Pilbara Demersal Finfish Sustainability

This project is only currently concerned with the commercial sector; the Pilbara Fish Trawl Interim Managed Fishery, the Pilbara Trap Managed Fishery and the unmanaged line fishery

on the North West Shelf. The trawl fishery has been formally managed only since 1998 and was significantly restructured in 2002/2003, including a seven per cent total reduction in fishing effort following research stock assessments.

Main target species are emperors (Lutjanus and Lethrinus spp.), Rankin cod, goldband snapper, threadfin bream, flagfish and scarlet perch and the combined fishery has a commercial production of 3,300 tonnes valued at $11 million. The recreational component is increasing, with charter vessels targeting red emperor and Rankin cod.

The project determines the status of the fish stocks in the Pilbara region using indicator species such as red emperor, Rankin cod and blue-spot emperor and catch estimates from all sectors. When the region goes through the Integrated Fisheries Management process, more accurate estimates of recreational and charter catches will be needed and sustainable catch levels for the main species will need to be estimated.

This project will:

* Assess the status of the Pilbara fisheries annually, including catches and catch rates for 10 species and determine if a review is needed.
* Provide an overview annual report on the status of the Pilbara finfish resources.
* Provide scientific advice to management and industry as to the long-term sustainability of the finfish resources and recommend fishing effort quota levels.

Time: Ongoing

本项目目前仅聚焦商业捕捞领域，涵盖西北陆架海域的皮尔巴拉拖网过渡管理渔业（Pilbara Fish Trawl Interim Managed Fishery）、皮尔巴拉笼捕管理渔业（Pilbara Trap Managed Fishery）以及未纳入管理的线钓渔业。该拖网渔业自1998年起才正式纳入管理体系，并于2002/2003年完成重大结构调整，其中包括依据渔业资源评估研究结果，将总捕捞努力量缩减7%。

主要目标物种包括笛鲷与裸颊鲷类（Lutjanus属及Lethrinus spp.）、兰金鳕（Rankin cod）、金带笛鲷（goldband snapper）、丝胸鲷（threadfin bream）、旗鲈（flagfish）以及红鲈（scarlet perch）；该综合渔业的商业年产量达3300吨，产值为1100万美元。休闲捕捞板块的规模正持续扩大，包租渔船以红笛鲷（red emperor）与兰金鳕为主要捕捞目标。

本项目通过红笛鲷、兰金鳕及蓝斑笛鲷（blue-spot emperor）等指示物种，结合全捕捞板块的渔获量估算数据，评估皮尔巴拉海域的鱼类种群现状。当该区域推进综合渔业管理（Integrated Fisheries Management）流程时，将需要更为精准的休闲捕捞及包租渔船渔获量估算数据，并针对主要物种测算其可持续捕捞水平。

本项目将开展以下工作：
- 每年开展皮尔巴拉渔业现状评估，涵盖10个物种的渔获量及捕捞率，并判定是否需要启动渔业审查；
- 提交年度综合报告，概述皮尔巴拉硬骨鱼类资源的现状；
- 为渔业管理方及行业从业者提供关于硬骨鱼类资源长期可持续性的科学建议，并建议捕捞作业配额水平。

项目周期：持续进行中