queensland Artificial Reef and FAD Project

[Daryl McPhee]

Bond University academic Dr Daryl McPhee will lead a national project on regulation and policy associated with the planning and deployment of offshore artificial reefs and fish aggregating devices around Australia.

Dr McPhee said the project is a collaborative project which includes the University of Tasmania, national industry bodies for the commercial and recreational fishing sectors, the engineering company Stantec (formerly Cardno), the Australian Fisheries Management Authority and the Queensland Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries.

The project is supported by funding from the Fisheries Research and Development Corporation and the Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment on behalf of the Australian Government.

Dr McPhee said that well designed and sited artificial reefs and fish aggregating devices (FADs) are clearly acknowledged as being able to benefit the marine environment and marine fisheries. They are widely deployed in developed and developing countries.

“Artificial reefs and fish aggregating devices can contribute to the UN Sustainable Development Goals as they can address economic, social and environmental issues in concert,” Dr McPhee said.

“In many countries regulatory frameworks are lacking or ineffective in the planning and management of artificial reefs, but fortunately in Australia we do have a mature regulatory framework that can adapt to change.

“As manufacturing technologies advance, new information on the biology and ecology of marine resources become available, and community aspirations change; there is need to better understand what regulatory and policy settings can best deliver optimal outcomes in our changing world.”

Dr McPhee said it was critical that planning and implementation of artificial reefs considered all ocean users.

“The ocean is inherently multiple-use and we need to ensure that the deployment of artificial reefs and FADs provide the optimal benefits without unforeseen impacts on other stakeholders and the environment. This is achievable.”

Dr McPhee said he is extremely grateful for the leadership and support of the Commonwealth Fisheries Association and the Australia Recreational Fishing Foundation in identifying the critical need for the project.

[AUS-BNE-FISHO]

[Daryl McPhee]

1 minute ago, AUS-BNE-FISHO said:

 

[Daryl McPhee]

Correct!!! 

[kmcrosby78]

Huge congrats on the appointment Daryl - great to see someone who understands fishing (and fishes himself) leading this, very encouraging .

Edited March 26, 2022 by kmcrosby78

[Sunny boy]

22 hours ago, Daryl McPhee said:

Bond University academic Dr Daryl McPhee will lead a national project on regulation and policy associated with the planning and deployment of offshore artificial reefs and fish aggregating devices around Australia.

Dr McPhee said the project is a collaborative project which includes the University of Tasmania, national industry bodies for the commercial and recreational fishing sectors, the engineering company Stantec (formerly Cardno), the Australian Fisheries Management Authority and the Queensland Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries.

The project is supported by funding from the Fisheries Research and Development Corporation and the Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment on behalf of the Australian Government.

Dr McPhee said that well designed and sited artificial reefs and fish aggregating devices (FADs) are clearly acknowledged as being able to benefit the marine environment and marine fisheries. They are widely deployed in developed and developing countries.

“Artificial reefs and fish aggregating devices can contribute to the UN Sustainable Development Goals as they can address economic, social and environmental issues in concert,” Dr McPhee said.

“In many countries regulatory frameworks are lacking or ineffective in the planning and management of artificial reefs, but fortunately in Australia we do have a mature regulatory framework that can adapt to change.

“As manufacturing technologies advance, new information on the biology and ecology of marine resources become available, and community aspirations change; there is need to better understand what regulatory and policy settings can best deliver optimal outcomes in our changing world.”

Dr McPhee said it was critical that planning and implementation of artificial reefs considered all ocean users.

“The ocean is inherently multiple-use and we need to ensure that the deployment of artificial reefs and FADs provide the optimal benefits without unforeseen impacts on other stakeholders and the environment. This is achievable.”

Dr McPhee said he is extremely grateful for the leadership and support of the Commonwealth Fisheries Association and the Australia Recreational Fishing Foundation in identifying the critical need for the project.

Thanks Daryl, just wondering where these FAD are deployed, are they in no fishing area? Just curious how effective they are without reading any published articles.

[Drop Bear]

13 minutes ago, Sunny boy said:

Thanks Daryl, just wondering where these FAD are deployed, are they in no fishing area?

I will let Daryl answer it properly but I feel extremely confident that the fads are not and will not be in green zones. 

[Drop Bear]

Congratulations Daryl,

So good to have you doing this. You are a champ. 

I hope you find some spots for us to put in some shellfish reefs too???? 

Robbie 

[Daryl McPhee]

Hi Sunny Boy, 

The project as a whole is not focussing on the specific location of individual FADs, but as FADs are clearly a fisheries enhancement tool that aims to increase angler satisfaction, there is little or no case for putting them in areas that people can't fish.