Threat Abatement Plan for the Incidental Catch (or by-catch) of Seabirds During Oceanic Longline Fishing Operations

Prepared by
Biodiversity Group Environment Australia in consultation with the Threat Abatement Team
Environment Australia, 1998
ISBN 0 642 21420 4

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7. Objectives, Criteria and Actions (continued)

Objective 8

Collect data on seabird by-catch to assess the performance of mitigation measures and improve knowledge of seabird-longline interactions.

Criteria for Success

Data are collected and analysed from a significant sample of the longline fishing effort in the AFZ to accurately and precisely describe:

how many of each seabird species caught in each longline fishery, area, season and gear type; and
the time of day/night that longlines are set and hauled.

All seabirds killed on longlines in the AFZ are collected for analysis to determine their sex, age class and provenance/population.

Actions

Action 8.1

Data sharing arrangements.

AFMA and Environment Australia have established the framework for a Marine Wildlife/Fisheries Interaction Working Group to establish protocols for data collection and exchange.

This group should consider seabird/fisheries interactions data to ensure that data is collected and exchanged in order to assess progress of the Threat Abatement Plan.

No costs to the Commonwealth have been identified against this action as the participation by Environment Australia and AFMA in this forum is funded through other programs.

Action 8.2

AFMA will modify the domestic and foreign pelagic and demersal longline fisheries logbooks and Vessel Monitoring System (VMS) information collection procedures to accurately record:

the number of seabirds caught;
the species of seabirds caught;
the fishing gear and mitigation measures used and stage of the fishing operation when the catch occurred;
the time of day and date of the catch;
the location of the catch; and
external factors (weather conditions, ambient light) which may influence by-catch.

Estimated Cost of Action (x$1000)
Source	Year 1	Year 2	Year 3	Year 4	Year 5
AFMA	15	3	3	3	3

Action 8.3

AFMA will continue observation of Japanese longline fishing operations in the AFZ and will ensure that the information specified for domestic logbooks is collected.

No additional costs to the Commonwealth have been identified against this action because the costs are covered by existing AFMA programs

Action 8.4

AFMA will develop a domestic pelagic and demersal longline observer program to validate seabird by-catch data collected by the logbook system and address deficiencies in existing programs. These deficiencies relate to the quality and detail of seabird data collected.

The observers will be responsible for information collection and education.

The level and coverage by observers will be determined by an independent study based on an agreed brief prepared by AFMA, Environment Australia and the longline fishing industry. A pilot observer program will be used to better target the actions of the Plan and develop the framework for the full observer program. The pilot observer program will include the following domestic fishing industries:

Eastern Tuna and Billfish Fishery;
Western Tuna and Billfish/Southern Tuna and Billfish Fishery;
Southern Bluefin Tuna Fishery longline sector;
South East Fishery Non-Trawl; and
Southern Shark Fishery, demersal line sector.

The pilot observer program will examine geographical, inter- and intra-fishery variation in the catch rates of seabirds in the domestic pelagic, demersal and semi-demersal longline fisheries within the AFZ.

It is not possible to accurately determine the costs associated with the implementation of a full observer program until the pilot study is completed. There will be negotiations between Environment Australia, the Australian Fisheries Management Authority and the fishing industry regarding the apportioning of costs associated with the implementation of the domestic observer program. The implementation of the recommended program will be overseen by AFMA, Environment Australia and the longline fishing industry.

It may be necessary to have a period of more intensive sampling to establish the boundaries for compulsory mitigation and test assumptions on the level of ongoing observer coverage.

The exact cost of this actions will be governed by the recommendations of the consultant. It is therefore not possible at this stage to determine the likely cost of this action.

Estimated Cost of Action (x$1000)
Source	Year 1	Year 2	Year 3	Year 4	Year 5
AFMA - Pelagic		to be determined
AFMA - Demersal		to be determined
ESP/NHT Funds		to be determined

Action 8.5

AFMA will recommend to the Minister for Resources and Energy that regulations be made to ensure that all seabirds killed on pelagic or demersal longlines in the AFZ are:

reported to AFMA;
reported to the Australian Bird and Bat Banding Schemes if banded;
collected for scientific analysis;
stored on board the vessel in manner which will limit decay of the specimen and meet AQIS regulations; and
deposited at a storage and analysis facility nominated by Environment Australia in each port.

Any hooked birds must be brought aboard the vessel. No birds are to be cut off the line.

Environment Australia will provide seabird collection kits to facilitate handling of seabirds killed on longlines for analysis. Collection practices will be consistent with AQIS requirements.

Environment Australia will arrange for seabird collection points in the major longline fishing ports to store and transport birds collected from longline fishers.

Data on provenance of seabirds killed will be used to determine the impact of longline fishing seabird by-catch in the Australian Fishing Zone on populations of seabirds.

Estimated Cost of Action (x$1000)
Source	Year 1	Year 2	Year 3	Year 4	Year 5
AFMA	-	-	-	-	-
ESP/NHT Funds	25	15	15	15	15

Objectice 9

Supply and analyse data to assess the performance of mitigation measures and improve knowledge of seabird-longline interactions.

Criteria for Success

Data are supplied within three months of the end of a fishing season and analysed appropriately.

Actions

Action 9.1

AFMA will supply seabird by-catch data sourced from logbooks and other methods to Environment Australia in computerised format for analysis on a six monthly basis.

These data are to be subject to agreements set out by the Marine Wildlife/Fisheries Interaction Working Group.

AFMA is to supply these data within three months of receiving them from fishers.

No costs to the Commonwealth have been identified against this action as the costs will be minimal once appropriate changes have been made to the AFMA database. These changes are funded under Objective 8, Action 2.

Action 9.2

Environment Australia will analyse the seabird by-catch data collected to assess:

seabird by-catch rates by area, season, fishery and fishing method; and
seabird by-catch mitigation effectiveness.

Estimated Cost of Action (x$1000)
Source	Year 1	Year 2	Year 3	Year 4	Year 5
ESP/NHT Funds	20	20	20	20	20

Action 9.3

Environment Australia and AFMA will collaborate to assess the impact of TAP actions on other marine species.

No costs to the Commonwealth have been identified against this action as the participation by Environment Australia and AFMA in this forum is funded through other programs.

Action 9.4

Environment Australia will analyse the seabirds collected to determine:

species, subspecies;
provenance (where possible);
age;
sex; and
breeding status.

Estimated Cost of Action (x$1000)
Source	Year 1	Year 2	Year 3	Year 4	Year 5
ESP/NHT Funds	20	20	20	20	20

Objective 10

Communicate the results of the Threat Abatement Plan actions to fishers, management agencies and the public.

Criteria for Success

Progress reports will be produced.

Actions

Action 10.1

Environment Australia will report biannually to the Threat Abatement Team on the analysis of by-catch data and seabirds collected in relation to achieving the objectives of the Threat Abatement Plan.

Estimated Cost of Action (x$1000)
Source	Year 1	Year 2	Year 3	Year 4	Year 5
ESP/NHT Funds	1	1	1	1	1

Action 10.2

The Threat Abatement Team will meet at least annually to review the report and revise the actions and priorities of the Plan.

Estimated Cost of Action (x$1000)
Source	Year 1	Year 2	Year 3	Year 4	Year 5
ESP/NHT Funds	5	5	5	5	5

Action 10.3

AFMA, Environment Australia and DPIE will communicate results of seabird by-catch analysis to fishers through established fora.

No costs to the Commonwealth have been identified against this action as the activities by AFMA, Environment Australia and DPIE in this action are funded through other programs.

Action 10.4

The Threat Abatement Team will oversee production of an annual report to communicate progress of the Threat Abatement Plan. Environment Australia will produce the report.

Estimated Cost of Action (x$1000)
Source	Year 1	Year 2	Year 3	Year 4	Year 5
ESP/NHT Funds	5	5	5	5	5

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