PROJECT 2.4: EFFECTS OF LINE AND SPEAR FISHING
(Dr B Mapstone, CRC & Dr W Craik, GBRMPA)
Line fishing is a major recreational and commercial activity
in the GBR Marine Park. Some studies have estimated that recreational
spear and line fishers take over 50% of the total catch of reef fish with
the remainder taken by professional reef line fishers. The potential for
Reef-based fishing to have adverse effects on target species or other
reef biota is not well understood. Knowledge of the intensity, distribution,
and effects of reef fishing is essential for the management of fishing
in the GBR.
The impact of line fishing
on the major target species of fish and on subsequent fishing practices
will be tested through deliberate manipulations of fishing pressure
and reef closures. The work will involve 24 reefs arranged in four clusters
each of six reefs. Each cluster will include four reefs which are currently
closed to fishing as a result of marine park zoning and two reefs which
are currently open to fishing. Implementation of the manipulative stages
of the experiment will require special approval by GBRMPA.
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Recreational fishing is a major pasttime in certain
parts of the Great Barrier Reef.
Photo: GBRMPA |
This experimental approach is potentially contentious and much effort
has been expended on engendering community understanding and support.
The experiment has been widely discussed with management agencies, commercial
and recreational fishers, charter vessel operators, and conservationists
at many regional meetings along the GBR coast. Most groups indicated their
support for the work conditional on (1) adequate on-going consultation
and liaison, (2) feedback of results and (3) review of the project in
mid 1997. The public is actively involved in the selection of reefs. If
GBRMPA approval of the work is given, manipulations should commence in
1996. Baseline surveys of selected reefs are expected to be carried out
in Spring-Summer 1995.
Applying the experimental results to the GBR line fishery in general
requires extensive research on current fishing behaviour, catch, effort,
and analysis of historical records. These subjects are being addressed
by several tasks including analyses of QFMA logbook data, skipper surveys
and studies of fleet dynamics.
It is much more difficult to collect reliable information on the recreational
fishing sector than the commercial sector. Several survey techniques are
being used to provide information on the distribution and intensity of
recreational boating and fishing activities in the Townsville region.
The opening of Bramble Reef on 1 July 1995 to fishing is providing a focus
for this task and an excellent opportunity for collaborative work with
the Queensland Department of Environment and Heritage, the Queensland
Boating Fishing Patrol and local communities.
Spearfishing is a poorly understood
component of the recreational fishing effort. More than 2,400
spearfishing competition records from Cairns, Townsville, Mackay and Yeppoon/Rockhampton,
logbook records kept by 64 volunteer spearfishers and questionnaire surveys
are being analysed to identify who spearfishes on the GBR, why, where
they fish, and what they catch. This work is scheduled for completion
at the end of 1996.
Scientists from the CSIRO Division of Fisheries in Hobart are
collaborating with CRC scientists to synthesise the effects of
line fishing results by computer modelling. The synthesis will draw heavily
on the fishing expertise of CSIRO and be targetted at assessing the likelihood
of success or risks of failure for alternative management strategies on
reef line fishing.
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