Research in the Pelagic Fisheries and Ecosystems Stream of the Wealth from Oceans Flagship supports management of Australia’s Commonwealth and internationally-shared pelagic (open ocean) fisheries. Scientists in this stream are based at the CSIRO Marine and Atmospheric Research laboratories at Hobart, Tasmania.
It is told that the research will provide understanding and advice to government, industry and fishery management agencies relating to: Australia’s Southern Bluefin Tuna Fishery, Eastern Tuna and Billfish; Fishery, and Southern and Western Tuna and Billfish Fishery internationally shared tuna and billfish fisheries in the Indian, Pacific and Southern oceans.
According to the scientists species harvested in these fisheries include southern bluefin tuna, yellowfin tuna, bigeye tuna, broadbill swordfish, marlin and albacore. The challenges they are facing is that Australian fisheries are required to manage their overall impact on ecosystems as well as commercially important species. In order to better understand this matter they require knowing the biology, distribution and movements of target and non-target (bycatch) species; fishing activity and practices; fishery management and governance; the broader fishery ecosystem; environmental factors affecting the fishery.
The pelagic fisheries have its own challenges such as the highly mobile and far-ranging nature of pelagic species; the sharing of fishery stocks and management across international waters; the effects of fishing on bycatch species; understanding the effects of harvesting top-level predators.
It is observed that research across these disciplines contributes to statistical models that simulate the dynamics of fishery populations. Fish population models are developed using fishery catch records, and estimated rates of fish reproduction, growth, mortality and movements. Conventional plastic tags placed on pelagic fish show scientists where and how far fish swim. Electronic tags add detail to such journeys.
CSIRO scientists share research achievements through participation in domestic and international fisheries technical advisory and management bodies, and direct communication with the fishing industry.
