Fisheries Research Report No. 110 - A research vessel survey of bottom types in the area of the Abrolhos Islands and mid-west trawl fishery.

Authors

C. J. Dibden, Fisheries Western Australia
L. M. Joll, Fisheries Western Australia

Publication Date

6-1998

Series Number

110

Publisher

Fisheries Western Australia

City

Perth

ISBN

0 7309 8420 6

ISSN

1035 - 4549

Abstract

To address the concern expressed by Commercial rock lobster fishers operating in the Abrolhos Islands area, that expanding saucer scallop trawl activity was damaging the sea floor biota in areas which they considered good rock lobster habitat and poor scallop habitat, an underwater video survey was conducted by the Fisheries Department Research Division, with the following objectives:

1. Examine, classify and map the benthic habitat of areas currently and historically trawled for scallops in the Abrolhos Islands area and adjacent waters;

2. Examine, classify and map the benthic habitat of areas adjacent to these trawled areas, where potential for conflict between western rock lobster fishers and trawlers existed;

3. Determine the suitability of areas examined for continued, sustained saucer scallop trawling; and

4. Develop a non-destructive means of determining the suitability for trawling of any currently unfished areas within the area of the fishery.

Transects were conducted throughout the Abrolhos Islands fishing zone and adjacent waters in August 1994. The benthic habitat along each transect was Classified using five different bottom-types, these bottom-types were then further categorised as 'Trawl' or 'Non-Trawl'.

Although scallops recruit to bottom-types that are trawlable, some of these bottom-types contain sedentary organisms which are likely to suffer incidental damage from trawling. The potential for habitat damage in these areas makes trawling undesirable and so these areas were classified as 'Non-trawl'. It is suggested that saucer scallop trawling should only be conducted in the Abrolhos Islands zone where the 'Trawl' category predominates, and that trawling be excluded from predominantly 'Non-Trawl' areas.

Based on the results of this study, examples of areas considered appropriate for trawling are listed, however, the list should not be considered exhaustive. As this preliminary survey did not cover all current, historical, potential trawl areas or all areas of conflict with the rock lobster fishery, further survey work and consideration of the results by government and the relevant industry bodies is required for the determination of areas and exact boundaries of 'Trawl' and 'Non-Trawl' areas for the Abrolhos Islands and Mid-West Trawl Fishery.

Number of Pages

27

Keywords

Research vessel, Abrolhos Islands, Trawl fishery, Western Rock Lobster, Scallop, Western Australia

Disciplines

Aquaculture and Fisheries | Marine Biology | Natural Resource Economics | Natural Resources and Conservation | Natural Resources Management and Policy | Population Biology | Sustainability | Terrestrial and Aquatic Ecology

Recommended Citation

Dibden, C J, and Joll, L M. (1998), Fisheries Research Report No. 110 - A research vessel survey of bottom types in the area of the Abrolhos Islands and mid-west trawl fishery.. Fisheries Western Australia, Perth. Report 110.
https://library.dpird.wa.gov.au/fr_rr/363