Queensland Coral Fishery Ecological Risk Assessment Update : Phase 1

Abstract

The Queensland Coral Fishery (QCF) has been the subject of two previous risk assessments, the first in 2008 and an update in 2013. This report builds on these initial ERAs and establishes a more adaptive, staged approach to the assessment of risk. Under this strategy, risk profiles for species driving management reforms will be prioritised for assessment (Phase 1). These initial assessments will be built on through subsequent ERAs examining the risk posed to secondary and emerging priorities (Phase 2 & 3).

In Phase 1 of the QCF ERA update (this Report), a Consequence & Likelihood Analysis (CLA) was used to examine the risk posed to 22 priority species. Under the CLA methodology, risk assessments consider two key components: 1) the extent of a consequence if a species were to experience an undesirable event and 2) the likelihood of the consequence occurring over the next 10 years. The CLA is a qualitative assessment method and assigns each species with an indicative risk rating of low, moderate, high or extreme.

Of the 22 species assessed in Phase 1 of the QCF ERA, eight were classified as being at low risk of experiencing an undesirable event due to coral fishing activities. A further seven species were assigned a moderate (n = 3), high (n = 2) or extreme (n = 2) risk rating. Risk profile updates for the remaining seven species were deferred until the catch composition data improves. The CLA also identified several risk areas for this QCF including the risk of over-harvesting, limited information on species-specific rates of harvest and an absence of finer-scale output controls. These are being addressed as part of the Queensland Sustainable Fisheries Strategy 2017–2017 and in response to conditions outlined in the most recent WTO.

Phase 1 of the QCF ERA update will be built on through subsequent assessments examining the risk posed to additional species and emerging priorities.