There were four key objectives for WAMSI Node 4.2.2a: (1) determination of indicator regions; (2) development of monitoring strategies; (3) Implement a long term monitoring program (LTMP); and (4) provision of an assessment of expanding the LTMP to other areas. Indicator regions were confirmed as the Abrolhos Islands, Two Rocks, Rottnest Island, and the Cape Naturaliste region. A synthesis of historical data sets for primary producers, sessile and mobile invertebrates and finfish were collected from the indicators region and an extensive review of potential indicators for finfish was also conducted The LTMP was implemented in April, May and June 2010. Sampling was conducted using baited remote underwater stereo-video to record the diversity, abundance and size-structure of the demersal fish assemblage. Raw video along with the processed data of MaxN and length of fish species were the data outcomes. Within each location, sampling was targeted to habitats where previous studies have found to be representative of both fished and non-target species of the demersal fish assemblage.

There were four key objectives for WAMSI Node 4.2.2a: (1) determination of indicator regions; (2) development of monitoring strategies; (3) Implement a long term monitoring program (LTMP); and (4) provision of an assessment of expanding the LTMP to other areas. Indicator regions were confirmed as the Abrolhos Islands, Rottnest Island, and the Cape Naturaliste region. A synthesis of historical data sets for primary producers, sessile and mobile invertebrates and finfish were collected from the indicators region and an extensive review of potential indicators for finfish was also conducted (available for download from this metadata record). A program to monitor the health and biodiversity of subtidal reefs was established in April 2010 and April 2011. An Automated Underwater Vehicle (AUV) was deployed at the Abrolhos Islands, Jurien Bay and Rottnest Island to capture valuable information on the cover and abundance of benthic invertebrates and macroalgae. Replicate grids (25 x 25 m area of seabed) were surveyed. Exact co-ordinates are given below.

This sub-project addresses the question what are the initial and longer term (2 years) economic and social values generated under the changed management arrangements associated with the demersal finfish fisheries of the West Coast Bioregion’, in relation to the charter boat industry of Western Australia. It assesses the development, size, and structure of the industry, and examines the socio-economic impact of recent changes to the management of recreational fishing in the West Coast Bioregion. The results of an operational and financial and socio-economic survey of active operators and an analysis of daily trip returns show that tour operators have adapted to the new management regime in five principal ways: (i) a decline of fishing effort; (ii) an increase in alternative (non-demersal) fishing activity; (iii) an increase in non-extractive activity; (iv) a transfer of some effort outside of the West Coast Bioregion; (v) and the exit of active operators and the retirement of inactive licenses.

Theme 8 was conducted in 2 phases - Project 8.1 and 8.2. The objective of Project 8.1 was to review existing literature on the impacts of dredging on critical environmental windows of finfish in both tropical and temperate areas using the steps outlined below: • identify critical ecological processes (such as spawning, recruitment and early post- recruitment growth) and associated environmental windows; • identify pressure parameters and the intensity associated with dredging; • assess likely sensitivities/tolerances of the ecological processes and windows to dredge related activities; and • provide recommendations on key areas of concern and potential mitigation. The objective of Project 8.2 was to assess the information presented in the literature review and to identify (by a workshop) gaps in the knowledge and highlight priority areas for future laboratory/field experiments.

The management of fishing must be undertaken within the context of the ecosystem(s) that support the exploited stocks, a management approach termed Ecosystem-Based Fisheries Management (EBFM). The WA Department of Fisheries (DoF) recognizes the inherent complexity in attempting to implement an EBFM system, including the need to consider a much wider range of processes, issues and data than is required for singe-stock management. Research on the implementation of EBFM is being undertaken in a project funded by the WA Marine Science Institution (WAMSI). This project aims to (1) develop mechanisms and processes for integrating EBFM into "mainstream" fisheries management, including the WA Government’s Integrated Fisheries Management (IFM) initiative, and (2) to source, identify and integrate appropriate supporting research. It is expected that EBFM will eventually subsume both traditional fisheries management and IFM. Ultimately, this project will provide stakeholders, including the broader WA community, with a much improved understanding of what EBFM means and how it could be achieved, which will engender within the WA community a greater understanding of sustainable management of marine ecosystems. This presentation provides an overview of how DoF and partners are progressing the implementation of EBFM.

This project was developed for the Ningaloo Research Program (NRP) to explore the effects of managing recreational fishing, which is perhaps the most important extractive activities in the Ningaloo Marine Park. The project used simulation techniques known as Management Strategy Evaluation (MSE) to explore the consequences of a range of management actions, under a series of alternative future scenarios on the management of a major target species on Ningaloo Reef, spangled emperor (Lethrinus nebulosus). The results of the scenarios are examined against the objectives set out by management and other stakeholders in the park. A simulation model, known as ELFSim, was used. ELFSim is a decision support software system designed to evaluate options for conservation and harvest management, and includes a number of key components: a population dynamics model of target species that captures the full life history (including larval dispersal, reproduction, development, and habits) of the target species, a model of fishing dynamics that captures the exploitation pattern due to fishing behaviour, a management model that simulates the implementation of management actions. ELFSim was developed for other coral reef fisheries where commercial fishing was the primary fishing activity, and in this sought to develop a simulation model of recreational fishing dynamics. This model was agent-based, meaning that individual recreational fishing boats were represented in the model, and a range of management measures were tested on the ability to manage these virtual recreational fishers. These management measures, derived from stakeholder workshops include the effect of increasing the no take sanctuary zones, and restricting the fishing in sanctuary zones that occurs from shore. The effectiveness of these management actions in the simulation model was measured against the management objectives of the stakeholders. Management objectives were classified according to ecological (conservation) objectives, or social and economic objectives. The results showed that the current management arrangement perform adequately against the range of ecological and social objectives. However, for other management actions, the results showed the inherent trade-off that exists between the ecological objective and the social objectives.

Objectives of Project 5.5 are to: (1) determining the pressure:response relationships that relate the effects of dredging-generated sediments on tropical primary producers, (2) examine the pathways, rates and timeframes of recovery from impacts and; (3) identify and examine the effects of key environmental variables on the pressure:response relationships and recovery. Specifically Experiment 1 will be studying "Effect of different intensity, duration & timing of light reductions on seagrasses (Laboratory)" Measurements included: Absorbancy Factors Biomass - Above ground mass (g DW per pot), Below ground mass (g DW per pot), Total plant mass (g DW per pot) Carbohydrates (%DW) and Starch (%DW) Growth & Morphology - leaf area (cm2), shoot density (per pot), Shoot production rate (shoots d-1) Nutrient & isotope data - Leaf ‰ 15 Nitrogen, Leaf ‰ 13 Carbon, Leaf Nitrogen (% DW) Leaf Carbon (% DW) Leaf Carbon to Nitrogen ratio (g g-1) Photosynthesis - Electron transport rate (um photons m-2 s-1), Alpha (um photons m-2 s-1), Half-saturating irradiance (um photons m-2 s-1) Pot Biomass - Pot mass (mass of all plants in a pot, g DW per pot) Species studied included - Cymodocea serrulata and Halodule uninervis