The ability to demonstrate that the Queensland trawl fishery is sustainable is essential to maintain existing, and obtain future, markets for seafood products. Onboard cameras that can record interactions with threatened, endangered and protected (TEP) species as they happen on the trawl deck have the potential to streamline mandatory reporting, reduce business costs and satisfy trade partners.
The aim of the commercial fishing onboard camera field trial was to test the ability of onboard cameras, control systems and software (also known as e-monitoring) to detect interactions with TEP species and other bycatch during commercial trawl fishing activities.
The process of comparing footage from onboard cameras with logbook information provided by fishers is a form of independent data validation. Onboard cameras are a tool currently being used in other fishery jurisdictions to assist with independent data validation.
The use of onboard cameras promotes transparency, helping to build community confidence in the sustainability of Queensland’s fisheries and strengthen the industry's reputation for responsible fishing.
Fisheries Queensland and the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water have been working collaboratively with the commercial fishing industry over the past year, and would like to thank those fishers who volunteered their time and their boats to test the equipment.
The field trial has allowed fishers to actively participate in the assessment of camera performances and shape how the technology was tested to ensure it is practical and tailored to meet the specific needs of trawl operations.
The field trial evaluation report and a summary fact sheet are now available in the ‘Document library’.
