results. This may be especially relevant to determining the influence of larger rock lobsters. One way of gaining access to such populations of lobsters is to use fished and unfished areas. Such areas are currently being established at Jurien and are potentially extremely useful experimental tools. However, it is not clear whether strong contrasts in lobster density or population structure will develop. Studies of rock lobster populations in other parts of the world have shown, using no-take marine protected areas (MPAs), that there are significant changes to population structure and also to total biomass inside these areas relative to fished areas (Kelly et al 1999, Edgar and Barrett 1999, Lafferty and Kushner 2000), but such changes are not observed universally, possibly because either they lack suitable habitat (Mayfield et al 2000) or, where species are highly mobile, MPA boundaries fragment suitable habitat (Acosta 2001). Since most P. cygnus reach legal size and move into deeper water at the age of around 4 years, and most of the Sanctuaries within the Jurien Marine Park are located in relatively shallow waters, it may be that there is little if any detectable effect of fishing on shallow water populations. Developing an understanding of the variation in density and population structure of rock lobsters, and its resulting consequences, is intimately related to ontogenetic shifts in habitat utilization. Broadly speaking lobsters settle on inshore reefs as puerulus and live in inshore areas until approximately the age of 4 yrs at which time they move into deeper shelf waters. Whether there are finer scale habitat preferences of lobsters within this framework is not clear. For example, is there an incremental shift of lobsters from coastal and lagoon reefs to offshore reefs as they grow older, and do lobsters prefer particular reef habitats? Also, vital to understanding the interactions of rock lobsters with benthic assemblages is the collection of data on how diet may vary with lobster size. Finally we need to know how lobsters use their habitat and the extent to which they move from one to another. NEED Part of the rationale for basing SRFME collaborative projects in the Midwest relates to opportunities presented by the Jurien Bay Marine Park, however it will take some

55

time for differences in predator abundance to develop and for the park to reach its potential as a useful tool for ecological research. Nevertheless it is important for studies to commence as soon as possible, for two reasons. Firstly, the convincing demonstration of any direct or indirect effects of fishing revealed by changes of fishing pressure in the park will rely on a BACI design. Therefore, we must act now to begin collecting all the necessary baseline data. Secondly, important information relating to trophic structure of coastal communities and how it varies among habitats as well as seasonally and interannually, can be collected now and will be a vital part of interpreting and potentially predicting any changes in ecological interactions that emerge as a result of park zoning. Given the high economic value of Western rock lobster and the greater emphasis on ecological effects of fishing through the EPB act, it is imperative that we gain a greater understanding of the impact of removal of rock lobster on the broader ecosystem. This study will mesh with other proposed and ongoing studies to provide a much better understanding of the movement of lobster and the flow of energy and nutrients at a range of spatial scales, from the small scale between habitats to larger cross-shelf scales. A conceptual diagram of the processes and patterns to be investigated is provided in Figure 2.

56

Figure 2. Midwest Collaborative Study Ecological interactions. The diagram

indicates the main thematic components of the study, key institutional involvements, and their potential inter-relationships.

ROCK LOBSTER Abundance

Pop structure etc. Tracking

Habitat utilization Diet

ECU/CSIRO/WAF PhD

FINFISH Abundance

Pop structure Tracking

Habitat utilization Diet

Murdoch (Postdoc, PhD+)

DEEP WATER ROCK LOBSTER WAF (postdoc)

REEFS Diversity Biomass

Productivity Seasonality

CSIRO/WAM

SEAGRASS Biomass

Productivity Seasonality

Diversity CSIRO/WAM

TROPHODYNAMICSStable isotopes Consumption Drift transport ECU/CSIRO

(Postdoc, PhD)

ECO-PHYSIOLOGY COLLABORATIVE ECU Postdoc, MSc

HYDRODYNAMICS COLLABORATIVE

?

Midwest Collaborative

SRFME core project WA Fisheries & other FRDC

Conceptual/Data linkages

Physical collaboration

FISH TRACKING ECU & TAFI

HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVES

CSIRO/WAM

Benthic Community & Biodiversity

57

OBJECTIVES The broad aim of this study is to determine the habitat use and trophic links of Western rock lobster in the mid-west region. This broad aim will be achieved through investigating the following specific objectives. 1. Determine the densities and size structure of western rock lobster in a range of

different benthic habitats; 2. Determine the movement patterns of western rock lobster between reefs and

foraging habitats; 3. Investigate dietary changes of western rock lobster with changes in size,

habitat use and season; and 4. Provide baseline data that will allow the success of sanctuary zones in terms of

increasing lobster abundance to be assessed in the future.

OUTPUTS & EXTENSION

The main objective of the outputs and extension plan is to provide regular updates on the progress of the study to the funding body and stakeholders, and finally provide coastal managers with information pertaining to the linkages between different habitats within a marine mid-west coastal marine environment. Information arising from the study will be disseminated through scientific publications, reports and presentations. Progress reports will regularly be provided to SRFME and a final report will summarise the overall findings. Scientific Publications will be submitted to appropriate peer-reviewed journals. Seminars will be presented at SRFME Symposia, relevant national and international conferences, and where deemed necessary, interest groups. A web site will be constructed and continually updated to inform stakeholders of new results.

PLANNED OUTCOMES

The study will provide descriptions of abundance, population structure, diet, home range and seasonal movement patterns of rock lobster in Jurien Bay Marine Park, thereby providing information on the temporal and spatial habitat utilization and population structure of western rock lobster and any ontogenetic, temporal and spatial shifts in its diets. The study will provide a sound basis for understanding trophic relations at higher levels and will lay the groundwork for understanding what, if any, are the direct and indirect effects of fishing on coastal ecosystems. Furthermore, in combination with the compilation of data from the other related projects within the program, this study will help establish baseline data on the biodiversity and ecology of Jurien Bay Marine Park. Such base-line data is essential for assessing whether the size of current management zones within the marine park are adequate, and for future assessment of the effectiveness of management zones in the newly established Jurien Bay Marine Park. METHODS Lobster density and population structure will be measured twice yearly in October/November and June/July on reefs less than 20 m depth. Potentially a third sampling season will be included, in January/February, to better document any changes in shallow water populations related to the “whites” migration. The reefs

58

studied will be stratified according to habitat type, reef depth and cross-shelf location to account for physical habitat variability. In addition the population studies will be stratified with respect to levels of protection from fishing pressure, and include sanctuary zones, zones open only to commercial rock lobster fishing, and zones open to all kinds of fishing. Reef size, size of sanctuary and distance from sanctuary will be factored into analyses as co-variates. Sampling will concentrate across these locations in two regions (e.g. Jurien and Green Head). The sampling philosophy is to study these areas within the Jurien Bay Marine Park intensively, rather than study all the zones in the park extensively. Portions of the core survey will be conducted in collaboration with CSIRO Marine Research as required to complete or extend the design as required. Adult and sub-adult lobsters will be censused by divers using 50 x 5 m transects deployed parallel to the reef slope over reef habitat. Within each strata there will be two sites, and six transects per site. The Carapace Length (CL) of all lobsters seen within transects will be estimated visually by trained and pre-calibrated divers (MacDiarmid 1991) and the sex of all lobsters determined to provide data on sex ratios. Moult stage will be recorded, as will any damage to lobsters (e.g. broken antennae, missing legs). Data, including general habitat type, will be recorded in 5m blocks to enable subsequent spatial analysis. Surveys of juvenile lobsters (< 40 mm CL) will be conducted at the same sites using 5 x 1 m transects, following methods similar to those employed in previous studies in the region (e.g. Edgar 198#), including nocturnal surveys. Lobster diet will be directly determined from the gut contents of lobsters collected by divers within 1 hour of sunrise. Collections will be made throughout the year, with approximately equal samples from three seasons, coinciding with population surveys. Data will be collected from the entire available size range of lobsters, and sampling will take place within all of the strata sampled in the population surveys. Lobsters will be put on ice immediately after collection, gut contents dissected within 3 hours, and preserved in 70% ethanol. Contents will be identified to the lowest possible taxonomic level, classified according to trophic level, and quantified using image analysis of relative abundance. Lobster movements will be assessed across a range of spatial scales using several techniques. Standard Capture-Mark-Recapture using “spaghetti” tags inserted ventrally between the tail and carapace will be used to attempt to capture some information from the commercial and recreational fisheries. A subset of these animals will be tagged using colour coded tags placed around the base of the antennae and will allow for medium term re-sighting and identification of lobsters by divers. This method allows animals to be individually identified without handling and has proven useful in assessing levels of site fidelity over periods of 6-12 months. These data will be supplemented with direct observations of nocturnal lobster foraging behaviour where possible. Approximately 20 lobsters will be tagged using acoustic tags (VEMCO VR2) attached dorsally to the carapace using cable ties. This will allow larger scale movements of animals to be tracked with an accuracy of approximately ±100 m (Egli and Babcock in press) using an array of at least 24 receivers that will cover an area approximately 19 km2. In particular, 3+ and 4+ year class animals will be targeted post-moulting in

59

November and December as “whites”. Most will be expected to take part in offshore migrations and may be picked up by offshore acoustic arrays (Chubb et al. WAFish FRDC proposal), however some may remain in near-shore waters and establish long-term residence there (in the absence of fishing mortality). Therefore, in order to establish whether some animals remain resident on coastal reefs, the tracking will be done in a sanctuary zone, most likely the large zone immediately to the south of Jurien and focused around the Booka Reef area. PERFORMANCE INDICATORS o Results clearly describe the habitat utilization of western rock lobster in the

reef/seagrass habitat complex in take and no-take zones of Jurien Bay.

o Results clearly describe the movement patterns of western rock lobster among reefs and between reefs and foraging habitats.

o Results clearly describe the dietary changes of western rock lobster associated

with change in size, habitat and season. MILESTONES 31 May 2005 Sampling protocol and locations finalised. Collection of density and

population structure data for the first season. Collection of gut samples for the first season completed.

30 November 2005 Collection of density and population structure data and gut samples for the second season completed. Processing of gut samples for first season completed.

31 May 2006 Collection of density and population structure data for the third season completed. Processing of gut samples for second season completed.

30 November 2006 Collection of density and population structure data for the fourth season completed. Tagging studies initiated.

31 May 2007 Tagging studies completed. Preliminary analyses of density and population structure and dietary data completed.

30 November 2007 Final analyses of density and population structure and dietary data completed. Draft report completed.

60

BUDGET

SRFME Contribution

Item Detail Units 04/05 05/06 06/07 Personnel Casual (HEW4/5) Salary ($21.3593/hr) 15,541 9,869 9,869 Oncosts (15.82%) 2,459 1,561 1,561 Travel & Related Costs Vehicle costs $0.50/km 5000 km 5,714 5,714 5,714Boat Hire $100/day 57 days 5,714 5,714 5,714Accommodation $50/day 57 days 2,850 2,850 2,850Field provisions $20/person/day 57 days 3,420 3,420 3,420Dive fills $10/fill/day 57 days 570 570 570Consumables 373 265 304Tracking equipment One off purchase 38,078 Total 74,721 29,965 30,004

ECU Contribution

Item Detail Units 04/05 05/06 06/07 Personnel Principal Investigator Salary 0.1EFT 7,781 8,005 8,230 Oncosts (26.82%) 2,087 2,147 2,207PhD student Scholarship Full time 18,484 18,484 18,484 Scholarship top-up Full time 5,000 5,000 5,000 Consumables 1,500 1,500 1,500Uni overheads 10% Admin costs 7,771 3,116 3,120 Total 41,945 37,742 38,020

PROJECT STAFF JUSTIFICATION

The postgraduate student (Lachlan MacArthur) will be responsible for the

extensive field and laboratory program, and run the projects on a day to day

basis. A casual Research Assistant (to be appointed) is required for field support,

laboratory processing and maintenance of equipment. The Principal Investigator

(Glenn Hyndes) will be responsible for the overall management and coordination

of the project, as well as the supervision of the postgraduate student. Co-

investigators (Russ Babcock and Mat Vanderklift) will provide intellectual input

into the project and co- supervise the student.

61

ATTACHMENT FIVE

SRFME – Collaborative project September 2004 – Ecological interactions in coastal marine ecosystems: Trophodynamics

62

Strategic Research Funds for the Marine Environment SRFME Midwest Coast Collaborative Projects Application by Edith Cowan University September 2004

ADMINISTRATIVE SUMMARY PROJECT TITLE Ecological Interactions in coastal marine ecosystems: Trophodynamics PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR Dr Glenn Hyndes Senior Lecturer School of Natural Sciences Edith Cowan University 100 Joondalup Drive JOONDALUP WA 6027 Phone: 6304 5798 Fax: 6304 5509 Email: g.hyndes@ecu.edu.au CO INVESTIGATOR CONTACT DETAILS Dr Mat Vanderklift Research Scientist CSIRO Marine Research Underwood Ave Floreat WA 6014 Phone: 9333 6536 Fax: 9333 6555 Email: mat.vanderklift@csiro.gov.au Dr Russ Babcock Senior Research Scientist CSIRO Marine Research Underwood Ave Floreat WA 6014 Phone: 9333 6535 Fax: 9333 6555 Email: russ.babcock@csiro.gov.au COMMENCEMENT AND COMPLETION DATE Commencement date: 1 December 2004 Completion date: 30 November 2007 BUDGET SUMMARY Project Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 Totaltrophodynamics SRFME 87,733 88,882 79,844 256,460 ECU 70,035 60,712 59,403 190,150Total 157,768 149,594 139,248 446,609

63

PROJECT DESCRIPTION BACKGROUND A three-year program to investigate ecological interactions in midwest coastal reef communities will be built around the Jurien Bay Marine Park (Figure 1), using multiple-use management zones within the park as large scale manipulations of predator abundance. This focus will give the program an emphasis that distinguishes it from core SRFME projects and takes advantage of the unique opportunities developing in the midwest area. Two groups of predators, finfish and spiny lobster, are of primary interest and the zoning of the park, into areas subject to all kinds of fishing, lobster fishing only, and no-take restrictions, will facilitate the understanding of their respective ecological roles.

Figure 1. Map showing draft management zoning of the Jurien Bay Marine Park

64

Outline

The key research/management questions that exist in the context of Ecological Interactions in the Midwest are as follows:

• What are the trophic linkages of exploited species to other ecosystem components?

• What are the pathways of transport of organic matter and nutrients between habitats and across the shelf?

• How do exploited species in particular utilize the range of available coastal shallow water habitats (e.g. foraging in seagrass, sheltering on reefs)?

• What are the potential trophic (indirect) effects of variations in predator density? • What is the relative importance of any anthropogenic variation in ecological

interactions relative to natural variability at the habitat, seasonal and interannual levels (e.g. can we detect indirect ecological effects of fishing against the background of natural variability)?

• How will populations of exploited predatory species respond to marine park protection (i.e. what are the direct effects of fishing)?

The goals outlined above can be achieved through an integrated research program involving state institutions, Universities and CSIRO. In order to maximize the information gained in the Midwest region, studies of ecological interactions can usefully be divided into the following sub-sections. These do not map directly onto the goals above, rather they provide a more practical framework through which to plan the research program. 1. Habitat characterization and benthic community biodiversity studies. 2. Studies of major predator groups - finfish 3. Studies of major predator groups - rock lobster 4. Trophodynamic studies. Ultimately this suite of studies will allow reasonably detailed quantitative models of Midwest coastal ecosystems to be developed, through the input of underpinning data, as well as through an iterative process of validation and observation. Such models are currently being developed as part of SRFME core objectives and should begin coming online around the time that the Midwest Collaborative program is being completed. Trophodynamic studies. Trophodynamic studies undertaken as part of the program will mesh with other proposed and ongoing studies to provide a much better understanding of the flow of energy and nutrients at a range of spatial scales, from the small scale between habitats to larger cross-shelf scales. Studies on the dietary composition through gut content analyses of fish have traditionally been used to examine food webs and trophic linkages in aquatic ecosystems. However, such an approach rarely considers the ultimate source of energy and provides limited information on the interactions between the various primary producers and consumers in an ecosystem. Analyses of gut contents often provides only a snapshot of the diet of fish at a particular time, when the food consumed by fish often varies considerably over time (hours, days, seasons), during the life cycle of the fish (juveniles to adults) and among habitats (e.g. Werner and Gilliam 1984, Hyndes et al. 1997). Furthermore, different food types are digested at different rates, whereby hard-shelled prey can often be over-represented in

65

gut-content analyses due to their recognisable fragments remaining in the guts for longer periods. In addition, the pharyngeal grinding of food by certain fish species renders the different food types consumed by these species indistinguishable. Recently, researchers have recognised stable isotope techniques as a useful tool to identify and trace food/energy sources in coastal ecosystems (e.g. Kitting et al. 1984, Peterson and Fry 1987, Newell et al. 1995, Loneragan et al. 1997, Jennings et al. 1997, Pinnegar and Polunin 2000). This approach allows the linkages between fish and the various food sources in the coastal environment to be determined through measuring the natural isotopic ratios, typically 13C/12C and 15N/14N, in the different primary producers and consumers. Since 13C exhibits only slight enrichment in tissue from primary producers to the various consumer levels, 13C/12C typically is considered useful for tracing the source material in the food web (Peterson and Fry 1987). In comparison, 15N displays a stepwise enrichment of approximately 3‰ between primary producer and each of the different consumer levels. The measurement of 15N/14N ratios has therefore been used to provide an estimate of the number of trophic levels in the food web (e.g. Fry and Quinones 1994). The combination of these isotopes provides a useful tool to examine the linkages among the various food sources and consumers in coastal environments and thereby provide an indication of the importance of different environments to major consumers. Many important floral and faunal components of habitats are highly mobile, traveling large distances from one habitat to another. This transport includes the supply of drift algae or seagrass, as well as movements of reef-associated predators into other habitats to feed, or as part of seasonal foraging, ontogenetic or reproductive movements. By quantifying the abundance and origin of drift material, and by modeling the transport of algal and detrital particles we will begin to quantify the ecological linkages between habitats. Movement studies of key predatory species will provide information on the relative importance of different habitats for feeding and foraging. Biomarkers, particularly stable isotope ratios (δ13C, δ15N), will be used to validate and calibrate the relative magnitude of energy flows within the system, as well as the potential for habitat-related and ontogenetic differences in trophic relationships of key species such as lobster. NEED Part of the rationale for basing SRFME collaborative projects in the Midwest relates to opportunities presented by the Jurien Bay Marine Park, however it will take some time for differences in predator abundance to develop and for the park to reach its potential as a useful tool for ecological research. Nevertheless it is important for studies to commence as soon as possible, for two reasons. Firstly, the convincing demonstration of any direct or indirect effects of fishing revealed by changes of fishing pressure in the park will rely on a BACI design. Therefore we must act now to begin collecting all the necessary baseline data. Secondly, important information relating to trophic structure of coastal communities and how it varies among habitats as well as seasonally and interannually, can be

66

collected now and will be a vital part of interpreting and potentially predicting any changes in ecological interactions that emerge as a result of park zoning. Trophodynamic studies undertaken as part of the program will mesh with other proposed and ongoing studies to provide a much better understanding of the flow of energy and nutrients at a range of spatial scales, from the small scale between habitats to larger cross-shelf scales. An understanding of habitat variability is also essential for the stratification of baseline sampling designs. A conceptual diagram of the processes and patterns to be investigated is provided in Figure 2.

67

Figure 2. Midwest Collaborative Study Ecological interactions. The diagram indicates the main thematic components of the study, key institutional involvements, and their potential inter-relationships.

ROCK LOBSTER Abundance

Pop structure etc. Tracking

Habitat utilization Diet

ECU/CSIRO/WAF PhD

FINFISH Abundance

Pop structure Tracking

Habitat utilization Diet

Murdoch (Postdoc, PhD+)

DEEP WATER ROCK LOBSTER WAF (postdoc)

REEFS Diversity Biomass

Productivity Seasonality

CSIRO/WAM

SEAGRASS Biomass

Productivity Seasonality

Diversity CSIRO/WAM

TROPHODYNAMICSStable isotopes Consumption Drift transport ECU/CSIRO

(Postdoc, PhD)

ECO-PHYSIOLOGY COLLABORATIVE ECU Postdoc, MSc

HYDRODYNAMICS COLLABORATIVE

?

Midwest Collaborative

SRFME core project WA Fisheries & other FRDC

Conceptual/Data linkages

Physical collaboration

FISH TRACKING ECU & TAFI

HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVES

CSIRO/WAM

Benthic Community & Biodiversity

68

OBJECTIVES The broad aim of this study is to examine the trophic linkages of different habitats within a coastal marine environment. This broad aim will be achieved through investigating the following specific objectives. 5. To determine the source of primary production that drives the food web for

major consumers in a coastal marine environment using biomarker techniques; 6. To determine the spatial and temporal variability in the source of production

for major consumers in a coastal marine environment; and 7. To determine the movement patterns of detached reef algae and seagrass into

adjacent coastal marine habitats.

OUTPUTS & EXTENSION

The main objective of the outputs and extension plan is to provide regular updates on the progress of the study to the funding body and stakeholders, and finally provide coastal managers with information pertaining to the linkages between different habitats within a marine mid-west coastal marine environment. Information arising from the study will be disseminated through scientific publications, reports and presentations. Progress reports will regularly be provided to SRFME and a final report will summarise the overall findings. Scientific Publications will be submitted to appropriate peer-reviewed journals. Seminars will be presented at SRFME Symposia, relevant national and international conferences, and where deemed necessary, interest groups. A web site will be constructed and continually updated to inform stakeholders of new results.

PLANNED OUTCOMES

The specific study will provide outputs into the degree of spatial and temporal links among different broad habitats within the Jurien Bay Marine Park, which will allow managers to assess whether the size of current management zones within the marine park are adequate. Furthermore, in combination with the compilation of data from the other related projects within the programme, will help establish baseline data on the biodiversity and ecology of Jurien Bay Marine Park. Such base-line data is essential for any future assessment of the effectiveness of management zones in the newly established Jurien Bay Marine Park, and allow for adaptive management of the marine park.

METHODS The study will be split into two main subcomponents; (1) biomarker analyses; and (2) movement and biomass of wrack. Biomarkers (Stable isotopes) Examining the diets of consumers has traditionally been used as a mechanism to study food webs in marine systems. However, dietary studies can underestimate the importance of some organisms to the food web due to their rapid digestion. Furthermore, dietary studies do not provide information on whether particular organisms are assimilated. It is therefore difficult to trace the origins of nutrients and energy using dietary approaches. Measurements of natural 13C/12C and 15N/14N isotopic ratios have been shown to be a useful tool for identifying and tracing the

69

source of carbon and nitrogen in aquatic food webs (e.g. Kitting et al. 1984, Thresher et al. 1992, Newell et al. 1995, Loneragan et al. 1997, Marguillier et al. 1997). When an organism assimilates carbon and nitrogen from a source it either assimilates the isotopes indiscriminately, or displays a preference for one isotope (the fractionation ratio) for both carbon and nitrogen, thereby acquiring δ13C and δ15N that reflect the source. With the use of mixing models (e.g. Phillips & Gregg 2003), the δ13C and δ15N values of an organism can be used to infer the source of carbon and nitrogen it has assimilated, provided that the δ13C and δ15N ratios of all possible sources are known and differ to each other. This component of the study will be split into two sections. The first phase of the study will examine the stable isotope signatures of a range of primary producers and consumers in a range of habitats in different regions of Jurien Bay. This part of the study will provide broad information on the flow of energy and nutrients in the food web of Jurien Bay. In other words, it will provide data on the contribution of the major primary producers to the food web of this marine system, and whether there are trophic linkages among different habitats. The second phase of the study will examine the spatial patterns in the influence of primary producers in unvegetated habitats and the extent to which primary producers from reefs and seagrass meadows influence the food web of unvegetated areas with increasing distance from those plant dominated habitats. Broad trophic study We propose to undertake detailed analyses of stable isotope signatures for rock lobster and selected finfish species with a view to gaining a better understanding of, not only how trophic relations vary among species, but also whether they vary ontogenetically due to changes in diet of individuals of increasing size. Habitat use may also vary ontogenetically, therefore we will explore variation in trophic signature between habitats and the possibility that isotopic signatures may be the result of the interaction between size and habitat. The study will concentrate on collecting samples of consumers [finfish (e.g. Pink snapper) and major invertebrates (e.g. Western rock lobster)] from a range of dominant habitats in Jurien Bay, as well as collecting dominant primary producers (seagrasses and seagrass epiphytes, reef macroalgae, phytoplankton and benthic micro-algae) from the region. Since detritus is likely to form a major link in the food web, samples of different fractions of detritus will be collected to determine its composition in different regions of Jurien Bay. Fish and invertebrates will be collected from reef, seagrass and unvegetated habitats in three regions of Jurien Bay using trawls or gill nets or by spearing. Where possible, this project will link into the dietary studies by MU, but additional samples may be required for the collection of adequate sample sizes. White flesh will be removed for stable isotope analyses. Macro-invertebrates will be collected through dive collections or coring. Flesh samples will be removed and stored for stable isotope analyses. Where invertebrates are too small to remove sufficient flesh, individuals will be pooled as one sample. Samples of live algae will be collected from reefs, and seagrass and epiphytic algae will be collected from seagrass meadows adjacent to reefs. Plants will be removed of any epiphytic material.

70

At least three replicate samples will be collected for each organism from each habitat and region. For major consumers, attempts will be made to collect samples from different size groups to examine ontogenetic shifts in stable isotope signatures. Since diets may vary seasonally, samples will be collected during two times of the year (summer/autumn and winter/spring). Since δ13C and δ15N values among primary producers can be similar, alternative biomarkers may be required to allow differentiation of primary producers as sources for consumers. Sulphur isotopes have been shown to be useful to distinguish between benthic and pelagic food webs. For this reason, we will analyse sulphur isotope for target key benthic and pelagic species for these analyses. All samples will be processed for 13C/12C and 15N/14N ratios using an ANCA-NT/20-20 stable isotope ratio mass spectrometer at ECU. The δ13C and δ15N values will subsequently be calculated and compared using a multiple-source mixing model (e.g. Phillips and Gregg 2003). For targeted species, samples will be processed for sulphur and sent to other facilities for analyses. Many studies have used the assumption that δ13C displays minimal enrichment while δ15N displays a stepwise enrichment (3-5 ‰) between different trophic groups. However, this can be highly variable among different organisms, particularly for δ15N (Ponsard & Vanderklift 2002). Interpretation of stable isotope data requires information on the enrichment of both δ13C and δ15N through the various trophic steps. However, there is limited information available on enrichment of these isotopes for the organisms that will be examined in this study. We therefore propose to carry out a series of experiments to examine the trophic enrichment of δ13C and δ15N and sulphur exhibited by some major consumers. Selected invertebrates will be placed in aquaria and provided with food for which the δ13C and δ15N values are known. Consumers will be kept in the aquaria for up to two months to ensure that SI signatures derived from their existing diet has been replaced by that derived from their new diet. At the end of the experiments, consumers will be removed from the aquaria, euthanased and flesh removed for SI analyses. Differences between the δ13C and δ15N values will indicate the level of enrichment (or depletion). For fish and large macro-invertebrates, the turnover of δ13C and δ15N in the flesh is likely to occur over an extensive timeframe, thereby limiting any opportunity to carry out aquaria experiments to examine enrichment in these organisms. We therefore propose to collaborate with personnel at the TAFE Maritime Centre, where fish are being reared in captivity. We will examine the δ13C and δ15N of a suite of fish species (e.g. Pink snapper, Black bream and Dhufish) and their food source. Spatial influence As previously noted, trophic studies using stable isotopes are useful when the SI signatures of the various primary producers are widely disparate. Current work at ECU (G. Hyndes and P. Lavery) is showing that the seagrasses Posidonia spp. and Amphibolis spp. have highly enriched δ13C values relative to algal species. However, the SI signatures of brown, red and green algae are relatively similar to each other, making it difficult to distinguish these groups as potential sources. The second phase of the stable isotope study will therefore attempt to fill some of the gaps that have

71

become event from the broad stable isotope study. Potentially, by the end of Phase 1, we will not have a clear understanding of the principal sources of C and N in unvegetated areas that are adjacent to reefs and seagrass meadows, yet the transport of material from these other major benthic habitats is likely to provide significant production into these unvegetated areas. The second phase of the study (year 2) is likely to focus on examining the change in stable isotope signatures in the benthic infauna and epibenthic fauna in unvegetated areas with increasing distance away from seagrass meadows and reefs. A current study by Mat Vanderklift is examining the hypothesis that δ13C in seagrass fauna should change gradually with distance from reef, reflecting the gradual change in the relative importance of reef-derived macroalgae and seagrass. The proposed study will expand on this hypothesis by examining the hypothesis that δ13C in fauna associated with unvegetated areas should change gradually with distance from reef and seagrass meadows, resulting from a shift in the relative importance of reef-derived macroalgae and seagrass. Artificially enriching either the δ13C or δ15N of some of the major primary producers may be required to provide a clear demarcation of the SI signatures of those sources that will allow SI signatures to be tracked along transects away from reefs or seagrass meadows. Alternatively, other biomarkers, such as sulphur, fatty acids or amino acids, may be required to fulfill this task. Results from current preliminary work at CSIRO and ECU will be used to help direct and refine this part of the project. Movement and biomass of wrack Accumulations of wrack are a prominent feature of the coastline of south-western Australia. Algae from reefs and seagrasses and their associated epiphytic material become dislodged, particularly during winter storms, and are transported into adjacent habitats. It has been estimated that approximately 20% of production from reefs and seagrass meadows passes through the nearshore regions (Hansen 1984), where it has been shown to provide important habitats for a range of invertebrates and finfish species (Robertson & Lenanton 1984, Lenanton et al. 1981). Currently, a SRFME PhD study at ECU (K. Crawley) is further examining the importance of this wrack material to the habitat structure and trophic dynamics of nearshore waters in the Perth metropolitan region. This study is showing that fish species have a clear preference for particular volumes and types of wrack and that prey species have a clear preference for brown algae as a food source. We propose to examine the movement patterns of wrack from reef and seagrass meadows into subtidal, unvegetated areas in Jurien Bay. The transport of this material is likely to contribute significantly to secondary production in these areas. We will also examine the biomass and composition of wrack material in these areas. This will be achieved through: • Stratified random design using towed video transects, and ground truthing

using large quadrats to quantify the volume/biomass of different wrack types in different regions during different times of the year. Sampling will be conducted over at least four (seasonal) sampling occasions.

• Tracking of wrack using either acoustic tags and receivers for tracking the movement of wrack, or using conventional tags or colour-dyed plant material and towed video transects to record presence of “tagged” material in adjacent

72

unvegetated areas. The acoustic tagging approach will be dependent on the success of additional proposals to gain funds for this part of the study.

PERFORMANCE INDICATORS o Results describe the major source(s) of primary production that contribute(s) to

the production of major consumers, including economically important finfish species and western rock lobster.

o Results describe the spatial and temporal variability in the relative contribution

of primary producers to the production of major consumers.

o Results describe the movement patterns of detached reef algae and seagrass among broad habitats.

MILESTONES 31 May 2005 Postdoctoral Fellow and Research Assistant appointed. Sampling protocol

and locations finalised. Collection of stable isotope samples for first season completed.

30 November 2005 Processing and analyses of stable isotope samples for first season completed. Preliminary studies on isotope enrichment completed. Collection of stable isotope samples for second season completed.

31 May 2006 Processing and analyses of stable isotope samples for second season completed. Sampling design and methods finalized for second phase of the stable isotope study.

30 November 2006 Processing of stable isotope samples for the second phase of the stable isotope study completed. Survey of wrack in different habitats completed.

31 May 2007 Analyses of stable isotope samples for the second phase of the stable isotope study completed.

30 November 2007 If acoustic tagging studies of wrack are possible, collection of movement patterns of wrack through acoustic tagging will be completed. Final analyses of stable isotope and wrack data completed. Draft report completed.

73

BUDGET

SRFME Contribution

Item Detail Units 04/05 05/06 06/07 Personnel Post Doctoral Fellow Salary Full time 49,076 49,981 52,966 Oncosts (26.82%) 13,162 13,405 14,206Casual (HEW4/5) Salary ($21.3593/hr) 200 hrs/year 4,442 4,443 2,221 Oncosts (15.82%) 703 703 351 Travel & Related Costs Vehicle costs $0.50/km 5000 km 2,500 2,500 1,250Boat Hire $100/day 30 days 3,000 3,000 1,500Accommodation $50/day 30 days 1,500 1,500 750Field provisions $20/person/day 30 days 2,400 2,400 1,200Dive fills $10/fill/day 30 days 1,800 1,800 900 Consumables 1,000 1,000 500Analyses C & N isotopes $5/sample 630 samples 3,150 3,150 1,500S isotope $50/sample 100 samples 5,000 5,000 2,500 Total 87,733 88,882 79,844

ECU Contribution

Item Detail Units 04/05 05/06 06/07 Personnel Principal Investigator Salary 0.2EFT 15,563 16,010 16,458 Oncosts (26.82%) 4,174 4,294 4,414PhD student Scholarship Full time 18,484 18,484 18,484 Scholarship top-up Full time 5,000 5,000 5,000 Equipment (e.g. computers) 10,000 Consumables 2,000 2,000 1,000Dive equipment 4 sets Analyses C & N isotopes $10/sample 630 samples 6,300 6,300 6,300 Uni overheads 10% Admin costs 8,514 8,625 7,747 Total 70,035 60,712 59,403

74

PROJECT STAFF JUSTIFICATION

The Postdoctoral Fellow (to be appointed) will be responsible for the extensive field

and laboratory program, and run the projects on a day to day basis, as well as

contributing to the supervision students involved. A casual Research Assistant (to be

appointed) is required for field support, laboratory processing and maintenance of

equipment. The Principal Investigator (Glenn Hyndes) will be responsible for the

overall management and coordination of the project supervised, as well as supervision

of the Postdoctoral Fellow, Research Assistant and students. Co-investigators (mat

Vanderklift and Russ Babcock) will provide intellectual input into the project and

help with the supervision of students involved in the project.

75

ATTACHMENT SIX

SRFME project – Biodiversity of marine fauna on the Central West Coast – Administrative summary

76

12 Sep 04 STRATEGIC RESEARCH FUND FOR THE MARINE ENVIRONMENT BIODIVERSITY OF MARINE FAUNA ON THE CENTRAL WEST COAST ADMINISTRATIVE SUMMARY Principal investigator Dr Fred E Wells Western Australian Museum Locked Bag 49 Welshpool DC WA 6986 Phone: 9427 2809 Fax: 9427 2882 Email: fred.wells@museum.wa.gov.au Commencement and completion dates January 2005 to December 2007 Budget summary

Source Total $

SRFME 119,254 Museum 104,648 Total 223,902 External reviewers Dr John Huisman, Biological and Environmental Science, Murdoch University, Murdoch WA 6150 Dr Winston Ponder, Australian Museum, 6 College Street, Sydney NSW 2010

77

PART B. PROJECT DESCRIPTION

Background The Technical Advisory Group of SRFME made a submission to the Joint Venture Management Committee for a three-year program to investigate ecological interactions in midwest coastal reef communities. The study will be built around the Jurien Bay Marine Park, using multiple-use management zones within the park as large scale manipulations of predator abundance. The study is a multidisciplinary one involving staff of CSIRO Marine Research, Western Australian universities and the Western Australian Museum. There are a number of objectives for the study including:

7. What are the trophic linkages of exploited species to other ecosystem components 8. What are the pathways of transport of organic matter and nutrients between habitats and

across the shelf 9. How do exploited species in particular utilize the range of available coastal shallow

water habitats (e.g. foraging in seagrass, sheltering on reefs) 10. What are the potential trophic (indirect) effects of variations in predator density 11. What is the relative magnitude of spatial and temporal variability within and between

key habitats and species (e.g. can we detect direct or indirect effects of fishing against the background of natural variability in recruitment or other variation at the habitat, seasonal and interannual levels).

12. How will populations of predatory species respond to variations in top-down (marine park protection) and bottom-up (primary productivity) processes. This component of the study will provide baseline data with which to asses the effects of fishing.

In order to maximize the information gained in the Midwest region, studies of ecological interactions can usefully be divided into the following sub-sections. These do not map directly onto the goals above, rather they provide a more practical framework through which to plan the research program. Not all of the goals will be achieved fully in this three year program (e.g. point 6) but all are necessary as the foundation of a long term project to assess ecological interactions in the context of ongoing human use and management of these coastal ecosystems. The three functional groupings of the project are

1. Habitat characterization and benthic community biodiversity studies. 2. Studies of major predator groups (rock lobster, finfish) planned by the Department of

Fisheries. 3. Trophodynamic studies

The WA Museum component is largely part of project 1: Habitat characterization and benthic community biodiversity studies. These will inform studies of major predators and trophic linkages and provide the basis for detecting longer term changes benthic communities. They will go beyond Core and Linkage SRFME studies currently being conducted in the region to provide detail vital to the effectiveness of both studies of major predators and trophodynamic studies. Quantitative sampling will be stratified at the habitat level as well as among different management zones and will provide a quantitative basis for evaluating the relative importance of energy flow among various ecosystem components. Any indirect effects of fishing on benthic communities (seagrass and reefs) will manifest themselves at this level. The Museum will also assist in component 3: Trophodynamic studies by providing identifications, etc of material collected.

78

These studies will need to include both rocky reef and seagrass habitats and require measurements of diversity, biomass and productivity of benthic primary producers, as well as invertebrates (including epifauna and epiflora). An understanding of seasonal variability is required in order to make accurate estimates of productivity as well as to allow any top down trends to be discerned from among seasonal and inter-annual variability. Our knowledge of variability in marine ecosystems often suffers from a lack of long term comparative data sets. Studies in the Midwest region provide an opportunity to understand ecological variability on decadal timescales by including historical comparisons of seagrass habitats surveyed in the 1980s (Seven Mile Beach, Cliff Head). In parallel with the quantitative sampling described above, more extensive sampling targeted at documenting overall biodiversity will be conducted by WAM taxonomic experts. The broader scale Museum studies will provide a comparison of the biodiversity of selected groups as measured by experts in the groups compared with quantitative surveys undertaken in the same habitats. Need The shallow water marine biota of Western Australia can be divided into three distinct biogeographical regions. The north coast of the continent, from North West Cape to the Northern Territory border and extending to the southern part of the Great Barrier Reef in Queensland is tropical. Northern Australia is part of the vast Indo-West Pacific biogeographical zone which extends halfway around the world from the east coast of Africa through the tropical parts of the Indian and Pacific Oceans to Hawaii. The south coast of the continent is the southern Australian warm temperate region. This region extends from Cape Leeuwin, Western Australia eastwards across the southern part of the continent and up the east coast. Some species reach as far north as southern Queensland. The west coast of Western Australia, between North West Cape and Cape Leeuwin, is a region of biogeographical overlap where the tropical and temperate biotas mix in varying proportions. A study of gastropod molluscs found that 39% of species in the Perth region are tropical while the figure for the Abrolhos is about 70% (Wells 1980). Superimposed on the tropical-temperate distributions is a small proportion of the biota which is endemic to Western Australia. These species may occur anywhere in the State, but are concentrated on the west coast. Endemics constitute a relatively small proportion of the biota, ranging from 5% in fish to 25% in shallow water echinoderms; overall about 10% of the shallow water fauna is endemic to the State (Wilson & Allen 1987; Morgan & Wells 1991; Hutchins 1994). While this is a small proportion, these species may be economically and/or ecologically important (Wells 1985). The western rock lobster Panulirus cygnus is the best example of an endemic species as it constitutes the largest single species fishery in Australia and is economically important throughout west coast. The midwest region is thus in the overlap zone and has a mixture of tropical, temperate and endemic biotas. Inshore along the continental coastline the temperate biota dominates, while tropical species are abundant offshore at the Abrolhos and the west end of Rottnest Island. While these general patterns are well known, there are no quantitative data available on the relative proportions of tropical, temperate and endemic species for most taxonomic groups along the continental coastline between Perth and Geraldton. Objectives The objective will be to determine quantitatively the proportion of tropical, temperate, and WA endemic species of molluscs, corals, echinoderms, fishes, sponges, and decapod crustaceans at four localities in the west coast overlap zone: Cervantes, Jurien Bay, Green

79

Head and Dongara. The quantitative structure of sampling will also enable the distribution of these taxa to be linked to smaller scale habitat associations within the Midwest coast region. The taxonomic groups were chosen on the basis that they are ecologically important and Museum staff have the taxonomic expertise to identify the material. Groups such as polychaetes are also ecologically important, but there is no expertise in the State to identify the material. Fishes are included to provide comparability of the results with previous Museum surveys using the same techniques. They will be surveyed visually and by using limited rotenone sampling. Other investigators will be using visual censuses (but aimed at establishing community structure, sizes of fish, etc), beach seines, etc. The presence of a Museum expert will assist these groups in identifying uncommon species. The two components will thus be complementary. Ascidians are also ecologically important, but will not be surveyed by the Museum. Dr Geordie Clapin of CSIRO and Justin McDonald of UWA have expressed interest in examining the ascidians. Dr Jane Fromont of WAM will make the Museum reference collections and literature resources available for their use. Output and extension Studies carried out by the museum will be added to the existing knowledge of the flora and fauna of the Jurien Bay region currently held by CALM. The work will also feed directly into the other studies of the project through published outputs as well as through direct interactions of Museum staff and members of other collaborative studies. Planned outcomes A published report providing quantitative information on the proportion of tropical, temperate, and WA endemic species of molluscs, corals, echinoderms, fishes, sponges, and decapod crustaceans at four localities in the west coast overlap zone: Cervantes, Jurien Bay, Green Head and Dongara. Sponges will be sorted into species units but species identifications will only be provided where histological processing to confirm identifications is not required. Methods Surveys will be taken at two localities in 2005 and two additional localities in 2006. Each locality will be broken into a variety of habitats such as exposed and protected rocky shores, seagrass, sand, and other habitats. The survey areas will encompass a range of such habitats across the coastal shelf, as well as the various zones within the Jurien Bay Marine Park. As far as possible these will match the habitats used by other groups for quantitative study. The plan is to conduct the fieldwork in April 2005, in conjunction with other groups working in the area at the same time (SRFME). The quantitative sampling will be conducted by taking advantage of the existing SRFME sampling program, which uses a quadrat-based sampling protocol. At each site 5 haphazard 0.25 m2 quadrats will be destructively sampled to obtain quantitative samples of algae, sponges, ascidians, crustaceans, molluscs and echinoderms Data describing the physical habitat characteristics will also be collected from each site, including rugosity measures and water quality measures. Surveys for coral cover will be conducted by line-intercept as part of the rugosity measurements which utilise a chain-based distance measure. At each site extensive surveys designed to encounter as many species as possible will be undertaken using scuba by an experienced specialist in a taxonomic group. Dives will be standardized to one hour to make data comparable. The biodiversity of each taxonomic group recorded in each habitat will then be compared with the quantitative results obtained by other

80

groups using quadrats. Working together, WAM experts will be able to assist the other groups in identifying their material, and help ensure quality control of their identifications. Risk analysis Threat

The major risks are poor weather and boat failure. Contingency The field program will be conducted in late summer/early autumn when weather conditions are best, and an appropriate boat will be used. Performance indicators Completion of the field surveys and reports on time and on budget. Milestones Autumn 2005: Completion of first field survey in April 2005, of two areas (probably

Jurien Bay and Cervantes). Field identifications will be made where possible. Material brought to the Museum will be identified, voucher material databased and entered into the permanent collections

September 2005: Report on results of first survey will be completed, including

biodiversity information on molluscs, corals, echinoderms, fishes, sponges, and decapod crustaceans.

Autumn 2006: Completion of second survey in April 2005, of two areas (probably

Green Head and Dongara). Field identifications will be made where possible. Material brought to the Museum will be identified, voucher material databased and entered into the permanent collections.

September 2005: Report on results of second survey will be completed, including

biodiversity information on molluscs, corals, echinoderms, fishes, sponges, and decapod crustaceans. Individual papers will be written by the participants, or there may be a supplement of the Records of the Western Australian Museum describing the results.

Other related projects This project is a core component of the SRFME project and complements biodiversity studies already undertaken by the Museum on a broader scale. These surveys include many areas to the north such as the Abrolhos, Shark Bay, and offshore reefs, which will allow the inshore west coast to be placed into a broader context.

81

Staff Field: Dr Fred Wells Dr Jane Fromont Melissa Hewitt Glen Moore (part time technical officer for the project) Laboratory: Dr Fred Wells Dr Jane Fromont Melissa Hewitt Glen Moore (part time technical officer for the project) Corey Whisson Dr Barry Hutchins Diana Jones Loisette Marsh

PART C. BUDGET Project budget The table below provides costs per year for fieldwork, processing and databasing of the material and the write-up of the project report. The budget will be duplicated in the 2004/05 and 2005/06 financial years. It is divided into two components. The biodiversity component is for a study by Museum staff of biodiversity in four areas along the coastline between Cervantes and Dongara. The second component is for Museum analyses of material collected by other aspects of the SRFME study being undertaken by other groups. Costs are exclusive of GST.

N.B. Figures below are per year for two years.

Item Number Unit cost

Total Multiplier Total

BIODIVERSITY STUDY Field costs G Moore 120 50 6000 1.27 7620Vehicle (km) 3000 0.5 1500 1.27 1905Boat hire (per day) 14 400 5600 1.27 6112Dive fills 140 10 1400 1.27 1778Provisions 14 180 2520 1.27 2520Accommodation 14 150 2100 1.27 2100Fixatives 1 1100 1100 1.27 1397 Laboratory costs Sample curation and databasing 730 30 21900 1.27 27813Identifications by L. Marsh 1 5000 5000 1.27 6350Reporting 1 400 400 1.27 508Containers 1200 1 1200 1.27 1524Total 59627

82

Project staff justification Aside from G. Moore, who is on contract, Museum staff will undertake the fieldwork make the identifications and write the report. Glenn Moore, or an alternative person, will participate in the project to identify fishes. The group will collect echinoderms, sponges and corals, which will be identified on a consultancy basis by Loisette Marsh. A part time technical officer will be hired to sort and database material collected. Budget justification Most of the budget is for the direct expenses for the field component of the work, including vehicles, boats, field allowances, etc. Laboratory expenses include the costs of sorting and databasing the specimens collected and identifications by Loisette Marsh. Capital items No capital items are requested. Contribution by applicant The Museum will contribute the time of all participants in the field and laboratory component except as described above. The contribution includes both the field component, identification of specimens and write up of the report and subsequent scientific papers. In addition, the Museum will provide access to existing field collecting equipment such as scuba gear, and laboratory equipment and computers at no charge.

N.B. Figures below are per year for two years. Item Quantity Cost

Rate Cost Estimate

Price Rate

Price estimate

BIODIVERSITY Personnel (hours) Field F Wells 140 50 7000 1.27 8890J Fromont 140 50 7000 1.27 8890M Hewitt 140 40 5600 1.27 7112 Lab F Wells, J Fromont, M Hewitt 420 50 21000 1.27 24892D Jones, B Hutchins at Museum 40 50 2000 1.27 2540Total Museum contribution per year

52324

Contribution by other sources None anticipated at present.

83

PART D. LITERATURE CITED

Hutchins, J.B. 1994. A survey of the nearshore reef fish fauna of Western Australia’s west and south coasts – The Leeuwin Province. Records of the Western Australian Museum, Supplement 46: 1-66. Morgan, G.J. & Wells, F.E. 1991. Zoogeographic provinces of the Humboldt, Benguela and Leeuwin Current systems. Pp. 59-69. In Pearce, A.F. & Walker, D.I. (Eds.) The Leeuwin Current: An Influence on the Coastal Climate and Marine Life of Western Australia. Journal of the Royal Society of Western Australia 74. Wells, F.E. 1980. The distribution of shallow-water marine prosobranchs gastropods along the coastline of Western Australia. Veliger 22: 232-247. Wells, F.E. 1985. Zoogeographical importance of tropical marine mollusc species at Rottnest Island, Western Australia. Western Australian Naturalist 16: 40-45. Wilson, B.R. & Allen, G.R. 1987. Major components and distribution of marine fauna. Pp. 43-68. In: Dyne, G.R. & Walton, D.W. (eds.) Fauna of Australia. General articles. Australian Government Publishing Service, Canberra. Volume 1A.

84

ATTACHMENT SEVEN

Ecological interactions in coastal marine ecosystems (the fish communities and main fish populations of the Jurien Bay Marine Park

85

PROJECT TITLE

A

A

P

Ecological interactions in coastal marine ecosystems

The fish communities and main fish populations of the Jurien Bay Marine Park

PPLICANT

DMINISTRATIVE CONTACT

Organisation Murdoch University Centre for Fish and Fisheries Research

Postal Address School of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology Murdoch University South St., Murdoch, WA 6150. Phone 08 9360 2579 Fax 08 9360 6303 Legal status Company

Financial contact Name Kellie O’Toole Position Grants and Information Officer Organisation Murdoch University Grants Office Postal Address Chancellery Building Murdoch University South St., Murdoch, WA 6150. Phone 08 9360 6429 Fax 08 9360 6686 Email address k.o’toole@murdoch.edu.au

RINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Name Professor Ian Potter (for a post-doctoral position for Dr. Fairclough) Position Director of the Centre for Fish and Fisheries Research Organisation Murdoch University Centre for Fish and Fisheries Research Postal Address School of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology Murdoch University South St., Murdoch, WA 6150. Phone 08 9360 2524 Fax 08 9360 6303 Email address i.potter@murdoch.edu.au

86

POST-DOCTORAL FELLOW DETAILS

PLANNED START AND END DATE

Name David Fairclough Position Post-doctoral fellow Organisation Murdoch University

for Fish and Fisheries Research al Address ool of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology

Murdoch University South St., Murdoch, WA 6150. Phone 08 9360 2229 Fax 08 9360 6303 Email address d.fairclough@murdoch.edu.au

Centre Post Sch

Start date October 2004

End date September 2007

87

PROJECT BACKGROUND

The Jurien Bay Marine Park, which encompasses the coastal waters between Green

Head and Wedge Island and is managed by the Department of Conservation and Land

Management (CALM), was gazetted in August 2003. The marine park includes areas

that are (1) open to all types of fishing, (2) open to rock-lobster fishing only and (3)

closed to all types of fishing. Although this marine park has already been established,

there will be an interim period before the protected zones are enforced by CALM.

During this study, sites will be sampled in the above three zones in the marine park to

obtain baseline data on the community structures of the fish faunas and the relative

abundances, size and age compositions, reproductive biology and diets of the main

fish species.

The proposed study represents part of the first stage of a longer-term program that is

aimed at understanding ecological interactions in coastal waters in the Jurien Bay

Marine Park and at providing data that can be used to reveal any direct or indirect

effects of fishing in the short and long term. The data collected on the above

community and population parameters during our part of the study will be dovetailed

with data obtained from studies of benthic macroinvertebrates, macroalgae, seagrass,

algal drift and isotope analyses that are also being conducted at Jurien.

For further details, the reader is referred to the main proposal prepared by the program

leader Dr. Russ Babcock.

OBJECTIVES

The fish faunas and selected fish species will be sampled at sites in zones in the Jurien

Bay Marine Park that are (1) open to all types of fishing, (2) open to rock-lobster

fishing only and (3) closed to all types of fishing in order to determine the impact of

fishing on fish communities and selected fish species. The sampling of different

habitats in each zone, e.g. reefs, seagrass and unvegetated sand, and in different

depths will facilitate an understanding of the ways in which ichthyofaunal

composition is influenced by habitat type and/or water depth. The biological data that

will be collected for key species, i.e. those that are important either ecologically (e.g.

labrids, sparids, pomacentrids) and/or for the recreational and commercial fisheries of

the region (e.g. dhufish, pink snapper, breaksea cod), will include size and age

88

compositions, reproductive biology and diets. Data on the reproductive biology of

important species will be used to determine their spawning periods and the types of

habitat where spawning occurs. The dietary data will be used to elucidate the ways in

which the prey of key species changes with increasing body size and the extent to

which the dietary composition is influenced by habitat type and time of year. These

data will be collated with those obtained from other studies (see earlier) to elucidate

the interactions that occur within and between fish communities, trophic interactions

within communities and the influence of fishing on the fish community and selected

fish populations. Individuals of selected species will be tracked for several months

and over several kilometres by using acoustic and different tagging techniques to

assess the extent to which the species move between habitats and areas and how

different levels of protection can benefit such species.

Sampling will also focus on obtaining sound data on the fish faunas of nearshore

waters to establish which of those species, that are found in offshore areas and

particularly around reefs, use nearshore shallows as a nursery area. These data are

crucial for understanding the ways in which the movements of key species within the

broad area of the Jurien Bay Marine Park are related to size and/or reproductive

status.

COMMUNICATION AND DISSEMINATION OF THE RESULTS

The results of this study will be written up as part of a final report for the overall

study and as papers for international journals to facilitate peer group reviews of the

science. Popular articles will be produced for local magazines such as ProWest and

Landscope. The target audiences will be as follows.

1. Environmental and fisheries managers, e.g. Department of Conservation and

Land Management and Department of Fisheries Western Australia.

2. Scientists

3. Recreational and commercial fishers

4. Western Australian community

89

METHODS

The study will focus on sampling (1) sanctuary zones, (2) scientific reference zones

and (3) unprotected zones at three main locations, i.e. Fisherman Islands, Jurien

Bay/Hill River and Cervantes/Grey. Within each zone, sampling will be conducted in

nearshore shallow, lagoonal/mid-depth and offshore deeper waters using techniques

that are appropriate for sampling the different habitat types, i.e. reefs, seagrass and

sand. A preliminary sampling trip in spring 2004 will be conducted to establish

representative sampling sites. This will take into account advice from staff at the

CSIRO who have been working in the area. Sampling trips will subsequently be

conducted seasonally for two years using the following regime.

Reef habitats

Reef habitats at each site will be surveyed using underwater visual census (UVC).

Nine 25 x 10 m strip-transect surveys will be conducted at each site on each sampling

occasion and the number of individuals of each species and the sizes of selected

commercial, recreational and abundant species will be estimated. The dominant algal

species in 5 m blocks in each transect will be recorded. In addition, the sex of

ecologically important species, e.g. baldchin groper, western king wrasse and dhufish,

will be recorded whenever possible. Baited underwater video (BUV; Willis and

Babcock, 2000) will be used, in conjunction with visual census, to provide data on the

relative abundance of predatory species that, due to their high mobility, are usually

underestimated in visual census. At each sampling site, at least three 30 min BUV

deployments will be made at a time that will not impact on the UVC.

Nearshore sand and seagrass habitats

Nearshore bare sand and seagrass habitats will be sampled to determine which species

use these habitats as nursery areas prior to migrating to reef areas. Nearshore

unvegetated sites will be sampled using a 60.5 m long seine net. Four replicate

samples will be obtained using each net in each of the three zones of the three main

locations. Four replicate trawls will be conducted during the day in each season using

a small tri-net in unvegetated and seagrass habitats in lagoonal habitats in the three

zones at each location. The trawl net will be towed at a speed of ca 3 - 4 km h-1 and

for a distance of ca 150 m. The distance trawled during each replicate will be

measured using a Garmin GPS Map 185 global positioning system, which, together

90

with the width of the mouth of the net, will enable the area of substrate trawled to be

determined. This, in turn, will enable the density of fish species to be estimated

A range of methods, e.g. gill nets, traps and rod and line fishing, will be trialled and

the most appropriate of these will be used to determine which predatory species are

found in the lagoonal reef, seagrass and sand habitats at night. These habitats will be

sampled in each season.

The numbers of all species and of the main species will be converted to either a

density or a catch rate depending on the sampling method used. Analysis of these data

and of the number of species in the various habitat types in the three zones in the three

locations in each season will be analysed using ANOVA (Underwood, 1999) and non-

metric multidimensional scaling ordination as described in PRIMER v6 (Clarke,

1993; Clarke and Gorley, 2001; 2004). In the case of the multivariate analyses,

ANOSIM will be used to determine whether the compositions of a priori groups are

significantly different and, where significant differences exist, SIMPER will be used

to determine which species characterize each of those groups.

Fish movement

Tagging, using acoustic tags and receivers and colour-coded tags, will be used to trace

the movements of individual fish of selected species, as described in the original

project outline. Up to 20 fish of different species, particularly species which are likely

to demonstrate territoriality and or home range behaviour, will be tagged using

acoustic tags (VEMCO VR2) that are surgically inserted into the fish. This will allow

larger scale movements of animals to be tracked with an accuracy of approximately

±100 m using an array of at least 24 receivers that will cover an area of approximately

19 km2 (see Ecological interactions proposal). Tagging and tracking of fish will be

conducted in one of the main sanctuary zones.

Biological studies

(1) Size and age compositions and reproductive biology. Samples of

representatives of the main recreational, commercial species and other more abundant

species will be collected from sites representing the three zones to determine whether

91

there is evidence that the size and age compositions of those species are influenced by

the extent of fishing. Fish will be aged using the number of annuli in otoliths, a

technique that has been successfully used for many species in our laboratory, e.g.

Australian herring and dhufish, see Fairclough et al. (2000a), Hesp et al. (2002). The

von Bertalanffy growth curve will be fitted to the lengths at age of the individuals of

each species.

The pattern of gonadal development and determination of the spawning period of

these species and, where applicable the type of hermaphroditism, will be ascertained

using traditional methods, e.g. trends exhibited by gonadal and oocyte stages and

gonadosomatic indices, an approach that we have also employed successfully on

many previous occasions, see e.g. Fairclough et al. (2000b, 2004); Hesp and Potter

(2003); Hesp et al. (2004).

(2) Dietary composition. Samples covering the full size range of selected species will

be collected seasonally from different habitats in the three main zones of the marine

park. Fish will be caught using line fishing, spearing, fish trapping and netting. Each

of these species will be collected from the different habitat types that they occupy to

elucidate any ontogenetic or habitat-related variations in diet. Stomachs will be

removed and stored in 70% ethanol. The diets will be analysed using traditional

methodology that will enable the size-related changes in the diet of those species to be

elucidated, e.g. Platell and Potter (2001). Comparisons between the dietary

composition of the fish faunas in different habitats will be made using non-metric

multi-dimensional scaling ordination and associated tests, e.g. Clarke and Gorley

(2004), Platell and Potter (2001).

References

Clarke, K. R. (1993). Non parametric multivariate analyses of changes in community

structure. Australian Journal of Ecology 18: 117-143.

Clarke, K. R. and Gorley, R. N. (2004). PRIMER v6: User Manual/Tutorial.

Plymouth Marine Laboratory, PRIMER E Ltd, U. K.

Fairclough, D. V., Dimmlich, W. F. and Potter, I. C. (2000a). Reproductive biology of

the Australian herring Arripis georgiana. Marine and Freshwater Research

51: 619-630.

92

Fairclough, D. V., Dimmlich, W. F. and Potter, I. C. (2000b). Length and age

compositions and growth rates of the Australian herring Arripis georgiana in

different regions. Marine and Freshwater Research 51: 631-640.

Fairclough, D. V., Hesp, S. A., Potter, I. C. and Hall, N. G. (2004). Determination of

the biological parameters required for managing the fisheries of four tuskfish

species and western yellowfin bream. Project 2000/137 Final report. Fisheries

Research and Development Corporation, Canberra.

Hesp, S. A., Potter, I. C. & Hall, N. G. (2002). Age and size compositions, growth

rate, reproductive biology and habitats of the West Australian Dhufish,

Glaucosoma hebraicum, and their relevance to the management of this

species. Fish. Bull. 100: 214-227.

Platell, M. E. and Potter, I. C. (2001). Partitioning of food resources amongst 18

abundant benthic carnivorous fish species in marine waters on the lower west

coast of Australia. Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology 261:

31-54.

Underwood, A. J. (1997). Experiments in ecology: their logical design and

interpretation using Analysis of Variance. Cambridge University Press,

Cambridge.

Willis, T.J. and Babcock (2000). A baited underwater video system for the

determination of relative density of carnivorouos reef fish. Marine an

Freshwater Research 51: 755-763.

Egli, D. and Babcock, R. C. (2004) Ultrasonic tracking reveals multiple behavioural

modes of snapper (P. auratus) in a temperate no take marine reserve. ICES

Journal of Marine Science. in press.

RISK ANALYSIS

There is no obvious risk to obtaining solid baseline data for the various studies

outlined in this proposal.

93

OUTCOMES

The study will yield data that will help elucidate the interdependencies of fish and

benthic habitats, and the extent to which closure to fishing influences the

ichthyofaunal composition and biology of key species in the Jurien Bay Marine Park.

Those data will be of the type and quality that can be used by fisheries and

environmental managers to develop more sophisticated plans for managing fish stocks

in the Jurien Bay Marine Park.

PROJECT MILESTONES

Milestone date 30/9/2005 Milestone description Sampling sites will have been identified during an initial

exploratory trip. The first three seasonal sampling trips will have been conducted. Data on species composition, abundance and size structure in different zones will have been collected and subjected to preliminary analyses. The otolith, reproductive and dietary material collected during the first two trips will have been processed in the laboratory and preliminary studies will have been conducted on ageing, reproductive and dietary aspects. Acoustic tagging and tracking will have commenced and the data from the first two trips will have been stored on computer and subjected to preliminary analysis.

Milestone budget for year ending 30/9/2005 Operating and travel expenses $

Vehicle costs 4800 Boat costs 11520 Accommodation 7040 Field provisions 4576 Dive gear hire 1920 Dive tank refills 3120 Lab and field consumables and equipment 3320 Histological processing 1800

Salary Post-doctoral fellow 51367 Oncosts 11392 Total $100855

94

Milestone date 30/9/2006 Milestone description Sampling will have been conducted seasonally between spring 2005

and winter 2006 and the data on species composition and the abundance, age and size structure, reproductive biology and diets of sefirst year

lected species in the first of those seasons and all of those in the will have been analysed. Acoustic tagging and tracking

will have been completed and analysis of the data collected will be derway.

get f nding 30/9/2

nd trav expenses $ o 4944

osts 1866 modation 7251

Field prov 2785 Dive gear 978

ank 214 d field consumables

ent 3420 Histological processing 1854

Salary Post-doctoral fellow 54730 Oncosts 12137 Total $104178

un

Milestone bud Operating a

or year e 006

elVehicle cBoat cAccom

sts

1

isions hire refills

1 3Dive t

Lab anand equipm

95

Milestone date 30/9/2007 Milestone description The eighth and final of the main sampling trips will have been

completed. All of the d ta on the fish communities and the abundance, age and size structures, reproductive biology and diets of the main species will have been completed and analysed. A final report will have been written in which conclusions will be drawn as to the extent of any influences of closure to fishing on the fish community and main f populations in the Jurien Bay Marine Park.

Milestone budget for year ending 30/9/2007 Operating and travel expenses $

Vehicle costs 70 Boat costs 2843 Accommodation 1 13 Field provisions 95 Dive gear hire 09 Dive tank refills 28 Lab and field consumables and equipment 2060

Salary Post-doctoral fellow 59 64 Oncosts 13 43 Total

a

ish

6

8 2 5 8

21

$81423

BUDGET SUMMARY

Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 Total Total in-kind Murdoch

70,581 72,744 70,624 213,949

Murdoch contribution to SRFME

30,000 30,000 30,000 90,000

SRFME contribution to Murdoch

100,855 104,178 81,423 286,456

96

97

ATTACHMENT EIGH

ies Research and Development Corporation (FRDC) funding application – eff ster fishing on the deepwater ecosystems off the

west coast of Western Australia

T

FisherThe ects of western rock lob

98

FRDC-PP-010113. EDITION: Printed - 5:33:34PM

Page 1 of 27 22-Jun-04

FRDC R&D FUNDING APPLICATION

ApplicationID: FWA2003018

PART A ADMINISTRATIVE SUMMARY

A1 PROJECT TITLE The contact information provid

A3 ADMINISTRATIVE CONTACT The contact information provided at A2 to A5 will be made public through the FRDC contacts

Organisation

Unit

Postal Address

Phone

Email Address

Fax

Delivery Address

elle Ward MichName

Position Administrative Officer Research

Department of Fisheries Western Australia

earch Division

Fisheries Res

PO Box 20 NORTWA

H BEACH 6020

08 9246 8444 08 9447 3062

mward@fish.wa.gov.au

Financial Contact

WATERMAN WA 6020

West Coast Drive

West Coast Drive WATERMAN WA 6020

PO Box 20 NORTH BEACH WA 6020

Department of Fisheries ern Australi

ion Research Divis

a West

Delivery Address

Legal Status

Fax08 9246 84 08 9447 3062

Government Agency - State

44

dress Email Ad

Phone

Postal Address

Unit

Organisation

ed at A2 to A5 will be made public through the FRDC contacts

The effects of western rock lobster fishing on the deepwater ecosystems off the west coast of Western Australia.

AThe contact information provided at A2 to A5 will be made public through the FRDC contacts

2 APPLICANT

ApplicationID: FWA2003018

Name Lindsay Joll

Organisation

Unit

Postal Address Delivery Address

Position Senior Manager

Department of Fisheries Western Australia

Department of Fisheries Western Australia

Organisation

Unit

Postal Address

ne

ss

Fax

Deliver

Pho

Email Addre

y Address

Name

tion

a Bellcham

arch Scienti

rtment of Fi estern Au

Research Division

ox 20 PO B NORTH BEACH

6020

West Coast D WATERM WA 602

08 92 447 3062

lbell ish.wa.gov.au chambe@f

08 946 8444

rive AN 0 WA

Fisheries

stralia sheries WDepa

st Rese

bers Lynd

Posi

Organisation

Unit

Postal Address Del

Phone

Email Address

Fax

ivery Address

Name

Position

Chris Chubb

tist

Department of Fisheries Western Australia

0 PO Box 2 NORTH BEWA 6020

ACH

West Coast Drive WATERMAN WA 6020

08 9447 3062

cchubb@fish.wa.gov.au

Antact information

5 CO-INVESTIGATOR rovided at A2 to A5 will be made public through the FRDC contacts pThe co

08 9246 8444

Research Division

Fisheries Research Scien

A TOR Th

4 PRINCIPAL INVESTIGAe contact information provided at A2 to A5 will be made public through the FRDC contacts

EDITION: 13. FRDC-PP-0101 5:33:34PM Page 2 of 27

Printed - 22-Jun-04

99

FRDC-PP-010113. EDITION: Printed - 5:33:34PM

Page 3 of 27 22-Jun-04

FWA2003018ApplicationID:

y the FRDC (B12) Contribution b

Year TotalCapital OperatingTravelSalaries

Phone

Locked Bag 39 Cloisters Square PO PERTH WA 6850

Level 3 SGIO Atrium 168 St Georges Tce PERTH WA

08 9482 7333

Email Address Lindsay.Joll@fisheries.wa.gov

Fax6000

08 9482 7389

.au

A6 PLANNED START AND END DATE

Date

A7 PROJECT BUDGET SUMMARY

30-Jun-07

01-Jul-04

EndDate

Start

04/05

05/06

6,826 299,140 0 495,678 189,712

10,028 417,817 0 62 197,665 5,510

06/07 10,328 0 662,524 218,329

605,707 27,182 1,150,824 0 1,783,713

tion b

Total

Contribu y the Applicant (B13)

0 220,723 0 269,843

755,702 Budget Total 27,182 1,758,516 0 2,541,400

A8 SPECIAL PROJECT BUDGET CONSIDERATIONS Include information that may impact on the project budget. This could include cash contributions paid to the project, and revenue from the sale of publications or other items (eg fish sales or capital items). Provide detail in the text box and list cash contributions and revenue in the separate table below. Do not include

source and contact name for each contribution. industry R&D contributions (including levies) paid to the FRDC under legislation. Clearly identify the

06/07 0 230,175 0 280,768 50,593

149,995 0 607,692 0 757,687Total

05/06 49,120

04/05 0 156,794 0 207,076 50,282

433,867

100

101

FRDC-PP-010113. EDITION:

No

reviewer, and any potential reviewers they do not wish to be engaged. FRDC seperately 'in-confidence' of any information in the application that they do not wish to be sent to a

Explanation

30/06/2007 De 280,768partment of Fisheries WA

ght 15%, Melville-Smith rating costs.

Inkind contribution by applicant. (Chubb 10%, Rossbach 25%, Caputi 5%, Wri5%) and Agency Support Overhead operating costs including Research Vessel ope

Nick Caputi

Total 757,686

A9 EXTERNAL REVIEW The FRDC reserves the right to engage external consultants to review applications. Applicants should advise the

757,686Total for: Other

Explanation

30/06/2006 269,842Department of Fisheries WA

tion by applicant. (Chubb 10%, Rossbac ight 15%, Melville-Smith 5%) and Agency Support Overhead operating costs including Research Vessel operating costs.

Nick Caputi

h 25%, Caputi 5%, WrInkind contribu

It should be noted that this project ithe Department of Fisheries WA. A

s associated with a commercial fishery that is subject to cost recovery arrangements by s such, the "Contribution by Applicant" amounts listed in B13 and also in milestone

budgets at B12 at the request of the Secretariat, can be made available to the FRDC as an industry cash contribution if

Year AmountName of Contributor Contact Name

Explanation Inkind contribution by app5%) and Agency Suppo

30 207,076of Fisheries WA

licant. (Chubb 15%, Rossbach 25%, Caputi 5%, Wright 15%, Melville-Smith rt Overhead operating costs including Research Vessel operating costs.

ick CaputiN/06/2005 Department

A8 CASH CONTRIBUTION

Other Cash Contributions by :

required.The Board should note however, that this project can be undertaken without the incorporation of these "contribution of applicant" funds in the budget.

ApplicationID: FWA2003018

5:33:34PM Page 4 of 27

Printed - 22-Jun-04

102

FRDC-PP-010113. EDITION: Printed - 5:33:34PM

Page 5 of 27 22-Jun-04

A10 CERTIFICATION

FWA2003018ApplicationID:

The Applicant and the Principal Investigator warrant that all information contained in and forming part of this R&D Application to the FRDC is complete, accurate and provided in good faith at the date submitted to the FRDC and that any changes to circumstances wwarrant that the Principal Investigator, key res

ill be notified to the FRDC as soon as possible. They also earch staff and research agency funding inputs will be avaliable

for the duration of the project.

Signed for and on behalf of the Applicant

Signed by the Principal Investigator

(Print Name and Position) (Signature and Date)

(Signature and Date)

A(

11 TIME BOX Applicable to applicant organisations with less than 20 employees)

hour (s) 0

(Print Name and Position)

103

FRDC-PP-010113. EDITION:

PART B PROJECT DESCRIPTION The n to b

Project Description should provide all the information necessary to enable the R&D Applicatioe fully evaluated.

B1 PROJECT IDENTIFICATION

FRDC Programs

Natural Resources Sustainability

Strategies

Interactions between fish and their ecosystems

Species

ROCKLOBSTER — Western

2 BACKGROUND

In 1999/2000 the Western Rock Lobster Managed Fishery became the world’s first fishery to receive Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) certification, and since then the management process has moved on to address the MSC’s annual audit requirements. As part of this process an ecological risk assessment (ERA) and more recently an environmental management strategy (EMS) have been completed. The ERA rated the effects of lobster fishing on the ecosystem as a low risk. However, the lack of research data about the ecological impacof removing rock lobster biomass from the environment, particularly from deep water was noted. The Department of Environment and Heritage (DEH) will require similar information in the next assessment of the Western Rock Lobster Managed Fishery. A scientific reference group (SRG) was convened to provide advice on a research program that would address the ecosystem effects of fishing. This gap in the knowledge of deep-water rock lobster ecology was identified as a

ts

priority area of research. It was recognized that shallow water projects being planned by both the Department of Conservation and Land Management (CALM) and CSIRO’s Strategic Research Fund for the Marine Environment (SRFME) in the Jurien Marine Park would be

eepwater rock lobster research. There are significant opportunities for increased ration across the respective agencies and institutions to ensure results will lead to a

co prehensithe May e framework is to ensure that future research is focused primary on the question “ what is the effect of lobster biomass removal on the ecosystem?”

complementary to any dcollaboration and co-ope

ve regional understanding of ecological processes that relate to the western rock lobster fishery.At meeting of the SRG a strategic framework was devised to evaluate future research. The aim of th

m

B

ApplicationID: FWA2003018

5:33:34PM Page 6 of 27

Printed - 22-Jun-04

104

FRDC-PP-010113. EDITION: Printed - 5:33:34PM

Page 7 of 27 22-Jun-04

FWA2003018ApplicationID:

Bncertainty in the western ) recommendations to the

ould examine mechanisms for monitoring

3 NEED

As a result of the EPBC and MSC strategic assessment process a number of areas of uf Environment and Heritagerock lobster fishery have arisen. The DEH (Department o

Department of Fisheries explicitly state that the Department shpotential ecosystem impacts of the fishery, including the appropriateneomparison of fished and unfished areas. These recommendations also

ss of reference areas that would allow

nagement including an assessment of the role and catchability of large western rock

0

r change in abundance and size structure of the western rock lobster

cecosystem based fishery malobsters. In response to the recommendations of the DEH and MSC (Marine Stewardship Council), the Scientific Reference Group (SRG) was formed. The SRG, including Drs Alistar Robertson, Simon Thrush, Andrew Heyward, John Keesing, Colin Buxton, Chris Simpson and Jim Penn, was formed as an independent body to provide advice on research directions, to examine the effects of western rock lobster fishing on the ecosystem. The SRG identified that there is a major gap in the understanding of the interactions between the rock lobster fishery and the ecosystem in deep water. Although significant data is available on the shallow (<4m) water ecology of lobsters and the fishing impact, there is gap in the knowledge of the deep-water ecology ofobster. They recognised that the majol

population would have occurred in deep water (40-100 m), and concluded this was a priority area of research. rmine if changes in lobster density and size

enthic community composition osystem impact of removing lobsters from deep-m to ensure that the western rock lobster fishery

There is a need to collect basic ecological information to deteused significant changes in habitat structure and bstructure, due to fishing has ca

in deep water. This will provide information on the level of ec improve the assessment of risk to the ecosystewater habitats to

maintains MSC certification and complies with DEH requirements for export permits. However, the SRG recognised that research needs to occur in a structured manner and have highlighted the need for research proposals which sit within the strategic framework which they have devised. The SRG recognises that the provision of a strategic framework and related scientific research will ultimately allow management of deep-

e the removal of

B

lobster and its relationship with population abundance and

tribution of western inary evaluation of the impact of lobster biomass removal in the deep-

B5 OUTPUTS & EXTENSI N

water stocks in a more sophisticated ecosystem-based manner. If removal of lobster biomass, by the deepwater fishery, has resulted in detectable changes in the ecosystem, management options such as reducation in the fishing effort, minimum size changes and area closures, will be considered by RLIAC to reducbiomass from areas of the deepwater fishery.

4 OBJECTIVES

1 To identify gradients in the density/size distribution of western rock lobster to enable selection of representative areas.

tchability of western rock 2 To assess the casize structure

3 To identify the relationship between the deep-water habitat and the density/size disrock lobster to enable a prelimwater

O

outline the need to assess options for

ApplicationID: FWA2003018 Published, widely disseminated and promoted, and maybe, training and/or extension provided. Relates mainly

ilable in the public domain. utputs

ject and its results

ion to industry and advisory groups . A report for fisheries managers detailing the findings of the study

mC), and conservation groups an

rock lobster and the

er density and size structure that have resulted from fishing pressure. 3. Obtain peer group review by submission to international journals of papers which detail the methodology,

Target Audience

bsters from deep water habitats 2. An evaluation of the changes in lobster density and size structure that have resulted from fishing pressure.

the ecosystem of removing lobsters from deep water habitats, in a form ry com menta repareesented at an r fishe

3. An account of the outputs of the study will be published in appropriate local magazines4. The main scientific implications of the study will be published in international journals

ver three years

g project Method: Research results from the project will be reported as they become available to industry advisory

ental managers, SRG, RLIAC, Western Rock Lobster Council, and other interested

to outputs that will be avaO1. A non technical description of the project and its results for public dissemination2. Scientific papers describing the pro3. Reports and presentat4 Co munication objectives 1. Provide to industry, Rock Lobster Industry Advisory Committee (RLIAevaluation of the relationship between the deep-water habitat and the density/size of western implications of lobster biomass removal from the ecosystem. 2. Communicate to industry and RLIAC, the main findings regarding the changes in lobst

committees and environmparties i.e.Responsibility: PriCompletion 30/6/2007

ncipal Investigator

d in local magazines i.e. Western Fisheries and ProWest

AfterProjectMethod: Papers will be published in international scientific journals Responsibility: Principal Investigator

07

Method: Articles will be published in local magazines i.e. Western Fisheries and ProWest

Completion: 1/12/20

Method: Articles will be publisheResponsibility: Principal InvestigatorCompletion: 30/6/07

Action planProject is the undertaken oDurin

d and presented. rs.

mittees and environnual Coastal tours to

l managers, will be p inform rock lobste

Communication Methods 1. A report detailing the impact onappropriate for industry adviso

d posters will be pr2. Talks an

1. Commercial fisheries advisory committees and industry 2. Environmental managers 3. Scientists4. General community and conservation groups Key Messages 1. The main findings regarding the impact on the ecosystem of removing lo

results and implications of the study.

EDITION: 13. FRDC-PP-0101 5:33:34PM Page 8 of 27

Printed - 22-Jun-04

105

FWA2003018ApplicationID: Responsibility: Principal Investigator Completion: 31/12/2007

back from the audience following presentations

B provision of ecological information on rock lobster that will allow management of deep-water breeding

ocks in a more sophisticated ecosystem-based manner. hat

By F

M

W

T

S

Sub Total Recreational Sector

S

S

5.00

B

Method: A non-technical report will be published and provided to interested parties Responsibility: Principal Investigator Completion: 31/12/2007 E

ub Total Tradition Fishing Sector

ummary Flow of Benefits

0.00

100.00

8 METHODS

1. Feed2. The number of articles and scientific papers produced from the project 3. The extent to which deep-water stocks are managed in a more ecosystem based manner. 4. Continued exemption from DEH for export of lobster product 5. Maintenance of MSC certification as the world’s first ecologically sustainable fishery

6 PLANNED OUTCOMES

· Thest· The provision of information on the ecosystem impact of removing lobsters from deep water habitats tcan be readily used by managers to meet the requirements of DEH to ensure the export lobster product· The provision of information will aid maintenance of DEH certification

7 FLOW OF BENEFITS

Traditional Fishing (bAboriginal & Torres

Strait Islander people) Sector

Recreational Sector Commercial Sectorishery (including aquaculture) anaged by:

A – Other 95.00 5.00 0.00

otal 95.00 5.00 0.00

ub Total Commerical Sector

ummary Flow of Benefits

95.00 S

valuation

EDITION: 13. FRDC-PP-0101 5:33:34PM Page 9 of 27

Printed - 22-Jun-04

106

107

FRDC-PP-010113. EDITION:

Objective 1: To identify gradients in the density/size distribution of the western rock lobster to enable selection

t of Fisheries and other sources, to ompile a comprehensive database on the abundance and distribution of rock lobsters and the associated habitat

, where gradients in lobster density and/or size structure can be investigated.

duce a broad scale habitat map based on available data. Preliminary tion and GIS mapping of the deepwater rock lobster habitat will be conducted using a number of

hed for anecdotal information and GPS data on bottom

onsultancies and

mercially sensitive. These data will provide a

.2 Three transects will be surveyed towing an underwater video to calibrate the echo sounder on the RV

of representative areas. The focus of this objective is to use existing data, from both the Departmenctypes. This objective is primarily a desktop study to use existing data to identify areas, within the scope of therock lobster fishery Phase 1 1.1 A review of the existing physical and biological information for the waters of the continental shelf of the west coast of WA will be conducted to proidentificaexisting data sources. Lobster fishers will be approactype and lobster density. While government institutions such as the Western Australian Museum will provide information on the spatial and temporal distributions of flora and fauna. Universities, private cthe Royal Australian Navy will provide hydrographic data while oil companies (i.e. Roc Oil) have been approached for the use of seismic and other data that are not comgeneral description of the seabed and allow the overlay of fishermen’s GPS positions on the resulting seabed maps. 1Naturaliste to provide basic information on habitat structure and to compare with where the fishery is concentrated within this zone. Information gathered from commercial fishers and the annual Independent Breeding stock Survey (IBSS) will be used to determine the primary fishing areas within the areas surveyed. Transects will be conducted at Jurien Bay from shallow to deep water (40-100m) and will provideSRFME project b

links with eing conducted in shallow water (<40m).

SS),

,

1.3 Information gathered from commercial fishers and the annual Independent Breeding Stock Survey (IBthat has been conducted since the early 1990’s at up to 6 locations, 3 of which are surveyed annually and 3 are surveyed every 5 years, will be used to determine the primary fishing areas within the surveyed areas. Howeverdue to the scope of the fishery in depth analysis will initially be focused on Jurien Bay, as this location will provide links with SRFME and CALM projects being conducted in the Jurien Bay Marine Park (<40m). The

SS only conducted in Jurien Bay every 5 years,next survey is due in 2007. Therefore in the first year of the IBproposed study (Oct 2004) the IBSS will also be conducted at Jurien Bay to confirm the abundances and size

dance and size istribution within similar habitat types. It is assumed that adjacent areas within a line or adjacent pots on a line

sters

.4 To ensure that the gradients in abundance and size frequency of lobsters identified (see Objective 1.3) are

eo

on habitat structure to ensure that the selected gradients are real and not an artefact of vast ces in habitat. These initial video transects will also allow preliminary identification of the important

distributions of collected on previous surveys. IBSS data from Jurien will be analysed using ANOVA by 6 sub-areas, by lines within a sub-area, or pot by pot if possible, to identify gradients in lobster abundshould be located in similar habitat types therefore any gradients in the abundance and size frequency of lobwill be highlighted for further investigation. 1not due to vastly different habitats, i.e. sand vs weed beds, the areas will be surveyed by the RV Naturaliste towing an underwater video at between 3-4 knots. The underwater video and software for analysis of the vidfootage are available from AIMS. Analysis of the video footage and echo soundings will provide basic information differenphysical and biological components in the surveyed habitats which will be used for later more detailed habitat identification by ROV.

ApplicationID: FWA2003018

5:33:34PM Page 10 of 27

Printed - 22-Jun-04

108

FRDC-PP-010113. EDITION: Printed - 5:33:34PM

Page 11 of 2722-Jun-04

FWA2003018ApplicationID: Phase 2 (subject to review) If the techniques outlined above are successful phase two of the project this will provide experimental replicatesto confirm the initial assessments of the impact or otherwise of lobster abundance and size composition chaThe same techniques to survey IBSS sites at both Dongara and Lancelin. Objective 2: To assess the catchability of western rock lobster and its relationship with population abundand size structure The focus of this objective is to be able to calibrate commercial and research catch rates and determine the acsize structure and density of lobsters in selected locations, exam

nges

ance

tual ine the influence of gear type on providing an

ccurate representation of the population.

ths of

ct

te the pattern in the relationship between gradients in the abundance eep-water habitat. The aim is to collect additional

aPhase 1 2.1 A desktop modelling study will be conducted to: i. Compare the catchability of rock lobsters in deep (40-100m) and shallow (<40m) waters based on depletion analysis of the rock lobster daily logbook data during the non-migratory phase ( March-June) ii. Estimate the possible size frequency distributions of rock lobsters in an equilibrium state with low or zero fishing mortality from existing length-based population models. iii. Existing monitoring, logbook and CAES data from the entire scope of the rock lobster fishery, from Kalbarrito the capes, will also be analysed to determine if there is a relationship between the abundance of large and small rock lobsters in the deep water 1.5 Diver surveys, to be conducted by Royal Australian Navy divers using specialised equipment, at dep40m, (Objective 3.2) in areas adjacent to sites identified by the IBSS will be used to assess gear selectivity. Divers will sample all lobsters within a selected area for comparison of sex ratios and size distribution with pot catches. All divers will be provided with training on the collection of biological samples prior to commencement. 1.6 A depletion experiment will be conducted off Dongara during a high catch period (Oct/Nov 2004) in conjunction with FRDC project 03/005. Four areas, exact location to be determined will be fished with 30 pots for two one week periods, one in October and one in November, over the new moon phase. All lobsters caught will be either moved out of the experimental area or marked with cable ties to denote a previous capture. This

ill enable a comparison of the catchability of large and small lobsters. w Phase 2 If the depletion experiment and diver survey techniques outlined above are successful phase two of the projewill use the same techniques to survey different times of the year for a seasonal comparison. Objective 3: To identify the relationship between the deep-water habitat and the density/size distribution of western rock lobster to enable a preliminary evaluation of the impact of lobster biomass removal in the deep-water.

he focus of this objective is to investigaTand size distribution of lobsters and their corresponding dbiological data to identify if habitat characteristics, physical or biological, are correlated with high or low lobster abundance. Phase 1 3.1 In the first year of the project the RV Naturaliste will conduct a pilot study for ten days at Jurien on sites identified as valid gradients of lobster size/density by the analysis of the IBSS data (see Objective 1.3) and

ApplicationID: FWA2003018 video validation (see Objective 1.4). The identified sites will be assessed with an ROV (Remotely Operated

ehicle) operated by a specialised technician from AIMS. At each of the sites the ROV will be used to obtain

inant species and percentage cover of key species which will ave been identified from earlier video work i.e. % cover of sponges, %cover of reef, % cover of different algal

a ROV, using an Eckman grab to aid with the classification of benthic habitat types. Sediment samples will be

Vvideo images of the benthic habitat that will be used to classify benthic habitat. The video images will be analysed to provide the percentage cover of the domhspecies (see Objective 1.4). Video images will also be used to identify key prey and predator species in conjunction with Objective 2.2 and 2.3. Sediment grabs will be collected, at each of the sites surveyed using

preserved intact for later analysis (i.e. phi size, organic content,) so that the relationship between habitat and er size/density can be examined.

unction with ROV identification of habitat types (see

ters are bsters are caught during the peak feeding period to prevent rapid foregut evacuation. Using

provides an opportunity to sample habitat types where a grab operated from a boat

, 200 m in length, set over night, to examine the sizes and relative dusk and pulled every 2-3 hours. Samples of lobster foreguts

be collected for gut analysis. Foreguts will st taxonomic group possible and expressed as

sediment type and rock lobst 3.2 Preliminary diet analysis will be conducted in conjabove). Presently there is limited knowledge on the deep-water diet of lobsters due to the high difficulty of this reseach. Preliminary identification of the important dietary items will allow a better understanding or what types of habitats are important in terms of providing a food source for deep-water lobsters. Due to the depth of diving(>40m) specialised divers from the Royal Australian Navy, diving with specialised equipment will be used to catch lobsters for dietary analysis. Using divers to collect lobsters will to ensure both a size range of lobsanalysed and that lodivers to sample lobster alsohas proved impractical due to unsuitable benthos. Similarly divers will also be able to take more detailed videofootage if particular features need to be examined in more detail. If diving becomes impractical, trials will also

e conducted using lobster tangle netsbabundance of lobsters. Gear will be set prior towill be dissected from the animals caught. Carapace length, sex, breeding state and moult stage will be recorded for all animals. Lobsters will be classified into three size categories (60-90 mm, 90-120 mm and 120+ mm).

wenty lobsters, from each of the size categories, at each sites will Tbe assessed for fullness and contents will be identified to the lowepercentage composition by volume and frequency. Several methods other mtheir suitability for providing additional information on diets and likely nutrient

ethods will be trialed to determine pathways. Two possibilities are;

stable isotopes, discussions have been held with Di Walker (UWA), and lipid analysis, discussions have been held with a potential PhD student supervised by Tony Koslow (CSIRO).

in conjunction with Objective 2.1. Sediment grabs will be

l factors al of

the same techniques to conduct a more detailed examination of food web relationships for deepwater rock lobsters at other locations (Dongara and Lancelin). Commercial vessels will be chartered and sampling will be undertaken to examine intra- and

. The relationship between lobster size and sex and gut be investigated on a seasonal basis and compared to the

inter-annual variability in diet and prey availabilitycontents and the availability/sizes of prey items will

3.3 Potential rock lobster prey will also be identifiedcollected using an ekman grab at each of the sites selected for seabed assessment using an ROV. Sediment samples will be preserved intact for later analysis of the species, size and abundance of both epifaunal and nfaunal organisms. i

3.4 Statistical analysis will conducted on the data collected, using ANOVA and ordination, comparing sites with different gradients in density and size structure of lobsters and relate them to habitat and environmentato provide a preliminary assessment of the impact of lobster abundance and size structure and the removbiomass on the ecosystem. Phase 2 (subject to review) If the techniques outlined above are successful phase two of the project will use

EDITION: 13. FRDC-PP-0101 5:33:34PM Page 12 of 27

Printed - 22-Jun-04

109

110

FRDC-PP-010113. EDITION: Printed - 5:33:34PM

Page 13 of 2722-Jun-04

FWA2003018ApplicationID: shallow water data available. In depth dietary analysis will be conducted using the most appropriate method identified in phase one, stable

lia.

B9 RISK ANALYSIS

tions. have the support of several fishermen at each location to provide a

reasonable picture. In in the a will be of rese ok dat bles total and fishing effort to be en down basis in 5 degree of longitude by 10 m es of latitude by

m; 10 fath ories). T ta will b be link tom featur hown in thess.

Threat: ROV malfunction. cy: ROV is being rented from AIMS and w perated b essional op tor who wi

sufficient equipment to troubleshoot.

cy: A pilo ent will be undertaken a tion to any prob s before experiments are undertaken at other locations and other times of year.

Threat: Divers are unable to work effectively at this depth (40m) : Lobsters for diet analys e collec tangl

ATORS

1. Identification of gradients in the spatial and temporal patterns of deep-water rock lobster abundance and size distribution will be determined. 2. Identification of the relationship between deep-water habitat and the abundance and size distribution of rock lobster and a preliminary assessment of the impact of removal of lobster biomass from the ecosystem 3. A comparison of all estimates of size-related catchability of deep-water rock lobster will have been

isotopes or lipid analysis. T

provided. 4. The potential for spatial and temporal information on deep-water rock lobster, their distribution, habitat use and the impact of fishing effort as a management tool will have been assessed.

B11 OTHER RELATED PROJECTS

B10 PERFORMANCE INDIC

e nets. ted usingis will bContingency

lemovercomet 1 loca

t experimContingenThreat: Depletion experiment does not work.

ll have eray a profill be oContingen

e ed to botdepth (20 mapping proc

catcha that enainut

es s

arch log bo the useto a 0.

e able to

Threat: Fishermen not providing GPS locaContingency: It will be necessary only to

ssessmenton a dailyhese da

cludedbrok

om categ

selected sites using CAES data and ROV. This gear is available for loan from AIMS in Western Austrahe relative abundance and size distribution of fish predators of western rock lobster will also be investigated at

111

FRDC-PP-010113. EDITION:

84,9 ,413 73 0 18 3

84,9 ,413 ,967 0 33

88,678 10,155 5,014 98,547 0 202,394 31/12/2005

,6 5 5,014 319 423,117 30/ 6

,149 11,016 5,164 101,846 0 216,175 31/ 6

98,149 11,016 5,164 332,021 0 446,350

Project Total 1,783,713

B12 MILESTONE DETAILS

543,560 62,147 27,182 1,150,824 0

30/06/2007

12/200 98

06/200 ,270 0 78 10,15 88

0/06/2005 11,236 212 353 9,903

1/12/2004 4,442 86,1 353 9,903

FRDC project #lobster brood sto

2003 ductive biology issues relevant to managing the western rock ck

FRDC project # 1996lobster (Panulirus cyg

tudy of the spawning stock of the western rock lobster

West Coast C s

B ESTONE S

ts CaOperating pital TotalOn-Cos TravelStaff

UMMARY 12 MIL

tems ollaborative Projects – Ecological Interactions in Coastal Ecosy SRFME Mid

/108 Fishery independent survey of the breeding stock and migration of the western rock nus).

/091 Fishery independent s FRDC project # 1993

/005 Investigating reproApplicationID: FWA2003018

5:33:34PM Page 14 of 27

Printed - 22-Jun-04

112

FRDC-PP-010113. EDITION: Printed - 5:33:34PM

Page 15 of 2722-Jun-04

FWA2003018

Nick Caputi Supervising Scientist 2,225 267 5.00FRDCStaffRoy Melville-Smith Research Scientist 1,938 233 5.00FRDCStaffTo be advised Technical Officer 21,703 2,387 100.00FRDCStaffTo be advised Technical Officer 6,318 758 31.00FRDCStaff

Travel Other Description Fares Allowance Accommodation Other Total

3,413 670 2,743 0 0

Operating

Cost Description 3,750 5 days Naturaliste RV "Naturaliste" incremental cost of survey activities ($750 per day) 500 Containers for sediment samples

30,688 Department of Fisheries divisional support levy 5,000 Diet analysis (stable isotopes or lipid analysis) 5,000 Divers ($1000 per day) 1,125 Fuel and oils - Motor vehicles 3,000 Hire of remotely operated vehicle from AIMS ($1000 per day)

30,000 IBBS at Jurien 250 Info pamphlets for Industry meetings

3,360 Leasing - Motor vehicles 300 Licensing - Motor vehicles 100 Mobile telephone - calls 100 Mobile telephone - rental

2,500 Sediment analysis fees 500 Wet weather clothing

Justification

31-December-2004 Staff recruitment and appointment. Review of existing physical and biological information will be ase.

IBSS survey at Jurien for validation of abundance and size distribution of lobsters will be complete.

Name Position Salary On-Cost %-Time

Staff Role In Kind/FRDC

Chris Chubb Fisheries Research Scientist

5,814 698 15.00FRDCStaff

Ian Wright Fisheries Research Scientist

5,155 619 15.00FRDCStaff

Lynda Bellchambers Research Scientist 34,368 4,124 100.00FRDCStaffMark Rossbach Technical Officer 7,432 818 25.00FRDCStaff

assessment will be selected. Analysis of existing data sources (IBSS) will be complete and appropriate sites for habitat

complete. GPS data from Fishermen and other sources will be collected and entered into datab

Milestone Date Milestone Description

ApplicationID:

113

FRDC-PP-010113. EDITION:

Salaries - Salary rapplicable allowa

ates a plicable at 1 January 2004 to Department of Fisheries officers, with nces. orkers compensation and superannuation liability.

Travel - Travel comprisFisheries awards.

ing - Department of Fisheries divisional support levy equates to the proportional costs of support services, expertise astructure required t the project. o carry out

Operatand infr

es accommodation and other allowance rates that are applicable under relevant Department of

re estimated award rates apOn costs components are w

ApplicationID: FWA2003018

5:33:34PM Page 16 of 27

Printed - 22-Jun-04

114

FRDC-PP-010113. EDITION: Printed - 5:33:34PM

Page 17 of 2722-Jun-04

FWA2003018

Nick Caputi Supervising Scientist 2,225 267 5.00FRDCStaffRoy Melville-Smith Research Scientist 1,938 233 5.00FRDCStaffTo be advised Technical Officer 6,318 758 31.00FRDCStaffTo be advised Technical Officer 21,703 2,387 100.00FRDCStaff

Travel Other Description Fares Allowance Accommodation Other Total

3,413 670 2,743 0 0

Operating

Cost Description 3,750 5 days Naturaliste RV "Naturaliste" incremental cost of survey activities ($750 per day) 500 Containers for sediment samples

156,794 CONTRIBUTION BY APPLICANT COST RECOVERED FISHERIES 30,688 Department of Fisheries divisional support levy 5,000 Diet analysis (stable isotopes or lipid analysis) 5,000 Divers ($1000 per day) 1,125 Fuel and oils - Motor vehicles 3,000 Hire of remotely operated vehicle from AIMS ($1000 per day) 250 Info pamphlets for Industry meetings

3,360 Leasing - Motor vehicles 300 Licensing - Motor vehicles 100 Mobile telephone - calls 100 Mobile telephone - rental

2,500 Sediment analysis fees 500 Wet weather clothing

Justification

Milestone Date Milestone Description3 une-2005 Habitat analysis using underwater video equipment and ROV will be complete at Jurien Bay sites.

underway.

Salar

0-JDepletion experiment will be complete at Jurien. Preliminary diet and catchability work will be

Name Position y On-Cost %-Time

SRole In Kind/FRDC

Chris Chubb Fisheries Research Scientist

5,814 698 15.00FRDCStaff

Ian Wright Fisheries Research Scientist

5,155 619 15.00FRDCStaff

Lynda Bellchambers Research Scientist 34,368 4,124 100.00FRDCStaffMark Rossbach Technical Officer 7,432 818 25.00FRDCStaff

taff

ApplicationID:

115

FRDC-PP-010113. EDITION:

Salaries - Salary rapplicable allowa

ates a plicable at 1 January 2004 to Department of Fisheries officers, with nces. orkers compensation and superannuation liability.

Travel - Travel comprisFisheries awards.

rating - Department of Fisheries divisional support levy equates to the proportional costs of support services, expertise frastructure required to carry out the project.

Opeand in

es accommodation and other allowance rates that are applicable under relevant Department of

re estimated award rates apOn costs components are w

ApplicationID: FWA2003018

5:33:34PM Page 18 of 27

Printed - 22-Jun-04

116

FRDC-PP-010113. EDITION: Printed - 5:33:34PM

Page 19 of 2722-Jun-04

FWA2003018

Nick Caputi Supervising Scientist 2,291 275 5.00FRDCStaffRoy Melville-Smith Research Scientist 1,996 240 5.00FRDCStaffTo be advised Technical Officer 22,998 2,530 100.00FRDCStaffTo be advised Technical Officer 8,135 976 38.00FRDCStaff

Travel Other Description Fares Allowance Accommodation Other Total

5,014 690 4,324 0 0

Operating

Cost Description 7,500 5 days Naturaliste RV "Naturaliste" incremental cost of survey activities ($750 per day) 500 Containers for sediment samples

37,812 Department of Fisheries divisional support levy 5,000 Diet analysis (stable isotopes or lipid analysis)

10,000 Divers ($1000 per day) 1,125 Fuel and oils - Motor vehicles 7,500 Hire of remotely operated vehicle from AIMS ($1000 per day) 250 Info pamphlets for Industry meetings

3,360 Leasing - Motor vehicles 300 Licensing - Motor vehicles 100 Mobile telephone - calls 100 Mobile telephone - rental

5,000 Sediment analysis fees 20,000 Vessel charter ($2000 per day)

Justification

31-December-2005 Habitat characterisation using ROV will be complete at Jurien Bay. All lobsers will have been l also

be underway. Desktop catchibility studies will be underway. Review of data will be conduct to

Name Position Salary On-Cost %-Time

SRole In Kind/FRDC

Chris Chubb Fisheries Research Scientist

3,993 479 10.00FRDCStaff

Ian Wright Fisheries Research Scientist

5,310 637 15.00FRDCStaff

Lynda Bellchambers Research Scientist 35,399 4,248 100.00FRDCStaffMark Rossbach Technical Officer 8,556 770 25.00FRDCStaff

taff

determine priorities for phase 2

collected for diet analysis and processing will be underway. Analysis of sediment samples wil

Milestone Date Milestone Description

ApplicationID:

117

FRDC-PP-010113. EDITION:

Salaries - Salary rapplicable allowa

ates a plicable at 1 January 2004 to Department of Fisheries officers, with nces. orkers compensation and superannuation liability.

Travel - Travel comprisFisheries awards.

ing - Department of Fisheries divisional support levy equates to the proportional costs of support services, expertise astructure required t the project. o carry out

Operatand infr

es accommodation and other allowance rates that are applicable under relevant Department of

re estimated award rates apOn costs components are w

ApplicationID: FWA2003018

5:33:34PM Page 20 of 27

Printed - 22-Jun-04

118

FRDC-PP-010113. EDITION: Printed - 5:33:34PM

Page 21 of 2722-Jun-04

FWA2003018

Nick Caputi Supervising Scientist 2,291 275 5.00FRDCStaffRoy Melville-Smith Research Scientist 1,996 240 5.00FRDCStaffTo be advised Technical Officer 8,135 976 38.00FRDCStaffTo be advised Technical Officer 22,998 2,530 100.00FRDCStaff

Travel Other Description Fares Allowance Accommodation Other Total

5,014 690 4,324 0 0

Operating

Cost Description 7,500 5 days Naturaliste RV "Naturaliste" incremental cost of survey activities ($750 per day) 500 Containers for sediment samples

220,723 CONTRIBUTION BY APPLICANT COST RECOVERED FISHERIS 37,812 Department of Fisheries divisional support levy 5,000 Diet analysis (stable isotopes or lipid analysis)

10,000 Divers ($1000 per day) 1,125 Fuel and oils - Motor vehicles 7,500 Hire of remotely operated vehicle from AIMS ($1000 per day) 250 Info pamphlets for Industry meetings

3,360 Leasing - Motor vehicles 300 Licensing - Motor vehicles 100 Mobile telephone - calls 100 Mobile telephone - rental

5,000 Sediment analysis fees 20,000 Vessel charter ($2000 per day)

Justification

Milestone Date Milestone Description3 une-2006 Habitat characterisation using ROV at Lancelin will have commenced. Collection of lobsters for

Jurien will be complete. Catchability experiments at Jurien will be complete.

Salar

0-Jdiet analysis and sediment samples will have commenced. Seasonal replicate of depletion survey at

Name Position y On-Cost %-Time

SRole In Kind/FRDC

Chris Chubb Fisheries Research Scientist

3,993 479 10.00FRDCStaff

Ian Wright Fisheries Research Scientist

5,310 637 15.00FRDCStaff

Lynda Bellchambers Research Scientist 35,399 4,248 100.00FRDCStaffMark Rossbach Technical Officer 8,556 770 25.00FRDCStaff

taff

ApplicationID:

119

FRDC-PP-010113. EDITION:

Salaries - Salary rapplicable allowa

ates a plicable at 1 January 2004 to Department of Fisheries officers, with nces. orkers compensation and superannuation liability.

Travel - Travel comprisFisheries awards.

ing - Department of Fisheries divisional support levy equates to the proportional costs of support services, expertise astructure required t the project. o carry out

Operatand infr

es accommodation and other allowance rates that are applicable under relevant Department of

re estimated award rates apOn costs components are w

ApplicationID: FWA2003018

5:33:34PM Page 22 of 27

Printed - 22-Jun-04

120

22-Jun-04 5:33:34PM Page 23 of 27

Printed - EDITION: 13. FRDC-PP-0101

Name Position Salary On-Cost %-Time

Staff Role In Kind/FRDC

Adrian Thomson Research Scientist 5,609 673 15.00FRDCStaffChris Chubb Fisheries Research

Scientist 4,112 493 5.00FRDCStaff

Ian Wright Fisheries Research Scientist

5,469 656 15.00FRDCStaff

Lynda Bellchambers Research Scientist 36,462 4,375 100.00FRDCStaffMark Rossbach Technical Officer 8,812 793 25.00FRDCStaffNick Caputi Supervising Scientist 2,360 283 5.00FRDCStaffRoy Melville-Smith Research Scientist 2,056 247 5.00FRDCStaffTo be advised Technical Officer 8,378 1,005 38.00FRDCStaffTo be advised Technical Officer 24,891 2,489 100.00FRDCStaff

Travel Other Description Fares Allowance Accommodation Other Total

5,164 710 4,454 0 0

Operating

Cost Description 7,500 5 days Naturaliste RV "Naturaliste" incremental cost of survey activities ($750 per day) 500 Containers for sediment samples

40,611 Department of Fisheries divisional support levy 5,000 Diet analysis (stable isotopes or lipid analysis)

10,000 Divers ($1000 per day) 1,125 Fuel and oils - Motor vehicles 7,500 Hire of remotely operated vehicle from AIMS ($1000 per day) 750 Info pamphlets for Industry meetings & final report preparation and publication

3,360 Leasing - Motor vehicles 300 Licensing - Motor vehicles 100 Mobile telephone - calls 100 Mobile telephone - rental

5,000 Sediment analysis fees 20,000 Vessel charter ($2000 per day)

Justification

ApplicationID: FWA2003018

Milestone Date Milestone Description31-December-2006 Habitat assessment at Lancelin will be complete and habitat assessment at Dongara will have

commenced. Diet analysis at Lancelin and Dongara will be underway. Prey of Rock Lobster and sediment samples will have been processed.

121

ApplicationID: ates a plicable at 1 January 2004 to Department of Fisheries officers, with nces. orkers compensation and superannuation liability.

Travel - Travel comprisFisheries awards.

ing - Department of Fisheries divisional support levy equates to the proportional costs of support services, expertise astructure required t the project. o carry out

Operatand infr

es accommodation and other allowance rates that are applicable under relevant Department of

re estimated award rates apOn costs components are w

Salaries - Salary rapplicable allowa

FWA2003018

EDITION: 13. FRDC-PP-0101 5:33:34PM Page 24 of 27

Printed - 22-Jun-04

122

FWA2003018

123

ApplicationID:

Milestone Date Milestone Description3 une-2007 Statistical analysis will be underway to assess the impact of lobster biomass removal from the

al report preparation underway.

Salar

0-Jecosystem. All field work will be complete and data will be in the process of being analysed. Fin

Name Position y On-Cost %-Time

SRole In Kind/FRDC

Adrian T Research Scientist 5,609 673 15.00FRDCStaffChris Chubb Fisheries Research 4,112 493 5.00FRDCStaff

tist 5,469 656 15.00FRDC

a Bellchambe esearch Scie 4,375 0.00RDCStaffMark Rossbach Technical Officer 8,812 793 25.00FRDCStaff

taff

homson

Scientist Ian Wright Fisheries Research Staff

Scienrs R F 36,462 10Lynd ntist

Nick Caputi ervising Scie t 2, 283 Staff-Sm

To be advised 0To be advised 0

Travel Other Description Fares A Other Total

5,164 710 ,454 0 0

Operating

t Desc5

500 C 230,175 C 40,611 D nal support levy 5,000 D

10,000 D 1,125 F 7,500 Hi per day)

0 Info s for Industry m ngs & final rep tion and public LL

100 M 100 M

5,000 S 20,000 V

Justification

easing - Motor vehicles icensing - Motor vehicles obile telephone - calls obile telephone - rental

ediment analysis fees essel charter ($2000 per day)

3,360 300

ationort preparaeetipamphlet 75

days Naturaliste RV "Naturaliste" incremental cost of survey activities ($750 per day) ontainers for sediment samples ONTRIBUTION BY APPLICANT COST RECOVERED FISHERIES

partment of Fisheries divisioeiet analysis (stable isotopes or lipid analysis) ivers ($1000 per day) uel and oils - Motor vehicles re of remotely operated vehicle from AIMS ($1000

7,500 ription Cos

ith Research Scientist 2,056 247 5.00FRDCStaffTechnical Officer 8,378 1,005 38.0FRDCStaffTechnical Officer 24,891 2,489 100.0FRDCStaff

llowance Accommodation 4

Roy MelvilleFRDC 5.00360ntisSup

EDITION: 13. FRDC-PP-0101 5:33:34PM Page 25 of 27

Printed - 22-Jun-04

FWA2003018Salaries - Salary rates are estimated award rates applapplicable allowances. On costs components are work

124

ApplicationID:

icable at 1 January 2004 to Department of Fisheries officers, with ers compensation and superannuation liability.

l - Travel com ommodation er allowance e applicable evant Departm

wards. Operating - Department of Fisheries divisional support levy equates to the proportional costs of support services, expertise

cture required to carry out the project.

CONTRIBUTION BY APPLICANT

Year TotalCa

TraveFisheries

prises acc and oth rates that ar under rel ent of a

and infrastru

B13

pital OperatingTravelSalaries

04/05 50,282 0 156,794 0

Salaries comprise salary and on-cost components for FWA staff. Salary rates are estimated award rates applicable at 1 January 2004 to Department of Fisheries officers, with applicable allowances (Chubb,Rossbach, Caputi, Wright & Melville-Smith). On costs components are workers compensation and superannuation liability. Operating costs include staff and operating cost components for Agency support - pro rata for total operational cost of this project. Costs of RV Naturaliste at $3,100/day for 10 days

207,076

Justification

05/06 49,120 0 220,723 0

Salaries comprise salary and on-cost components for FWA staff. Salary rates are estimated award rates applicable at 1 January 2004 to Department of Fisheries officers, with applicable allowances

and superannuation liability. Operating costs include staff and operating cost components for Agency support - pro rata for total operational cost of this project. Costs of RV Naturaliste at $3,100/day for 20 days

269,843

Justification

06/07 50,593 0 230,175 0

Salaries comprise salary and on-cost components for FWA staff. Salary rates are estimated award rates applicable at 1 January 2004 to Department of Fisheries officers, with applicable allowances

and superannuation liability. Operating costs include staff and operating cost components for Agency support - pro rata for total operational cost of this project. Costs of RV Naturaliste at $3,100/day for 20 days

280,768

Justification

149,995 0 607,692 0 Total 757,687.00

(Chubb,Rossbach, Caputi, Wright & Melville-Smith). On costs components are workers compensation

(Chubb,Rossbach, Caputi, Wright & Melville-Smith). On costs components are workers compensation

EDITION: 13. FRDC-PP-0101 5:33:34PM Page 26 of 27

22-Jun-04 Printed -

125

ApplicationID:

FWA2003018

B14 CONTRIBUTION BY OTHER

Year TotalCapital OperatingTravelSalaries

Justification

Contributor

22-Jun-04 5:33:34PM Page 27 of 27

Printed - EDITION: 13. FRDC-PP-0101

Total

ATTACHMENT SEVEN

l marine ecosystems (the fish communities and main fish populations of the Jurien Bay Marine Park

Ecological interactions in coasta

126

PROJECT TITLE

A

A

P

Ecological interactions in coastal marine ecosystems

The fish communities and main fish populations of the Jurien Bay Marine Park

PPLICANT

DMINISTRATIVE CONTACT

Organisation Murdoch University Centre for Fish and Fisheries Research

Postal Address School of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology Murdoch University South St., Murdoch, WA 6150. Phone 08 9360 2579 Fax 08 9360 6303 Legal status Company

Financial contact Name Kellie O’Toole Position Grants and Information Officer Organisation Murdoch University Grants Office Postal Address Chancellery Building Murdoch University South St., Murdoch, WA 6150. Phone 08 9360 6429 Fax 08 9360 6686 Email address k.o’toole@murdoch.edu.au

RINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Name Professor Ian Potter (for a post-doctoral position for Dr. Fairclough) Position Director of the Centre for Fish and Fisheries Research Organisation Murdoch University Centre for Fish and Fisheries Research Postal Address School of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology Murdoch University South St., Murdoch, WA 6150. Phone 08 9360 2524 Fax 08 9360 6303 Email address i.potter@murdoch.edu.au

127

POST-DOCTORAL FELLOW DETAILS

PLANNED START AND END DATE

Name David Fairclough Position Post-doctoral fellow Organisation Murdoch University Centre for Fish and Fisheries Research Postal Address School of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology Murdoch University South St., Murdoch, WA 6150. Phone 08 9360 2229 Fax 08 9360 6303 Email address d.fairclough@murdoch.edu.au

Start date October 2004

End date September 2007

128

PROJECT BACKGROUND

The Jurien Bay Marine Park, which encompasses the coastal waters between Green

Head and Wedge Island and is managed by the Department of Conservation and Land

Management (CALM), was gazetted in August 2003. The marine park includes are

that are (1) open to all types of fishing, (2) open to rock-lobster fishing only and (3)

closed to all types of fishing. Although this marine park has already been established

there will be an interim period before the protected zones are enforced by CALM.

During this study, sites will be sampled in the above three zones in the marine park to

obtain baseline data on the community structures of the fish faunas and the relative

abundances, size and age compositions, reproductive biology and diets of the main

fish species.

as

,

he proposed study represents part of the first stage of a longer-term program that is

ct

ass,

ift and isotope analyses that are also being conducted at Jurien.

the program

led at sites in zones in the Jurien

Bay

fishing pact of

fish munities and selected fish species. The sampling of different

hab unvegetated sand, and in different

dep the ways in which ichthyofaunal

omposition is influenced by habitat type and/or water depth. The biological data that

ill be collected for key species, i.e. those that are important either ecologically (e.g.

brids, sparids, pomacentrids) and/or for the recreational and commercial fisheries of

the region (e.g. dhufish, pink snapper, breaksea cod), will include size and age

T

aimed at understanding ecological interactions in coastal waters in the Jurien Bay

Marine Park and at providing data that can be used to reveal any direct or indire

effects of fishing in the short and long term. The data collected on the above

community and population parameters during our part of the study will be dovetailed

with data obtained from studies of benthic macroinvertebrates, macroalgae, seagr

algal dr

For further details, the reader is referred to the main proposal prepared by

leader Dr. Russ Babcock.

OBJECTIVES

The fish faunas and selected fish species will be samp

Marine Park that are (1) open to all types of fishing, (2) open to rock-lobster

only and (3) closed to all types of fishing in order to determine the im

ing on fish com

itats in each zone, e.g. reefs, seagrass and

ths will facilitate an understanding of

c

w

la

129

compositions, reproductive biology and diets. Data on the reproductive biology of

s in

ions

ed

s

ng techniques to

ssess the extent to which the species move between habitats and areas and how

of protection can benefit such species.

in the

views of the

cience. Popular articles will be produced for local magazines such as ProWest and

e as follows.

important species will be used to determine their spawning periods and the types of

habitat where spawning occurs. The dietary data will be used to elucidate the way

which the prey of key species changes with increasing body size and the extent to

which the dietary composition is influenced by habitat type and time of year. These

data will be collated with those obtained from other studies (see earlier) to elucidate

the interactions that occur within and between fish communities, trophic interact

within communities and the influence of fishing on the fish community and select

fish populations. Individuals of selected species will be tracked for several month

and over several kilometres by using acoustic and different taggi

a

different levels

Sampling will also focus on obtaining sound data on the fish faunas of nearshore

waters to establish which of those species, that are found in offshore areas and

particularly around reefs, use nearshore shallows as a nursery area. These data are

crucial for understanding the ways in which the movements of key species with

broad area of the Jurien Bay Marine Park are related to size and/or reproductive

status.

COMMUNICATION AND DISSEMINATION OF THE RESULTS

The results of this study will be written up as part of a final report for the overall

study and as papers for international journals to facilitate peer group re

s

Landscope. The target audiences will b

5. Environmental and fisheries managers, e.g. Department of Conservation and

Land Management and Department of Fisheries Western Australia.

6. Scientists

7. Recreational and commercial fishers

8. Western Australian community

130

METHODS

The study will focus on sampling (1) sanctuary zones, (2) scientific reference zones

nd (3) unprotected zones at three main locations, i.e. Fisherman Islands, Jurien

ling trip in spring 2004 will be conducted to establish

presentative sampling sites. This will take into account advice from staff at the

.

pling

ion, the sex of

cologically important species, e.g. baldchin groper, western king wrasse and dhufish,

whenever possible. Baited underwater video (BUV; Willis and

y

long seine net. Four replicate

amples will be obtained using each net in each of the three zones of the three main

icate trawls will be conducted during the day in each season using

n the three

measured using a Garmin GPS Map 185 global positioning system, which, together

a

Bay/Hill River and Cervantes/Grey. Within each zone, sampling will be conducted in

nearshore shallow, lagoonal/mid-depth and offshore deeper waters using techniques

that are appropriate for sampling the different habitat types, i.e. reefs, seagrass and

sand. A preliminary samp

re

CSIRO who have been working in the area. Sampling trips will subsequently be

conducted seasonally for two years using the following regime.

Reef habitats

Reef habitats at each site will be surveyed using underwater visual census (UVC)

Nine 25 x 10 m strip-transect surveys will be conducted at each site on each sam

occasion and the number of individuals of each species and the sizes of selected

commercial, recreational and abundant species will be estimated. The dominant algal

species in 5 m blocks in each transect will be recorded. In addit

e

will be recorded

Babcock, 2000) will be used, in conjunction with visual census, to provide data on the

relative abundance of predatory species that, due to their high mobility, are usuall

underestimated in visual census. At each sampling site, at least three 30 min BUV

deployments will be made at a time that will not impact on the UVC.

Nearshore sand and seagrass habitats

Nearshore bare sand and seagrass habitats will be sampled to determine which species

use these habitats as nursery areas prior to migrating to reef areas. Nearshore

unvegetated sites will be sampled using a 60.5 m

s

locations. Four repl

a small tri-net in unvegetated and seagrass habitats in lagoonal habitats i

zones at each location. The trawl net will be towed at a speed of ca 3 - 4 km h-1 and

for a distance of ca 150 m. The distance trawled during each replicate will be

131

with the width of the mouth of the net, will enable the area of substrate trawled to be

determined. This, in turn, will enable the density of fish species to be estimated

A range of methods, e.g. gill nets, traps and rod and line fishing, will be trialled and

the most appropriate of these will be used to determine which predatory species are

found in the lagoonal reef, seagrass and sand habitats at night. These habitats will be

ampled in each season.

ata

hree

n-

ling ordination as described in PRIMER v6 (Clarke,

993; Clarke and Gorley, 2001; 2004). In the case of the multivariate analyses,

trace

are likely

ow

to be tracked with an accuracy of approximately

100 m using an array of at least 24 receivers that will cover an area of approximately

cological interactions proposal). Tagging and tracking of fish will be

(1) Siz amples of

species r

s

The numbers of all species and of the main species will be converted to either a

density or a catch rate depending on the sampling method used. Analysis of these d

and of the number of species in the various habitat types in the three zones in the t

locations in each season will be analysed using ANOVA (Underwood, 1999) and no

metric multidimensional sca

1

ANOSIM will be used to determine whether the compositions of a priori groups are

significantly different and, where significant differences exist, SIMPER will be used

to determine which species characterize each of those groups.

Fish movement

Tagging, using acoustic tags and receivers and colour-coded tags, will be used to

the movements of individual fish of selected species, as described in the original

project outline. Up to 20 fish of different species, particularly species which

to demonstrate territoriality and or home range behaviour, will be tagged using

acoustic tags (VEMCO VR2) that are surgically inserted into the fish. This will all

larger scale movements of animals

±

19 km2 (see E

conducted in one of the main sanctuary zones.

Biological studies

e and age compositions and reproductive biology. S

representatives of the main recreational, commercial species and other more abundant

will be collected from sites representing the three zones to determine whethe

132

there is evidence that the size and age compositions of those species are influen

ent of fishing. Fish will be aged using the number of annuli in otoliths, a

ue that has been successfully used for many species in our laborato

ced by

the ext

techniq ry, e.g.

von Be

each sp

these s ined

using t d

gonado e have also employed successfully on

r

(2003);

(2) Dietary composition. Samples covering the full size range of selected species will

marine

park. F ach

of these species will be collected from the different habitat types that they occupy to

be

remove al

methodology that will enable the size-related changes in the diet of those species to be

compo

multi-d ociated tests, e.g. Clarke and Gorley

004), Platell and Potter (2001).

parametric multivariate analyses of changes in community

structure. Australian Journal of Ecology 18: 117-143.

larke, K. R. and Gorley, R. N. (2004). PRIMER v6: User Manual/Tutorial.

Plymouth Marine Laboratory, PRIMER E Ltd, U. K.

Fairclough, D. V., Dimmlich, W. F. and Potter, I. C. (2000a). Reproductive biology of

the Australian herring Arripis georgiana. Marine and Freshwater Research

51: 619-630.

Australian herring and dhufish, see Fairclough et al. (2000a), Hesp et al. (2002). The

rtalanffy growth curve will be fitted to the lengths at age of the individuals of

ecies.

The pattern of gonadal development and determination of the spawning period of

pecies and, where applicable the type of hermaphroditism, will be ascerta

raditional methods, e.g. trends exhibited by gonadal and oocyte stages an

somatic indices, an approach that w

many previous occasions, see e.g. Fairclough et al. (2000b, 2004); Hesp and Potte

Hesp et al. (2004).

be collected seasonally from different habitats in the three main zones of the

ish will be caught using line fishing, spearing, fish trapping and netting. E

elucidate any ontogenetic or habitat-related variations in diet. Stomachs will

d and stored in 70% ethanol. The diets will be analysed using tradition

elucidated, e.g. Platell and Potter (2001). Comparisons between the dietary

sition of the fish faunas in different habitats will be made using non-metric

imensional scaling ordination and ass

(2

References

Clarke, K. R. (1993). Non

C

133

Fairclough, D. V., Dimmlich, W. F. and Potter, I. C. (2000b). Length and age

n

tuskfish

ent Corporation, Canberra.

esp, S. A., Potter, I. C. & Hall, N. G. (2002). Age and size compositions, growth

gy and habitats of the West Australian Dhufish,

Glaucosoma hebraicum, and their relevance to the management of this

species. Fish. Bull. 100: 214-227.

Platell, M. E. and Potter, I. C. (2001). Partitioning of food resources amongst 18

abundant benthic carnivorous fish species in marine waters on the lower west

coast of Australia. Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology 261:

31-54.

Underwood, A. J. (1997). Experiments in ecology: their logical design and

interpretation using Analysis of Variance. Cambridge University Press,

Cambridge.

Willis, T.J. and Babcock (2000). A baited underwater video system for the

determination of relative density of carnivorouos reef fish. Marine an

Freshwater Research 51: 755-763.

Egli, D. and Babcock, R. C. (2004) Ultrasonic tracking reveals multiple behavioural

modes of snapper (P. auratus) in a temperate no take marine reserve. ICES

Journal of Marine Science. in press.

RISK ANALYSIS

There is no obvious risk to obtaining solid baseline data for the various studies

outlined in this proposal.

compositions and growth rates of the Australian herring Arripis georgiana i

different regions. Marine and Freshwater Research 51: 631-640.

Fairclough, D. V., Hesp, S. A., Potter, I. C. and Hall, N. G. (2004). Determination of

the biological parameters required for managing the fisheries of four

species and western yellowfin bream. Project 2000/137 Final report. Fisheries

Research and Developm

H

rate, reproductive biolo

134

OUTCOMES

The study will yield data that will help elucidate the interdependencies of fish and

benthic habitats, and the extent to which closure to fishing influences the

ichthyofaunal composition and biology of key species in the Jurien Bay Marine Park.

Those data will be of the type and quality that can be used by fisheries and

environmental managers to develop more sophisticated plans for managing fish stocks

in the Jurien Bay Marine Park.

PROJECT MILESTONES

Milestone date 30/9/2005 Milestone description Sampling sites will have been identified during an initial

exploratory trip. The first three seasonal sampling trips will have been conducted. Data on species composition, abundance and size structure in different zones will have been collected and subjected to preliminary analyses. The otolith, reproductive and dietary material collected during the first two trips will have been processed in the laboratory and preliminary studies will have been conducted on ageing, reproductive and dietary aspects. Acoustic tagging and tracking will have commenced and the data from the first two trips will have been stored on computer and subjected to preliminary analysis.

Milestone budget for year ending 30/9/2005 Operating and travel expenses $

Vehicle costs 4800 Boat costs 11520 Accommodation 7040 Field provisions 4576

1920 3120

Lab and field consumables and equip 20 Histologic ing

w 51367 1392

$100855

Dive gear hire Dive tank refills

ment al process

33 1800

Salary Post-doctoral felloOncosts Total

1

135

136

Milestone date 30/9/2006 Milestone description Sampling will have been conducted seasonally between spring 2005

and winter 2006 and th data on species composition and the abundance, age and size structure, reproductive biology and diets o

ef

selected species in the rst of those seasons and all of those in the first year will have been analysed. Acoustic tagging and tracking will have been completed and analysis of the data collected will be underway.

Milestone budget for year ending 30/9/2006 Operating and travel expenses

Vehicle costs 4944 Boat costs 11 66 Accommodation 7 51 Field provisions 2 85 Dive gear hire 1 78 Dive tank refills 3 14 Lab and field consumables and equipment 3420 Histological processing 1 54

Salary Post-doctoral fellow 54 30 Oncosts 12 37 Total

fi

$

82792

8

71

$104178

137

Y Year 2 Year 3 Total 70 ,624 213,949

BUDGET SUMMARY

ear 1 Total in-kind Murdoch

,581 72,744 70

Murdoch

tion to 30 30,000 90,000

ution to Murdoch

104,17

contribuSRFME

,000 30,000

SRFME contrib

100,855

8 81,423 286,456

Milestone date 30/9/2007 Milestone description The eighth and final of the main sampling trips will have been

completed. All of the data on the fish communitiabundance, age and size structures, reproductive bi s

ave been completed and analysed. A final tten in which conclusions will be drawn as

to the extent of any influences of closure to fishing on the fish community and main fish populations in the Jurien Bay Marine

Operating and travel expenses $ Vehicle costs 670

costs 2843

Dive gear hireDive tank reLab and fieldand equipment

Total $81423

Boat Accommodation 1813 Field provisions 295

509 fills 828 consumables

2060 Salary Post-doctoral fellow Oncosts

59264 13143

Park. Milestone budget for year ending 30/9/2007

of the main species will hreport will have been wri

es and the ology and diet

138

HMENT EIGHT

isheries Research ent Corporation (FRDC) funding application – effects of we epwater ecosystems off the

tern Australia

ATTAC

F and DevelopmThe stern rock lobster fishing on the de

west coast of Wes

139

FRDC R&D FUNDING APPLICATION

ApplicationID: FWA2003018

PART A ADMINISTRATIVE SUMMAR

A T TThe contact information

Y

1 PROJEC ITLE provided at A2 to A5 will be made public through the FRDC contacts

ater ecosystems off the west coast of Western Australia.

A2 APPLICANT The contact information

The effects of western rock lobster fishing on the deepw

provided at A2 to A5 will be made public through the FRDC contacts

Organisation

Unit

Postal Address

ne FaxPho

Email Address

al Status

Delivery A

Western Australia

Research Division

ddress

Department of Fisheries

PO Box 20 NORTH BEACH WA 6020

West Coast Drive WATERMAN WA 6020

08 924 47 3062

Gover

6 8444 08 94

nment AgencLeg y - State

DMINISTRAT ONTACT ntact information

A3 A IVE CThe co provided at A2 to A5 will be made public through the FRDC contacts

Organisation

Unit

Postal Address Deliver

Phone

Email Address

Fax

y Address

Michelle Ward Name

inistrative Officer Research

Department of Fisheries Western Australia

Position Adm

Fisheries Research Division

PO Box 20 NORTH BEACH WA 6020

West Coast Drive WATERMAN WA 6020

08 9246 8444 08 9447 3062

mward@fish.wa.gov.au

al Contact Financi

22-Jun-04 5:33:34PM Page 1 of 27

Printed - EDITION: 13. FRDC-PP-0101

ApplicationID: FWA2003018

AT

4 PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR he contact information provided at A2 to A5 will be made public through the FRDC contacts

Organisation

Unit

Phone

DeliverPostal Address

Email Address

Fax

y Address

Name Chris Chubb

Position Fisheries Research Scientist

of Fisheries Western Australia

Research Division

ox 20

Department

PO B NORTH BWA 60

EAC20

West Coast D WATERMA WA 602

A5 CO-INVESTIGATOR info

H rive

N 0

08 9246 8444 08 9447 3062

cchubb@fish.wa.gov.au

The contact rmation provided at A2 to A5 will be made public through the FRDC contacts

Or

ganisation

Unit

Postal Address

ail Address

Deliver

Phone Fax

Em

y Address

Name

Position Research Scientist

Department of Fisheries Western Australia

Fisheries Research Division

PO Box 20

Lynda Bellchambers

NORTH BEACH WA 6020

West Coast Drive WATERMAN

9447 3062

lbellchambe@fish.wa.gov.au

Or

WA 6020

08 9246 8444 08

ganisation

Unit

Postal Address Delivery Address

Name

Position

Lindsay Joll

Senior Manager

Department of Fisheries Western Australia

Department of Fisheries Western Australia

22-Jun-04 5:33:34PM Page 2 of 27

Printed - EDITION: 13. FRDC-PP-0101

140

ApplicationID: FWA2003018

Phone

Email Address

Fax

6850 PERTH WA 6000

08 9482 7333 08 9482 7389

Lindsay.Joll@fisheries.wa.gov.au

Locked Bag 39 Cloisters Square PO PERTH WA

Level 3 SGIO Atrium 168 St Georges Tce

A6 PLANNED START AND END DATE

StartDate

E

01-Jul-04

un-07

A7 PROJECT BUDGET SUMMARY

TotalCapital OperatingTravel Year

Contribution by the FRDC (B12)

6,826 299,140 0 495,678 189,712

625,510

06/ 10,328 433,867 0 662,524 218,329

605,707 27,182 1,150,824 0 1,783,713Total

Contribution by the Applicant (B13)

06/07 0 230,175 0 280,768 50,593

149,995 0 607,692 0 757,687Total

755,702 Budget Total 27,182 1,758,516 0 2,541,400

A8 SPECIAL PROJECT BUDGET CONSIDERATIONS Include information that may impact on the project budget. This could include cash contributions paid to the project, and revenue from the sale of publications or other items (eg fish sales or capital items). Provide detail in the text box and list cash contributions and revenue in the separate table below. Do not include

source and contact name for each contribution. industry R&D contributions (including levies) paid to the FRDC under legislation. Clearly identify the

04/05 0 156,794 0 207,076 50,282

05/06 0 220,723 0 269,843 49,120

07

04/05

05/06 10,028 417,817 0 197,665

Salaries

ndDate 30-J

EDITION: 13. FRDC-PP-0101 5:33:34PM Page 3 of 27

Printed - 22-Jun-04

141

142

FRDC-PP-010113. EDITION: Printed - 5:33:34PM

Page 4 of 27 22-Jun-04

FWA2003018ApplicationID:

No

r

Explanation

30/06/2006 269,842Department of Fisheries WA

ution by applicant. (Chubb 10%, Rossbach 25%, Caputi 5%, Wright 15%, Melville-Smith ad operating costs including Research Vessel operating costs.

Inkind contrib5%) and Agency Support Overhe

Nick Caputi

Explanation

0/06/2007 280,768De3 partment of Fisheries WA

Inkind contribution by applicant. (Chubb 10%, Rossbach 25%, Caputi 5%, Wright 15%, Melville-Smi5%) and Agency Support Overhead operating costs including Research Vessel operating costs.

th

Nick Caputi

757,686Total for: Other

otal 757,686

9 EXTERNAL REVIEW he FRDC reserves the right to engage external consultants to review applications. Applicants should advise tRDC seperately 'in-confidence' of any information in the application that they do not wish to be sent to a eviewer, and any potential reviewers they do not wish to be engaged.

F

T

AT he

It should be noted that this project is associated withthe Department of Fisheries WA. As such, the "Con

a commercial fishery that is subject to cost recovery arrangements by tribution by Applicant" amounts listed in B13 and also in milestone

t" funds in the budget.

Year AmountName of Contributor

Contact Name

Explana

30 207,076Department of Fisheries WA

applicant. (Chubb 15%, Rossbach 25%, Caputi 5%, Wright 15%, Melville-Smith ort Overhead operating costs including Research Vessel operating costs.

Nick Caputi/06/2005

tion Inkind contribution by5%) and Agency Supp

A8 CASH CONTRIBUTION

Other

Cash Contributions by :

budgets at B12 at the request of the Secretariat, can be made available to the FRDC as an industry cash contribution if required.The Board should note however, that this project can be undertaken without the incorporation of these "contribution of applican

143

FRDC-PP-010113. EDITION:

A10 CERTIFICATION

The Applicant and the Principal Investigator warrant that all information contained in and forming part of this R&D Application to the FRDC is complete, accurate and provided in good faith at the date submitted to the FRDC and that any changes to circumstances will be notified to the FRDC as soon as possible. They alsowarrant that the Principal Investigator, key research staff and research agency funding inputs will be avaliab

le

for the duration of the project.

Signed for and on behalf of the Applicant

Signed by the Principal Investigator

(Print Name and Position)

(Print Name and Position)

(Signature and Date)

(Signature and Date)

11 TIME BOX Applicable to applicant organisations with less than 20 employees)

hour (s) 0

A(

ApplicationID: FWA2003018

5:33:34PM Page 5 of 27

Printed - 22-Jun-04

144

FRDC-PP-010113. EDITION: Printed - 5:33:34PM

Page 6 of 27 22-Jun-04

FWA2003018ApplicationID:

B2 BACKGROUND

In 1999/2000 the Western Rock Lobster Managed Fishery became the world’s first fishery to receive Marine tewardship Council (MSC) certification, and since then the management process has moved on to address the

udit requirements. As part of this process an ecological risk assessment (ERA) and more

f removing rock lobster biomass from the environment, particularly from deep water was noted. The

t and Heritage (DEH) will require similar information in the next assessment of the e p-

SMSC’s annual arecently an environmental management strategy (EMS) have been completed. The ERA rated the effects of lobster fishing on the ecosystem as a low risk. However, the lack of research data about the ecological impactsoDepartment of EnvironmenWestern Rock Lobster Managed Fishery. A scientific reference group (SRG) was convened to provide advicon a research program that would address the ecosystem effects of fishing. This gap in the knowledge of deewater rock lobster ecology was identified as a priority area of research. It was recognized that shallow water projects being planned by both the Department of Conservation and Land Management (CALM) and CSIRO’s

uld be ry to any deepwater rock lobster research. There are significant opportunities for increased

encies and institutions to ensure results will lead to a cological processes that relate to the western rock lobster fishery.At

Strategic Research Fund for the Marine Environment (SRFME) in the Jurien Marine Park wocomplementacollaboration and co-operation across the respective agcomprehensive regional understanding of ethe May meeting of the SRG a strategic framework was devised to evaluate future research. The aim of the framework is to ensure that future research is focused primary on the question “ what is the effect of lobster biomass removal on the ecosystem?”

PAThe Project Description should provide all the information necessary to enable the R&D Application to b

RT B PROJECT DESCRIPTION

e fully evaluated.

B1 PROJECT IDENTIFICATION

FRDC Programs

Natural Resources Sustainability

Strategies

Interactions between fish and their ecosystems

Species

ROCKLOBSTER — Western

145

FRDC-PP-010113. EDITION:

Buncertainty in the western e) recommendations to the

e that the Department should examine mechanisms for monitoring

3 NEED

As a result of the EPBC and MSC strategic assessment process a number of areas of EH (Department of Environment and Heritagrock lobster fishery have arisen. The D

xplicitly statDepartment of Fisheries epotential ecosystem impacts of the fishery, including the appropriateness of reference areas that would allow

ment of the role and catchability of large western rock e Stewardship Council), the

Simon Thrush,

r fishing on the

rock lobster fishery and the ecosystem in deep water. Although significant data is available on the shallow (<40 m) water ecology of lobsters and the fishing impact, there is gap in the knowledge of the deep-water ecology of

change in abundance and size structure of the western rock lobster

comparison

lobster. They recognised that the majorpopulation would have occurred in deep water (40-100 m), and concluded this was a priority area of research.

habitat structure and benthic community composition -

fishery permits. However, the SRG

recognised that research needs to occur in a structured manner and have highlighted the need for research proposals which sit within the strategic framework which they have devised. The SRG recognises that the provision of a strategic framework and related scientificwater stocks in a more sophisticated

research will ultimately allow management of deep- ecosystem-based manner. If removal of lobster biomass, by the deepwater

chang , manageanges ill be C to re

deepwater fishery.

1 To identify gradients in the density/size distribution of western rock lobster to enable selection of as.

ility of western rock lobster and its relationship with population abundance and

p between the deep-water habitat and the density/size distributio estern inary evaluation of the impact of lobster biomass removal in the deep-

EXTENSION B5 OUTPUTS &

n of w 3 To identify the relationshirock lobster to enable a prelimwater

2 To assess the catchabsize structure

representative are

B4 OBJECTIVES

ment options such as reducation in the considered by RLIA duce the removal of

es in the ecosystem and area closures, w

fishery, has resulted in detectable t, minimum size chfishing effor

biomass from areas of the

There is a need to collect basic ecological information to determine if changes in lobster density and size structure, due to fishing has caused significant changes inin deep water. This will provide information on the level of ecosystem impact of removing lobsters from deepwater habitats to improve the assessment of risk to the ecosystem to ensure that the western rock lobstermaintains MSC certification and complies with DEH requirements for export

ecosystem based fishery management including an assesslobsters. In response to the recommendations of the DEH and MSC (MarinScientific Reference Group (SRG) was formed. The SRG, including Drs Alistair Robertson,

Jim Penn, was formed as an independent Andrew Heyward, John Keesing, Colin Buxton, Chris Simpson andbody to provide advice on research directions, to examine the effects of western rock lobsteecosystem. The SRG identified that there is a major gap in the understanding of the interactions between the

of fished and unfished areas. These recommendations also outline the need to assess options for

ApplicationID: FWA2003018

5:33:34PM Page 7 of 27

Printed - 22-Jun-04

146

ApplicationID: FWA2003018Published, widely disseminated and promoted, and maybe, training and/or extension provided. Relates mainly to outputs that will be available in the public domain.

utputs

ication objectives

mmercial fisheries advisory committees and industry . Environmental managers

ommunication Methods

O1. A non technical description of the project and its results for public dissemination 2. Scientific papers describing the project and its results 3. Reports and presentation to industry and advisory groups 4. A report for fisheries managers detailing the findings of the study Commun1. Provide to industry, Rock Lobster Industry Advisory Committee (RLIAC), and conservation groups an evaluation of the relationship between the deep-water habitat and the density/size of western rock lobster and theimplications of lobster biomass removal from the ecosystem. 2. Communicate to industry and RLIAC, the main findings regarding the changes in lobster density and sizestructure that have resulted from fishing pressure. 3. Obtain peer group review by submission to international journals of papers which detail the methodology, results and implications of the study. Target Audience 1. Co23. Scientists4. General community and conservation groups Key Messages 1. The main findings regarding the impact on the ecosystem of removing lobsters from deep water habitats 2. An evaluation of the changes in lobster density and size structure that have resulted from fishing pressure. C1. A report detailing the impact on the ecosystem of removing lobsters from deep water habitats, in a form appropriate for industry advisory committees and environmental managers, will be prepared and presented. 2. Talks and posters will be presented at annual Coastal tours to inform rock lobster fishers. 3. An account of the outputs of the study will be published in appropriate local magazines 4. The main scientific implications of the study will be published in international journals Action plan Project is the undertaken over three years During project Method: Research results from the project will be reported as they become available to industry advisory committees and environmental managers, SRG, RLIAC, Western Rock Lobster Council, and other interested parties i.e. Responsibility: Principal Investigator

ompletion 30/6/2007

ethod: Articles will be published in local magazines i.e. Western Fisheries and ProWest

C Method: Articles will be published in local magazines i.e. Western Fisheries and ProWest Responsibility: Principal Investigator Completion: 30/6/07 AfterProjectMethod: Papers will be published in international scientific journals Responsibility: Principal Investigator Completion: 1/12/2007 M

EDITION: 13. FRDC-PP-0101 5:33:34PM Page 8 of 27

Printed - 22-Jun-04

ApplicationID: FWA2003018 Responsibility: Principal Investigator

d parties esponsibility: Principal Investigator

are managed in a more ecosystem based manner. inued exemption from DEH for export of lobster product

first ecologically sustainable fishery

Bing

em-based manner. The provision of information on the ecosystem impact of removing lobsters from deep water habitats that

B7 FLOW OF BENEFITS

y

)

FM

WA – Other 95.00 5.00 0.00

T

Summary Flow of Benefits

S l Recreational Sector

S

S

5.00

B

Completion: 31/12/2007 Method: A non-technical report will be published and provided to interesteRCompletion: 31/12/2007 E

Sub Total Commerical Sector

ub Tota

95.00

ub Total Tradition Fishing Sector

ummary Flow of Benefits

0.00

100.00

8 ETHODS M

1. Feedback from the audience following presentations 2. The number of articles and scientific papers produced from the project 3. The extent to which deep-water stocks4. Cont5. Maintenance of MSC certification as the world’s

6 PLANNED OUTCOMES

· The provision of ecological information on rock lobster that will allow management of deep-water breedstocks in a more sophisticated ecosyst· can be readily used by managers to meet the requirements of DEH to ensure the export lobster product · The provision of information will aid maintenance of DEH certification

Traditional Fishing (bAboriginal & Torres

Strait Islander peopleSector

Recreational Sector Commercial Sectorishery (including aquaculture) anaged by:

otal 95.00 5.00 0.00

valuation

EDITION: 13. FRDC-PP-0101 5:33:34PM Page 9 of 27

Printed - 22-Jun-04

147

148

FRDC-PP-010113. EDITION: Printed - 5:33:34PM

Page 10 of 2722-Jun-04

FWA2003018ApplicationID: Objective 1: To identify gradients in the density/size distribution of the western rock lobster to enable selectioof representative areas. The focus of this objective is to use existing data, from both the Department of Fisheries and other sources, to compile a comprehensive database on the abundance and distribution of rock lobsters and the associated habitat types. This objective is primarily a desktop study to use existing data to identify areas, within the scope orock lobster fishery, where gradients in lobster density and/or size structure can be investigated. Phase 1 1.1 A review of the existing physical and biological informatio

n

f the

n for the waters of the continental shelf of the est coast of WA will be conducted to produce a broad scale habitat map based on available data. Preliminary w

identification and GIS mapping of the deepwater rock lobster habitat will be conducted using a number of existing data sources. Lobster fishers will be approached for anecdotal information and GPS data on bottom type and lobster density. While government institutions such as the Western Australian Museum will provide information on the spatial and temporal distributions of flora and fauna. Universities, private consultancies and the Royal Australian Navy will provide hydrographic data while oil companies (i.e. Roc Oil) have been approached for the use of seismic and other data that are not commercially sensitive. These data will provide a general description of the seabed and allow the overlay of fishermen’s GPS positions on the resulting seabed maps. 1.2 Three transects will be surveyed towing an underwater video to calibrate the echo sounder on the RV Naturaliste to provide basic information on habitat structure and to compare with where the fishery is concentrated within this zone. Information gathered from commercial fishers and the annual Independent Breeding stock Survey (IBSS) will be used to determine the primary fishing areas within the areas surveyed. Transects will be conducted at Jurien Bay from shallow to deep water (40-100m) and will provide links with SRFME project being conducted in shallow water (<40m). 1.3 Information gathered from commercial fishers and the annual Independent Breeding Stock Survey (IBSS), that has been conducted since the early 1990’s at up to 6 locations, 3 of which are surveyed annually and 3 are surveyed every 5 years, will be used to determine the primary fishing areas within the surveyed areas. However, due to the scope of the fishery in depth analysis will initially be focused on Jurien Bay, as this location will provide links with SRFME and CALM projects being conducted in the Jurien Bay Marine Park (<40m). The IBSS only conducted in Jurien Bay every 5 years,next survey is due in 2007. Therefore in the first year of the proposed study (Oct 2004) the IBSS will also be conducted at Jurien Bay to confirm the abundances and sizedistributions of collected on previous surveys. IBSS data from Jurien will be analysed using ANOVA by 6 areas, by lines within a

sub-

sub-area, or pot by pot if possible, to identify gradients in lobster abundance and size istribution within similar habitat types. It is assumed that adjacent areas within a line or adjacent pots on a line

ents in abundance and size frequency of lobsters identified (see Objective 1.3) are ot due to vastly different habitats, i.e. sand vs weed beds, the areas will be surveyed by the RV Naturaliste

at between 3-4 knots. The underwater video and software for analysis of the video otage are available from AIMS. Analysis of the video footage and echo soundings will provide basic

dshould be located in similar habitat types therefore any gradients in the abundance and size frequency of lobsters will be highlighted for further investigation. 1.4 To ensure that the gradintowing an underwater video foinformation on habitat structure to ensure that the selected gradients are real and not an artefact of vast differences in habitat. These initial video transects will also allow preliminary identification of the important physical and biological components in the surveyed habitats which will be used for later more detailed habitatidentification by ROV.

ApplicationID: FWA2003018 Phase 2 (subject to review) If the techniques outlined above are successful phase two of the project this will provide experimental replicates

es ey IBSS sites at both Dongara and Lancelin.

The focus of this objective is to be able to calibrate commercial and research catch rates and determine the actual

ons, examine the influence of gear type on providing an population.

ring, logbook and CAES data from the entire scope of the rock lobster fishery, from Kalbarri lysed to determine if there is a relationship between the abundance of large and

Royal Australian Navy divers using specialised equipment, at depths of d by the IBSS will be used to assess gear selectivity.

tch period (Oct/Nov 2004) in ermined will be fished with 30 pots

for two one week periods, one in October and one in November, over the new moon phase. All lobsters caught will be either moved out of the experimental area or marked with cable ties to denote a previous capture. This

nd small lobsters.

Phase 2

different times of the year for a seasonal comparison.

deep-te

f this objective is to investigate the pattern in the relationship between gradients in the abundance nd size distribution of lobsters and their corresponding deep-water habitat. The aim is to collect additional

Phase 1

will conduct a pilot study for ten days at Jurien on sites y the analysis of the IBSS data (see Objective 1.3) and

to confirm the initial assessments of the impact or otherwise of lobster abundance and size composition changThe same techniques to surv Objective 2: To assess the catchability of western rock lobster and its relationship with population abundance and size structure

3.1 In the first year of the project the RV Naturaliste identified as valid gradients of lobster size/density b

If the depletion experiment and diver survey techniques outlined above are successful phase two of the project will use the same techniques to survey Objective 3: To identify the relationship between the deep-water habitat and the density/size distribution of western rock lobster to enable a preliminary evaluation of the impact of lobster biomass removal in thewa r. The focus oabiological data to identify if habitat characteristics, physical or biological, are correlated with high or low lobsterabundance.

will enable a comparison of the catchability of large a

size structure and density of lobsters in selected locatiaccurate representation of thePhase 1 2.1 A desktop modelling study will be conducted to: i. Compare the catchability of rock lobsters in deep (40-100m) and shallow (<40m) waters based on depletionanalysis of the rock lobster daily logbook data during the non-migratory phase ( March-June) ii. Estimate the possible size frequency distributions of rock lobsters in an equilibrium state with low or zero fishing mortality from existing length-based population models. iii. Existing monitoto the capes, will also be anasmall rock lobsters in the deep water 1.5 Diver surveys, to be conducted by40m, (Objective 3.2) in areas adjacent to sites identifieDivers will sample all lobsters within a selected area for comparison of sex ratios and size distribution with pot catches. All divers will be provided with training on the collection of biological samples prior to commencement. 1.6 A depletion experiment will be conducted off Dongara during a high caconjunction with FRDC project 03/005. Four areas, exact location to be det

EDITION: 13. FRDC-PP-0101 5:33:34PM Page 11 of 27

Printed - 22-Jun-04

149

FWA2003018ApplicationID: video validation (see Objective 1.4). The identified sites will be assessed with an ROV (Remotely OperatedVehicle) operated by

a specialised technician from AIMS. At each of the sites the ROV will be used to obtain

ideo images of the benthic habitat that will be used to classify benthic habitat. The video images will be ll

rlier video work i.e. % cover of sponges, %cover of reef, % cover of different algal ecies (see Objective 1.4). Video images will also be used to identify key prey and predator species in

ples will be

vanalysed to provide the percentage cover of the dominant species and percentage cover of key species which wihave been identified from easpconjunction with Objective 2.2 and 2.3. Sediment grabs will be collected, at each of the sites surveyed using a ROV, using an Eckman grab to aid with the classification of benthic habitat types. Sediment sampreserved intact for later analysis (i.e. phi size, organic content,) so that the relationship between habitat and sediment type and rock lobster size/density can be examined.

ed in conjunction with ROV identification of habitat types (see ge on the deep-water diet of lobsters due to the high difficulty of this

reseach. Preliminary identification of the important dietary items will allow a better understanding or what types of habitats are importa erms of a food for deep-water lobsters. Due to the depth of g (>40m) specialised divers from the Royal Australian Navy, diving with specialised equipment will be used to

ters for die ysis. Us ers to co sters will to ensure both a size range of lobsters are analysed and that lobsters are caught during the peak feeding period to prevent rapid foregut evacuation. Using

ample lobs provides an opportunity le habitat types where a grab operated frompractical due to unsuitabl milarly will also be able to take more detailed video

particular need to ned in m ail. If d omes impractical, trials wted using l ngle net in length, set over night, to examine the siz and relative of lobster will be s to dusk a ed ever s. Sampl f lobster fo

divers to s ter also to samp m a boat has proved ifootage if

e benthos. Sibe exami

diversore detfeatures iving bec ill also

be conducabundance

obster tas. Gear

s, 200 met prior

es es o

reguts nd pull y 2-3 hour

will be disfor all animal

sected from mals ca rapace l ex, breeding state and moult stage will be recorded s. Lobsters will be classified into three size categories (60-90 mm, 90-120 mm and 120+ mm).

bsters, from f the siz ries, at e s will be for gut a sis. Foregbe assessed for fullness and contents will be identified to the lowest taxonomic group possible and expressed as percentage ctheir suitabil

omposi lume and frequency. S ethods ods will rialed to dity for p addition ation o nd likely nutrient pathway wo possib

stable isotopes, discussions have been held with Di Walker (UWA), and lipid analysis, discussions have been held with a potential PhD student supervised by Tony Koslow (CSIRO).

be identified in conjunction with Objective 2.1. Sediment grabs will be collected using an ekman grab at each of the sites selected for seabed assessment using an ROV. Sediment samples will be preserved intact for later analysis of the species, size and abundance of both epifaunal and infaunal organisms. 3.4 Statistical analysis will conducted on the data collected, using ANOVA and ordination, comparing sites with different gradients in density and size structure of lobsters and relate them to habitat and environmental factors to provide a preliminary assessment of the impact of lobster abundance and size structure and the removal of biomass on the ecosystem. Phase 2 (subject to review) If the techniques outlined above are successful phase two of the project will use the same techniques to conduct a more detailed examination of food web relationships for deepwater rock lobsters at other locations (Dongara and Lancelin). Commercial vessels will be chartered and sampling will be undertaken to examine intra- and inter-annual variability in diet and prey availability. The relationship between lobster size and sex and gut contents and the availability/sizes of prey items will be investigated on a seasonal basis and compared to the

3.3 Potential rock lobster prey will also

al informetermine ilities are;

be ts. T

other metheveral mn diets a

tion by voroviding

uts will naly collectedach sitee catego each oTwenty lo

ength, sught. Ca the ani

llect lobing divtary analcatch lobs

divinsource providingnt in t

3.2 Preliminary diet analysis will be conductabove). Presently there is limited knowled

EDITION: 13. FRDC-PP-0101 5:33:34PM Page 12 of 27

Printed - 22-Jun-04

150

151

FRDC-PP-010113. EDITION:

shallow water d

ata av

nalyisotopes or lipid analy

ated at selected sites using CAES data and ROV. This gear is available for loan from AIMS in Western Australia.

B NALYShermen not pr ons.

l be n of several fishermen at each locati de nclud nt will be the use of re log bo that e total

rt to be br aily ba to a 0.5 deg ongitu 10 min f latitu ; 10 fathom c a wi able to be linked to botto ures sh n the

malfunctio ROV is being rented from AIMS and w

nt equipment to troubleshoot.

Dep im k.Contingency: A pilot experime ill be undert en at 1 loca overcome any problems before experiments

ken at other locations and other times of year.

Threat: Divers are unable to work effectively at this depth (40m) Contingency:

B10 PERFORMANCE INDICATORS

1 tifica ance and size distribution w

2. ntifica p-water habitat and the abundance and size distribution of rock l nd a of the impact of removal of lobster biomass from the ecosystem 3. ompa e-related catchability of deep-water rock lobster will have been A c rison of all estimates of sizprovided. 4 pote poral information on deep-water rock lobster, their distribution, habitat use and the impa a management tool will have been assessed.

B11 OTHER RELATED PROJECTS

ntial for spatial and temct of fishing effort as

. The

tion of the relationship between deepreliminary assessment

Ideobster a

tion of gradients in the spatial and temporal patterns of deep-water rock lobster abundill be determined.

. Iden

Lobsters for diet analysis will be collected using tangle nets.

are underta

tion toak ent does not wor

nt wletion experhreat: T

a professional operator who will have ill be operated byn.

ok datade by m feat

search ree of l

a catch

de by

on to provinables utes oown i

oviding GPS locatiecessary only to have the sued in the assessme

sis inll be

oken down on a dategories). These dat

pport Threat: FisContingency: It wilreasonable picture. Iand fishing effodepth (20 mmapping process. Threat: ROV Contingency:sufficie

IS 9 RISK A

In depth dietary a sis will be conducted using the most appropriate method identified in phase one, stable sis.

ce and size distribution of fish predators of western rock lobster will also be investigThe relative abundan

ailable. ApplicationID: FWA2003018

5:33:34PM Page 13 of 27

Printed - 22-Jun-04

152

FRDC-PP-010113. EDITION: Printed - 5:33:34PM

Page 14 of 2722-Jun-04

FWA2003018ApplicationID:

84,953 9,903 3,413 86,173 0 184,442 31/12/2004

84,953 9,903 3,413 212,967 0 311,236 30/06/2005

88,678 10,155 5,014 98,547 0 202,394 31/12/2005

88,678 10,155 5,014 319,270 0 423,117 30/06/2006

98,149 11,016 5,164 101,846 0 216,175 31/12/2006

98,149 11,016 5,164 332,021 0 446,350 30/06/2007

Project Total 543,560 62,147 27,182 1,150,824 0 1,783,713

B12 MILESTONE DETAILS

SRFME Mid West Coast Collaborative Projects – Ecological Interactions in Coastal Ecosystems

B12 MILESTONE SUMMARY

On-Costs TotalCapital OperatingTravelStaff

FRDC project # 2003/005 Investigating reproductive biology issues relevant to managing the western rock lobster brood stock FRDC project # 1996/108 Fishery independent survey of the breeding stock and migration of the western rolobster (Panuliru

ck s cygnus).

FRDC project # 1993/091 Fishery independent study of the spawning stock of the western rock lobster

153

FRDC-PP-010113. EDITION:

Nick Caputi Supervising Scientist mith

To be advised Technical Officer 21,703 2,387 100.00FRDCStaffdvised Technical Officer 6,318 758 31.00FRDCStaff

TrOther Description Fares Allowance Accommodation Other Total

3,413 2,743 0 0

Operating

$750 per day)

opes or lipid analysis)

eetings

al 2,

Wet weather clothing

Justification

500

100 500

Mobile telephone - callstMobile telephone - ren

Sediment analysis fees

100 Licensing - Motor vehicles 300 Leasing - Motor vehicles 3,360 Info pamphlets for Industry m 250 IBBS at Jurien 30,000

Fuel and oils - Motor vehicles AIMS ($1000 per day) Hire of remotely operated vehicle from

1,125 3,000

Divers ($1000 per day) 5,000 5,000

30,688 Containers for sediment samples

Department of Fisheries divisional support levy Diet analysis (stable isot

500 5 days Naturaliste RV "Naturaliste" incremental cost of survey activities ( 3,750 Description Cost

670

avel

To be a

Staff FRDC 5.00 233 1,938 Research Scientist

Roy Melville-S

Staff FRDC 5.00 267 2,225 Staff FRDC 25.00 818 7,432 Technical Officer Mark Rossbach

31-December-2004

at Jurien for validation of abundance and size distribution of lobsters will be complete. Analysis of existing data sources (IBSS) will be complete and appropriate sites for habitat assessment will be selected.

Name Salary On-Cost %-Time

SRole In Kind/FRDC

ambers 1Staff FRDC 00.004,124 34,368 Lynda Bellch

Staff FRDC 15.00 619 5,155 Ian Wright

Staff FRDC 15.00 698 5,814 Chris Chubb

taff Position Fisheries Research Scientist Fisheries Research Scientist Research Scientist

Staff recruitment and appointment. Review of existing physical and biological information will be complete. GPS data from Fishermen and other sources will be collected and entered into database. IBSS survey

Milestone DescriptionMilestone Date

ApplicationID: FWA2003018

5:33:34PM Page 15 of 27

Printed - 22-Jun-04

154

FRDC-PP-010113. EDITION: Printed - 5:33:34PM

Page 16 of 2722-Jun-04

FWA2003018ApplicationID: Salaries - Salary rates are estimated award rates applicable at 1 January 2004 to Department of Fisheries officers, with applicable allowances. On costs components are workers compensation and superannuation liability. Travel - Travel comprises accommodation and other allowance rates that are applicable under relevant Department of Fisheries awards. Operating - Department of Fisheries divisional support levy equates to the proportional costs of support services, expertise and infrastructure required to carry out the project.

155

FRDC-PP-010113. EDITION:

Justification

Wet weather clothing 500 Sediment analysis fees 2,500 Mobile telephone - rental 100 Mobile telephone - calls 100 Licensing - Motor vehicles 300 Leasing - Motor vehicles 3,360 Info pamphlets for Industry meetings 250 Hire of remotely operated vehicle from AIMS ($1000 per day) 3,000 Fuel and oils - Motor vehicles 1,125 Divers ($1000 per day) 5,000 Diet analysis (stable isotopes or lipid analysis) 5,000 Department of Fisheries divisional support levy 30,688

Travel Other Description Allowance Accommodation Other Total

Operating

Description liste RV "Naturaliste" incremental cost of survey activities ($750 per day)

1 NT COST RECOVERED FISHERIES CONTRIBUTION BY APPLICA56,794Containers for sediment samples 500 5 days Natura 3,750

Cost

0 0 2,743 670 3,413Fares

Staff FRDC 100.00 2,387 21,703 Technical Officer To be advised Staff FRDC 31.00 758 6,318 Technical Officer To be advised Staff FRDC 5.00 233 1,938 Staff FRDC 5.00 267 2,225 Nick Caputi Supervising Scientist

-Smith Research Scientist Roy Melville

Staff FRDC 25.00 818 7,432 Technical Officer Mark Rossbach

30-June-2005 Habitat analysis using underwater video equipment and ROV will be complete at Jurien Bay siteDepletion experiment will be complete at Jurien. Preliminary diet and catchability work will be underway.

s.

e Position SalarNam y On-Cost %-Time

Staff Role In Kind/FRDC

hubb arch

Ian Wright arch 5,155 619 15.00FRDCStaff

Lynda Bellchambers Scientist 34,368 4,124 100.00FRDCStaff

Staff FRDC 15.00 698 5,814 Fisheries ReseScientist Fisheries ReseScientist Research

Chris C

Milestone DescriptionMilestone Date

ApplicationID: FWA2003018

5:33:34PM Page 17 of 27

Printed - 22-Jun-04

156

FRDC-PP-010113. EDITION: Printed - 5:33:34PM

Page 18 of 2722-Jun-04

FWA2003018ApplicationID: Salaries - Salary rates are estimated award rates applicable at 1 January 2004 to Department of Fisheries officers, with applicable allowances. On costs components are workers compensation and superannuation liability. Travel - Travel comprises accommodation and other allowance rates that are applicable under relevant Department of Fisheries awards. Operating - Department of Fisheries divisional support levy equates to the proportional costs of support services, expertise and infrastructure required to carry out the project.

157

FRDC-PP-010113. EDITION:

Justification

Vessel charter ($2000 per day) 20,000 Sediment analysis fees 5,000 Mobile telephone - rental 100 Mobile telephone - calls 100 Licensing - Motor vehicles 300 Leasing - Motor vehicles 3,360

Nick Caputi Supervising Scientist mith

Technical Officer FRDCTo be advised Technical Officer 8,135 976 38.00FRDCStaff

TrOther Description A e Accommodation Other

5,014 4,324 0 0

Operating

7,500 " incremental cost of survey activities ($750 per day)

Info pamphlets for Industry meetings 250 Hire of remotely operated vehicle from AIMS ($1000 per day) 7,500 Fuel and oils - Motor vehicles 1,125 Divers ($1000 per day) 10,000 Diet analysis (stable isotopes or lipid analysis) 5,000 Department of Fisheries divisional support levy 37,812 Containers for sediment samples 500 5 days Naturaliste RV "NaturalisteDescription Cost

690 TotalllowancFares

avel

Staff 100.00 2,530 22,998 To be advised Staff FRDC 5.00 240 1,996 Research Scientist Roy Melville-SStaff FRDC 5.00 275 2,291

31-December-2005

ill be conduct to

S On-Cost % e

SIn Kin C

Chris Chubb arch 3,993 479 10.00FRDCStaff

Ian Wright arch 5,310 637 15.00FRDCStaff

ers ch Staff FRDC 25.00 770 8,556 Technical Officer Mark Rossba

Staff FRDC 100.004,248 35,399 Lynda Bellchamb

d/FRDRole

taff -Timalary Position

Fisheries ReseScientist Fisheries ReseScientist Research Scientist

Name

determine priorities for phase 2

Habitat characterisation using ROV will be complete at Jurien Bay. All lobsers will have been collected for diet analysis and processing will be underway. Analysis of sediment samples will also be underway. Desktop catchibility studies will be underway. Review of data w

Milestone DescriptionMilestone Date

ApplicationID: FWA2003018

5:33:34PM Page 19 of 27

Printed - 22-Jun-04

158

FRDC-PP-010113. EDITION: Printed - 5:33:34PM

Page 20 of 2722-Jun-04

FWA2003018ApplicationID: Salaries - Salary rates are estimated award rates applicable at 1 January 2004 to Department of Fisheries officers, with applicable allowances. On costs components are workers compensation and superannuation liability. Travel - Travel comprises accommodation and other allowance rates that are applicable under relevant Department of Fisheries awards. Operating - Department of Fisheries divisional support levy equates to the proportional costs of support services, expertise and infrastructure required to carry out the project.

159

FRDC-PP-010113. EDITION:

Justification

Vessel charter ($2000 per day) 20,000 Sediment analysis fees 5,000 Mobile telephone - rental 100

Nick Caputi -Smith

8,135 38.00StaffTechnical Officer

TOther Description Fares Allowance Accommodation Other Total

690

Operating

Description liste RV "Naturaliste" incremental cost of survey activities ($750 per day)

2 NT COST RECOVERED FISHERIS

Diet analysis (stable isotopes or lipid analysis)

Mobile telephone - calls 100 Licensing - Motor vehicles 300 Leasing - Motor vehicles 3,360 Info pamphlets for Industry meetings 250 Hire of remotely operated vehicle from AIMS ($1000 per day) 7,500 Fuel and oils - Motor vehicles 1,125 Divers ($1000 per day) 10,000

5,000 Department of Fisheries divisional support levy 37,812 CONTRIBUTION BY APPLICA20,723Containers for sediment samples 500 5 days Natura 7,500

Cost

0 0 4,324 5,014

ravel

Staff FRDC 100.00 2,530 22,998 To be advised FRDC 976 Technical Officer To be advised

Staff FRDC 5.00 240 1,996 Research Scientist Roy MelvilleStaff FRDC 5.00 275 2,291 Supervising ScientistStaff FRDC 25.00 770 8,556 Technical Officer Mark Rossbach

Staff Name Position Salary On-Cost %-TimeRole In Kind/FRDCChris Chubb Fisheries Research

Scientist Fisheries ReseIan Wright arch 5,310 637 15.00FRDCStaff

hambers Scientist 35,399 4,248 100.00FRDCStaffLynda BellcScientist Research

Staff FRDC 10.00 479 3,993

Habitat characterisation using ROV at Lancelin will have commenced. Collection of lobsters diet analysis and sediment samples will have commenced. Seasonal replicate of depletion survey aJurien will be complete. Catchability experim

for t

ents at Jurien will be complete.

30-June-2006

Milestone DescriptionMilestone Date

ApplicationID: FWA2003018

5:33:34PM Page 21 of 27

Printed - 22-Jun-04

160

ApplicationID: FWA2003018Salaries - Salary rates are estimated award rates applicable at 1 January 2004 to Department of Fisheries officers, with applicable allowances. On costs components are workers compensation and superannuation liability. Travel - Travel comprises accommodation and other allowance rates that are applicable under relevant Department of Fisheries awards.

22-Jun-04 5:33:34PM Page 22 of 27

Printed - EDITION: 13. FRDC-PP-0101

Operating - Department of Fisheries divisional support levy equates to the proportional costs of support services, expertise and infrastructure required to carry out the project.

161

ApplicationID: FWA2003018

Milestone Date Milestone Description31-December-2006 Habitat assessment at Lancelin will be complete and habitat assessment at Dongara will have

commenced. Diet analysis at Lancelin and Dongara will be underway. Prey of Rock Lobster and sediment samples will have been processed.

Name Position Salary On-Cost %-Time

Staff Role In Kind/FRDC

Adrian Thomson Research Scientist 5,609 673 15.00FRDCStaffChris Chubb Fisheries Research

Scientist 4,112 493 5.00FRDCStaff

Ian Wright Fisheries Research Scientist

5,469 656 15.00FRDCStaff

Lynda Bellchambers Research Scientist 36,462 4,375 100.00FRDCStaffMark Rossbach Technical Officer 8,812 793 25.00FRDCStaffNick Caputi Supervising Scientist 2,360 283 5.00FRDCStaffRoy Melville-Smith Research Scientist 2,056 247 5.00FRDCStaffTo be advised Technical Officer 8,378 1,005 38.00FRDCStaffTo be advised Technical Officer 24,891 2,489 100.00FRDCStaff

Travel Other Description Fares Allowance Accommodation Other Total

5,164 710 4,454 0 0

Operating

Cost Description 7,500 5 days Naturaliste RV "Naturaliste" incremental cost of survey activities ($750 per day) 500 Containers for sediment samples

40,611 Department of Fisheries divisional support levy 5,000 Diet analysis (stable isotopes or lipid analysis)

10,000 Divers ($1000 per day) 1,125 Fuel and oils - Motor vehicles 7,500 Hire of remotely operated vehicle from AIMS ($1000 per day) 750 Info pamphlets for Industry meetings & final report preparation and publication

3,360 Leasing - Motor vehicles 300 Licensing - Motor vehicles 100 Mobile telephone - calls 100 Mobile telephone - rental

5,000 Sediment analysis fees 20,000 Vessel charter ($2000 per day)

Justification

22-Jun-04 5:33:34PM Page 23 of 27

Printed - EDITION: 13. FRDC-PP-0101

162

163

FRDC-PP-010113.

Salaries - Salary rates are estimated award rates applicable at 1 January 2004 to Department of Fisheries officers, with applicable allowances. On costs components are workers compensation and superannuation liability. Travel - Travel comprises accommodation and other allowance rates that are applicable under relevant Department of Fisheries awards. Operating - Department of Fisheries divisional support levy equates to the proportional costs of support services, expertise and infrastructure required to carry out the project.

ApplicationID: FWA2003018

EDITION: 5:33:34PM Page 24 of 27

Printed - 22-Jun-04

FWA2003018

Milestone Date Milestone Description30-June-2007 Statistical analysis will be underw mpact of lobster biomass removal from the

stem. All fie will be com ta will be in ss of being an Final report preparation underway.

Position Salar

ay to assess the iecosy ld work plete and da the proce alysed.

Name y On-Cost %-Time

Staff Role In Kind/FRDC

son Research Scientist 5,609 673 15.00FRDCStaff Fisheries Research

Scientist 4,112 493 5.00FRDCStaff

right Fisheries Research Scientist

5,469 656 15.00FRDCStaff

Lynda Bellchambers Research Scientist 36,462 4,375 100.00FRDCStaffMark Rossbach Technical Officer 8,812 793 25.00FRDCStaff

Ian W

Adrian ThomChris Chubb

ApplicationID:

Nick Caputi Supervising Scientist 2,360 283 5.00FRDCStaffRoy Melville-Smith Research Scientist 2,056 247 5.00FRDCStaffTo be advised Technical Officer 8,378 1,005 38.00FRDCStaffTo be advised Technical Officer 24,891 2,489 100.00FRDCStaff

Travel Other Description Fares Allowance Accommodation Other Total

5,164 710 4,454 0 0

Operating

Cost Description 7,500 5 days Naturaliste RV "Naturaliste" incremental cost of survey activities ($750 per day) 500 Containers for sediment samples

230,175 CONTRIBUTION BY APPLICANT COST RECOVERED FISHERIES 40,611 Department of Fisheries divisional support levy 5,000 Diet analysis (stable isotopes or lipid analysis)

10,000 Divers ($1000 per day) 1,125 Fuel and oils - Motor vehicles 7,500 Hire of remotely operated vehicle from AIMS ($1000 per day) 750 Info pamphlets for Industry meetings & final report preparation and publication

3,360 Leasing - Motor vehicles 300 Licensing - Motor vehicles 100 Mobile telephone - calls 100 Mobile telephone - rental

5,000 Sediment analysis fees 20,000 Vessel charter ($2000 per day)

Justification

EDITION: 13. FRDC-PP-0101 5:33:34PM Page 25 of 27

Printed - 22-Jun-04

164

165

FWA2003018Salaries - Salary rates are estimated award rates applicable at 1 January 2004 to Department of Fisheries officers, with applicable allowances. On costs components are workers compensation and superannuation liability. Travel - Travel comprises accommodation and other allowance rates that are applicable under relevant Department of Fisheries awards. Operating - Department of Fisheries divisional support levy equates to the proportional costs of support services, expertise and infrastructure required to carry out the project.

ApplicationID:

B13 CONTRIBUTION BY APPLICANT

Year TotalCapital OperatingTravelSalaries

04/05 50,282 0 156,794 0

Salaries comprise salary and on-cost components for FWA staff. Salary rates are estimated award rates applicable at 1 January 2004 to Department Fisheries officers, with applicable allowances (Chubb,Rossbach, Caputi, Wright & Melville-Smith). On costs components are workers compensation and superannuation liability. Operating costs include staff and operating cost components for Agency support - pro rata for total operational cost of this project. Costs of RV Naturaliste at $3,100/day for 1 ays

207,076

Justification

05/06 49,120 0 0

Salaries comprise salary and Salary rates are estimated award rates

Operating costs include staff and operating cost components for Agency support - pro rata for total operational cost of this project. Costs of RV Naturaliste at $3,100/day for 2 ays

269,843

Justification

06/07 50,593 0 230,175 0

Salaries comprise salary and on-cost components for FWA staff. Salary rates are estimated award rates applicable at 1 January 2004 to Department Fisheries officers, with applicable allowances

and superannuation liability. Operating costs include staff and operating cost components for Agency support - pro rata for total operational cost of this project. Costs of RV Naturaliste at $3,100/day for 2 ays

280,768

Justification

149,995 0 607,692 0 Total 757,687.00

22-Jun-04 5:33:34PM Page 26 of 27

Printed - EDITION: 13. FRDC-PP-0101

of

0 d

220,723

on-cost components for FWA staff. applicable at 1 January 2004 to Department of Fisheries officers, with applicable allowances (Chubb,Rossbach, Caputi, Wright & Melville-Smith). On costs components are workers compensation and superannuation liability.

0 d

of(Chubb,Rossbach, Caputi, Wright & Melville-Smith). On costs components are workers compensation

0 d

ApplicationID:

FWA2003018

B14 CONTRIBUTION BY OTHER

Year TotalCapital OperatingTravelSalaries

Justificati

Contributor

Total

un-04 5:33:34PM Page 27 of 27EDITION: 13. FRDC-PP-0101

on

22-JPrinted -

166

ATTACHMENT NINE

FRDC December 2004 Milestone Report – The effects of western rock lobster fishing on the deepwater ecosystems off the west coast of Western Australia

167

MILEST

ONE PROGRESS REPORT

FRDC PROJECT NUMBER: 2004/049

NAME OF RESEARCH PROVIDER: Department of Fisheries

PROJECT TITLE: The effect of western rock lobster on the deepwater ecosystems off the west coast of Western Australia

PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR: Dr Lynda Bellchambers

ORIGINAL MILESTONE DATE AND TITLE:

December 2005

1. Staff recruitment and appointment. 2. Review of existing physical and biological information will be complete. 3. GPS data from fishermen and other sources will be collected and entered into database. 3.IBSS survey at Jurien for validation of abundance and size distribution of lobsters will be complete. 4. Analysis of existing data sources IBSS will be complete and appropriate sites for habitat assessment will be selected.

REVISED MILESTONE DATE AND TITLE: None

1. All staff associated with this project have been recruited. Dr Lynda Bellchambers, an invertebrate ecologist who has been with the Department of Fisheries for 4 years, has been appointed as Rock Lobster Ecologist (Research Scientist). While Mr Scott Evans, who has also been with the Department for four years, has been appointed as Technician Officer. Mr Kris Waddington is commencing his PhD at UWA in 2005 on the diet and trophic status of western rock lobsters in deep water ecosystems. Kris’ project has been designed in conjunction with FRDC project 2004/049 to allow the project to draw on expertise of personnel at both UWA and CSIRO.

2. Review of existing physical and biological information is complete. All Departments and

companies that have conducted seabed mapping or bathymetry along the coast of WA have been contacted and data from previous studies has, where available, been obtained (Table 1). There have been difficulties obtaining some of the data due to intellectual property however the negotiation process of obtaining data is on going. Talks have been undertaken with Curtin University (Dr John Penrose) to obtain the GIS expertise required to transfer the data obtained into a GIS acceptable format to produce seabed maps.

Table 1: Habitat mapping and bathymetry data for the West Australian

coast from Fremantle to Kalbarri, Departments/companies contacted and data available or received.

PROGRESS AGAINST MILESTONE:

168

Company and contact details Data available

CALM Marine Conservation Branch Have detailed bathymetry, Landsat data and habitat mapping of areas to around 30m deep

DOLA Have some Landsat Imagery to maximum of 40m deep

DPI Have supplied Naval bathymetry

Fugro Survey Currently searching databases

Rok Oil Have supplied limited mapping of area North of Freshwater Bay and some bathymetry of the Perth Basin

Other companies contacted

Apache Oil, BBG, Des Lord and Associates, URS Environmental

“No Data Available”

3. Collecting GPS data from fishermen has been trialed but was not successful due to the

unwillingness of fishermen to release GPS co ordinates. Therefore, collecting data using digital photos of the GPS screens on lobster vessels was trialed ( Figure 1). However, the level of resolution was poor and as a result only broad areas could be used to identify the areas of rock lobster fishing. These areas were not on a spatial scale suitable for the iden fication of physical seafloor attributes. Further attempts to collect this type of data from fishermen are ongoing.

ti

Figure 1: Digital photo of GPS screen of western rock lobster vessel displaying the location of lobster pots in the deep water lobster grounds off Two Rocks.

4. The Jurien IBSS (Independent Breeding Stock Survey) for validation of abundance and size distribution of lobsters was conducted from the 10 to 21 October 2004 (for location of breeding stock sites, see figure 2). The survey is conducted on 5 sites or sub regions in Jurien

169

170

Bay with each sub region containing 10 lines of 16 pots that are sampled over the course of the IBBS. All data from the survey has been entered into the database and validated. Detailed analysis of the 2004 season data is currently being conducted. However, the annual estimates of egg production from the 2004 IBSS indicate that egg production has increased slightly from the 2001 estimate (Figure 3).

Figure 2: Map of Jurien Bay IBSS (Independent Breeding Stock Survey) sub regions.

1992

1995

1998

2001

2004

0

0.3

0.1

0.2

Egg

s pe

r po

tlif

t (m

illio

n)

Year

Jurien

Figure 3: Annual estimates of egg production for Jurien Bay from IBSS.

5. The Jurien Bay IBSS data (from previous surveys) was validated outliners and anomalies in the data sets were checked. When the IBSS was established a range of sub regions were selected to represent areas of high and low lobster density. These sub regions were then analysed on a line-by-line basis to compare mean catch rates within and between sub regions (Figure 4 A-D). Sites for the habitat assessment via underwater video transects were chosen to represent the range of density combinations (between and within sub regions) within the lobster grounds surveyed by the IBSS. The number of sites selected and density combinations are listed in Table 2. Subregions were also analysed to examine patterns in the mean carapace length of both females and males on a line by line basis

Table 2: Number and density rankings of sites for lines of pots selected for underwater video analysis. Sub region density Line density No. of sites High High 3 High Low 3

ow Low 3 ow High 1

LL

171

Year

1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002

Ave

rage

CP

UE

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

Year

1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002

Ave

rage

CP

UE

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

Year

1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002

Av 4

10

12

1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002

Ave

rage

E

6

8

erag

e C

PU

E

CP

U

0

2

Year

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

Year

1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002

e C

PU

E

4

6

8

10

Ave

rag

2

0

12

A B

C D

E

Figure 4: Average CPUE (lobsters/pot) of pot lines by sub region for the Jurien Bay IBSS. A) Sub region 1 B) Sub region 2 C) Sub region 3 D) Sub region 4 E) Sub region 5. The red lines represent have been selected as high-density sites for underwater video and the blue lines are low density lines.

172

Activities related to future milestones:

30 June 2005 – Depletion experiment will complete at Jurien.

Depletion experiment was conducted in conjunction with a commercial rock lobster fisherman during a high catch period on anselected area (approximately 200 m2) was fished daily, between the 9-12 November 2004, with 18 batten type pots to enable an comparison of the catchibility of small and large lobsters. There was no significant di pace length of lobsters caught throughout the depletion survey (P>0.05 (Figure 5)). However, the majority of lobsters caught were females with only four males caught during the survey period.

be

isolated reef area at Dongara. The

fference in the cara

Day 1Day 2Day 3Day 4Day 5

0

0.2

0.4

0.6

0.8

1

70 80 90 100 110 120

Carapace length (mm)

Pro

port

ion

Figure 5: Carapace length (mm) of male and female lobsters caught during the depletion survey as a proportion of the total catch

Based of modelling of the depletion survey ata the estimated population size for the area of reef sampled would be 106 lobsters (Figure 6).

d

173

Cumulative catch

50 0 70 80 90 1006 110

Dai

lyat

ch c

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

106

Day 2

Day 4Day 3

a ded duri g

one

UBLICATIONS OR MEDIA REPORTS:

VARIA S TO PRO

The prin pal investigator on this project (Dr Chris Chubb) has been replaced by Dr Lynda Bellchambers. FRDC has t’s milestones

Day 1

Figure 6: Depletion model of daily catch versus cumulative catch based on the catches l n nthe depletion survey at Dongara.

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY ISSUES ARISING:

N

P

None

TION JECT:

cibeen informed of these changes and the Department of Fisheries does not foresee any delays in the projecor objectives due to these changes.

Dr L. M. Bellchambers

Principal Investigator

174

175

ATTACHMENT TEN

SRG model for addressing MSC ongoing requirements of certification

176

ATTACHMENT TEN

SRG model for addressing MSC ongoing requirements of certification To assist in establishing a collective understanding of the approach that is to be at the heart of the research plan the SRG developed a conceptual model as to how the process would evolve and develop knowledge that is directly applicable to testing the hypothesis and in doing so answer the threshold question contained within the ongoing requirements of certification. This model is illustrated in Figure 1.

SELECT AREA(S) (based on FIEP, effort gradient data)

ENSURE MEANINGFUL GRADIENT* NO

YES NO GRADIENT IDENTIFIABLE (No. of sites are required) (determined following a No. of attempts)

ECOLOGICAL PROCESS STUDIES FISHED V UNFISHED STUDY

ASSESS ECOSYSTEM EFFECT

MANAGEMENT RESPONSE (inc Marine Protected Area option)

*The task of finding a meaningful gradient is encapsulated here in a single component of the conceptual model, but is actually a complex iterative task. Ideally, or ultimately, a "meaningful gradient" will be defined as a meaningful gradient in biological assemblage structure across sites that are otherwise undistinguishable based on physical attributes. Thus the examination of gradients will need to be structured in such a way that it takes into account both physical and biological habitat structure. It is recognized that fully meeting these criteria will only be possible by the ongoing incorporation of data from initial examinations of sites identified by FIEP and more detailed habitat mapping studies. Figure 1. Eco SRG conceptual model of research plan to determine the effect of rock lobster fishing on the ecosystem. Note that management responses can occur throughout the process as information is feed into the risk assessment and evaluation process of which the SRG is a part.