WA West Coast Demersal Scalefish Managed Fishery

1A: Stock Status

CRITERIA: (i)The stock is at a level which maintains high productivity and has a low probability of recruitment overfishing.

(a) Stock Status

Redthroat emperor

HIGH RISK

Genetic analysis indicates that there are two separate biological stocks of Redthroat emperor in western and eastern Australian waters (Van Herwerden et al, 2009).

A stock assessment of the Western Australian biological stock of Redthroat Emperor has not yet been conducted (Roberts and Fairclough, 2016). Management arrangements introduced between 2008 and 2010 were designed to recover stocks of all demersal species (including the Western Australian biological stock of Redthroat Emperor) in the Western Australian jurisdiction where Redthroat Emperor is primarily exploited. This followed assessments in 2007 of three indicator species (West Australian Dhufish, Snapper and Baldchin Groper) for this demersal suite, which identified that overfishing had been occurring, with fishing mortality rates exceeding the limit reference point of 1.5 times the natural mortality rates for those species. The recovery strategy is designed to reduce fishing mortality (F) for these indicator species to less than the threshold reference point, by ensuring catches of demersal species do not exceed 50 per cent of 2005–06 levels (450 tonnes [t] commercial and 250 t recreational). The indicator species are assumed to represent the status of the whole demersal suite (including the Western Australian Redthroat Emperor stock) and were selected based on a range of factors, including inherent vulnerability, social/economic importance and management requirements.

Roberts and Fairclough (2016) conclude that the above evidence and assumptions indicate that the biomass of the Western Australian biological stock of Redthroat Emperor is likely to be recruitment overfished, albeit the stock is likely to be recovering.

PI SCORE

HIGH RISK

1B: Harvest Strategy

CRITERIA: (i)There is a robust and precautionary harvest strategy in place.

(a) Harvest Strategy

MEDIUM RISK

The West Coast Demersal Scalefish Resource (WCDSR) was assessed to be in an overfished or depleted state based on the high fishing mortality rates estimated for at least three of the indicator species: WA dhufish, pink snapper and baldchin groper (Wise et al, 2007).  Following identification of overfishing, the current management arrangements designed to recover stocks were progressively introduced between late 2007 and early 2010. These include maintaining the retained catches of all sectors below 50% of their 2005/06 catch benchmarks in order to reduce fishing mortality rates (F) of indicator species to below the threshold reference point (F=2/3M) and to meet a formal sectoral allocation decision (Fairclough and Holtz, 2017).

In the commercial sector, the WCDSIMF is managed under an Individual Transferable Effort (ITE) system that specifies a Target Commercial Catch (TCC) setting for each area of the fishery. The total number of hours allocated to each area (known as the ‘Capacity’) is determined using the relevant TCC and Catch Per Unit Effort (CPUE) figures for each area and reviewed annually.  The ITE system is intended to maintain species catches below the “recovery target” catch level during the stock rebuilding period.  Available effort is apportioned among the fishery regions with most of the effort allocated to either Kalbarri or Midwest regions.

Measures to limit recreational catches include:

• A two month closure (15 October-15 December) to recreational fishing for demersal scalefish;
• A mixed daily bag limit of two demersal scalefish per fisher;
• A requirement to have a release weight on board when fishing for demersal scalefish; and
• A requirement to hold a “Recreational Fishing from Boat Licence” if taking demersal finfish from a boat.

Both sectors are subject to a minimum legal size limit of 28cm.

Although Redthroat emperor is yet to have a stock specific assessment undertaken or harvest control rules developed, there is some evidence to indicate the harvest strategy is expected to achieve the stock management objectives reflected in criteria 1A(i).  Commercial catches of Redthroat Emperor have been stable (48−65 t) since 2009 at less than 50 per cent of 2005–06 levels (less than 95 t), indicating that fishing mortality rates would have decreased for this biological stock (Fairclough and Holtz, 2017). Recreational and charter catches are small (9 t). Fishing mortality rates for the demersal indicator species have also demonstrated early signs of stock recovery, having decreased since the previous assessment. Accordingly, we have scored this indicator medium risk.

We note that the first assessment of age-based fishing mortality rates for the Redthroat emperor biological stock is scheduled for 2017 and the results of this assessment should be taken into account in future updates to this assessment.

(b) Shark-finning

NA

CRITERIA: (ii) There are well defined and effective harvest control rules (HCRs) and tools in place.

(a) HCR Design and application

Redthroat emperor

MEDIUM RISK

There are currently no well-defined HCRs in place for Redthroat emperor, although the targets and trigger points in the WCDSR rebuilding strategy could be considered to constitute a generally understood HCR consistent with the medium risk SG.

The rebuilding strategy has been designed to maintain annual species catches of the commercial and recreational fishery at or below 50% of the 2005/06 species catch (benchmark). Species catches in excess of the benchmark for at least three years triggers a review of the current management and/or the determination of an appropriate management response to reduce catches.  The rebuilding strategy also includes a control rule based on successive estimates of fishing mortality for each species. Fishing mortality estimates from the most recent assessment are compared to the previous assessment. If there has been no (significant) reduction in fishing mortality then current management is reviewed.

There are no specific management responses associated with the control rules although there is a clearly stated intention (general understanding) to introduce measures to reduce catches once the higher tier control rules are triggered. The primary tools available for the management of the commercial fishery are 1) the facility to vary the total available effort allocation and 2) the allocation of effort by fishery areas.

In tandem, the two control rules should be adequate to facilitate the recovery of the stocks over the longer term, although it is unclear whether the control rules would be sufficiently responsive to reduce the exploitation rates as limit reference points are approached. The responsiveness of the harvest strategy will be influenced by the frequency of the monitoring of fishing mortality levels and the reliability of the fishing mortality estimates, particularly given the lag time associated with fishing mortality estimates derived from catch curve analyses.   Accordingly, we have scored this SI medium risk.

PI SCORE

MEDIUM RISK

1C: Information and Assessment

CRITERIA: (i) Relevant information is collected to support the harvest strategy.

(a) Range of information

Redthroat emperor

LOW RISK

Sufficient information on stock structure, stock productivity and fleet composition are available to support the harvest strategy.  Stock structure has been determined through genetic studies (Van Herwerden et al, 2009), and reliable information is available on the past and present distribution of commercial catch and fishing effort. Regular estimates of recreational harvest are also available. Routine monitoring of the age composition of commercial and recreational catches is also occurring.

The current harvest strategies include a catch benchmark for each indicator species. The annual commercial catches and recent recreational catches are monitored relative to those benchmarks. Estimates of fishing mortality are also developed from catch age composition data. Management measures to control fishing mortality are implemented based on monitoring of fishing effort (by area).

(b) Monitoring and comprehensiveness

Redthroat emperor

PRECAUTIONARY HIGH RISK

Fishery removals are monitored with high precision, although there are no species specific measures of stock abundance in place.   Current monitoring of the inshore demersal suite is based on three indicator species, although Roberts and Fairclough (2016) note that an assessment of Redthroat emperor will be completed in 2017.  On the basis that catches are closely monitored and some stock abundance trends can be inferred from indicator species we have scored this SI precautionary high risk.  Nevertheless, assessments are planned for Redthroat emperor and this indicator should be rescored when the assessments become available.

CRITERIA: (ii) There is an adequate assessment of the stock status.

(a) Stock assessment

Redthroat emperor

PRECAUTIONARY HIGH RISK

There have been no published estimates of biomass or fishing mortality for Redthroat emperor.  A stock assessment is scheduled to be completed in 2017 (Roberts and Fairclough, 2016).

(b) Uncertainty and Peer review

Redthroat emperor

PRECAUTIONARY HIGH RISK

Stock status is currently inferred from that of indicator species.

PI SCORE

PRECAUTIONARY HIGH RISK

2A: Other Species

CRITERIA: (i) The UoA aims to maintain other species above the point where recruitment would be impaired (PRI) and does not hinder recovery of other species if they are below the PRI.

(a) Main other species stock status

PRECAUTIONARY HIGH RISK

The intent of this scoring issue is to examine the impact of the UoA on ‘main’ other species taken while harvesting the target species.  ‘Main’ is defined as any species which comprises >5% of the total catch (retained species + discards) by weight in the UoA, or >2% if it is a ‘less resilient’ species.  The aim is to maintain other species above the point where recruitment would be impaired and ensure that, for species below PRI, there are effective measures in place to ensure the UoA does not hinder recovery and rebuilding.

The total retained catch of all species in 2015 by the WCDSIMF was 271 t, of which, 246 t comprised demersal species (Fairclough and Holtz, 2017).  Information on species discarded in the fishery was not available, although some information suggests the discard rate is likely to be low (~24%) as commercial fishers are unlikely to stay in areas where they are catching undersize fish (Lenanton et al., 2009).   In the absence of information on total catch by weight, we have assessed as ‘main other’ species the indicator species that do not form part of the UoA assessed here, namely western Australian dhufish (Glaucosoma herbraicum) snapper (Chrysophrys auratus) and baldchin groper (Choerodon rubescens).  The total catch of snapper in 2015 was 84t, accounting for 31% of the total WCDSIMF catch.  Dhufish and baldchin groper accounted for 27% and 6% of the WCDSIMF 2015 catch respectively.

Snapper

At least six separate stocks of snapper have been identified in Western Australia (Fowler et al, 2016), although the main stock accessed by the WCDSIMF is the west coast stock.

Fowler et al (2016) report that “assessments completed in 2007, 2009 and 2014 indicated that fishing mortality in the West coast management unit of Western Australia exceeded the limit reference point of 1.5 times natural mortality. However, the most recent assessment indicated that fishing mortality rates had decreased, providing evidence that stock recovery had begun, following significant changes to the management of the commercial and recreational sectors. Based on agreed decision rules to reduce fishing mortality to a level that would allow the stock to recover, the total catch of Snapper by all sectors had to be reduced by at least 50 per cent, to no more than 163 tonnes (t). Catches of Snapper by the commercial West Coast Demersal Scalefish Interim Managed Fishery in this region were above the acceptable level of 120 t for that fishery for a period of 3 years, but further management action reduced catches in 2015 to around 91 t, a level expected to allow recovery to continue. The above evidence indicates that the stock is likely to be recruitment overfished, but that the current level of fishing mortality should allow the stock to recover.”

Accordingly, the stock is not likely to be above the point of recruitment impairment, but the UoA has measures in place that are expected to ensure that the UoA does not hinder recovery and rebuilding of snapper.

WA dhufish

Fairclough and Holtz (2017) report that retained catches of West Australian dhufish in the WCDSIMF have been at acceptable levels (below stock recovery benchmarks) since inception of the current management regime, i.e. < 72t. WCDSIMF catches in the Midwest and South-west areas have also remained at or below recovery benchmarks of 44 t and 19 t.

The most recent assessment (Fairclough et al., 2014) of fishing mortality (F) at the biological stock level, using age composition data collected between 2008/09 and 2010/11 decreased from the previous period 2005/06-2007/08 (Fairclough et al., 2014). However, fishing mortality (F) was still above the limit reference point of 1.5M, and had increased in the substantially in the South west area. Spawning potential ratio lay between the limit (0.2) and threshold (0.3) reference point.

Accordingly, the stock is not likely to be above the point of recruitment impairment, although it is clear that the management agency has measures in place to ensure the UoA does not hinder recovery of WA dhufish.  It is also clear that the UoA has complied with the measures, with catches coming in below stock and area specific limits since the new management arrangements were introduced.  Nevertheless, estimated fishing mortality in the most recent assessment remained above the limit reference point, and increased in some areas.  While spawning potential ratio appears to be increasing across the stock as a whole, some areas have declined.  To that end, even though fishers are complying with measures to recover the stock, there is some uncertainty around whether current catch limits will reduce fishing mortality (F) to target levels.  .

Baldchin groper   

Retained catches of baldchin groper in the WCDSIMF have been at or below stock recovery benchmarks since commencement of the current management regime, i.e. < 17t (Fairclough and Holtz, 2017).  Nevertheless, rates of fishing mortality (F) at the biological stock level, using age composition data collected from 2008/09 to 2010/11 indicated no change since the previous assessment and were above the limit reference point of 1.5M.  Accordingly, although the management system has measures in place to ensure the stock does not hinder recovery, there appears to be some uncertainty around whether existing catch limits will reduce fishing mortality (F) to target levels.

We note that the next assessment of indicator species stocks in the WCDSIMF will be completed in 2017.   Future assessments should take these outcomes into account.

CRITERIA: (ii) There is a strategy in place that is designed to maintain or to not hinder rebuilding of other species; and the UoA regularly reviews and implements

(a) Management strategy in place

MEDIUM RISK

The harvest strategy for the main other species is largely the same as that for Redthroat emperor.  Following an assessment showing the fishery to be in a deleted state based on a number of indicator species (including the three main other species assessed here) (Wise et al, 2007), new management measures were progressively introduced between 2007 and 2010 with the aim of rebuilding the stocks to achieve the target fishing mortality level of F=2/3M.   The primary management objective for the WCDSIMF is to maintain catches of all demersal scalefish below 50% of those recorded in the WCB during 2005/06 to reduce fishing mortality to a level that will enable recovery of all of these stocks.

The rebuilding strategy is designed to ensure that the stocks of the three key target species (dhufish, snapper, Baldchin groper) in each management area will have been rebuilt (i.e. to the point where estimated values of fishing mortality have fallen below a threshold level, F=M) within about 20-25 years of the start of the recovery period (commencing in 2009/10). Accordingly, it is clear that measures are in place that are expected to maintain main other species at levels which are likely to be above PRI and we have scored this SI medium risk.  Nevertheless, we note that fishing mortality has remained above the limit reference point for some species, despite compliance with rebuilding catch limits (Fairclough et al, 2014) and the UoA would be better placed against this SI with additional evidence that the current catch limits will result in rebuilding to target levels.

(b) Management strategy evaluation

MEDIUM RISK

The rebuilding strategy has been in place since 2009 and there is a plausible argument to suggest that it will work.  While the most recent estimates of fishing mortality (F) across all three main other species remained above the limit reference point, Fairclough et al (2015) note that “the limited levels of recovery for each of the indicator species at the time of this assessment was expected because changes to management were only introduced between late 2007 and early 2010, which overlaps the sampling period for age data used in this assessment. The precise rate at which the stocks for each indicator species will recover will also be influenced by their biological characteristics. Recovery to threshold management levels is estimated to take at least 10 years.”  Based on recent catch levels across all sectors, Fairclough and Holtz (2017) conclude that the current level of fishing pressure should allow all three main other species stocks to recover from overfishing.  Accordingly, we have scored this SI medium risk.   Additional evidence demonstrating fishing mortality (F) had fallen below threshold levels and spawning potential ratio was moving towards target levels would provide some objective basis for confidence that the strategy will work.

(c) Shark-finning

NA

CRITERIA: (iii) Information on the nature and amount of other species taken is adequate to determine the risk posed by the UoA and the effectiveness of the strategy to manage other species.

(a) Information

PRECAUTIONARY HIGH RISK

Commercial catch and effort returns provide qualitative and quantitative information on the amount of main retained species taken by the fishery and are sufficient to support a management strategy; however the information on discarded species in the fishery is limited.  The absence of bycatch reporting in CAES logbooks or information from at-sea or other monitoring indicates that information is not currently adequate to support measures to manage bycatch.

PI SCORE

PRECAUTIONARY HIGH RISK

2B: Endangered Threatened and/or Protected (ETP)

CRITERIA: (i) The UoA meets national and international requirements for protection of ETP species.
The UoA does not hinder recovery of ETP species.

(a) Effects of the UoA on populations/stocks

LOW RISK

Overall, the level of interactions with ETP species in the fishery is relatively minor. Commercial WCDSIMF fishers are required to record listed species interactions in their statutory returns, and there appears to be confidence that the level of compliance is sufficient to provide a good indicator of interactions. During 2015, two grey nurse sharks were caught by the WCDSIMF and both released alive (Fairclough and Holtz, 2017).   Given the low level of interaction and the live release of the animals, it is highly likely that the direct effects of the UoA will not hinder recovery of ETP species.

CRITERIA: (ii) The UoA has in place precautionary management strategies designed to:

• meet national and international requirements; and
• ensure the UoA does not hinder recovery of ETP species.

Also, the UoA regularly reviews and implements measures, as appropriate, to minimise the mortality of ETP species

(a) Management strategy in place

LOW RISK

The measures in place to manage fishery impacts on ETP species include:

• limited entry;
• zoning and effort limits;
• gear restrictions (limiting gear to line apparatus);
• spatial and temporal closures; and
• compulsory reporting of all ETP species interactions in daily logbooks.

Given the negligible interactions with ETP species, these measures re likely to be considered at least a partial strategy to ensure the UoA does not hinder recovery.

(b) Management strategy implementation

LOW RISK

Compulsory logbooks showing low levels of interactions, together with the live release of animals, provides an objective basis for confidence that the strategy will work, based on information directly about the fishery and/or the species involved.

CRITERIA: (iii) Relevant information is collected to support the management of UoA impacts on ETP species, including:

• information for the development of the management strategy;
• information to assess the effectiveness of the
• management strategy; and
• information to determine the outcome status of ETP species.

(a) Information

LOW RISK

All fishers are required to report ETP interactions in daily logbooks. In order to improve reporting accuracy, fishers have been provided with a Protected Marine Species Identification Guide (National Heritage Trust 2005), which contains a picture and brief description of relevant protected species, specific details to include in interactions reports and current contact details for interaction reports.  This is likely to provide sufficient information to allow fishery related mortality and the impact of fishing to be quantitatively estimated for ETP species.

PI SCORE

LOW RISK

2C: Habitats

CRITERIA: (i) The UoA does not cause serious or irreversible harm to habitat structure and function, considered on the basis of the area(s) covered by the governance body(s) responsible for fisheries management

(a) Habitat status

LOW RISK

Examples of “serious or irreversible harm” to habitats provided by MSC include the loss (extinction) of habitat types, depletion of key habitat forming species or associated species to the extent that they meet criteria for high risk of extinction, and significant alteration of habitat cover/mosaic that causes major change in the structure or diversity of the associated species assemblages. Further, MSC specifies that if a habitat extends beyond the area fished then the full range of the habitat should be considered when evaluating the effects of the fishery. The ‘full range’ of a habitat shall include areas that may be spatially disconnected from the area affected by the fishery and may include both pristine areas and areas affected by other fisheries.

The WCDSIMF targets the inshore (20 – 250 m depth) and offshore (> 250 m depth) demersal scalefish suite along the WA coastline from north of Kalbarri to Black Point, east of Augusta.  The target species occur over a range of habitats including shallow coral and rocky reefs, deeper shoal areas between reefs, mud and sand areas and deep water reefs (200 – 500 m) along the edge of the continental shelf. Line fishing used in the WCDSIMF (i.e. hand lines and droplines) has little physical impact on the benthic environment, and DoF risk assessments have judged the fishery to be a negligible risk to benthic habitats (Fairclough and Holtz, 2017).  Accordingly, we have scored this SI low risk.

CRITERIA: (ii) There is a strategy in place that is designed to ensure the UoA does not pose a risk of serious or irreversible harm to the habitats.

(a) Management strategy in place

LOW RISK

The main ‘strategy’ to limit habitat damage in the fishery is to limit gear to benign hook and line apparatus.  The fishery is also subject to substantial spatial closures through Commonwealth and State marine parks, as well as effort restrictions designed to recover stocks of the target species.  Given the negligible risk associated with line fishing, these measures are likely to be considered at least a partial strategy which is expected to achieve the outcome reflected in criteria 2C(i).

Figure 2: Current and proposed marine reserves in the West Coast bioregion (from Fletcher et al, 2017)

(b) Management strategy implementation

LOW RISK

Compliance information showing fishers comply with requirements to use line fishing apparatus. VMS information shows compliance with spatial closures. This provides some objective basis for confidence that the strategy will work and that the measures are being implemented.

CRITERIA: (iii) Information is adequate to determine the risk posed to the habitat by the UoA and the effectiveness of the strategy to manage impacts on the habitat.

(a) Information quality

LOW RISK

A substantial portion of the West Coast bioregion has been mapped to describe both the physical substratum and the biological communities present in order to support coastal development projects and marine reserve planning initiatives (e.g. CoA, 2008). The nature, distribution and vulnerability of the main habitats are likely to be known at a level of detail relevant to the nature and scale of the fishery.

(b) Information and monitoring adequacy

LOW RISK

The physical impacts of line fishing gear on habitats are expected to be minimal, albeit this may not have been quantified fully due to higher research priorities being placed on other issues.  However, existing information is likely to be sufficient to understand the potential impacts and spatial (areal and vertical) overlaps.  VMS information on spatial effort patterns in the fishery together with logbook information on gear types used is likely to provide sufficient data to detect any increase in risk to habitat.

PI SCORE

LOW RISK

2D: Ecosystems

CRITERIA: (i) The UoA does not cause serious or irreversible harm to the key elements of ecosystem structure and function.

(i)(a) Ecosystem Status

LOW RISK

Serious or irreversible harm in the ecosystem context should be interpreted in relation to the capacity of the ecosystem to deliver ecosystem services. Examples include trophic cascades, severely truncated size composition of the ecological community, gross changes in species diversity of the ecological community, or changes in genetic diversity of species caused by selective fishing (MSC Standard)

Given the limited impact of the fishery on ETP species and habitats, the main ecosystem impact is likely to come from the removal of target and other bycatch species from the ecosystem.  The total quantity of scalefish removed from the ecosystem by the WCDSIMF has been stable during the 2008-09 to 2014-15 period at between 270-400t annually.  Hall and Wise (2011) demonstrated that there has been no reduction in either mean trophic level or mean maximum length in the finfish catches recorded within the WCB over the past 30 years, indicating that the fish faunas have not been impacted by scalefish fisheries to the extent that ecosystem function has been affected.  Accordingly, it is highly likely that the UoAs will not disrupt the key elements underlying ecosystem structure and function to the point of serious or irreversible harm.

CRITERIA: (ii) There are measures in place to ensure the UoA does not pose a risk of serious or irreversible harm to ecosystem structure and function.

(a) Management Strategy in place

LOW RISK

The main measures in place to limit ecosystem impacts are both operational (use of benign hook and line gear) and those in place to limit harvest of the target species.  Formal risk assessments of ecosystem level impacts are also undertaken according to the DoF risk assessment process (Fletcher et al, 2010).  These measures constitute at least a partial strategy which takes into account the available information and is expected to restrain the impacts of the UoAs on the ecosystem so as to achieve the outcomes reflected in criteria 2D(i).

(b) Management Strategy implementation

LOW RISK

The measures in place take account of the nature of the fishing gear and the role of the target species in the ecosystem.  The measures could be expected to work given the stability in the catch over the period 2008-09 to 2014-15 and the absence of any empirical observations of ecosystem disturbance (e.g. Hall and Wise, 2011).  Compliance information and targeted research studies (e.g. Hall and Wise, 2011) provide some evidence that the measures are being implemented effectively.

CRITERIA: (iii) There is adequate knowledge of the impacts of the UoA on the ecosystem.

(a) Information quality

MEDIUM RISK

The West Coast bioregion has been relatively well studied such that it is possible to at least broadly understand the key elements of the ecosystem.  The main weakness in the WCDSIMF ecosystem related information is on the species specific composition of bycatch.  However, this has been studied to some extent by Evans and Molony (2010) who assessed the cumulative risk to sustainability of bycatch species of multiple fisheries in the West Coast and Gascoyne bioregions.  The absence on ongoing information on bycatch means that it may not be possible to detect increased risk to this ecosystem component.

(b) Investigations of UoA impacts

LOW RISK

The main impacts of the fishery can be inferred from the existing information and some studies have examined potential ecosystem impacts from the development of scalefish fisheries in the West Coast bioregion (e.g. Hall and Wise, 2011).

PI SCORE

LOW RISK

3A: Governance and Policy

CRITERIA: (i) The management system exists within an appropriate and effective legal and/or customary framework which ensures that it:

• Is capable of delivering sustainability in the UoA(s)
• Observes the legal rights
• Created explicitly or established by custom of people dependent on fishing for food or livelihood; and
• Incorporates an appropriate dispute resolution framework.

(a) Compatibility of laws or standards with effective management

LOW RISK

Relevant Australian Commonwealth and Western Australian Acts, subsidiary legislation and cooperative instruments, including the EPBC Act 1999, FRMA, FRMR and OCS, provide an effective legal framework for the purposes of delivering management outcomes consistent with Components 1 and 2.

(b) Respect for Rights

LOW RISK

The rights of Aboriginal persons to fish for a customary purpose are recognized in the FRMA which provides that “an Aboriginal person is not required to hold a recreational fishing licence to the extent that the person takes fish from any waters in accordance with continuing Aboriginal tradition if the fish are taken for the purposes of the person or his or her family and not for a commercial purpose”.  Additional customary rights may be sought under Commonwealth Native Title legislation.

CRITERIA: (ii) The management system has effective consultation processes that are open to interested and affected parties. The roles and responsibilities of organisations and individuals who are involved in the management process are clear and understood by all relevant parties.

(a) Roles and Responsibilities

LOW RISK

The roles and responsibilities of the main people (e.g. Fisheries Minister, DoF Chief Executive) and organisations (WAFIC) involved in the Western Australian fisheries management process are well-understood, with relationships and key powers explicitly defined in legislation (e.g. FRMA) or relevant policy statements (e.g. Western Australian Government Fisheries Policy Statement March 2012; DoF, 2012).

(b) Consultation Process

LOW RISK

DoF has recently adopted a new Guideline for stakeholder engagement on aquatic resource management-related processes (SEG) (DoF, 2016) which applies across all fisheries and operates in parallel to Funding and Service Level Agreements with the Western Australian Fishing Industry Council (WAFIC) and Recfishwest (RFW).  The SEG broadly defines the stakeholders to be engaged in the management of aquatic resources (e.g. fishing sector, others dependent on the fishing sector, relevant State and Commonwealth agencies, Native Title Holders, NGOs, anyone else with an interest in the management of the State’s aquatic resources) as well as establishing a framework to assist in selecting an appropriate level of engagement for each stakeholder group.  The engagement approach established by the SEG is summarised in Figure 2.  The colour of each cell depicts the suggested minimum level of engagement for a particular process and stakeholder group.

Figure 3: Suggested minimum levels of stakeholder engagement for each stakeholder group and for each of a number of key processes associated with the management of the State’s fisheries and aquatic resources (DoF, 2016)

Public consultation documents for which the Department is responsible (i.e. harvest strategies, recovery plans, bycatch action plans and new fisheries management plans), are made available (along with the details of the public consultation process) on the Department’s website.  The Department is also currently investigating options to enable interested parties to subscribe to news feeds and/or register as an interested party through the website, which will allow automatic notifications to be sent (e.g. in relation to documents released for public comment and information regarding decisions, arrangements or initiatives) (DoF, 2016).

At the industry level, consultation usually occurs directly with license holders/companies on operational issues affecting the fishery (e.g. through Annual Management Meetings).  Industry Annual Management Meetings are convened by WAFIC, who are also responsible for statutory management plan consultation under a Service Level Agreement with the Department.

Accordingly, the management system includes processes that regularly seek and accept information from all interested and affected parties, including local knowledge.  The management system also demonstrates consideration of the information obtained through feedback provided to stakeholders on Ministerial decisions and through AMMs.

CRITERIA: (iii) The management policy has clear long-term objectives to guide decision making that are consistent with FAO CRRF, and incorporates the precautionary approach.

(a) Objectives

LOW RISK

The overarching objectives for the management of Western Australia’s fisheries set out in Section 3 of the FRMA are consistent with Component 1 and 2 and are explicitly set out in the Act.  Moreover, the FRMA explicitly requires application of the precautionary principle in Section 4A which states: “in the performance or exercise of a function or power under this Act, lack of full scientific certainty must not be used as a reason for postponing cost-effective measures to ensure the sustainability of fish stocks or the aquatic environment.”  The FRMA is supported by a number of public policy and strategic documents, including the Department’s Strategic Plan 2009-2018 and Fisheries Policy Statement 2012, which further define Western Australia’s commitment to management principles consistent with Component 1 and 2 (e.g. Ecologically Sustainable Development, Ecosystem Based Fisheries Management).

PI SCORE

LOW RISK

3B: Fishery Specific Management System

CRITERIA: (i) The fishery specific management system has clear, specific objectives designed to achieve the outcomes expressed by Components 1 and 2.

(a) Objectives

MEDIUM RISK

Generic cross-fishery objectives consistent with Components 1 and 2 are explicitly specified in the FRMA, as well as other policy documents (e.g. Department’s Strategic Plan; Harvest Strategy Policy).  To that extent, these objectives are likely to be considered implicit within the WCDSIMF fishery-specific management system and therefore consistent with medium risk.  The main fishery specific objective for the fishery is to maintain catches of all scalefish and the suites of demersal species below 50 % of those recorded in the WCB during 2005/06 to reduce fishing mortality to a level that will enable recovery of all of these stocks. The status of the three indicator species (snapper, Western Australian dhufish and baldchin groper) is used to indicate the status of the entire West Coast Inshore Demersal Suite of scalefish species.  This objective is likely to be considered consistent with Component 1 at the low risk level, but the absence of fishery specific objectives consistent with Component 2 means the fishery does not score low risk overall against this SI.

CRITERIA: (ii) The fishery specific management system includes effective decision making processes that result in measures and strategies to achieve the objectives and has an appropriate approach to actual disputes in the fishery.

(a) Decision making

LOW RISK

Western Australia’s fisheries decision making process is well established and set out explicitly in relevant legislation (e.g. FRMA) and policy documents (e.g. Fisheries Policy Statement).  The response of the management system to research indicating that WCDSF stocks were overfished – including the establishment of the commercial WCDSIMF and effort management system and changes to recreational fisheries management including bag, boat and size limits for demersal scalefish species, a requirement to carry a release weight (to assist in minimising the effects of barotrauma) and the implementation of a closure prohibiting fishing for “high risk” demersal scalefish for two months between 15 October and 15 December – indicates the decision-making processes respond to serious and other important issues identified in relevant research, monitoring, evaluation.  Moreover, the public release of reports discussing future management options to achieve stock recovery objectives indicates the decision making system takes account of wider implications.

(b) Use of the Precautionary approach

LOW RISK

The precautionary approach is explicitly required in the FRMA and forms an important consideration in the Department’s risk assessment process.  Moreover, the actions outlined above to recover overfished demersal scalefish stocks provide evidence of the application of the precautionary principle in practice.  These actions, together with the explicit incorporation of uncertainty in the Department’s risk assessment process (e.g. Fletcher et al, 2010) is sufficient to meet low risk.

(c) Accountability and Transparency

LOW RISK

Information on the biological, ecological, economic and social performance of the fishery is tracked and reported annually through the Department’s Fisheries Status Report process.  Relevant information on recent changes to management and new scientific or monitoring results are also discussed with license holders during annual management meetings, coordinated through WAFIC.  These measures are generally consistent with the low risk SG.

CRITERIA: (iii) Monitoring, control and surveillance mechanisms ensure the management measures in the fishery are enforced and complied with.

(a) MCS Implementation

LOW RISK

The Department’s MCS arrangements including prioritizing through risk assessments, development of fishery and regionally specific Operational Compliance Plans, networks of regionally-based Fisheries Management Officers, and support through dedicated units within the Regional Services Division (Serious Offences, Fisheries Intelligence, Compliance Statistics and Prosecutions) are consistent with the low risk SG.  Although specific statistics are not available for the WCDSIMF, general statistics on rates of compliance amongst both commercial and recreational fishers suggest that the system has demonstrated an ability to enforce relevant management measures, strategies and/or rules (e.g. Fletcher and Santoro, 2015).

(b) Sanctions and Compliance

LOW RISK

There is an explicit statutory sanction framework that is applied should a person contravene legislation relevant to the WCDSIMF.  Four tiers of sanctions exist to deal with fisheries offences depending on the nature and severity of the offence: prosecutions, letter of warning, infringement notices and infringement warnings.  Fisheries Management Officers (FMOs) have the autonomy to issue an infringement warning after detecting some ‘minor’ offences that have resulted from a lack of understanding of the rules or an error of judgment, while infringement notices are used to apply a modified penalty and are usually used in cases where the offence does not warrant prosecution action that is likely to end up in court.  More serious offences against the legislation will require the Department to seek to prosecute. The Department’s Prosecution Advisory Panel (PAP) reviews recommendations made by the RSD in respect to alleged offending against the FRMA and considers whether such decisions are in the ‘public interest’. This process ensures fairness, consistency and equity in the prosecution decision-making process.  Some evidence exists that fishers generally comply with the management system (e.g. Fletcher and Santoro, 2015).

(c) Systematic non-compliance

No systematic non-compliance is thought to exist.

CRITERIA: (iv) There is a system for monitoring and evaluating the performance of the fishery specific management system against its objectives.
There is effective and timely review of the fishery specific management system.

(a) Evaluation coverage

LOW RISK

The Department has a number of processes in place to evaluate key parts of the management system including the effectiveness of its target species harvest control arrangements, arrangements to mitigate unacceptable ecological risks, and compliance with management arrangements.  The effectiveness of commercial and recreational management arrangements are primarily monitored through commercial catch and effort returns and periodic recreational fishing surveys, and reported against through the Fisheries Status Reports process (e.g. Fletcher et al, 2017).  Effectiveness of Component 2 management arrangements are evaluated through ongoing EBFM risk assessment (Fletcher et al, 2010).  The effectiveness of the compliance regime is evaluated through periodic risk assessments, monitoring and analysis of compliance statistics and trends and revision of OCPs.

(b) Internal and/or external review

LOW RISK

Internal review of the management system occurs through the periodic review of the Department’s Fish Plan over a 5 year planning cycle, as well as through the annual assessment of fishery performance against the harvest control rules.  No external review of the WCDSF occurs through the Commonwealth EPBC export accreditation process given product is sold domestically.  Notwithstanding this, a number of external reviews have been undertaken of some parts of the WCDSF management system (e.g. O’Neill, 2009).  Moreover, the statewide compliance system has been the subject of a specific external review by the Western Australian Auditor General in 2009.

PI SCORE

LOW RISK