❓ Hon Giz Watson's parliamentary question scrutinises the Department of Fisheries regarding the Pilbara trawl fishery's environmental impact, focusing on dolphin and sawfish mortalities, habitat damage, and the sustainability of current practices. The questions probe for data, evidence, and management strategies related to protected species and habitat preservation.
AnsweredQoN 6221Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to the Standing Committee on Estimates and Financial Operation's Additional Questions for the 2012-13 Budget Estimates Hearing of the Department of Fisheries, held on 6 June 2012, and I ask —
(1) How much was the entire Pilbara fishery (trap, line and trawl) worth in each of the years 2010 and 2011?
(2) How much was the Pilbara Trawl worth in each of the years 2010 and 2011?
(3) In answer to Fisheries Estimates question 5.1 the department lists the number of mortalities of dolphins in the Pilbara Trawl in each year since 2007. My question relates to the department's understanding of the impacts of these mortalities on the Pilbara dolphin population, and I ask —
(a) what is the current population of dolphins in the Pilbara;
(b) how many of those are expected to come into contact with the Pilbara Trawl;
(c) in the article referred to in the Estimates question, published 22 May and entitled 'Dolphins still drowning in Pilbara nets', cetacean researchers express concerns that the current level of mortality may be a threat to the survival of Pilbara dolphins, can the department tell us what the sustainable mortality of dolphins in the Pilbara Trawl is to avoid the collapse of local populations;
(d) if yes to 3(c), what is this figure; and
(e) what evidence does the department have to support the figure given at 3(d)?
(4) These questions relate to sawfish interaction with the Pilbara Trawl. In answer to Fisheries Estimates question 5.2 the department lists the number of mortalities of sawfish that have died in the Pilbara trawl each year since 2007, and goes on to state that whilst sawfish are critically endangered as assessed by IUCN, they are not endangered in Australia, and I ask —
(a) what is the estimated current population of knifetooth sawfish, Anoxypristis cuspidata, and green sawfish, Pristis zijsron, in Western Australian waters;
(b) does the Department have estimates of how this population compares to pre-fishing populations;
(c) if yes to 4(b), please provide details;
(d) what evidence does the department have to support these estimates; (please provide this evidence); and
(e) what is the sustainable level of mortality in the Pilbara Trawl for knifetooth sawfish, Anoxypristis cuspidata, and green sawfish, Pristis zijsron, to avoid localised depletion of populations of these species?
(5) In Fisheries Estimates question 5.3 the department lists a large number of sea-snakes, seahorses and pipefish that are taken in the Pilbara Trawl fishery. My question relates to these species —
(a) what species of protected pipefish, sea horse and sea-snakes are caught in the Pilbara Trawl;
(b) for each of these species, what is their conservation status under Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 and IUCN;
(c) what is the estimated rate of drop out from nets of these small species; and
(d) what evidence underpins these estimates?
(6) What management measures are in place to minimize the impact of trawling in the Pilbara on bottom habitat?
(7) Can the Department of Fisheries provide maps showing the extent of habitat change in the fishery area caused by bottom trawling?
(8) If yes to (7), please table these maps.
(9) If no to (7), how is habitat change measured without such maps?
(10) In answer to Fisheries Estimates question 5.4, the department states that several species of demersal scalefish cannot be readily taken by the trap and line fishery in the Pilbara. Which species of demersal scalefish are not readily taken by trap and line fisheries in the Pilbara?
(11) In answer to Fisheries Estimates question 5.10 the department identifies two reported sea lion captures in 2009 and two in 2011, and I ask —
(a) can the Minister please provide the following details —
(i) location of capture;
(ii) the sex and age of the captured sea lions;
(iii) the colony from which the sea lions are expected to have originated; and
(b) were these captures reported by fishers or by fisheries department observers on vessels;
(12) In answer to Fisheries Estimates question 5.23 the Department of Fisheries identifies that NZ fur seals were captured in 2010, 2011 and 2012, how can the department be sure that Australian sea lion captures are not misreported as New Zealand Fur Seals, and —
(a) can the department advise where these captures occurred;
(b) for vessels without observers, what training is given to fishing vessel operators to ensure they are correctly identifying by-catch species; and
(c) can the department outline how many kilometre gillnet hours of fishing effort occurred in areas of Australian Sea Lion foraging habitat?
(13) In answer to Fisheries Estimates question 5.10 the Department identifies two reported sea lion captures in 2009 and two in 2011. I refer to a document entitled 'Application to the Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities on Western Australia's Temperate Demersal Gillnet and Demersal Longline Fisheries (Covering the West Coast Demersal Gillnet and Demersal Longline [Interim] managed fishery and the Joint Authority Southern Demersal Gillnet and Demersal Longline Managed Fishery) Against the Guidelines for the Ecologically Sustainable Management of Fisheries (2nd Edition) - 2007, January 2012.' In this document the two sea lion captures in 2009 and 2011 and reported in the Estimates hearing were not mentioned. I ask —
(a) did the Department of Fisheries report the two Australian sea lion captures in 2009 and two captures in 2011 to the Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities (DSEWPaC) in any other format that was available to the public during the public comment period for the assessment of the fishery for Wildlife Trade Operation license for the Western Australian Southern Demersal Gillnet and Longline Fisheries (WASDGLF); and
(b) if no to (13)(a) and given that evidence of actual sea lion captures is pertinent to the risk to sea lions posed by this fishery, why not?
(14) In answer to Fisheries Estimates question 5.23 a number of dolphin deaths are identified by the Department in 2006, 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011 in the WASDGLF. Where did these deaths occur?
(15) In answer to Fisheries Estimates question 5.14, the Department identifies that 117,090 gillnet hours of observer data have been collected for the WASDGLF. I ask —
(a) what was this observer program designed to detect;
(b) where and when were these observers deployed;
(c) was the observer program targeted in areas of known sea lion foraging habitat;
(d) what percentage of total fishing effort, in kilometre gillnet hours over the period of the observer program, does this represent; and
(e) what percentage of total fishing, in kilometre gillnet hours over the period of 1993 to 2012, does this represent?
(16) In South Australia the shark gillnet fishery is divided into zones and each zone has a target levels for by-catch mortality of Australian Sea Lions which triggers the shut-down of the fishery for the remainder of the season once the target by-catch mortality level is reached, and I ask —
(a) is the Minister aware of the South Australian by-catch target level for sea lions;
(b) does the department have a target level for by-catch mortality for Western Australian sea lion populations;
(c) if yes to 16(b), what is it; and
(d) if no to 16(b), why not?
(17) In answer to Fisheries Estimates question 5.16 the department notes that a satellite tagging program has been undertaken on 42 sea lions from 8 colonies in Western Australia. There are 24 colonies in Western Australia. What empirical data does the department have on the foraging habits and ranges in the remaining 16 colonies?
(18) This question refers to record keeping for catch of endangered and protected species in Western Australian fisheries —
(a) please provide details about the reporting system for captures of threatened and protected species;
(b) what staff time is allocated to maintaining this system;
(c) please provide the total number of each threatened and protected species reported captured in Western Australia's fisheries per year from 2006 to 2012; and
(d) what is the target limit for mortalities in Western Australia's fisheries for each of these threatened and protected species?
(1) How much was the entire Pilbara fishery (trap, line and trawl) worth in each of the years 2010 and 2011?
(2) How much was the Pilbara Trawl worth in each of the years 2010 and 2011?
(3) In answer to Fisheries Estimates question 5.1 the department lists the number of mortalities of dolphins in the Pilbara Trawl in each year since 2007. My question relates to the department's understanding of the impacts of these mortalities on the Pilbara dolphin population, and I ask —
(a) what is the current population of dolphins in the Pilbara;
(b) how many of those are expected to come into contact with the Pilbara Trawl;
(c) in the article referred to in the Estimates question, published 22 May and entitled 'Dolphins still drowning in Pilbara nets', cetacean researchers express concerns that the current level of mortality may be a threat to the survival of Pilbara dolphins, can the department tell us what the sustainable mortality of dolphins in the Pilbara Trawl is to avoid the collapse of local populations;
(d) if yes to 3(c), what is this figure; and
(e) what evidence does the department have to support the figure given at 3(d)?
(4) These questions relate to sawfish interaction with the Pilbara Trawl. In answer to Fisheries Estimates question 5.2 the department lists the number of mortalities of sawfish that have died in the Pilbara trawl each year since 2007, and goes on to state that whilst sawfish are critically endangered as assessed by IUCN, they are not endangered in Australia, and I ask —
(a) what is the estimated current population of knifetooth sawfish, Anoxypristis cuspidata, and green sawfish, Pristis zijsron, in Western Australian waters;
(b) does the Department have estimates of how this population compares to pre-fishing populations;
(c) if yes to 4(b), please provide details;
(d) what evidence does the department have to support these estimates; (please provide this evidence); and
(e) what is the sustainable level of mortality in the Pilbara Trawl for knifetooth sawfish, Anoxypristis cuspidata, and green sawfish, Pristis zijsron, to avoid localised depletion of populations of these species?
(5) In Fisheries Estimates question 5.3 the department lists a large number of sea-snakes, seahorses and pipefish that are taken in the Pilbara Trawl fishery. My question relates to these species —
(a) what species of protected pipefish, sea horse and sea-snakes are caught in the Pilbara Trawl;
(b) for each of these species, what is their conservation status under Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 and IUCN;
(c) what is the estimated rate of drop out from nets of these small species; and
(d) what evidence underpins these estimates?
(6) What management measures are in place to minimize the impact of trawling in the Pilbara on bottom habitat?
(7) Can the Department of Fisheries provide maps showing the extent of habitat change in the fishery area caused by bottom trawling?
(8) If yes to (7), please table these maps.
(9) If no to (7), how is habitat change measured without such maps?
(10) In answer to Fisheries Estimates question 5.4, the department states that several species of demersal scalefish cannot be readily taken by the trap and line fishery in the Pilbara. Which species of demersal scalefish are not readily taken by trap and line fisheries in the Pilbara?
(11) In answer to Fisheries Estimates question 5.10 the department identifies two reported sea lion captures in 2009 and two in 2011, and I ask —
(a) can the Minister please provide the following details —
(i) location of capture;
(ii) the sex and age of the captured sea lions;
(iii) the colony from which the sea lions are expected to have originated; and
(b) were these captures reported by fishers or by fisheries department observers on vessels;
(12) In answer to Fisheries Estimates question 5.23 the Department of Fisheries identifies that NZ fur seals were captured in 2010, 2011 and 2012, how can the department be sure that Australian sea lion captures are not misreported as New Zealand Fur Seals, and —
(a) can the department advise where these captures occurred;
(b) for vessels without observers, what training is given to fishing vessel operators to ensure they are correctly identifying by-catch species; and
(c) can the department outline how many kilometre gillnet hours of fishing effort occurred in areas of Australian Sea Lion foraging habitat?
(13) In answer to Fisheries Estimates question 5.10 the Department identifies two reported sea lion captures in 2009 and two in 2011. I refer to a document entitled 'Application to the Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities on Western Australia's Temperate Demersal Gillnet and Demersal Longline Fisheries (Covering the West Coast Demersal Gillnet and Demersal Longline [Interim] managed fishery and the Joint Authority Southern Demersal Gillnet and Demersal Longline Managed Fishery) Against the Guidelines for the Ecologically Sustainable Management of Fisheries (2nd Edition) - 2007, January 2012.' In this document the two sea lion captures in 2009 and 2011 and reported in the Estimates hearing were not mentioned. I ask —
(a) did the Department of Fisheries report the two Australian sea lion captures in 2009 and two captures in 2011 to the Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities (DSEWPaC) in any other format that was available to the public during the public comment period for the assessment of the fishery for Wildlife Trade Operation license for the Western Australian Southern Demersal Gillnet and Longline Fisheries (WASDGLF); and
(b) if no to (13)(a) and given that evidence of actual sea lion captures is pertinent to the risk to sea lions posed by this fishery, why not?
(14) In answer to Fisheries Estimates question 5.23 a number of dolphin deaths are identified by the Department in 2006, 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011 in the WASDGLF. Where did these deaths occur?
(15) In answer to Fisheries Estimates question 5.14, the Department identifies that 117,090 gillnet hours of observer data have been collected for the WASDGLF. I ask —
(a) what was this observer program designed to detect;
(b) where and when were these observers deployed;
(c) was the observer program targeted in areas of known sea lion foraging habitat;
(d) what percentage of total fishing effort, in kilometre gillnet hours over the period of the observer program, does this represent; and
(e) what percentage of total fishing, in kilometre gillnet hours over the period of 1993 to 2012, does this represent?
(16) In South Australia the shark gillnet fishery is divided into zones and each zone has a target levels for by-catch mortality of Australian Sea Lions which triggers the shut-down of the fishery for the remainder of the season once the target by-catch mortality level is reached, and I ask —
(a) is the Minister aware of the South Australian by-catch target level for sea lions;
(b) does the department have a target level for by-catch mortality for Western Australian sea lion populations;
(c) if yes to 16(b), what is it; and
(d) if no to 16(b), why not?
(17) In answer to Fisheries Estimates question 5.16 the department notes that a satellite tagging program has been undertaken on 42 sea lions from 8 colonies in Western Australia. There are 24 colonies in Western Australia. What empirical data does the department have on the foraging habits and ranges in the remaining 16 colonies?
(18) This question refers to record keeping for catch of endangered and protected species in Western Australian fisheries —
(a) please provide details about the reporting system for captures of threatened and protected species;
(b) what staff time is allocated to maintaining this system;
(c) please provide the total number of each threatened and protected species reported captured in Western Australia's fisheries per year from 2006 to 2012; and
(d) what is the target limit for mortalities in Western Australia's fisheries for each of these threatened and protected species?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
27 November 2012
Responded by
Minister for Fisheries
Response time
42 days
(1) - (18) See attached
[tabled paper __________].
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[tabled paper __________].
Notice: This document is created or edited using unregistered or evaluation copy of rtLib valid for testing or development purposes only. To use it for productive or any other purposes please register it. You may purchase the license on
http://www.rtlib.com
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