AFMA is releasing an innovative strategy to minimise the bycatch of dolphins in gillnets in the Southern and Eastern Scalefish and Shark Fishery to as close to zero as possible while allowing sustainable shark fishing.
The strategy reduces the risk of dolphin bycatch, improves information on factors leading to dolphin bycatch and introduces ‘individual responsibility’ measures specific to the area known as the Coorong Dolphin Zone in South Australia.
The individual responsibility measure creates an incentive for fishers to innovate and adopt best practices to minimise their bycatch. Fishers in the Coorong Dolphin Zone are responsible for their actions and must meet strict performance criteria or else they will be excluded from fishing in this area.
Under the strategy, there is a firm management response for any dolphin bycatch across the whole fishery. AFMA has been developing the strategy for more than two years through consultation with conservation groups, gillnet fishers, marine mammal experts and other government departments.
Frequently asked questions
Why was this strategy developed?
One of our key objectives is to ensure that fishing practices are sustainable and do not have too great an impact on the environment. In pursuing our objectives, we must ensure that our management measures are not inconsistent with the preservation, conservation and protection of all species of whales and dolphins. This strategy was developed following a large number of dolphin interactions with gillnets in South Australia leading to the 2011 closure of the Coorong Dolphin Zone (east of Kangaroo Island). The strategy allows sustainable shark fishing to occur while offering protection for dolphins.
How will the new strategy protect dolphins?
The strategy will bring in a suite of measures that will increase the level of protection given to dolphins. All gillnet fishers (across the whole fishery) will work with AFMA to fill out an extensive report should any dolphin bycatch occur. If a dolphin is caught, fishers must move their fishing operations at least five nautical miles before fishing again.
In the area of the Coorong Dolphin Zone, fishers must be individually responsible for their dolphin bycatch and must meet firm performance criteria, or else they will be excluded from fishing with gillnets in that area until such time as they have undertaken work to reduce their risk of catching dolphins.
AFMA will continue to work with our Marine Mammal Working Group (consisting of industry, conservation representatives, marine mammal experts and other government departments) to further our understanding of how dolphins interact with fishing gear and to review the effectiveness of the Strategy.
Why is the area of the Coorong Dolphin Zone being reopened?
The Coorong Dolphin Zone will be re-opened only to fishers who have shown they are fishing in a responsible way in line with the criteria of the strategy in minimising their risk to dolphins.
The Coorong Dolphin Zone has historically been an area where a large amount of shark catch has been taken by gillnets. Reopening this area will allow this popular table fish to again be sustainably harvested from this area of waters.
What happens if a dolphin is caught?
Under the strategy, there is a management response for every dolphin caught. AFMA will work with industry to investigate any interaction between gillnet fishing and dolphins and find out why it happened and what can be done to stop it happening again.
What level of monitoring will be required?
Our electronic monitoring systems (cameras and sensors) automatically record fishing activity as the catch is brought on board. The systems have been in use in the SESSF gillnet sector since 2010 and have proven effective at detecting marine mammal bycatch events.
The strategy requires that all gillnet fishing activity in the Coorong Zone and the adjacent Dolphin Observation Zone is subjected to 100 per cent monitoring through electronic monitoring or an onboard, scientific observer. Under this strategy and AFMA’s Australian Sea Lion Management Strategy, all gillnet fishing activity in South Australian waters is subject to 100 per cent monitoring.
In the rest of the fishery (waters of Tasmania and Bass Strait) there is a requirement for ten per cent monitoring of fishing effort. This level of monitoring across the fleet will ensure that AFMA and industry have an increased understanding of both the nature and level of marine mammal interactions with gillnet fishing operations.