Northern Prawn Fishery - Anecdotal information (target species, by-catch, environment and practical fishing issues)

Information about target species and by-catch, environment and practical prawn trawling was collected from current and past commercial operators in the Northern Prawn Fishery to guide and assist in the development of future CSIRO research projects in this geographic area. The information volunteered included both verbal and written responses to formal interviews, questionnaires and casual conversations. A casual approach seemed to encourage less guarded responses. Although the information refers to the defined management area of the NPF the practical experience to make such observations and interpretations may have been gained anywhere and where possible we have recorded the experience of the contributor in the fishing industry. The information volunteered was initially recorded onto data sheets and later in the laboratory transposed to Oracle tables.