Since commercial fishing commenced in 1967 the fishery has been proactive in managing the prawn resources, to not only improve production but to also reduce environmental impact. An Environmental Management System, the On Boat Management System, has been created by the Spencer Gulf and West Coast prawn industry, designed to be kept on each vessel. The On Boat Management System is used as a tool to encourage and demonstrate good environmental practice by industry, contains best practice environmental standards as well as occupational health and safety checklists and forms.It also contains information related to marine pests, to assist fishermen with identifying and reporting threats to the marine environmental in which they fish.
A conscious effort has been made by the industry to minimise impact to benthic organisms and by-catch (non-target species) by developing new technologies, including changes to nets and gear, the introduction of the hopper-conveyor system and changes in the way fishing takes place.The most significant improvement of the prawn fisheries to reduce their ecological impact has been the reduction of fishing effort and constriction of spatial impact.
When prawn fishing originally began, fishermen were out fishing for a substantial proportion of the year, in all available fishing grounds. Much of the research that the fishermen have done, in conjunction with the South Australian Research and Development Institute (SARDI), has identified biological characteristics, habitats and movements of the King Prawn. This information has reduced fishing effort by minimising times when prawn fishing occurs for optimum catches. For example prawn fishing now only occurs at night, on the dark of the moon, during months when waters are warmer and the prawns are most active.
In the 2008/09 the Spencer Gulf Prawn Fishery operated for 51 nights and the West Coast Prawn Fishery operated for 63 nights. Reduced fishing effort is supported by focusing effort in specific locations to optimise prawn catches.Fishermen began closing areas to fishing, through the introduction of gentlemens agreements.
This was in response to avoid excessive by-catch, prawns that were not commercially viable, and species of other commercial / recreational importance. Self-imposed closures are still in place today. By the end of the 2000 fishing season, less than 12% of Spencer Gulf was fished. (*see below)
The Spencer Gulf and West Coast Prawn Fisheries operate under legislation that regulates their operations. Specifically the Fisheries Management Act 2007 and subordinate regulations and Management Plans. Some of the requirements of the fisheries is summarised in the Fisheries Management, Fishery Controls table. The Spencer Gulf Prawn Fishery operates to four key management goals, detailed in the Management Plan as follows:
The effective and constructive relationship industry has with government (PIRSA Fisheries and SARDI) has grown over many years and is testament to the good management practices in the Spencer Gulf Prawn Fishery. Industry has continually demonstrated its commitment to improving its fishing practices and working with other industries, the conservation sector and businesses as well as government. It is in the fishermens best interest to look after the marine resource in which they operate; to ensure sustainability of the fish stocks and continued fishing into the future.
The Spencer Gulf Prawn Fishery is world renowned for its best practices. The industry has long been recognised as being at the forefront of fisheries management, not only in South Australia and Australia, but also internationally. It was the first prawn fishery to have an embargo lifted for importation of prawns into the United States of America. The Prawn Association and industry structure has set a benchmark in industry and government cooperation to achieve an ecologically sustainably industry and has:
(*Carrick, N.A. and Williams, H. 2001, Spencer Gulf Prawn and West Coast Prawn: Fishery Assessment Report to PIRSA for the Prawn Fishery Management Committee, SARDI Aquatic Sciences Publication Series 01/08.)