Seminars

Seminar Abstract

Ecological risk assessment for the effects of fishing

This project has involved five years research to develop and apply methods for ecological risk assessment (ERA) to Australian Commonwealth fisheries, and is now drawing to a close.

In this presentation we will describe the basic methods and approach (called Ecological Risk Assessment for Effects of Fishing or ERAEF – a hierarchical approach to risk assessment that can assess risks at three different Levels of analysis). The authors (and others) have applied them to over 31 sub-fisheries managed by the Australian fisheries Management Authority (AFMA).

This work represents the most comprehensive ecological risk assessment ever undertaken for Commonwealth fisheries in Australia. The method has assessed over 1200 individual species (68 target species, 857 byproduct and bycatch species, and 364 threatened, endangered and protected species) and over 200 habitats across the 31 sub-fisheries.

This provides a firm basis for AFMA to go forward in managing and mitigating the high risk components, species and habitats identified at the various levels of analysis. This study has also highlighted the strategic importance to AFMA of its independent observer programs, the need for much more extensive application of fishery independent surveys, and the importance of continuing efforts to compile and assess spatial data for species, habitats and communities.

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Location:
CSIRO = Marine Laboratories Auditorium, Castray Esplanade, Hobart

For further information, or to schedule a seminar, contact:
To schedule a seminar, contact:
Karen Wild-Allen, (Oceanographic seminars) CSIRO Marine and Atmospheric Research (03) 6232 5010
Piers Dunstan, (Biological seminars) CSIRO Marine and Atmospheric Research
(03) 6232 5382
Annabel Ozimec (seminar administrator) CSIRO Marine and Atmospheric Research (03) 6232 5462
Sandra Zicus, Antarctic Climate and Ecosystems CRC (03) 6226 7888
Margaret Hazelwood, Institute of Antarctic and Southern Ocean Studies (IASOS) University of Tasmania (03) 6226 2971