Spencer Gulf Prawn Fishery

The Hon. R.P. WORTLEY (14:52): My question is to the Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development. Will the minister inform the chamber about the Spencer Gulf and West Coast Prawn Fishermen's Association and SARDI collaboration to reduce the bycatch of the prawn fishery in the Spencer Gulf?

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN (Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development, Minister for Forest Industries) (14:52): I thank the honourable member for his question. The Spencer Gulf and West Coast Prawn Fishermen's Association Innovation Month took place recently, in February, with projects and research undertaken in collaboration with PIRSA and SARDI on reducing bycatch as well as investigating efficiencies and other opportunities to improve the way things are done in the Spencer Gulf prawn fishery.

The fishery is already a leader in the commercial sector for its co-management arrangements, which have developed over time through careful and considered management of the fishery. The innovation month is a great example of the fishery getting on the front foot in tackling some of the issues it faces with bycatch, particularly of finfish species. It supports fishing trials to investigate improvements and concepts that could either reduce ecological impacts or improve economic efficiency, with February being identified as an ideal time to complete a trial without the limitations of a survey or using fishing nights during the fishery's peak times.

The six-night PIRSA-approved trial regarding reduced bycatch was conducted on one commercial prawn vessel and made use of LED lights on prawn nets to assess if the lights reduce the volume of finfish and other bycatch being caught during prawn fishing activities. It also assessed whether any prawn loss occurred as a result. The framework behind the trial specified that all fish, other than king prawns, southern calamari and Balmain bugs, that were taken during the trial were returned immediately to the water after capture. The trials took place within the current trawl footprint in Spencer Gulf.

It is great to see commercial sectors like the Spencer Gulf and West Coast Prawn Fishermen's Association working with PIRSA and SARDI in leading efforts to improve their efficiency, looking for value-adding opportunities, promoting sustainability and reducing bycatch, all of which have a positive impact for their long-term future. I congratulate the association's executive officer, Kelly Pyke-Tape, and her team for their leadership and ambition to continually improve the prawn fishery.

South Australian king prawns are already highly sought after as another example of fresh, sustainable and high-quality South Australian seafood, and research and innovation like this serve to increase the social licence for the fishery in conducting its business in the most ethical and professional manner, which we know the Spencer Gulf prawn industry does very well. I look forward to reading a summary of the SARDI report on the trial and seeing the positive outcomes that this may have for the prawn fishery into the future.