Indicator: CO-19 Estimated tonnage taken by illegal fishing; estimated number of illegal boats, estimated number of individuals of threatened species taken
Data
| 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | Total/Month | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 5 | 3 | 7 | 10 | 3 | 12 | 17 | 57 |
| Feb | 0 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 13 | 6 | 25 | 50 |
| Mar | 9 | 9 | 8 | 4 | 5 | 10 | 10 | 55 |
| Apr | 4 | 8 | 3 | 18 | 13 | 9 | 35 | 90 |
| May | 2 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 33 | 20 | 12 | 74 |
| Jun | 0 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 8 | 8 | 27 |
| Jul | 1 | 4 | 7 | 3 | 2 | 13 | 3 | 33 |
| Aug | 0 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 9 | 12 | 8 | 39 |
| Sep | 15 | 8 | 13 | 15 | 16 | 13 | 25 | 105 |
| Oct | 12 | 17 | 19 | 18 | 22 | 29 | 54 | 171 |
| Nov | 8 | 11 | 8 | 24 | 13 | 19 | 13 | 96 |
| Dec | 4 | 1 | 10 | 10 | 6 | 10 | 41 | |
| TOTAL/Year | 60 | 77 | 80 | 111 | 139 | 161 | 210 | 628 |
Source: Australian Fisheries Management Authority, provided at request of SoE 2006 Committee.
The number of vessels apprehended for illegally fishing in Australian waters has more than trebled between 1999 and 2005.
No data on tonnage or number of individuals taken by illegal fishing operations are available.
What the data mean
Meaningful indicators for the pressures of illegal fishing on fish stocks and ecosystems more generally have not been identified. Ideally such indicators would show numbers, weights and species of marine animal illegally taken and how impacts of these pressures compare with those of (lawful) commercial fishing.
The above indicators provide some baseline for estimating the contribution of illegal fishing to pressures on the condition of marine biodiversity and the effectiveness of responses, but need to be treated with caution. The increase in number of vessels apprehended may indicate increased surveillance and/or effort to apprehend, rather than increased illegal activity. Likewise a decline in estimated illegal vessels could be indicative of effective responses, declining fish stocks or simply decreased surveillance.
Data Limitations
Without estimates on tonnage, number and species taken by illegal fishing, time series data on number of boats, either apprehended or estimated to be operating in Australian waters, do not mean a great deal.
Issues for which this is an indicator and why
Coasts and Oceans — Direct pressure of human activities on coasts and oceans - Pressure of fishing
The suggested indicators, read collectively, would provide some baseline for estimating the contribution of illegal fishing to pressures on the condition of marine biodiversity.
Other indicators for this issue:
- CO-16 Status of Australian fisheries
- CO-17 Change in species and trophic structure of fish species caught
- CO-20 Non-target effects: Area of seabeds trawled
- CO-21 Non-target effects: Number and/or weight taken as bycatch, and change since introduction of exclusion devices
- CO-22 Aquaculture: extent of habitat disturbed or removed
- CO-23 Aquaculture: volume of discharged sediments and nutrients
- CO-24 Aquaculture: origin species and tonnage of stockfeed used
- CO-25 Aquaculture: instances of disease and exotic species introduction from movement of live material
- CO-32 Number of injuries to marine animals from marine debris
- CO-53 Evidence or examples of noise or visual disturbance of marine species by human activities
- CO-62 Estimated number of marine animals harvested by recreational fishers
- CO-63 Estimated number of marine animals harvested by indigenous fishers
- CO-65 Correlation between various human activities and introduction of coastal and marine species
- AAT-19 Annual catch in tonnes of marine species harvested in Australian Antarctic and sub-Antarctic waters - legal and illegal
- AAT-20 Fishing by-catch numbers and/or weight taken as bycatch
- LD-40 Current research into pressures and contributions of naturalised introduced species
- BD-09 The change in extent of selected nationally significant invasive species
Biodiversity — Pressures on biodiversity - Pressures on marine biodiversity: pressures of fishing
All forms of fishing, including illegal fishing, place pressure on marine biodiversity. The suggested indicators, read collectively, would provide some baseline for estimating the contribution of illegal fishing to pressures on the condition of marine biodiversity.
Other indicators for this issue:
- CO-16 Status of Australian fisheries
- CO-17 Change in species and trophic structure of fish species caught
- CO-20 Non-target effects: Area of seabeds trawled
- CO-21 Non-target effects: Number and/or weight taken as bycatch, and change since introduction of exclusion devices
- CO-22 Aquaculture: extent of habitat disturbed or removed
- CO-23 Aquaculture: volume of discharged sediments and nutrients
- CO-24 Aquaculture: origin species and tonnage of stockfeed used
- CO-25 Aquaculture: instances of disease and exotic species introduction from movement of live material
- CO-62 Estimated number of marine animals harvested by recreational fishers
- CO-63 Estimated number of marine animals harvested by indigenous fishers
- CO-65 Correlation between various human activities and introduction of coastal and marine species
- AAT-20 Fishing by-catch numbers and/or weight taken as bycatch
- AAT-19 Annual catch in tonnes of marine species harvested in Australian Antarctic and sub-Antarctic waters - legal and illegal
Biodiversity — Utilisation and value of biodiversity - Harvesting and trade in wildlife
Harvesting of wild fish, including illegal fishing, is the principal commercial harvesting of wild animals in Australia.
Other indicators for this issue:
- BD-23 Some selected nationally significant native terrestrial species subjected to harvesting and population trends
- LD-10 Number of compounds from terrestrial sources at some stage of commercial development
- CO-07 Australian fisheries production - national tonnage and value of retained catch
- CO-09 Number of compounds from coastal and marine sources at some stage of commercial development
- CO-16 Status of Australian fisheries
- CO-17 Change in species and trophic structure of fish species caught
- CO-20 Non-target effects: Area of seabeds trawled
- CO-21 Non-target effects: Number and/or weight taken as bycatch, and change since introduction of exclusion devices
- CO-32 Number of injuries to marine animals from marine debris
- CO-62 Estimated number of marine animals harvested by recreational fishers
- CO-63 Estimated number of marine animals harvested by indigenous fishers
- CO-65 Correlation between various human activities and introduction of coastal and marine species
- AAT-19 Annual catch in tonnes of marine species harvested in Australian Antarctic and sub-Antarctic waters - legal and illegal
- AAT-20 Fishing by-catch numbers and/or weight taken as bycatch
Australian Antarctic Territory — Environment - Human Pressures on the environment
All forms of fishing in Antarctic waters, including illegal fishing, place pressure on marine biodiversity. The suggested indicators, read collectively, would provide some baseline for estimating the contribution of illegal fishing to pressures on the condition of marine biodiversity, including Antarctic biodiversity.
Other indicators for this issue:
- AAT-17 Types and concentrations of long range pollutants from outside Antarctica reaching Antarctica
- AAT-18 Annual tourist ship visits and tourist numbers
- AAT-19 Annual catch in tonnes of marine species harvested in Australian Antarctic and sub-Antarctic waters - legal and illegal
- AAT-20 Fishing by-catch numbers and/or weight taken as bycatch
- AAT-21 Station and ship person days
- AAT-22 Wastewater - biological oxygen demand of wastewater discharged
- AAT-23 Annual fuel usage of generator sets and boilers
- AAT-24 Annual incinerator fuel usage
- AAT-25 Annual total of fuel used by vehicles
- AAT-26 Annual total potable water consumption
- AAT-27 Volume of runoffs and pollutants/emissions from stations
- CO-16 Status of Australian fisheries
- CO-17 Change in species and trophic structure of fish species caught
- CO-21 Non-target effects: Number and/or weight taken as bycatch, and change since introduction of exclusion devices
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