Queensland Sea Cucumber Fishery (East Coast) Scoping Study

Abstract

The Queensland Ecological Risk Assessment Guideline (the Guideline) was released in March 2018 as part of the Queensland Sustainable Fisheries Strategy 2017–2027. This Guideline provides an overview of the strategies being employed to develop Ecological Risk Assessments (ERAs) for Queensland’s fisheries. The Guideline describes a four-stage framework consisting of a Scoping Study; a Level 1, whole-of-fishery qualitative assessment; a Level 2, species-specific semi-quantitative or low-data quantitative assessment; and a Level 3 quantitative assessment (if applicable).

The Scoping Study establishes a baseline of information on the key characteristics of the Queensland Sea Cucumber Fishery (QSCF). It includes information on the broader management regime, key species, gear configurations, and catch and effort trends. Information contained in the Scoping Study for the QSCF will be used to inform subsequent assessments including the whole-of-fishery (Level 1) and species-specific (Level 2).