SeaNet September 2011 - OceanWatch Australia

The SeaNet program is OceanWatch Australia’s commercial fisheries 

environmental extension service, funded under the Commonwealth 

Government’s Caring for our Country program. The 

program seeks to 

improve the sustainability of Australian fisheries and introduce 

conservation behaviours and new technology to the industry. The 

SeaNet program is the only dedicated extension program operating 

within the seafood industry. 

Welcome to the Spring 2011 Report of OceanWatch Australia 

Please send this newsletter to all your network contacts. Anyone wishing ihi to receive future copies of the 

newsletter directly can email Eduardo at ocean@oceanwatch.org.au or call 02 9660 2262 to be added 

to the newsletter distribution list. 

Working with fishermen to advance 

the sustainability of Australia’s 

seafood industry. 

IN THIS ISSUE: 

• State roundup from your local SeaNet Extension Officer 

• Tide to Table roundup 

• Seafood Industry Partnerships in Schools 

• NSW Oyster Industry Environmental Management Syst 

tems 

Follow OceanWatch on Facebook or visit us at 

www.oceanwatch.org.au

State roundup from your local SeaNet Officer 

Northern Territory 

Lyn Lambeth 

Cleaning Up Darwin Harbour 

The second Darwin Harbour Clean-Up day was held on Tuesday, July 5, and 

once again was successful in bringing together a range of stakeholders to do 

something positive for Darwin Harbour and hopefully raise awareness of 

rubbish issues in our marine environment. 

Around 90 volunteers and workers got involved from a diverse range of 

government, non-government and private agencies. These included Paspaley 

Pearls, NT Fisheries, NT Water Police, Darwin Port Corporation, Parks and 

Wildlife Junior Rangers, and Surf Life Saving NT. Eight boats were out on the 

water, seven land-based crews collected rubbish around Darwin as well as on Cox Peninsula, and a dive team 

from the Museum and Art Gallery Northern Territory went to see what they could find in Lake Alexander (not 

much). 

Just over a tonne of general rubbish was collected including eight tyres, several chairs, 150 metres of fishing 

line, 4500 plastic bags, 5200 aluminium cans, 1700 drink bottles, 1900 pieces of cardboard (mainly fireworks 

which contain plastic inside the cardboard) and 63 thongs. 

The amount of general rubbish collected in most hotspots, especially common items such as aluminium cans 

and plastic bottles, was comparable to what was collected during last year’s clean-up day. A 14 th video, 

showing all the action from the clean-up day, has been added to the SeaNet NT YouTube site, 

www.youtube.com/user/SeaNetNT. y 

The SeaNet NT videos have now had over 20000 views. 

The “mini clean-up” team at Nightcliff. 

In September a “mini clean-up” was organised with the NT SeaNet Officer and the Project Officer from 

GhostNets Australia working with Junior Rangers from 

Kormilda College on a marine debris survey around 

Nightcliff Jetty. The Junior Ranger program at the College is designed to introduce indigenous students to 

science and the students not only collected rubbish but also sorted, counted and recorded their results on 

data sheets. 

OHS & QI Material for the Post Harvest Sector 

As part of a project funded by the Fisheries Research and Development Corporation, SeaNet Officers are 

distributing information and resource materials on Seafood Quality & Occupational Health and Safety (OH&S) 

materials to the Post Harvest Sector. The resource ma 

aterials include information on a Quality Index and an 

OH&S package developed by the Sydney Fish Market. To date, the information package has been delivered 

to the majority of those holding an NT Trader/Processor licence and to retailers providing fresh seafood. 

More information? 


A Crab Trip: Rolling out the newly-revised Code of 

Practice of the NT mud crab fishery 

On a recent trip to the Western Gulf region, the NT SeaNet Officer spent a week with mud crab fishermen at 

Roper River, Limmin River, Borroloola, King Ash Bay and the Wearyan River. The aim of the trip was to 

distribute and explain the newly-revised Code of Practice for the fishery to introduce fishermen to the 

concept of Environmental Management Systems and 

gain further input into the draft. This is part of a two 

year project funded under the Australian Government’ ’s Caring for our Country. 

Limmen River Fishing Camp, Gulf of Carpentaria. 

Lyn Lambeth SeaNet Northern Territory PH: 08 8981 5194 or 0421 054 274 

lyn@oceanwatch.org.au 

South Australia 

Nathan Bicknell 

SA Seafood Awards 2011 

September the 8 th marked the 2011 biannual SA Seafood Awards hosted by 

the SA Women’s Industry Network (SAWIN) at the Port Lincoln Hotel. 

Congratulations to the SAWIN for delivering a great night which was enjoyed 

by all (into the wee hours). OceanWatch Australia’s Executive Chairman, Mr. 

Brad Warren, was a keynote speaker providing an engaging introduction to the 

award winning Seafood Partnerships in Schools (SIPS 

S) program piloted in 

Tasmania 2010/2011 (watch this space in SA). 

Brad Warren, OceanWatch Australia’s Executive Chair, at the 2011 SA Seafood Awards. 



SeaNet SA was a partner in two projects nominated for two award categories including: 

•Environmental-Seafood for the Future -The Gulf St. Vincent Bycatch reduction System (GSV BRS) 

•Promotion-Where Does Seafood Come From? 

Showing positive signs for the SA seafood industry, these two categories were both hotly contested and 

we were honoured to be runners up in each. These results are a great acknowledgement from our peers 

and proof that with lateral thinking and a co-operativee approach much can be achieved with limited 

resources. For further information on the night and the winners follow the link to the SA WIN website: 

www.sawin.org.au. The SA “Where Does Seafood Come From” series and development and performance 

of “the GSV BRS” can be found on OceanWatch Australia’s website: 

http://www.oceanwatch.org.au/publications-and-videos/oceanwatch-videos/ 

Port Festival 2011 (8 th & 9 th October) 

To commemorate and celebrate the contribution of seafood to the culture and heritage of South Australia, 

the Australian Maritime and Fisheries Academy proudly presented the inaugural “Complete Seafood 

Experience” as an integral part of the 2011 Port Festival program. For detailed information on the event 

and the festival follow the link: http://www.portenf.sa.gov.au/page.aspx?u=1994 

The Complete Seafood Experience (CSE) 

The focus of this event was to return the Port to its working by showcasing the 

state’s iconic seafood produce and fair, providing a unique insight into the people 

and organisations which help deliver quality sustainable seafood produce from 

ocean to plate. 

The Event Management Committee Update 

We are happy to report that the CSE reached its ambitious target of 36 stalls and 

would like to take this opportunity to thank the state’ss seafood community for 

supporting the event making it a true representation of the people and 

organisations working to ensure SA is a world leader in fisheries management and 

procurement. Special thanks to Event Management C 

Committee champions Franca 

Romeo (WFS/PISC) and Maureen Jones (AMFA) for their tireless and loveless 

work behind the scene which has laid a strong foundation for success in 2011 and 

bigger and better things in the future. 

Nathan Bicknell SeaNet South Australia PH: 08 8303 2717 or 0401 997 702 

nathan@oceanwatch.org.au 

New South Wales 

Michael Wooden 

Sydney Fish Market Seafood Awards 

OceanWatch Australia, NSW SeaNet and South Westt Rocks Fishers Limited (SWRF) 

were recently nominated for an Environmental Excellence Award at the Sydney Fish 

Market Seafood Awards night in Sydney’s Town Hall. . SeaNet and SWRF were highly 

commended for their efforts in improving sustainability in the NSW Ocean Haul 

Fishery as well as engaging and educating the community. Additionally, SeaNet and 

SWRF received a congratulatory correspondence from 

the NSW DPI for their efforts 

to promote the sustainability of the fishery with the Loaves and Fishes Barbeque. 



Congratulations to the Broken Bay Oyster Farmers from 

the Hawkesbury River for receiving the 

Environmental Excellence award. Broken Bay Oyster farmers have demonstrated environmental 

excellence, with concerted efforts to improve their catchment, including the removal of derelict 

infrastructure from the river, increased community engagement, implementing the SeaNet facilitated 

Environmental Management System, uptaking new technologies, and improving practices. 

Congratulations also to the South East Trawl Fishing Industry Association (SETFIA) whom were highly 

commended for the Environmental Skipper Training course. The training was successful in improving 

awareness of the environmental stewardship role that the commercial fishing industry plays. SeaNet 

Officers from NSW, Victoria and Tasmania presented information to fishers as part of the training, 

regarding the role that the fishing industry plays to minimise potential translocation of exotic marine pest 

species. Congratulations to all the fishermen who weree involved in the training. 

NSW Rapid Pipi Assessment 

NSW SeaNet Officer, NSW DPI Fisheries Manager and a NSW Commercial Hand Gathering Fisherman 

conducted a one week ‘Rapid Pipi Assessment’ during 

August from Port Macquarie through to Tweed 

Heads. The assessment examined abundance and size 

composition of pipi from the low to high water 

mark. On all beaches surveyed, juvenile and adult pipi (Plebidonax deltoides) were located and 

photographed. To view a short explanatory video, visit 

the OceanWatch YouTube account and click on 

the NSW SeaNet Rapid Pipi Assessment video (http://www.oceanwatch.org.au/publications-and- 

videos/oceanwatch-videos/). 

Michael Wooden SeaNet New South Wales PH: 02 9660 2262 or 0422 618 248 

michael@oceanwatch.org.au 

South East Queensland 

David Kreutz 

Clean-ups in Important Fish Habitat 

Spring cleaning of fish habitat areas has been an underlying theme. Clean-ups at 

Hays Inlet and Tin Can Bay brought together a large range of interest groups. I know 

Patrick and Michelle will give you more details in their reports but I just wanted to 

thank the mighty volunteers in my group A at Hays Inlet who picked up an 

impressive 41 bags of rubbish. 

Seafood Festivals on the Calendar 

Seafood Festivals are also a major part of our spring calendar. Hervey Bay in early August was the biggest 

and best that I have seen in the 6 years that I have attended and is a stunning example to others of how to do 

it. The crowd exceeded 12000 stretching Fishermans park to its limit. Great interest was shown by the crowd 



in the fisherman’s stage where Pam and Des Findlay demonstrated sustainable practice and interviewed 

real fishers. The crowd was also able to ask questions. Special thanks should go to Elaine Lewthwaite, 

Michelle Fuchs and their organisation team who did a faultless job organising this showcase of local 

sustainable seafood to the community. 

Tin Can Bay Seafood festival was also impressive, whilst not quite the scale of Hervey bay. OceanWatch 

had its display tailored to our partners from Wetland care and Burnet Mary Regional Group. A lot of 

interest was generated in the displays by young and old. Net maker Wally Hill dropped by and helped me 

give a talk about how a prawn net works to a group of people. They were intrigued at the technical 

aspects of net making and BRDs; we also debunked some myths about the amount of bycatch associated 

with prawn trawls. 

Working Cooperatively 

I have also been involved in a go slow area project that is being led by Queensland Seafood Industry 

Association (QSIA) in partnership with the Departmentt of Resource management and the fishers of the 

Great Sandy area. Mapping of turtle and dugong habitat is occurring with fisher’s unique knowledge of the 

area. I was also able to assist in the rodeo of 50 turtles throughout the straits and the deployment of 6 

satellite tags on green turtles to determine their foraging areas. The impact and affect of these go slow 

zones as well as management options are also being explored. 

Exclusion Zone 

Finally on a sour note, Fisheries Queensland has imposed a 500 km exclusion zone to all fishing around 

Gladstone harbour in central Queensland, being an unprecedented step. Sick Fish, Turtles and Dugongs 

have been found in the Harbor for months and warnings from commercial fishers were ignored. Some 

fishers have been hospitalized and the 40 million dollar local industry has been paralysed. Ongoing testing 

is yet to determine if the massive dredging project in the harbor is contributing, the initial ban is in place 

for 21 days. My thoughts are with the fishers affected 

and I have offered any assistance to the QSIA that I 

can give. 

David Kreutz SeaNet Southern Queensland PH: 07 5447 9491 or 0432 683 147 

david@ocean 

nwatch.org.au 

Far North Queensland 

David Schubert 

Hinchinbrook Seafood Industry Incorporated (HSII): 

Boosting the sustainability 

profile 

The HSII held their AGM recently, amongst the many topics discussed one in 

particular stood out to me; boosting the HSII’s sustainability profile to the broader 

community. I have been liaising with the Jensen family, who mostly fish for mud 

crabs as TC Yasi kindly submerged their Reef Line vessel. 

We have been discussing the use of Quick Response Codes. Quick Response Codes (QR codes) are 

widely used as a promotion tool in Japan. These black 

and white square codes are designed to be read 

using smart phone camera technology free software (see http://www.i-nigma.com/i-nigmahp.html) or 

search your smart phone application store for your freee program. The QR code immediately links the phone 

and customer to a corresponding online multimedia. The black and white QR code can be easily printed 

onto packaging, menus or placed onto fish monger pro 

oduce tags. With the popularity of smart phones in 

Australia this marketing tool is predicted to expand domestically and the HSII and in particular the Jensen 

family want to get ahead of the game and start trialling 

this technology now. 



Within the next month the QR code should be hitting the Sydney Fish Market on the 

Jensen’s boxes of Mud crabs. The code will be linked up to a video displaying the 

sustainability profile and the process undergone by the 

fisherman to land the product 

from boat to belly. The video will be part of SeaNet’s ‘Telling the story’ initiative, ideally 

there will be a series of videos for each of the fisheries within the HSII. Why not 

download your y code reader app and have a look. Along 

g with the Q QR codes, , the HSII are 

currently updating their webpage www.hinchinbrookseafood.com and have designed 

new stickers for all shipments of product. 

Greg Jensen of the HSII - Showing off a couple of nice bucks 

whilst filming for the QR code video. 

Quality Index and Occupational Health and Safety Roll-out 

R out 

Over the past three months I have seen plenty of the Bruce Highway visiting the multitude of seafood 

processors, retailers and wholesalers situated in the North, for the delivery and extension of the QI and 

OH&S project. I have travelled down to Ilbilbie, South of Mackay to the North side of Cairns, covering over 

1000Km of the East Coast. 

Nylon Monofilament Recycling Program in Conjunct 

ion with GhostNets Australia 

GhostNets Australia recently contacted SeaNet NQ with the news of a potential net recycling initiative. The 

aim is to collect commercial fisher’s old, unusable nylon monofilament nets, store them until there is a bulk 

load and ship them off to a secret location where the nylon will be recycled. If you are a net fisher in the 

NQ region, expect a phone call within the upcoming months. 

If you are interested in the project or would like to donate your old nets, feel free to contact me using my 

details below, and I will arrange a time to pick them up 

free of charge. 

Barra, Beef and Bulldust Expo: Karumba 4 th -6 th November 

Only one more month until the annual Barra, Beef and Bulldust Expo held in Karumba. The expo will 

promote sustainability of the Gulf region’s community, environment, culture and economy by showcasing 

projects, services, tourism and businesses, not to mention OceanWatch Australia will be hosting a stand in 

conjunction with commercial fishers of the Gulf, which 

will be highlighting: 

•Informational Signs on each fishery in the area; 

•Different nets and fishing apparatus for the community 

to interact with; 

•A laptop displaying OceanWatch Australia’s video library; 

•A variety of log books and legislative info for the public 

to see, to show how the fishery is managed; and 

•Information on OceanWatch Australia, our SeaNet program along with past and present projects. 

David Schubbert SeaNet Far North Queen 

nsland PH: 07 4773 7226 or 0409 347 495 

dave@oceanwatch.org.au 



Western Australia 

Jay Shoesmith 

New SeaNet Extension Officer 

Jay holds a Bachelor of Administration (Marine Resource Management) 

majoring in Fisheries Management from the Australiann Maritime College in 

Tasmania. He has experience as a research technician working for Fisheries 

Queensland, as a deckhand in the tourist sector at a resort, and as a 

volunteer at the Queensland State Emergency Service. He has spent time at 

sea, as well as doing lab work, working cooperatively with commercial 

fishermen and the post harvest sector. 

Seafood Industry Awards 

OceanWatch Australia sponsored the Environment Award at the 2011 WA Seafood Industry Awards, held 

on Friday 19 August at the Swan Yacht Club in Fremantle. The prize went jointly to the Challenger Institute 

of Technology and Austral Fisheries. These two WA based ventures have been notorious for their 

contribution to environmental sustainability; the former for the development p of waste management g systems y 

in the aquaculture sector, whereas the latter for its contribution to the Heard Island and McDonald Islands 

Marine Reserve as well as the Macquarie Island Marine Reserve. 

Jay Shoesmith SeaNet Western Australia PH: 08 9432 7777 or 0401 838 436 

jay@oceanwatch.org.au 

Tasmania 

Anita Paulsen 

Well what a start! 

I have had an amazing journey over the past two months and it has been busy 

busy. Like my interstate team mates I have travelled port to port to deliver 

Occupational Health and Safety and Quality Index tool examples to the post 

harvest sector of the industry. The tools were developed by Seafood Standards 

Australia and the Sydney Fish Market to assist processing and post harvest 

operators with staff inductions as well as assessing the shelf life of whole scalefish. 

Julie McLaughlin of Seafoods Tasmania checking out the OH&S and QI Tools. 

This also presented an opportunity to network with some of my previous industry colleagues and discuss 

food safety policies as well. The operators in Tasmania demonstrated a high level of commitment to these 

issues and were interested in engaging g g g in conversations particularly about OH&S and many y indicated a 

desire to source the staff induction DVD and workbook. I am also following up some gaps that were 

identified with a small number of participants. Thank you to those operators that made time during what I 

know to be a hectic schedule. For those of you I missed I still have packs available including some fantastic 

Hazard Man stickers for your workplace, just drop me 

a line. 

Anita Paulsen SeaNet Tasmania PH: 03 6224 2890 or 0407 135 637 

anita@oceanwatch.org.au

Victoria 

Stevee Hay 

Sustainability: Disentangling myths from facts 

Spring has sprung (apparently in some countries) and our fancies turn 

to.....BBQs, good seafood and the beach.....but do we really take the time to 

question where our seafood comes from and the peop 

le who supply it year 

round regardless of the weather (no matter how consistently cold it is down our 

way)? 

In a movement that is slowly building momentum, people ARE asking where their seafood comes from and 

perhaps more importantly to the industry, how sustainable it is. Unfortunately there are a number of sources 

out there who are more than happy to push their agend 

da regardless of the validity of their “facts” . Luckily for 

the industry, an established sparring partner in the form 

of the Australian Conservation Foundation has 

dispensed with the hyperbole and joined forces with Seafood Industry Victoria, SeaNet, University of 

Technology Sydney and Melbourne University to produce a rigorous and scientifically tested sustainability 

guide, of which part two will be released in the summer months...just in time for Christmas. 

On that note there seems to be an increasing number of platforms to highlight sustainability and food security 

issues and where the industry and community sits with 

this as a whole. Some of my “Spring” duties include 

speaking at an open forum on food security and sustainability at the Victorian Royal Agricultural Society show 

where I will be highlighting the industry’s contribution (largely unacknowledged) to feeding the populace and 

the care, science and excellent management practices they employ. As a warm up, that will prime me for the 

Melbourne University led Public Forum on Sustainable seafood in early November. Chaired by Dr. John Ford, 

the focus will be on sustainable practices, addressing green washing and hidden agendas and answering 

questions the mainstream media are not interested in answering. Dr. Ford has asked members from the 

scientific, management and industry sectors to particip 

pate. No NGOs have been asked to participate. p Just the 

facts m’am. 

Codes of Practice 

That said, SIV has suggested that SeaNet participates in its vetted rock lobster code of practice, which, 

though in draft form, will be an important piece that will only reinforce the excellent industry practice already 

in place. Hopefully this will send a clear message to the 

powers that be, that the seafood industry is a very 

important and vital part of not just the community or state, but Australia itself. Therefore deserving of funding 

for research, codes of practice and even just to let the Australian public know that though quiet, fisherman 

have never gone away, complained or gone on strike. They have provided Australian families with the finest 

quality and sustainable seafood, arguably, in the world and shall continue to do so. 

Seafood Festivals and Community Engagement: Telling the story 

As the Victorian SeaNet officer I will also be attending the numerous agricultural and seaside festivals up and 

down our beautiful coastline...giving me ample opportunity to call in have a chat and discuss any issues you 

would like to air. Having attended the last Seafood Industry Victoria (SIV) annual meeting, the members joked 

that everything was plodding along fine and Victoria need a crisis just to give everyone something to do...and I 

do mean joked. This is a great reflection that Victorian fishermen, state wide, regardless of their target are 

doing it right. 

Back down to earth, I have been assaulting the airwaves most weekends or contributing to local papers on 

the benefits of buying local, buying fresh. It appears to be a message that most people not just care about but 

are acting upon. With all the doom and gloom in the news, hopefully the tide will turn back to not only 

supporting our fishermen but acknowledging the respect they deserve. Watch this space for community 

events from Portland to Lakes Entrance that highlight the importance that the fishing community holds around 

this State. 

Steve Hay SeaNet Victoria PH: 

03 9329 5660or 0421 415 973 

steven@oceanwatch.org.au 



Tide to Table roundup 

Program Manager- Aquatic Habitat Rehabilitation 

/ Sydney Regional Landcare Facilitator 

Simon Rowe 

Meeting our Post Harvest Seafood Sector: Widening SeaNet horizons 

Occupational Health and Safety and Quality Assurance 

of product are two topics SeaNet 

officers have recently been extending information on as part of a Fisheries Research and 

Development Corporation (FRDC) project. The roll-out 

process has now been completed, 

(except in WA) covering over 15% of the post harvest sector nationally. A total of 1904 

outlets were door knocked, including cooperatives, wholesalers and retailers with officers 

receiving a wide variety of responses. 

Talking assessment of quality product, recent studies funded by both the FRDC and 

Seafood Cooperative Research Centre identified Quality as a major relevant issue for the 

seafood industry. The increased costs of living has meant consumers are becoming heavily 

focused on receiving Quality food. In addition, waste and spoilage are factors associated 

with sustainability and bottom line profits for the fishmonger. The Quality Index manual helps 

identify for a number of species spoilage signs and rates, although a common skill of your 

average successful fishmonger perhaps a marketing advantage using a scientifically backed 

standard? 

Considering injury at work, it is widely recognised thatt the post harvest sector receives its 

fair share of accidents when it comes to slips, trips, falls, strains and puncture wounds. A 

series of reminder stickers and factsheets on the topic 

for managers are available for free 

from your local SeaNet officer. It is a demanding workplace and I would expect to see more 

happening in this space in the coming years. 

If you have missed out on any of the above free resources contact your local SeaNet officer 

while both the DVD for $50 and QI manual $300 are available from the Seafood Services 

Australia website to purchase (www.seafood.net.au). 

Simon Rowe PH: 02 9660 2262 or 0434 351 977 

simon@oceanwatch.org.au 



Queensland-Bundaberg 

Michelle Haase 

September has been all about partnerships for the Tide to Table Queensland 

program and south-east Qld OceanWatch staff, with Michelle, Patrick and Dave 

Kreutz working collaboratively to coordinate two successful marine debris clean-ups 

at Hays Inlet and Tin Can Bay. The clean-ups involved aswatheofstakeholders stakeholders, and 

included the following: 

•The Moreton Bay Seafood Industry Association and other seafood industry 

stakeholders; 

•Community groups such as the Cooloola Dragonboat Club, Southern Sandy Straits Marine Environment 

Group, Pine Rivers Catchment Association, Redcliffe Environmental Forum and Osprey House Environmental 

Centre; 

•The Department of Environment and Resource Manage 

ement (DERM); 

•The Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation (DEEDI), 

•Maritime Safety Qld; 

•Local councils - Gympie Regional Council and Moreton 

Bay Regional Council; 

•NGO’s such as Conservation Volunteers Australia and Wetlandcare Australia; 

•NRM groups - Burnett Mary Regional Group and SEQ Catchments; and 

•Private contractors that donated their services – namely Cooloola Skips at Tin Can Bay, Samies Seafood 

Market and Colliers Crane Hire in Brisbane. 

The level of community and government support for the 

clean-ups has been encouraging, and testament to 

the need for further work to remove marine debris to mitigate impacts of litter and large debris on marine 

habitats. Combined, the two clean-ups removed in excess of 9.5 tonnes of debris from declared Fish Habitat 

Areas that support the local seafood industry. 

In another show of support for partnership driven projec 

cts to enhance fish habitats, DEEDI and Bundaberg 

Regional Council completed the construction of a ‘nature-like fishway’ at Baldwin Swamp this month. 

OceanWatch negotiated the project to be constructed by DEEDI, funding a third of the cost of construction 

with funds from the Australian Government’s Caring for our Country initiative, whilst DEEDI and Bundaberg 

Regional Council contributed to the remaining construction expenses. 

The fishway is a series of pools and riffles replicating the 

structure of a natural creek or stream, hence the 

term ‘nature-like fishway’. It mitigates a barrier to fish passage caused by a weir on Bundaberg Creek, and 

restores connectivity between 1.6 kilometres of brackish 

habitat to 3 kilometres of freshwater habitat. It’s 

significant to the local seafood industry because it creates more habitat in the highly modified Burnett River 

estuary for commercially desirable, migratory fish species such as sea mullet, barramundi, mangrove jack and 

jungle perch. 

Construction of fishway to connect Baldwin Swamp with Bundaberg Creek. This project included the 

construction of a “riverbed” and water passages to reestablish free movement of fish along this water way. 

Michelle Haase More Qld information? 

Tide to Table Program Manager PH: 07 4181 2999 or 0401 890 069 

michelle@oceanwatch.org.au 


Southeast Queensland 

Patrick Sachs 

The start of the Queensland Tide to Table program in Moreton Bay has been full speed 

ahead since the hiring of Project Officer, Patrick Sachs at the end of June 2011. Jumping 

straight into the role Patrick has launched the “improving 

coastal hotspots” project in 

Moreton Bay. The main ecological objective of the program is to improve water quality and 

fish habitat with its success revolving around funding on-ground actions and behaviour 

change activities that involve local landholders, farmers, the seafood sector and government 

agencies. OceanWatch Australia, through funding from the Australian Government’s Caring for our Country 

program, is implementing a devolved grants program to attract proposals from community, industry and 

government groups to perform on-ground works to improve water quality and fish habitat. Grant applications 

closed Friday, September p 16 th and will be assessed over 

the coming g weeks. 

Simon Rowe (front) with volunteers from the Moreton Bay Seafood 

Industry Association, SEQ Catchments, DERM and the local 

community. 

Spring g has started really well for South East Queensland 

and Moreton Bay. September 1 st and 2 nd saw the 

Hays Inlet Marine Debris Cleanup in Griffin coincide with 

beautiful weather and a midday high tide to allow 

volunteers access to the cleanup site in the mangroves. This two day operation involved 15 groups that 

donated their time, expertise, resources and determination to get the job done. Six local and state 

government agencies including Maritime Safety Queensland, Fisheries Queensland, QLD Boating and 

Fisheries Patrol, the Moreton Bay Marine Park, Moreton Bay Regional Council and the Department of 

Environment and Resource Management; six environmental groups including Conservation Volunteers 

Australia, the Redcliffe Environmental Forum, Pine Rivers Catchment Association, SEQ Catchments, 

WetlandCare Australia and the Osprey House Environmental Centre; and three industry groups including 

the Moreton Bay Seafood Industry Association, Samies Girl Seafood Market and Colliers Crane Hire made 

the operation an incredible success. 

With such a great turnout, our volunteers were able to remove over seven tonnes of debris from a stretch of 

mangroves less than two kms long! Much of the large debris was left over from January’s floods and 

included three pontoons, three refrigerators, numerous tyres and other large debris you would never expect 

to see in the mangroves. A total of 127 bags of rubbish were collected on the Friday by volunteers and 

three large trucks, donated by the Moreton Bay Regional Council, were filled. 

A special thankyou goes to all our volunteers and groups that made the first two days of spring such a 

success. Three more cleanups will be happening in Moreton Bay during the next year so keep your ears 

open. 

Patrick Sachs SEQ Tide to Table Project Officer PH: 0488 087 772 

patrick@oceanwatch.org.au 



Seafood Industry Partnerships in Schools 

Project Officer - Tasmania 

Jennifer Hemer 

Educational partnerships between school classes, commercial fishermen and marine farmers 

continued to flourish over the winter. The Montrose Big 

Picture School participated in a tour 

of the Mures processing factory in southern Tasmania. School Advisor Amanda Sutton said 

‘having the opportunity to visit a successful food business in our local community was great’. 

Montrose Big Picture School students touring the Mures 

Processing Facility in Glenorchy, Tasmania. 

On Monday October 3 rd the SIPS program hosted an information session in Hobart for teachers, commercial 

fishermen and marine farmers. The purpose of the SIPSS Session was to enable people from industry and 

education to come together in a relaxed environment (the pub) to discuss how industry can be represented in 

education; to enlighten the broader community about issues affecting the industry and to discuss career 

pathways and opportunities for young people into the industry. 

Jennifer Hemer Seafood Industry Partnerships in 

Schools Project Officer PH: 0428 026 356 

jennifer@oceanwatch.org.au 

NSW Oyster Industry Environmental Management Systems 

Project Officer - NSW 

Andy Myers 

The future of the oyster industry depends not only on a healthy environment, but also on the 

ability to demonstrate that growers are utilising the environment in a responsible and 

sustainable manner. One way of doing this is to develop 

an Environmental Management 

System (EMS) to show how environmental risks, impacts and opportunities are managed. 

The process of EMS development allows oyster farmers 

to identify risks arising from internal, on-farm activities 

and also from external, catchment-based activities. This 

risk assessment process can then be used to prioritise 

remedial actions, reducing farmers’ exposure to risk by building resilience into their business. 

Development of EMS: Through this project, four new oyster industry EMS are currently under development 

covering the Nambucca River, Manning River, Port Stephens (Tilligerry Creek) and Brisbane Water. Two 

existing EMS are also being reviewed for Broken Bay Pe 

earls and the oyster farmers of the Clyde River. These 

EMS are evolving well, although progress has slowed recently due to the processing of applications tied to the 

Environmental Improvement Grants (see below). 



Environmental Improvement Grants: The response of the oyster industry, land-holders and catchment groups 

to the grants has been overwhelming. With $374k to devolve through the round, the process was heavily 

oversubscribed and received over 200 applications, requesting a cumulative total of $1m. The vast majority 

(90%) of applications from oyster farmers concerned infrastructure conversion projects, highlighting the 

aspirations of the industry to move away from tar and treated timber to more sustainable cultivation practices. 

Applicants are currently in the process of being notified of the outcome of their applications, with the view of on- 

ground work commencing in November. 

CNN Eco-Solutions: In late July, OceanWatch was contacted by a reporter from CNN interested in producing a 

short article highlighting the intrinsic link between oystering and the environment. After working up a concept 

with the reporter, a film crew arrived in mid-August from 

Hong Kong to undertake a day of filming. Despite 

filming for a full-day, the editorial lasts 4 minutes and will soon be aired on the Eco-Solutions program via the 

CNN global g network; an average g of 75 million people p p tune in to view the show. The article is also available 

online, and can viewed at: 

http://www.oceanwatch.org.au/our-work/ems-nsw-oysters/ 

Discussing oyster farming in the Hawkesbury for CNN. 

Paul Crock (Environmeats) presenting at the Batemans 

Bay oyster industry field day 

NSW Oyster Industry Field Days: Organised by NSW Farmers, oyster industry field days have just been held 

at Port Macquarie and Batemans Bay. Focused on industry, the days provided the opportunity for farmers to 

meet and talk with trade suppliers, and to learn about relevant projects and research. OceanWatch took this 

opportunity to discuss estuary-wide EMS, and the development of an NSW oyster EMS database (see below). 

We also prompted proactive farmers to discuss their experiences developing these documents before 

introducing Paul Crock from Enviromeats in Victoria. Enviromeats is essentially a cooperative of beef farmers, 

with all those operating under the brand committed to environmental best practice. With an EMS consistent 

with international standards (ISO 14001), the talk allowed oyster guys to learn about another industry’s 

approach to environmental stewardship and their very successful marketing strategy. 

International Oyster Symposium: Hosted by the Oysters Tasmania and the World Oyster Society, the 

symposium was an excellent opportunity for oyster farmers, researchers and government bodies from around 

the world to discuss all things oysters; from production and industry risks through to marketing and 

consumption. OceanWatch presented a poster at the event, highlighting the NSW industry’s approach to 

managing risk through the development of EMS. The concept of taking an estuary wide approach to EMS 

development was well received by delegates, and the forum provided an excellent opportunity to discuss the 

risks impacting on farmers in other states. 

EMS Database: The NSW Oyster Industry EMS Database is now online. This interactive website allows users 

to explore the coast and identify those estuaries that are 

committed to an EMS. With the farmers authorisation 

it is hoped that the database will soon be able to provide 

direct access to EMS, giving the public and other 

farmers the ability to view these documents. http://www.oceanwatch.org.au/our-work/ems-nsw-oysters/ems- 

database/ 

Andy Myers NSW Oyster Industry Environmental Management Systems Project Officer 

PH: 02 9660 2262 or 0488 656 3666 Email: andy@oceanwatch.org.au

SeaNet September 2011 - OceanWatch Australia

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