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Lessons from long-term monitoring of tropical rock lobsters to support fisheries management.
- Source :
-
Fisheries Research . Jul2024, Vol. 275, pN.PAG-N.PAG. 1p. - Publication Year :
- 2024
-
Abstract
- Fishery-independent scientific surveys are highly valuable for monitoring lobsters and other fisheries. Yet, there are relatively few long-term monitoring surveys to support the provision of management advice. A number of challenges can prevent the continuity of long-term monitoring series. This paper uses the 35-year continuous annual dive surveys for Australia's Torres Strait tropical rock lobster (TRL) to overview strengths and limitations of a long-term scientific survey, as well as lessons learnt from having overcome a range of challenges. Fishery-independent surveys are more reliable than fishery-dependent data and are more robust to external shocks such as market drivers and fuel prices. The primary purpose of the surveys is to provide a reliable index of stock abundance together with data to inform on size and age structure, plus model parameters and reference points. Here, we also highlight additional survey benefits including: yielding positive gains relative to cost, facilitating an adaptive management approach that serves as an early warning system, reducing and resolving inter-sector conflicts, reduced frequency of stock assessments, providing data from associated habitat monitoring, improved stakeholder buy-in, utility for development of Operating Models for Management Strategy Evaluation, contribution to achieving certification, contributing to biodiversity agreements and consistent cross-jurisdictional monitoring. We analyse lessons learnt from challenges such as changes in resource management, budget cuts, increased health and safety requirements, maintenance of capability and staff capacity, stakeholder buy-in, need to validate survey results, a pandemic and changing climate. Our experiences highlight why long-term scientific surveys are considered the gold standard for fisheries monitoring and we provide insights for building and maintaining key marine monitoring series. [Display omitted] • Fishery-independent surveys are valuable but challenging to maintain long-term. • Challenges include costs, capacity, management changes, COVID19, climate change. • Survey data robust to extreme events and external system shocks. • Benefits include reliability, positive benefit:cost, habitat data, science buy-in. • Long-term scientific surveys considered the gold standard for fisheries monitoring. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 01657836
- Volume :
- 275
- Database :
- Academic Search Index
- Journal :
- Fisheries Research
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 177086024
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fishres.2024.107030