DEPARTMENT OF FISHERIES ANNUAL REPORT TO THE ...

AgENCy PERFORMANCE � SERvICE 3 – RESEARCH AND MONITORINg
• Undertaking monitoring and research activities
aimed at limiting the potential introduction and
impact of marine pest species.
• Investigation of the effects of fishing on
stocks, habitats, bycatch species, protected
species and the ecosystem in general.
• Undertaking research and development
activities to assist with the expansion of the
State’s aquaculture industry.
Significant scientific advice and contributions
are also provided by the Research Division to assist
the Department of Fisheries in:
• Negotiating management or governance
arrangements with Commonwealth agencies
(such as the Department of Sustainability,
Environment, Water, Populations and Communities
(SEWPaC); the Department of Agriculture,
Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF); and the Australian
Fisheries Management Authority (AFMA)).
• Providing advice to support the development of
national and international strategies.
• Providing advice on risks and impacts of
marine and coastal developments including
those associated with the resources sector.
• Information to support Wildlife Trade Operation
accreditation by State fisheries to obtain
export approvals under the Commonwealth’s
Environment Protection and Biodiversity
Conservation Act 1999.
The individual branches of the Research
Division and their work are described below.
Invertebrate fisheries
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The Invertebrate Fisheries Branch undertakes
research to assess and monitor the crustacean
and mollusc stocks that support the State’s major
fisheries, which include rock lobsters, prawns, pearl
oysters, scallops, abalone and crabs.
A focus of research in recent years has been
the development of estimates of pre-recruitment
abundance to make catch predictions and then
using these predictions in the management of the
fisheries through management ‘decision rules’.
The Invertebrate Fisheries Branch also assists
the Biodiversity and Biosecurity Branch to undertake
research on broader ecosystem-related issues
associated with these fisheries, such as bycatch
and community structure, including a number of
collaborative projects with universities, the Western
Australian Museum and the Commonwealth Scientific
and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO).
The Invertebrate Fisheries Branch is
also responsible for staffing and programming
the Department’s major research vessel, the
RV Naturaliste. This vessel undertakes a range
of research activities throughout the year,
encompassing trawling, fish trapping, rock lobster
fishing, longlining, biodiversity studies and
environmental monitoring.