Author: Nick Blay
Involvements: Timothy Ward, Rosie Katunar, Susie Cretan, Laura Fatovich, Jaqui Cooke
It has been two years since research was published identifying a significant biomass of Australian sardine (Sardinops sagax) in Tasmanian waters and the Tasmanian Government announcing its intention to investigate development of a new commercial fishery to target this untapped and renewable resource.
This discovery presents a rare and unique opportunity: to establish a new and sustainable fishery, learning from lessons of the past. However, science alone is not enough to move towards the development of a sustainable and viable fishery.
So, what’s the pathway been like and why has this opportunity not yet come to fruition?
This presentation examines the journey from biomass estimate in late 2024 to the establishment of a commercial fishery. It highlights the scientific, management, policy and stakeholder processes undertaken to support fishery development, including policy development, stakeholder engagement, harvest strategy design, ecosystem considerations, and market development research.
Key milestones achieved to date will be discussed, alongside critical factors that have influenced success; robust independent science, precautionary decision-making, and early engagement to foster a low conflict pathway.
The presentation will also explore the challenges associated with developing a new extractive industry in a dynamic marine environment, let alone the targeting of a key forage species. Challenges encountered around uncertainty, competing marine uses, community expectations, and the management of an ecologically important species will be presented.
Tasmania’s emerging sardine fishery provides insights into the opportunities, constraints, and realities of developing a new fishery in the modern era and shows a case study relevant for those involved in development of a resource where ecological, economic and social considerations require balancing.