NATIONAL RESEARCH FLAGSHIPS Sustainable Australian Fisheries and Ecosystems Future Directions - Science Tony Smith Geelong Revisited

NATIONAL RESEARCH FLAGSHIPS The recent past Achievements of the ESD sub-program Progress towards EBFM –Bycatch, protected species, habitats, ecosystems –Integration – whole of fishery performance –Economic and social dimensions Australia’s global position in EBFM R&D –ESD framework, ERA, Atlantis etc

NATIONAL RESEARCH FLAGSHIPS A systems view Fishing Catch Monitoring Assessment Decision support Management decisions Implementation Resources and ecosystems Environmental drivers Markets Costs Performance evaluation Standards Policy

NATIONAL RESEARCH FLAGSHIPS Science input Fishing Catch Monitoring Assessment Decision support Management decisions Implementation Resources and ecosystems Environmental drivers Markets Costs Performance evaluation Standards Policy

NATIONAL RESEARCH FLAGSHIPS Monitoring Increasing industry involvement Focus on cost-effective strategies addressing all needs Potential from new technologies –VMS –Electronic logbooks –Remote sensing –Smart tags –Habitat mapping –Underwater video

NATIONAL RESEARCH FLAGSHIPS Spatial analysis Southern bluefin tuna management Management decision + Habitat preferences 3D ocean info Habitat prediction

NATIONAL RESEARCH FLAGSHIPS Assessment - ERA Scoping Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Risk Management Response LH LH LH Comprehensive Focused Time & $$ Uncertain More certain Qualitative Quantitative

NATIONAL RESEARCH FLAGSHIPS Decision support - MSE & Atlantis Atlantis * Representation of run-off, pollutants and habitat degradation also possible

NATIONAL RESEARCH FLAGSHIPS MSE output – decision table Economic objective Ecological objective Social objective Strategy 1 Strategy 2 Strategy 3

NATIONAL RESEARCH FLAGSHIPS Where to with science The “two cultures” problem More focus on the human dimension –Incentives versus regulation –More effective systems of governance –Future scenarios for our fishing industry

NATIONAL RESEARCH FLAGSHIPS Key science challenges Measuring sustainability –Climate change and shifting baselines –Scientific basis for determining acceptable impacts –Properly integrating the social and economic with the ecological Cost-effective observation and monitoring systems

NATIONAL RESEARCH FLAGSHIPS Questions