6/2002: A shared approach to sustainable snapper fisheries

MEDIA RELEASE

A shared approach to sustainable snapper fisheries

Research by Indonesian and Australian scientists looks set to save the livelihoods of fishermen from both countries through introducing changes to the management of snapper fisheries shared between the two countries.  In a joint research project scientists have established that overfishing of snapper in the Timor and Arafura Seas is occurring and presents a long-term threat to the sustainability of the fisheries.

Overfishing of shared snapper fisheries also threatens the long-term viability of industrial and smallholder fishing in eastern Indonesia.  A research project, commissioned by the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research, part of the Australian Government’s development assistance program, is bringing together Indonesian and Australian scientists to determine levels of sustainable snapper catches.

The team of scientists working on the project have used sampling and catch information to determine the sustainability of the snapper nurseries in the Timor and Arafura Seas.  Each month routine samples are taken from the Indonesian catch to study breeding patterns and population genetics.

Nursery areas where snapper species are hatched and raised exist in both Indonesian and Australian waters.  Samples of juvenile fish from nurseries in both sets of waters have been taken to help determine growth rates.  These factors, combined with monitoring of catch information from Australian and Indonesian smallholder and industrial fishing operations, were used to determine the total catch taken from the fisheries.

The project has identified that adult red and gold-band snappers travel throughout both Indonesian and Australian waters, mixing together.  This means that overfishing in either area will impact on the other, and become a long-term threat to the viability of smallholder and industrial operators from both countries.

Information gathered during the project has shown that the Australian fishermen’s catch is lower than the catch of their Indonesian counterparts, which is currently at levels that are unsustainable in the longer term.

The knowledge that overfishing is occurring with long-term ramifications for both countries, snapper fisheries has seen the project shift towards a sustainable and joint solution.  The project team have started negotiations towards developing complimentary management strategies in both Indonesia and Australia.