Ecological risk assessments

An ecological risk assessment (ERA) is an analysis of the best available information and may include assessments of the fisheries impacts on:

  • target species
  • non-target and protected species (e.g. dugongs, turtles, dolphins and protected fish)
  • the broader ecosystem.

Framework

These reports are produced in a four-stage framework:

  • Scoping Study: establishes a baseline of information on the key characteristics of the fishery
  • Level 1: whole-of-fishery qualitative assessment that produces a broad risk profile for each fishery
  • Level 2: either a species-specific semi-quantitative assessment or low-data quantitative assessment that includes higher levels of information on specific ecological components and the fishery they interact with
  • Level 3: fully-quantitative assessment (if applicable).

Governance

The guideline (PDF, 1MB) includes:

  • principles for prioritising ERAs according to risk
  • assessment methods that reflect national standards
  • a formal approach for identifying and prioritising management actions to address ERA outcomes.

This guideline was a key action under the Sustainable Fisheries Strategy.

A foundation of sustainable fisheries management is managing the impact of fishing activities on non-target species and the broader marine ecosystem.

All fisheries that interact with protected species listed under the Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 must be managed to address the risks to these species.

Line fisheries

East coast Spanish mackerel fishery:

Gulf of Carpentaria line fishery:

Rocky reef fishery:

Reef line fishery:

Reports produced before the ERA guideline was implemented:

Net fisheries

East coast inshore fishery:

Gulf of Carpentaria inshore fishery:

Harvest fisheries

Marine aquarium fish fishery:

Coral fishery:

Sea cucumber fishery:

Report produced before the ERA guideline was implemented:

Crab fisheries

Spanner crab fishery:

Mud and blue swimmer crab fishery:

Report produced before the ERA guideline was implemented:

Eel fisheries

Report produced before the ERA guideline was implemented:

Trawl fisheries

East coast otter trawl fishery:

Fin fish (stout whiting) trawl fishery:

River and inshore beam trawl fishery:

Gulf of Carpentaria developmental fin fish trawl fishery:

Reports produced before the ERA guideline was implemented:

Last updated: 10 Jul 2024