Assessment of the Torres Strait

1. 
   Operation of the fishery will be carried out in accordance with the TSBDMF management regime in force under the TSF Act and TSF Regulations.
   

The department recommends that a new approved wildlife trade operation declaration for the Torres Strait Bêche-de-mer Fishery specify this condition (see Condition 1, Table 4).

2. 
   The PZJA to inform DEWHA of any intended amendments to the management arrangements that may affect the assessment of the TSBDMF against the criteria on which EPBC Act² decisions are based.
   

The department recommends that a new approved wildlife trade operation declaration for the Torres Strait Bêche-de-mer Fishery specify this condition (see Condition 2, Table 4).

3. 
   The PZJA to produce and present reports to DEWHA annually as per Appendix B to the Guidelines.
   

The department recommends that a new approved wildlife trade operation declaration for the Torres Strait Bêche-de-mer Fishery specify this condition (see Condition 3, Table 4).

1. 
   The PZJA to develop and finalise the harvest strategy for the TSBDMF with objectives, performance indicators and performance measures appropriate to the fishery by 30 June 2010. The harvest strategy should also implement measures to prevent localised depletion and incorporate a rebuilding strategy for overfished species.
   

A recommendation of both the 2004 and 2008 Australian Government assessments of the Torres Strait Bêche-de-mer Fishery was for the Torres Strait Protected Zone Joint Authority to develop objectives, performance indicators and performance measures for target species in the fishery.

At the time of the 2008 assessment, AFMA indicated that development of a harvest strategy for the fishery would address the need for objectives, measures and indicators.

AFMA has advised that draft community based harvest strategies have been developed for sea cucumber for two communities (Erub and Warraber) and that further development of the harvest strategies will be investigated with the participating communities in 2011.

Broad management objectives exist for the fishery but the department is not aware of any development of performance indicators and performance measures. The department understands that trigger limits, initiating species reviews, have been recommended for some sea cucumber species.

Catch Monitoring

Reporting of catch is voluntary, through the Torres Strait seafood buyers and processors docket books, in the traditional inhabitant boat sector of the fishery (the sole non traditional licence holder in the fishery has not been active since 2001). As a consequence, close monitoring of actual catch levels is not possible.

The department understands that due to the fact that a zero total allowable catch applies to the high value sea cucumber species found in the Torres Strait, there has been little fishing activity since the recommendation was made in the 2008 assessment. However the department considers it essential that AFMA and the Protected Zone Joint Authority progress the development and implementation of reliable catch monitoring prior to reopening the fishery to harvest higher value species.

While recognising the lack of activity in the fishery over many years and the current focus on the development of community based harvest strategies, the department considers that the formalisation of performance indicators and performance measures for target species and public reporting against the performance measures will be important in demonstrating the sustainability of management measures associated with any increase in fishing (see Recommendation 2, Table 4).

The lack of information regarding catch is an issue that applies to all Torres Strait Fisheries. The department considers that the PZJA should give priority to the introduction of systems which can deliver more accurate estimates of catch in the Torres Strait Bêche-de-mer Fishery, such as the planned compulsory reporting by fish receivers.
(see Recommendation 1, Table 4).

2. 
   The PZJA to undertake appropriate research on target species in the TSBDMF to inform the setting of sustainable catch levels through the harvest strategy. Research should focus on providing reliable biomass estimates of target species and where possible:
   

• 
  address key gaps in the understanding of the biology and ecology of bêche-de-mer; and
  
• 
  provide an assessment of the ecosystem impacts of the fishery in the Torres Strait.
  

The department understands that there has been no additional research addressing the understanding of the biology and ecology of sea cucumber or the ecosystem impacts of the fishery.

The department supports the priority given to the collection of information to support the setting of appropriate catch levels but notes that a lack of information surrounding the biology and ecology of target species, identified in previous assessments, still remains.

The department recommends that the PZJA pursue opportunities to undertake appropriate research on target species in the Torres Strait Bêche-de-mer Fishery, including complementary and/or collaborative research with other jurisdictions responsible for managing Australia's tropical sea cucumber resources (see Recommendation 3, Table 4).

3. 
   The PZJA to develop and implement measures to address compliance risks in the TSBDMF. This should include improvements in domestic compliance and reliable recording of catch from all sectors (commercial, recreational, indigenous and illegal).
   

AFMA has advised that it expects that the introduction of community based management will address some domestic compliance risks. Incorporating traditional fisheries practices into future management arrangements is seen as a means of encouraging stakeholder involvement in compliance issues.

AFMA has also indicated plans to make reporting of all commercial catches in Torres Strait fisheries mandatory by way of the introduction of fish receiver licences and mandatory reporting by receivers, including buyers of traditional inhabitant boat catch.

However, the department considers this recommendation to be ongoing. As discussed above, the department considers the introduction of systems which can deliver more accurate harvest estimates in the Torres Strait Bêche de mer Fishery to be a priority (see Recommendation 1, Table 4).

4. 
   The PZJA to continue to cooperate with other relevant jurisdictions to pursue complementary management and research of shared stocks for all target species, which may be affected by cross-jurisdictional issues.
   

AFMA has stated there has been no collaborative research since the 2008 assessment, but that Australia has offered assistance in conducting surveys of bêche-de-mer stocks in the Papua New Guinea area of Warrior Reef to assist Papua New Guinea in monitoring the impact of the closure of the Papua New Guinea Sea Cucumber Fishery. The Papua New Guinea Sea Cucumber Fishery was closed for three years in October 2009.