Manipulation of fishing effort in Australia's penaeid Prawn Fisheries

Abstract

The potentially detrimental side-effects of prawn trawling are coming under increasing scrutiny in Australian waters, particularly in such ecologically sensitive areas as Queensland's Great Barrier Reef, and various restrictive measures are being suggested. Before changes are imposed on the prawning industry, the effects of trawling on the target prawn species and the long-term management of these effects need to be fully understood. Using a simulation model of a simplified prawn fishery, this paper describes the basis for the current regulatory mechanisms for Australian's prawn fisheries, in particular the manipulation of both the level and pattern of fishing effort. It is shown that even in moderately fished stocks, the fishery manager has several options, such as seasonal and nursery area closures, that are consistent with the goal of minimizing the impact of prawn trawling, while in no way penalizing the industry economically. With these in mind, possible ways of resolving or reducing the conflict with groups outside the prawning industry are discussed.