Standard Presentation Australian Marine Sciences Association Annual Meeting 2023

Modelling the Physical Drivers of Fisheries Interaction Risk for Threatened, Endangered, and Protected (TEP) Species in an East Coast Australian Pelagic Longline Fishery. (#144)

Lisa A Walton 1 , Kylie L Scales 1 , David S Schoeman 1
  1. University of the Sunshine Coast, CLAYFIELD, QLD, Australia

Incidental capture of threatened, endangered, and protected (TEP) species presents a significant barrier to sustainability in commercial fisheries. An understanding of the relationship between dynamic species distributions and fishing effort can be useful in efforts to minimise or mitigate interactions with non-target species. Pelagic longline fisheries that operate along the east coast of Australia interact with a range of TEP species, including species of conservation concern such as the leatherback turtle (Dermochelys coriacea) and shy albatross (Thalassarche cauta). While these interactions are relatively infrequent, they are a focal point for intervention by industry and management. The east coast longline fishery operates over a wide latitudinal range that includes the East Australian Current and its associated mesoscale ocean features. Here, we bring together ocean observations from satellite remote sensing with fisheries logbook and wildlife interaction data to identify and characterise the influence of dynamic seascape conditions on fisheries interaction risk for TEP species. Novel insights into the spatio-temporal dynamics of areas of bycatch risk can be used to inform industry and managers in prioritising the application of additional bycatch mitigation tactics for high-risk times or areas.