Ecological Risk Assessment of the Other Species component of the Coral Reef Fin Fish Fishery

In 2005, the Queensland Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries (DPI&F) compiled an Ecological Assessment Report for the Coral Reef Fin Fish Fishery (CRFFF). The report was submitted to the Australian Government Department of the Environment and Water Resources (DEW) for assessment against the 'Guidelines for the Ecologically Sustainable Management of Fisheries', developed under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999. In November 2005, DEW accredited the CRFFF as an approved Wildlife Trade Operation (WTO) allowing export of native species harvested in the fishery. Continued export approval in the CRFFF is contingent upon the fishery meeting a number of recommendations that DEW applied as part of its accreditation. These recommendations cover a range of issues relevant to the sustainable management of the fishery, including sustainable harvest levels, bycatch, ecological impacts, compliance, research, monitoring and assessment. This document addresses the specific recommendation for DPI&F "to undertake a risk assessment to identify other coral reef fin fish most at risk from the fishery." Other coral reef fin fish species (OS) include all species defined as coral reef fin fish in the Fisheries Regulation 1995 (Appendix 1), other than coral trout (Plectropomus and Variola spp.) and red-throat emperor (Lethrinus miniatus). Given the requirement to address DEW's recommendations, and the Queensland Government's commitment to manage fisheries sustainably, DPI&F facilitated a two-day stakeholder meeting in January 2007 to conduct an assessment to identify the ecological risks to OS in the CRFFF. This document rationalises and provides recommendations on the risk ratings determined through the workshop and further stakeholder consultation. The results of this risk assessment will feed into future assessments and reviews of the fishery as recommended by DEW. The relevant recommendations are highlighted in Appendix 2