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Ecological effects of trawling fisheries on the eastern Australian continental shelf: a modelling study
journal contribution
posted on 2023-05-19, 08:57 authored by Savina, M, Forrest, RE, Elizabeth FultonElizabeth Fulton, Condie, SAThe New South Wales Offshore Trawl Fishery began to expand in 1976, following a large exploratory trawl survey carried out on the fishing grounds of the upper continental slope. This survey was repeated 20 years later with the same vessel and using similar protocols. Comparison of the survey results suggested that the overall fish biomass in the survey area had substantially decreased after 20 years. We have implemented an ecosystem model using the Atlantis framework to (1) emulate the evolution of the shelf ecosystems from 1976 to 1996 and (2) explore the effects of alternative fishing pressures on those ecosystems. We have been able to emulate the observed decline of most of the commercial groups of fish species in the Offshore Trawl Fishery, including sharks, and our results confirmed that fishing pressure was the most important cause of these observed changes. Fourteen fishing scenarios highlight the competing nature of some of the ecosystem-based sustainable fishing objectives.
History
Publication title
Marine and Freshwater ResearchVolume
64Issue
11Pagination
1068-1086ISSN
1323-1650Department/School
Institute for Marine and Antarctic StudiesPublisher
C S I R O PublishingPlace of publication
150 Oxford St, Po Box 1139, Collingwood, Australia, Victoria, 3066Rights statement
Copyright 2013 CSIRORepository Status
- Restricted