Offshore recreational fishing in Tasmania 2011/12

This study was undertaken to gain an understanding of the recreational offshore and game fisheries in Tasmania, particularly in relation to catch of tunas, pelagic sharks, Striped Trumpeter and Blue-eye Trevalla. The study used a combination of survey methods, but was primarily based around an offsite telephone diary survey (PDS) to assess recreational catch and effort over a 12 month period (November 2011 – October 2012). This is also the first study to quantify seal induced mortality of recreational catch for key species. At the conclusion of the diary period survey participants were asked a series of questions relating to their motivations and attitudes to recreational fishing, the management of the fishery, interactions with seals and an assessment of their own expenditure on offshore recreational activities in the period under review. An onsite survey was also conducted to assess catch of Southern Bluefin Tuna (SBT) at two key access points between March and July 2012. This method has been used previously to assess the recreational catch of SBT, but due to concerns over undercoverage of all access points only minimum catch estimates have been possible. By running the two independent survey methods concurrently it was possible to compare methods and calibrate results. Charter boat catches of SBT were also monitored during 2012 with charter boat operators reported catches in a voluntary logbook, which was issued to operators likely to target the species.