Assessment of the NSW SUTS Fishery · Assessment of the NSW Sea Urchin and Turban Shell Fishery 2...

FISHERIES NSW

Assessment of the NSW SUTS Fishery

Prepared for the Department of the Environment for the purpose of

assessment under Part 13 and 13(A) of the Environment Protection

and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999

Published by the NSW Department of Primary Industries

Assessment of the NSW Sea Urchin and Turban Shell Fishery - Prepared for the Department of the Environment for

the purpose of assessment under Part 13 and 13(A) of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999

First published February 2015

More information

Fiona McKinnon, Fisheries NSW

www.dpi.nsw.gov.au

Cover image: Sea urchin and turban shell species commonly taken in NSW SUTS Fishery. Source www.dpi.nsw.gov.au

© State of New South Wales through the Department of Trade and Investment, Regional Infrastructure and Services, 2015. You may copy, distribute and otherwise freely deal with this publication for any purpose, provided that you attribute the NSW Department of Primary Industries as the owner.

Disclaimer: The information contained in this publication is based on knowledge and understanding at the time of writing (February 2015). However, because of advances in knowledge, users are reminded of the need to ensure that information upon which they rely is up to date and to check currency of the information with the appropriate officer of the Department of Primary Industries or the user’s independent adviser.

Assessment of the NSW Sea Urchin and Turban Shell Fishery

i NSW Department of Primary Industries, February 2015

Contents Introduction ................................................................................................................................. 1

Description of the Fishery............................................................................................................ 1

Species ................................................................................................................................... 1

Sea Urchin ........................................................................................................................... 1

Turban shell ......................................................................................................................... 1

Method of Harvesting .............................................................................................................. 2

Area and Season of Operation ................................................................................................ 2

Management Arrangements .................................................................................................... 2

Input controls ....................................................................................................................... 2

Output controls ..................................................................................................................... 2

Number of fishers .................................................................................................................... 3

Allocation between sectors ...................................................................................................... 3

Governing Legislation .............................................................................................................. 3

Status of export approval under the EPBC Act ........................................................................ 3

Management ............................................................................................................................... 3

Licensing arrangements .......................................................................................................... 3

Access to the SUTS Fishery ................................................................................................ 3

Licensing conditions specific to SUTS endorsements .......................................................... 3

NSW Commercial Fisheries Administration Guide ............................................................... 5

Legislation ............................................................................................................................... 5

Fisheries Management Act 1994 .......................................................................................... 5

Fisheries Management (General) Regulation 2010 .............................................................. 6

Fishing Closures ...................................................................................................................... 6

Intertidal protected areas ......................................................................................................... 9

Total Allowable Commercial Catch ........................................................................................ 10

Compliance Risks .................................................................................................................. 11

Compliance rates ............................................................................................................... 11

Consultation processes ......................................................................................................... 11

Commercial fishery consultation ........................................................................................ 11

Cross jurisdictional management arrangements .................................................................... 11

Compliance with TAPs, recovery plans, etc and also relevant domestic and international arrangements ........................................................................................................................ 11

Research and Monitoring .......................................................................................................... 12

Research priorities ................................................................................................................. 12

Results of any research completed relevant to the fishery ..................................................... 12

Monitoring programs .............................................................................................................. 12

Collection of catch and effort data ......................................................................................... 12


Catch Data ................................................................................................................................ 13

Total catch and value of the SUTS Fishery ............................................................................ 13

Harvest by each sector (commercial, recreational, Indigenous and illegal) ............................ 14

Status of target stock ................................................................................................................ 14

Interaction with threatened or protected species ....................................................................... 15

Frequency and nature of interactions ..................................................................................... 15

Management actions taken to reduce interactions and results of such actions ...................... 15

Impacts of the fishery on the ecosystem in which operates ....................................................... 15

Results of any Ecological Risk Assessments ......................................................................... 15

Nature of the impacts on the ecosystem including impacts on any key conservation values .. 16

Management actions taken to reduce the impacts ................................................................. 16

Appendix 1 ................................................................................................................................ 17

Sub zones of the SUTS Fishery ............................................................................................. 17


1 NSW Department of Primary Industries, February 2015

Introduction This submission has been prepared by the NSW Department of Primary Industries (NSW DPI) on behalf of endorsement holders in the NSW Sea Urchin and Turban Shell Restricted Fishery (the SUTS Fishery) in order to assist industry to obtain export approval by leveraging off the comprehensive legislative and policy framework for fisheries management in NSW.

The following provides a report of the SUTS Fishery for assessment under Part 13 and Part 13(A) of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act). Information provided is based on the headings contained within Appendix B of the Guidelines for the Ecologically Sustainable Development of Fisheries – 2nd Edition and, consistent with these guidelines, this submission references sections of related documents.

Table 1: Summary of the SUTS Fishery as at February 2015.

Area NSW waters

Management Controls

Limited entry

Total allowable commercial catch applied to red urchins only

Minimum size limits

Regulated closed waters

Fishing Units 37 fishing businesses

Target Species Purple sea urchin (Centrostephanus rodgersii) and red sea urchin (Heliocidaris tuberculata)

Catch 2013

Purple sea urchin – 67.3 tonnes

Red sea urchin – 5.5 tonnes

Military turban shell – 4.4 tonnes

Total – 78.1 tonnes

2014

Purple sea urchin – 66.5 tonnes

Red sea urchin – 4.7 tonnes

Military turban shell – 2.9 tonnes

Total – 75.3 tonnes

Value 2013 – $105,335 2014 – $98,340

Stock Status Undefined

Description of the Fishery The commercial harvest of sea urchins and turban shells is managed as one fishery in NSW. For the purposes of this submission, the fishery comprises the Sea Urchin and Turban Shell Restricted Fishery as declared under Division 1 of Part 9 of the Fisheries Management (General) Regulation 2010 (the FM(G) Regulation) and pursuant to section 111 of the Fisheries Management Act 1994 (the FM Act).

Species

Sea Urchin

There are three main species of sea urchin found in NSW that are targeted by the SUTS Fishery - the purple sea urchin Centrostephanus rodgersii, the red sea urchin Heliocidaris tuberculata, and the white (or green) sea urchin Heliocidaris erythrogramma. The main target species are C. rodgersii and H. tuberculata, with only small commercial catches of H. erythrogramma recorded.

Turban shell

Two species provide the majority of the commercial harvest of turban shells in NSW, the Sydney turban shell (Turbo torquatus) and the military turban shell (T. militaris). A third species, the green turban shell (T. undulatus), is less commonly taken.



Method of Harvesting Commercial fishers dive for sea urchins and turban shells using mainly surface supplied compressed air (hookah). Because of their shallow habitat, turban shells are sometimes taken by free diving. Sea urchins are removed using a hook, whilst turban shells are taken by hand. Most fishing operations comprise a diver and deck-hand/compressor operator. Some fishers operate alone, particularly free divers. Because the catch of sea urchins and turban shells is taken manually, there is no bycatch.

Area and Season of Operation Sea urchins and turban shells may be taken commercially and recreationally in all NSW waters except for those waters, as specified in the FM(G) Regulation, in which the taking of sea urchins and turban shells are prohibited (refer to Fishing Closures below). Other fishing closures authorised under section 8 of the FM Act specific to the SUTS Fishery can be found on the NSW DPI website at: www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/fisheries/info/closures/commercial

The SUTS Fishery is also subject to a range of spatial closures arising from the comprehensive network of marine protected areas that include marine parks (pursuant to the NSW Marine Parks Act 1979), aquatic reserves and intertidal protected areas (pursuant to the FM Act).

With regard to seasonality, the SUTS Fishery is a continuous fishery with no closed season for any of the target species, although the harvest of sea urchins is constrained to that part of the year when the roe is well developed.

Management Arrangements The SUTS Fishery is managed under the FM Act and regulations made under this Act (refer to Governing Legislation below). NSW DPI is the State Government agency responsible for the administration of the FM Act. The SUTS Fishery is managed by a combination of input and output controls.

Input controls

Limited Access

Access to the SUTS Fishery is limited to fishing business owners that are eligible for an endorsement (authorising the take sea urchin or turban shell (or both)) in the fishery, or their nominated fisher. Only one person is eligible for an endorsement in respect of each fishing business.

Time and area closures

A number of fishing sub-zones have been closed to commercial SUTS fishing since 1994 to provide reference points for stock assessment purposes and as refugia (refer to Fishing Closures below).

Output controls

Quota management

The commercial harvest of red sea urchins is subject to an annual Total Allowable Commercial Catch (TACC) of 60 tonnes. The TACC is set by the statutory and independent Total Allowable Catch Setting and Review Committee (the TAC Committee) established under the FM Act. The TACC is divided equally between all entitlement holders in the SUTS Fishery and the resulting individual quotas are allocated on an annual basis.

Size Limits

There is currently no minimum or maximum size limit for the three species of sea urchins.

A minimum size limit of 75 mm (shell diameter) applies to Sydney and military turban shells.



Number of fishers There are currently 37 fishing businesses with entitlements to operate in the SUTS Fishery. While current levels of activity in the fishery are relatively low, with only 17 fishing businesses reporting catch in 2014, it has been increasing since 2009 when only eight fishing businesses reported catch.

Allocation between sectors The extent of the recreational harvest of sea urchins is not known but is likely to be less than 5 tonnes1, although recreational fishing effort is more intense close to urban areas.

The recreational catch of turban shells has not been estimated but is likely to be of a similar magnitude as the commercial harvest.

Limitations on the capture of all sea urchin and turban shell species are employed to minimise localised depletion caused by recreational harvesting. For example, recreational fishers are subject to a bag limit of 10 sea urchins (all species combined), and bag and size limits exist for all species of molluscs, to which the turban shell family relate, including a limit of 20 of any species or a combination of any species and a minimum size limit of 75 mm shell diameter (for Sydney and military turban shells). Intertidal Protected Areas (IPA) have also been established in nine areas around Sydney to protect selected rocky habitats and intertidal species (refer to Intertidal Protected Areas below)

Governing Legislation Relevant current legal instruments include the Fisheries Management Act 1994 and the Fisheries Management (General) Regulation 2010.

Status of export approval under the EPBC Act Export approval has previously been granted for the SUTS fishery, and was allowed to expire in February 2006 due to a lack of support from industry in renewal and perception of the viability of export markets for NSW sea urchin roe. However industry has recently expressed an interest in harvesting and exporting SUTS Fishery products.

Management

Licensing arrangements

Access to the SUTS Fishery

Access to the SUTS Fishery is limited to fishing business owners in the fishery, or their nominated fisher, who hold a commercial fishing licence with the appropriate endorsement. Specific eligibility criteria for an endorsement in the SUTS Fishery is established under clause 157 of the FM(G) Regulation. Only one person is eligible for an endorsement in respect of each fishing business. That is, if a fishing business is owned by more than one person, only one of them (being a person designated by the owners or, in the absence of such a designation, by the Director) is eligible for an endorsement.

Licensing conditions specific to SUTS endorsements

Licensing conditions are applied to a fishery where there is a need to further clarify aspects of the management of the fishery to ensure sustainability and provide compliance-based provisions. Table 2 describes the licensing conditions specific to the SUTS Fishery.

1 Rowling, K., Hegarty, A. and Ives, M. 2010. Status of fisheries resources in NSW 2008/09. NSW Industry & Investment, Cronulla, 392 pp.



Table 2: Licensing conditions specific to the SUTS Fishery

(a) Not on any day undertake any fishing activity unless he/she has contacted the local fisheries office prior to leaving port and reported his/her intended fishing location that day and from which boat ramp the boat will be launched.

(b) Carry a suitable measuring device when in possession of, or when attempting to take turban shell, to facilitate compliance with the prescribed minimum size. (c) Upon returning to port, contact the local fisheries office to inform them of the location and time of landing and approximate catch. (d) The license holder shall not permit any abalone endorsement holder to operate from an LFB being used by the license holder, unless the license holder is also endorsed in the

abalone fishery. (e) Not use an unlicensed crew member in a boat being used by the endorsement holder for the taking of sea urchins or turban shell, except to operate the boat or other equipment on the boat.

Note: an unlicensed crew member is not authorised to take sea urchin or turban shell from the fishery on the endorsement holder’s behalf.

(f) Not, within the waters to which this Act applies, or on or in any waters adjacent thereto, transfer sea urchin or turban shell from one boat to another boat. (g) Not on any day undertake any fishing activity unless a DPI Sea Urchin and Turban Shell Fishery Catch and Effort Report for that day is in his/her possession. (h) On each day that fishing activity under the endorsement is conducted, complete and

submit within 24 hours of the end of the day one or more DPI Sea Urchin and Turban Shell Fishery Daily Catch and Effort Records as issued to the fishing business owner by NSW Department of Primary Industries for that activity according to these conditions and the instructions issued with the catch and effort record forms. (i) Upon landing red urchin, Fishing Business identifying information and Part A of the DPI

Sea Urchin and Turban Shell Fishery Daily Catch and Effort Record must be completed for the red urchin catch before the catch leaves more than 50m from the point of landing at the shore. (j) Not loan, give or make available in any fashion to any other person/s DPI Sea Urchin and Turban Shell Fishery Daily Catch and Effort Records issued to his/her possession. (k) At all times keep DPI Sea Urchin and Turban Shell Fishery Daily Catch and Effort

Records in a safe place. (l) In the event of any DPI Sea Urchin and Turban Shell Fishery Daily Catch and Effort Record books or used DPI Sea Urchin and Turban Shell Fishery Daily Catch and Effort Records being stolen, lost, destroyed or damaged, immediately notify the Director-General in writing.

(m) Ensure that completed daily DPI Sea Urchin and Turban Shell Fishery Daily Catch and Effort Records are returned to DPI within 24 hours of the weight of the catch being validated. (n) Not on any day be in possession of any sea urchin or turban shell after such sea urchin or



turban shell have been landed in NSW unless these sea urchin or turban shell are accompanied by a DPI Sea Urchin and Turban Shell Fishery Daily Catch and Effort Record completed in the required form. (o) Comply with DPI research requirements for daily recording of information for research purposes, as arranged with DPI Researchers.

(p) Not, while using any apparatus to facilitate breathing underwater, or while such equipment is on any vessel, take or attempt to take rock lobster by any method, nor have any rock lobster in his/her possession. (q) Not, while using any apparatus to facilitate breathing underwater, or while such equipment is on any vessel, take or attempt to take abalone by any method, nor have abalone in his/her

possession, unless endorsed in the abalone share management fishery. (r) At all times comply with the requirements of the Fisheries Management Act 1994 and the Regulations made under the act and abide by any instruction relating to the operation of this endorsement, given by an officer of I & I NSW. (s) Not exercise the right to take sea urchin or turban shell for commercial purposes until the conditions of the license have been read and understood.

NSW Commercial Fisheries Administration Guide

The NSW Commercial Fisheries Administration Guide summarises the administrative arrangements for commercial fisheries in NSW and has been developed for people who operate in the NSW commercial fishing industry and anyone else who has an interest in the way it is managed. In particular, the guide aims to explain licensing requirements for commercial fishing activities in NSW, and processes relevant to important administrative transactions.

Legislation

Fisheries Management Act 1994

Sea urchins and turban shells are taken in the SUTS Fishery in accordance with the objects of the FM Act. These are: - ‘To conserve, share and develop the fishery resources of the State for the benefit of present and future generations’.

In particular, the objects include:

• to conserve fish stocks and key fish habitats,

• to conserve threatened species, populations and ecological communities of fish and marine vegetation,

• to promote ecologically sustainable development, including the conservation of biological diversity,

and, consistently with those objects:

• to promote viable commercial fishing and aquaculture industries,

• to promote quality recreational fishing opportunities,

• to appropriately share fisheries resources between the users of those resources,

• to provide social and economic benefits for the wider community of NSW,



• to recognise the spiritual, social and customary significance to Aboriginal persons of fisheries resources and to protect, and promote the continuation of, Aboriginal cultural fishing.

Fisheries Management (General) Regulation 2010

Clauses 154 – 166 of the FM (G) Regulation provide the specific legislative arrangements under which the SUTS Fishery is defined. In summary the provisions include:

• Definitions of endorsements, endorsement holders, entitlement holders, nominated fishers and quota.

• Declaration of the SUTS fishery as a restricted fishery.

• The classes of endorsements in the restricted fishery (sea urchin or turban shell).

• Eligibility criteria for endorsement in the restricted fishery.

• Provisions for further entry into the fishery by way of public tender.

• Provision for the nomination of a person to act as a nominated fisher on behalf of an entitlement holder.

• Provisions relating to the endorsement of commercial fishing licenses and grounds for refusal of an endorsement (previous convictions, failure to pay fees etc).

• Duration of an endorsement in the restricted fishery.

• Provisions for the cancellation or suspension of an endorsement (previous convictions, failure to pay fees etc).

• Provisions for the determination of a Total Allowable Catch (TAC) by the Director (of Fisheries) and reference to the TAC Committee as an alternative forum for determination of TAC, where appropriate.

• Provision for the establishment of quotas in the SUTS Fishery for the equitable allocation of TAC.

• Provisions and administrative procedures for the transfer of quota between entitlement holders.

• Special licence conditions for licence holders who nominate fishers to ensure the nominated fish acts within the management provisions of the restricted fishery.

• Waters closed to harvesting of sea urchins and turban shells.

Fishing Closures For management and stock assessment purposes, NSW has been divided into five fishing regions (Figure 1 and Table 3). These regions are further divided into sub-zones for management purposes (See Appendix 1 for a schedule of sub-regions).

A number of the fishing sub-regions have been closed to commercial SUTS fishing since 1994 to provide reference points for stock assessment purposes and as refugia. Coinciding with the introduction of a TACC for red sea urchins in 2002, changes were made to the system of fishing closures applied to the SUTS Fishery. New fishing closures were introduced in areas previously subjected to intensive fishing and new areas opened, particularly in Region 1 and 2, to spread effort along the coast.



Reg io n 1

Reg io n 5 Reg io n 4 Reg io n 3 Reg io n 2

*

Reg ion 1

Reg ion 2

Reg ion 3

Reg ion 4

Reg ion 5

* *

* *

*

*

*

*

* *

*

*

* *

*

*

* * *

* *

* *

* *

*

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Figure1: Map of NSW showing regions and sub-regions of the SUTS Fishery used for stock assessment and management (large lines), and sub-regions within regions (small lines). Sub-regions closed to harvesting sea urchins are indicated by (*).



Clause 166 of the FM(G) Regulation now prescribes the areas closed to harvesting of sea urchin and turban shells (Table 4).

Table 3: Geographical areas of the SUTS Fishery management regions

Region Area

Region 1 Tweed Heads to Newcastle

Region 2 Newcastle to Currarong

Region 3 Currarong to Brush Island

Region 4 Brush Island to Montague Island

Region 5 Montague Island to Cape Howe

Table 4: Waters closed to taking of sea urchins and turban shells by any method

Sandon to Red RockSandon to Red RockSandon to Red RockSandon to Red Rock

The whole of the waters between a line drawn east from the point 153°19′57.9648″ east, 29°40′25.8456″ south, and a line drawn east from the point 153°14′03.4764″ east, 29°58′52.014″ south.

Red Rock to Coffs HarbourRed Rock to Coffs HarbourRed Rock to Coffs HarbourRed Rock to Coffs Harbour


Seal Rocks to Broughton IslandSeal Rocks to Broughton IslandSeal Rocks to Broughton IslandSeal Rocks to Broughton Island

The whole of the waters between a line drawn east from the point 152°32′09.9384″ east, 32°26′02.3964″

south and a line drawn east from the point 152°17′16.75″ east, 32°35′25.0044″ south.

ExExExEx----HMAS Adelaide ReserveHMAS Adelaide ReserveHMAS Adelaide ReserveHMAS Adelaide Reserve

The whole of the waters enclosed by the following coordinates: (a) 33°27.887′ S and 151°27.301′ E, (b) 33°27.767′ S and 151°27.374′ E, (c) 33°27.852′ S and 151°27.574′ E, (d) 33°27.973′ S and 151°27.502′ E

Broken Bay to Sydney HarbourBroken Bay to Sydney HarbourBroken Bay to Sydney HarbourBroken Bay to Sydney Harbour


south, and a line drawn east from the point 151°16′51.2508″ east, 33°49′58.152″ south.

Sydney HarSydney HarSydney HarSydney Harbour to Bondi Beachbour to Bondi Beachbour to Bondi Beachbour to Bondi Beach


Bondi Beach to Botany BayBondi Beach to Botany BayBondi Beach to Botany BayBondi Beach to Botany Bay




Bombo Beach to Werri BeachBombo Beach to Werri BeachBombo Beach to Werri BeachBombo Beach to Werri Beach

The whole of the waters between a line drawn east of the point 150°51′23.0616″ east, 34°39′26.8029″ south and a line drawn east of the point 150°50′06.7020″ east, 34°44′04.1820″ south.

Currarong to Point PerpendicularCurrarong to Point PerpendicularCurrarong to Point PerpendicularCurrarong to Point Perpendicular

The whole of the waters between a line drawn east from the points 150°49′20.4636″ east, 34°58′58.6668″ south, and 150°49′20.4636″ east, 35°00′49.5396″ south and a line drawn east from the point 150°48′

16.236″ east, 35°05′39.9084″ south.

Inside Jervis BayInside Jervis BayInside Jervis BayInside Jervis Bay


Malua Bay to Burrewarra PointMalua Bay to Burrewarra PointMalua Bay to Burrewarra PointMalua Bay to Burrewarra Point


Cuttagee Point to Thibbul Inlet (Murrah)Cuttagee Point to Thibbul Inlet (Murrah)Cuttagee Point to Thibbul Inlet (Murrah)Cuttagee Point to Thibbul Inlet (Murrah)

The whole of the waters between a line drawn east from the point 150°03′18.2196″ east, 36°29′16.6056″ south and a line drawn east from the point 150°03′27.1296″ east, 36°31′32.7576″ south.

Bithry Inlet to Barounda InletBithry Inlet to Barounda InletBithry Inlet to Barounda InletBithry Inlet to Barounda Inlet


Mowarry Point to Saltwater BeachMowarry Point to Saltwater BeachMowarry Point to Saltwater BeachMowarry Point to Saltwater Beach


south, and a line drawn east from the point 150°00′11.484″ east, 37°10′10.8336″ south.

Black Head Anchorage to NadBlack Head Anchorage to NadBlack Head Anchorage to NadBlack Head Anchorage to Nadgee Lakegee Lakegee Lakegee Lake


Other fishing closures authorised under Section 8 and Section 11 of the FM Act specific to the SUTS Fishery can be found on the NSW DPI website at www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/fisheries/info/closures/commercial/suts

Intertidal protected areas Intertidal protected areas (IPAs) have been established to protect selected rocky habitats and intertidal species. They aim to:

• protect intertidal community biodiversity and structure;

• provide biological reservoirs of breeding stock so exploited areas nearby can be recolonised or sustained; and

• help ensure harvesting of intertidal invertebrates is undertaken at sustainable levels.



All IPAs extend from the mean high water mark to 10 metres seaward from the mean low water mark. Collecting seashore animals, such as turban shells and sea urchins is prohibited. Figure 1 indicates IPA locations.

Figure 2: Intertidal protected areas in NSW

Total Allowable Commercial Catch The TAC Committee first determined a TACC of 60 tonnes for red sea urchins for the period 1 January to 31 December 2002. The TACC is allocated equally to each endorsement in the fishery. The total commercial catch is capped in proportion to the estimated biomass in each of the five management regions (Table 5).

Table 5: Regional allocation of the red sea urchin TACC

Region Sub-regions Area Annual TACC cap (kg)

Region 1 A - F2 Tweed Heads to Newcastle 8,000

Region 2 F3 - L1 Newcastle to Currarong 28,000

Region 3 L2 - N3 Currarong to Brush Island 13,000

Region 4 P1 - S1 Brush Island to Montague Island 11,000

Region 5 S2 - Z5 Montague Island to Cape Howe 0

A fishing closure authorised under Section 8 of the FM Act currently prohibits the harvest of red sea urchins in Region 5 of the SUTS Fishery giving effect to the TAC Committee’s determination of 0 tonnes for this region.



The TACC for red sea urchins has not been subject to review or redetermination, in part due to low harvest levels. The TAC Committee’s determination (including regional restrictions) has been applied in each subsequent calendar year to date.

Compliance Risks Refer to ‘Fisheries Compliance Enforcement Policy and Procedure [updated 15 December 2014]’ available on the NSW DPI website at www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/fisheries/compliance

Compliance rates

Compliance with the fisheries legislation is measured by analysis of data recorded in fisheries patrols and operations. Rate of compliance in the SUTS Fishery are as follows:

Compliance rate

2010 100%

2011 67%

2012 45%

2013 83%

2014 63%

Consultation processes Section 284 of the FM Act identifies the type of items for which NSW DPI is required to consult with the public and the public consultation procedure.

Commercial fishery consultation

The Independent Review of NSW Commercial Fisheries Policy, Management and Administration (2012) examined, amongst other issues, the effectiveness of current commercial fishery consultation arrangements. The Review made several recommendations about modifying the fisheries advisory groups reporting to the Minister for Primary Industries including:

• Replacing management advisory committees (MACs) with non-statutory, issue- or task-based working groups, established on a needs basis, that report to the Executive Director, Fisheries NSW;

• Replacing the Seafood Industry Advisory Council with a single, cross-sectoral Ministerial Fisheries Advisory Council to provide high-level strategic policy advice. The Council will be chaired by an independent person and consist of a range of experts from the fields of commercial fishing, recreational fishing and Aboriginal fishing, aquaculture, conservation and government; and

• The formation of a State-wide peak body for commercial fishers, funded by a mandatory fee to cover consultation services and a voluntary fee to fund representative services. A discussion paper was prepared seeking industry comments on the formation of the peak body and a tender process completed to determine which organisation should undertake the consultation services however no acceptable bid was received.

Cross jurisdictional management arrangements No formal cross jurisdictional management arrangements exist.

Compliance with TAPs, recovery plans, etc and also relevant domestic and international arrangements None of direct influence in the SUTS Fishery.



Research and Monitoring

Research priorities Refer to ‘Fisheries NSW Strategic Research Plan 2014 – 2018’ available on the NSW DPI website at: www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0020/423524/Planning-Strategic-Research.pdf

Results of any research completed relevant to the fishery Fishery independent data in the form of an initial estimation of stock biomass was completed in 2003 for sea urchin species taken in the SUTS Fishery2. The study provides an accurate and robust methodological model for stock assessment and ongoing monitoring of sea urchin stock biomass in NSW.

Descriptions of current research projects, scientific outputs and any completed research results by NSW DPI relevant to the fishery can be found on the NSW DPI website at: www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/research/fishing-aquaculture

Monitoring programs The NSW DPI fishery monitoring program includes stock assessment work on key commercial species; use of scientific observers to record information on catches of target species and by-catch; collection of catch and effort data; and port monitoring of landed fish products (e.g. collecting data on fish length and age).

Collection of catch and effort data Catch reporting is an important source of fishery dependant data whereby commercial fishers record and submit all information relating to the catch taken and effort expended in the commercial fishery. This is a legal requirement under section 121 of the FM Act.

SUTS Fishery data collection is procured from commercial fishers in the form of numbered daily log sheets entitled ‘Sea Urchin & Turban Shell Daily Catch Register Book’ (log sheets). SUTS fishers are required by licence condition to submit the daily catch returns on fishing activity to NSW DPI within 24 hours of the weight of the landed catch being validated (Part A). From the catch returns a series of data are derived from both the SUTS fisher and the processing firm who take possession of the product from the diver (Part B).

Information entered into the log sheet by the fisher (Part A) includes:

• By whom the catch was taken (entitlement holder or nominated fisher)

• Details of any crew associated with the fishing activity

• Details of the licensed fishing boat used (if any)

• Port of landing

• Species reference codes

• Area worked (defined into sub-zones)

• Time worked (in hours)

• Gross weight of product (in bins)

2 Worthington, D.G. and Blount, C., 2003. Research to develop and manage the sea urchin fisheries in NSW and eastern Victoria. Final Report to the Fisheries Research and Development Corporation. Project No. 1999/128. NSW Fisheries Final Report Series No. 56. ISSN 1442-0147. 182pp.



• Location of any stock held over

• The fisheries officer notified (as required before fishing)

• Certification by the fisher as to the authenticity of the return information

The log sheet is provided with the catch to the processor and must be completed by the processor (Part B) and returned to the NSW DPI within 24 hours of receipt of the product. The processor is required to validate the amount of catch reported on the log sheet by the fisher, including validated weights and individual animal numbers.

Catch Data

Total catch and value of the SUTS Fishery

Table 6: Value of the SUTS Fishery#

2010 2011 2012 2013 2014

$88,850 $88,800 $122,250 $105,350 $98,350

# Ongoing validation may alter these values.

Table 7: Annual sea urchin catch (kg)#

Green sea urchin Red sea urchin Purple sea urchin

1999 1 3988 1,477

2000 38 48,260 14,574

2001 54 47,122 23,777

2002 53 10,887 26,805

2003 0 11,906 46,495

2004 0 15,599 26,436

2005 157 11,211 31,708

2006 15 8,418 21,451

2007 0 7,355 25,684

2008 50 16,960 15,080

2009 0 10,895 16,944

2010 0 5,928 49,515

2011 0 6,558 45,140

2012 7 6,706 73,343

2013 94 5,544 67,321

2014# 2 4,124 63,892

# Reported gross landings as at November 2014. Data is subject to ongoing validation.



Table 8: Annual turban shell catch (kg)#

Military Sydney Turban shell (other)

Turban shell (undifferentiated)

1999 - - - 792

2000 - - - 3,733

2001 - - - 6,684

2002 - - - 1,531

2003 - - - 2,481

2004 - - - 3,134

2005 - - - 3,907

2006 - - - 4,235

2007 - - - 5,128

2008 - - - 4,601

2009 2,797 461 803 1,848

2010 3,588 1,220 572 -

2011 3,491 635 317 -

2012 4,686 1,250 959 -

2013 4,440 165 483 -

2014# 2,244 582 351 -

# Reported gross landings as at November 2014. Data is subject to ongoing validation.

Harvest by each sector (commercial, recreational, Indigenous and illegal)

• No estimate available for the Indigenous sector.

• The extent of the recreational harvest of sea urchins is not known but is likely to be less than 5 tonnes1, although recreational fishing effort is more intense close to urban areas.

• The recreational catch of turban shells has not been estimated but is likely to be of a similar magnitude as the commercial harvest.

• Refer to the report Recreational Fishing Surveys in the Greater Sydney Region3 for recent [estimated] recreational catch and effort information for that region.

• No estimate available for illegal catch.

Status of target stock NSW DPI has developed and implemented a Resource Assessment Framework for the assessment of marine fish species harvested in NSW4. The framework incorporates a

3 Steffe, A.S. and Murphy, J.J., 2011. Recreational fishing surveys in the Greater Sydney Region. Fisheries Final Report Series No. 131 (ISSN 1837-2112). Cronulla, NSW, Australia. 122pp.



standardised method of reporting on the exploitation status of fish stocks across all commercial fisheries including an annual review and interpretation of available data by fisheries scientists. Catch from all sectors (including estimates from recreational and, where available, illegal sectors) are taken into consideration when determining the status of a species.

The exploitation status of the three main species of sea urchin and the two species of turban shells targeted by the SUTS Fishery are categorised as ‘undefined’, meaning that commercial catch data is available but no reasonable attempt has been made to determine exploitation status.

Interaction with threatened or protected species

Frequency and nature of interactions Refer to the report Broad-scale interactions between fishing and mammals, reptiles and birds in NSW marine waters5.

The method used to harvest urchin and turban shell (by hand) in the SUTS Fishery is target specific and there is likely to be little adverse interaction between the fishery and threatened or protected species, or threatened ecological communities.

Management actions taken to reduce interactions and results of such actions Given the selective harvesting method used in the SUTS Fishery no specific risks have been identified that require a management action.

Impacts of the fishery on the ecosystem in which operates

Results of any Ecological Risk Assessments NSW DPI has produced a Review of Environmental Factors (REF) draft document for the SUTS Fishery. The REF aims to identify and assess whether the activity of the SUTS Fishery has any potential impacts on the environment, with all components of the environment being included – biological, ecological, physical, economic and social.

The preliminary assessment indicates low or negligible potential ecological impacts on the environment based on the level of activity and harvest levels at the time of the assessment (Table 9).

Table 9: Preliminary assessment of potential ecological impacts of the SUTS Fishery on the environment

Type of Impact Potential Impact Ranking

Impacts on target fish stocks

Overfishing leading to serial depletion identified as a potential threat, particularly for H. tuberculata.

All turban species – Low

C. rodgersii – Low

H. tuberculata – Unknown due to smaller distribution range and past evidence of serial depletion, but low level of activity in the fishery.

Impacts on other fauna Divers may disturb threatened or protected species inhabiting areas where sea urchins and turban shells are harvested.

Low

4 Scandol, J.P. 2004. A Framework for the Assessment of Harvested Fish Resources in NSW. NSW Department of Primary Industries – Fisheries Resource Assessment Series No. 15, ISSN 1449- 9940. 5 Ganassin, C. and Gibbs, P. 2005. Broad-scale interactions between fishing and mammals, reptiles and birds in NSW Marine Waters. NSW Department of Primary Industries – Fisheries Final Report Series No. 80 ISSN1449-9967



Type of Impact Potential Impact Ranking

Harvesting of sea urchins and turban shells may reduce a potential source of food for some threatened or protected species.

Low

Vessels used by divers in the SUTS Fishery may disturb or injure threatened or protected species during transit between port and fishing grounds or during harvesting operations.

Low

Impacts on habitats Physical damage to reefs or crevices when removing sea urchins with hooks.

Negligible

Removal of sea urchins reduces the proportion of microhabitat available under urchins.

Negligible

Damage to algal beds from removing sea urchins or turban shells

Negligible

Ecological impacts - interactions with species, assemblages, habitats and biological diversity

Reduction in density, or depletion of whole patches of Centrostephanus, through harvesting.

There have been no studies on the ecological interactions of H. tuberculata with subtidal species assemblages and diversity.

There is no information about the effects of removal of turban shells on species assemblages and biodiversity in the SUTS Fishery.

Unknown but designated low due to the low level of activity and small harvest levels in the fishery.

Nature of the impacts on the ecosystem including impacts on any key conservation values Refer to table 9 above.

Management actions taken to reduce the impacts The FM Act and the FM(G) Regulation provide a comprehensive legislative framework through which the SUTS Fishery operates and provides for management actions that aim to address the potential impact of the SUTS Fishery on the target stock. This includes the introduction of a TACC for red sea urchins (H. tuberculata) in 2002 and a system of regulated closed waters.

The TACC for red sea urchins is capped in each of the five management regions in proportion to the estimated biomass of red sea urchins in each region. A fishing closure authorised under Section 8 of the FM Act currently prohibits the harvest of red sea urchins in Region 5 of the SUTS Fishery giving effect to the TAC Committee’s determination of 0 tonnes for this region.

Additionally, coinciding with the introduction of a TACC for red sea urchins, changes were made to the system of closed waters applied to the SUTS Fishery with new fishing closures introduced in areas previously subjected to intensive fishing and new areas opened, particularly in Region 1 and 2, to spread effort along the coast.



Appendix 1

Sub zones of the SUTS Fishery

A Tweed Heads to Ballina

B1 Ballina to Sandon

B2 Sandon to Red Rock

B3 Red Rock to Coffs Harbour

C I Coffs Harbour to SW Rocks

C2 SW Rocks to Pt Macquarie

D1 Pt Macquarie to Harrington

D2 Harrington to Tuncurry

E2 Forster to Seal Rocks

E3 Seal Rocks to Hawks Nest Beach

E4 Yacaaba Head and Islands

E1 Broughton Island

F1 Port Stephens to Anna Bay

F2 Anna Bay to Newcastle

F3 Newcastle to Burwood Beach

F4 Burwood Beach to Swansea

G1 Swansea to Norah Head

G2 Norah Head to The Entrance

G3 The Entrance to Terrigal

G4 Terrigal to Broken Bay

H1 Broken Bay to Sydney Harbour

H2 Sydney Harbour to Bondi Beach

H3 Bondi Beach to Botany Bay

J1 Botany Bay to Port Hacking

J2 Port Hacking to Marley Beach

J3 Marley Beach to Garie Beach

J4 Garie Beach to Stanwell Park

J5 Stanwell Park to Wollongong Hbr

K1 Wollongong Hbr to Shellharbour

K2 Shellharbour to Bombo Beach

K3 Bombo Beach to Werri Beach

K4 Werri Beach to Shoalhaven Heads

L1 Shoalhaven Heads to Currarong

L2 Currarong to Pt Perpendicular

L3 Inside Jervis Bay

L4 Nth tip Bowen Island to Wreck Bay

MI Wreck Bay to Bendalong

M2 Bendalong to Ulladulla

N1 Ulladulla to Termeil Point

N2 Termeil Point to Brush (excl. Island)

N3 Brush Island

P1 Brush (excl. Island) to Pretty Beach

P2 Pretty Beach to Sth Durras

P3 Sth Durras to North Head

P4 North Head to Batemans Bay

Q1 Batemans Bay to Lilli Pilli Beach

Q2 Tollgate Islands

Q3 Lilli Pilli Beach to Malua Bay

Q4 Malua Bay to Burrewarra Point

Q5 Burrewarra Point to Moruya River

R1 Moruya River to Black Rock

R2 Black Rock to Tuross Lake

S2 Tuross Lake to Dalmeny

S3 Dalmeny to Narooma

S1 Montague Island

T1 Narooma to Corunna Lake

T2 Corunna Lake to Bermagui

U1 Bermagui to Cuttagee Inlet

U2 Cuttagee to Thibbul Inlet (Murrah)

U3 Thibbul to Bunga Beach (Goalen and Pressure)

U4 Bunga Beach to Mimosa Rocks (Bunga)

V1 Mimosa Rocks to Bithry Inlet

V2 Bithry Inlet to Barounda Inlet

V3 Barounda Inlet to Tathra

W1 Tathra to Wallagoot Lake

W2 Wallagoot Lake to Short Point Beach

W3 Short Point Beach to Merimbula

X1 Merimbula to Long Beach

X2 Long Beach to Eden Wharf

YII Eden Wharf to Red Point

Y12 Red Point to Leatherjacket Beach

Y13 Leatherjacket Beach to Mowarry Point

Y21 Mowarry Point to Saltwater Beach

Y22 Saltwater Beach to Long Point

Y23 Long Point to Bittangabee Bay

Y24 Bittangabee Bay to Green Cape

Y31 Green Cape to City Rock

Y32 City Rock to Wonboyn

Z1 Wonboyn to Jane Spiers Beach

Z2 Jane Spiers Beach to Black Head Anchorage

Z3 Black Head Anchorage to Nadgee Lake

Z4 Nadgee Lake to Howe Beach

Z5 Cape Howe

Assessment of the NSW SUTS Fishery · Assessment of the NSW Sea Urchin and Turban Shell Fishery 2...

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