Dear all
The boat you are referring to may be the CSIRO Scylla, it is a 7.2 m Noosacat with the word “RESEARCH” printed along the side as well as a CSIRO logo.
CSIRO has been conducting research in the Moreton Bay region for a number of years.
In partnership with Queensland’s Department of Environment and Resource Management, we have been given the task of monitoring the change in human activity including fishing in Moreton Bay in response to the implementation of the new Marine Park Plan. The monitoring contributes to an assessment of the appropriateness of current management strategies and looks at the following questions:
- How have the patterns of human usage of the bay changed after re-zoning?
- Is there more human activity outside the green zones than before the zoning changes?
- Do fishers specifically target zone boundaries, or spread themselves more widely over areas open to fishing?
The first phase of the research was conducted from August 2008 to February 2009, prior to the green zones being implemented, and the second phase of the research is now being conducted and will continue for another 18 months. At the beginning of the project, we outlined our plans through local newspapers and industry journals, and via direct phone calls to some fishing clubs and groups.
Two boats are used for the research (the Noosacat and a smaller rigid inflatable). A full survey is conducted every couple of months taking four to five days in Moreton Bay and offshore. Two to three people are usually on the boat and do not wear uniforms. The on-water surveys are also supplemented with aerial surveys to collate a one-day snapshot of the region. We attempt to talk to about 10% of fishers but are conscious of being intrusive, have limited time and will only approach on-water if the weather is very calm.
As part of the research, we note details of the activity (such as fishing, jet-skiing, snorkelling and picnics), number of people, position and the type of vessel. We only identify usage patterns by the type of vessel or activity.
Photos are seldom taken and are only used internally to show representations of certain types of boats. They are not distributed or used in public materials. Some of the photos are happy-snaps as the researchers appreciate a nice boat.
In total, 42 individual trip surveys have been conducted (38 on-water, four aerial and four shore-based). Preliminary results of the surveys will soon be available and we will upload these to the CSIRO website – www.csiro.au
If you would like more information, please contact me:
Rob Kenyon
CSIRO
Email: rob.kenyon@csiro.au
Phone: 07 3826 7274
Dear Rob,
Thank you for taking the time and effort to put your response up here. I would like to make one small suggestion if I may, use this site more often. Ausfish will probably give you a faster exposure (and at least cost than published in journals) and get your message spread quickly to the grass roots as well as club anglers.
One thing you would know is how a lack of information can lead to a distrust quickly. This also adds a lot of negativity towards you, your team and the work you do. Keep 'us' in the loop and let anglers know what you are up to early (obviously where you can and contractual conditions with the Government allow) and you might find a lot of fisho's will be less skeptical and maybe even more forthcoming with assistance when you seek it.
I look forward to reading the report on the CSIRO website soon.
Cheers,
Chris
Dear Rob
Thank You For Your Time To Explain What This Vessels Intensions Are In Its Operation, The Purpose Of This Thread Was To Find Out The Information You Supplied And I Hope We Have All Learned From This.??
May I Suggest Radio Comunication Be Available On Channel 16 When You Approach Vessels So They Can Make Contact If They Require? As I Have Attempted To Make Contact On The Last Visit With No Success.
Many Thanks Jim
I was n Scarborough Harbour today (10/2/10), launching at the boat ramp adjacent to the coast guard and a Customs vessel cruised past and photographed me and my vessel - so using inspiration from this thread I took out my phone camera and immediately snapped back - driver of the vessel made an inaudible comment to the snapper about me snapping back.
Why would customs be taking pics in the harbour?
damn paparazzi ............... a man can't even slip up to the iga for a roast chook these days without getting his photo in the gossip columns
g'day mtaq, i'm thinking that a small boat harbour within a hop, skip and a jump of a major east coast shipping channel would maybe attract some form of customs surveillance given the amount of contraband that gets chucked off ships, i'm sure you'll be ok ........................ as long as you weren't out there grabbing 10 kilos of heroin conveniently dropped off at the m3 for you
Cdirt, I noticed you signed in to clarify the situation, however, it appears that CSIRO in conjunction with another Government Agency may be contemplating extending or modifiying the green zone and / or increase the marine park zones to encompass the areas that the recreational fishers peruse.
As you may well know, it's called "intelligence gathering" and some time down the track, the majority of marine scientists only look at modelling generated by a computer software programme or a statistician...also, statistics can be misleading and manipulated to suit the author.
Peter