TEPS associated with the Great Barrier Reef: What questions do we need to answer to ensure sustainable use of fisheries resources in this multi-use conservation area?

Abstract

Commercial fisheries in Queensland interact with multiple Threatened, Endangered and Protected Species (TEPS). A lack of fundamental biological and catch-related information has resulted in several of Queensland’s fisheries being precautionarily assessed as posing a high ecological risk to some TEPS, causing concern to consumers, operators, and all levels of government. These precautionary high-risk ratings around TEPS interactions with some major Queensland fisheries can and have resulted in gear restrictions, fisheries closures, and impacts on livelihoods in regional Queensland. Ecological risk assessments can be improved by identifying, prioritising, and addressing knowledge gaps regarding TEPS and quantifying potential interactions with different gear types. In this project, we reassess the knowledge on the biology of TEPS and their interactions with fishing gears in Queensland waters, with a particular focus on species that utilise the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area during all or part of their life histories.
We are seeking further input from domain experts on prioritising knowledge gaps to enable ranking of the urgency and feasibility of resolving these gaps. Prioritised research needs will then be used to develop collaborative projects with industry and universities to address priority TEPS-related knowledge gaps.