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• 1. [Article] Ecosystem-Wide Impacts of Alternative Bycatch Reduction Strategies: An Ecological-Economic Assessment of the Australian Southern and Eastern Scalefish and Shark Fishery

  A concern for the consequences of bycatch and discards in fisheries has led to the implementation of new policies and fisheries management plans aimed at their reduction in many fisheries around the world. ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Ecosystem-Wide Impacts of Alternative Bycatch Reduction Strategies: An Ecological-Economic Assessment of the Australian Southern and Eastern Scalefish and Shark Fishery Author: Kulmala, Soile, Fulton, Beth, Thébaud, Olivier, Hutton, Trevor, Pascoe, Sean A concern for the consequences of bycatch and discards in fisheries has led to the implementation of new policies and fisheries management plans aimed at their reduction in many fisheries around the world. Such plans have been developed for the Australian Commonwealth fisheries (the most recent bycatch action plan extends from 2009 to 2011 for this case study). These plans list a wide variety of species, including both commercial fish and non-commercial species, particularly those listed as threatened, endangered or protected. The paper presents an analysis of the potential economic and ecological impacts of alternative approaches to the implementation of these plans, with particular emphasis on the use of economic incentives. The analysis is centered on the Australian Commonwealth Southern and Eastern Scalefish and Shark Fishery, and is based on the Atlantis simulation model developed within CSIRO. Atlantis is a spatially explicit model with subcomponents that model the coupled physical transport-biogeochemical processes as elements of the ecosystem, as well as sub-models to include the fisheries, the annual assessments, and the implementation of management regulations and compliance. A feature of the Atlantis model is that it incorporates a fleet dynamics model that allows the main fleets to adjust their fishing behavior in response to incentives. Incentive-based bycatch management scenarios such as the use of deemed values within the existing trade-able quota scheme for over-quota landings, or the imposition of a tax on catches of threatened, endangered and protected species, are considered (as well as tradable bycatch quotas). The consequences of these scenarios are presented in terms of both ecological and economic impacts, with a focus on the ecosystem-wide implications of alternative regulations. Title: Ecosystem-Wide Impacts of Alternative Bycatch Reduction Strategies: An Ecological-Economic Assessment of the Australian Southern and Eastern Scalefish and Shark Fishery Author: Kulmala, Soile, Fulton, Beth, Thébaud, Olivier, Hutton, Trevor, Pascoe, Sean A concern for the consequences of bycatch and discards in fisheries has led to the implementation of new policies and fisheries management plans aimed at their reduction in many fisheries around the world. Such plans have been developed for the Australian Commonwealth fisheries (the most recent bycatch action plan extends from 2009 to 2011 for this case study). These plans list a wide variety of species, including both commercial fish and non-commercial species, particularly those listed as threatened, endangered or protected. The paper presents an analysis of the potential economic and ecological impacts of alternative approaches to the implementation of these plans, with particular emphasis on the use of economic incentives. The analysis is centered on the Australian Commonwealth Southern and Eastern Scalefish and Shark Fishery, and is based on the Atlantis simulation model developed within CSIRO. Atlantis is a spatially explicit model with subcomponents that model the coupled physical transport-biogeochemical processes as elements of the ecosystem, as well as sub-models to include the fisheries, the annual assessments, and the implementation of management regulations and compliance. A feature of the Atlantis model is that it incorporates a fleet dynamics model that allows the main fleets to adjust their fishing behavior in response to incentives. Incentive-based bycatch management scenarios such as the use of deemed values within the existing trade-able quota scheme for over-quota landings, or the imposition of a tax on catches of threatened, endangered and protected species, are considered (as well as tradable bycatch quotas). The consequences of these scenarios are presented in terms of both ecological and economic impacts, with a focus on the ecosystem-wide implications of alternative regulations. Close

• 2. [Article] Compensatory Mitigation: An Interim Solution to Seabird Bycatch in Fisheries?

  The concept of compensatory mitigation is well established as an approach to environmental management. In the past, mitigation programs have been used to conserve wetlands affected by development, and ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Compensatory Mitigation: An Interim Solution to Seabird Bycatch in Fisheries? Author: Wilcox, Chris, Pascoe, Sean, Donlan, C. Josh The concept of compensatory mitigation is well established as an approach to environmental management. In the past, mitigation programs have been used to conserve wetlands affected by development, and is proposed as a cost-effective approach to offsetting greenhouse gas emissions through reforestation programs. The concept may be equally applicable to environmental management in fisheries. Each year, substantial numbers of non-target species are caught and killed as incidental bycatch during fishing activities. Of increasing concern is the impact this bycatch is having on seabird populations. Substantial areas of fisheries are being closed to protect these species at great cost to the fishing industry. However, other actions may be taken to offset the impact of fishing on these populations, such as reducing predation by invasive species. In this paper, we examine the potential role of compensatory mitigation as a fisheries management tool. An example is provided of the potential cost effectiveness of rodent control relative to fishery area closures for the conservation of a seabird population adversely affected by an Australian tuna fishery. We find that, in the example being examined, invasive rodent eradication is at least 10 times more cost effective than area closures. While this does not solve the actual bycatch problem, it may provide breathing space for both the seabird species and the industry to find longer term means of reducing bycatch. Title: Compensatory Mitigation: An Interim Solution to Seabird Bycatch in Fisheries? Author: Wilcox, Chris, Pascoe, Sean, Donlan, C. Josh The concept of compensatory mitigation is well established as an approach to environmental management. In the past, mitigation programs have been used to conserve wetlands affected by development, and is proposed as a cost-effective approach to offsetting greenhouse gas emissions through reforestation programs. The concept may be equally applicable to environmental management in fisheries. Each year, substantial numbers of non-target species are caught and killed as incidental bycatch during fishing activities. Of increasing concern is the impact this bycatch is having on seabird populations. Substantial areas of fisheries are being closed to protect these species at great cost to the fishing industry. However, other actions may be taken to offset the impact of fishing on these populations, such as reducing predation by invasive species. In this paper, we examine the potential role of compensatory mitigation as a fisheries management tool. An example is provided of the potential cost effectiveness of rodent control relative to fishery area closures for the conservation of a seabird population adversely affected by an Australian tuna fishery. We find that, in the example being examined, invasive rodent eradication is at least 10 times more cost effective than area closures. While this does not solve the actual bycatch problem, it may provide breathing space for both the seabird species and the industry to find longer term means of reducing bycatch. Close