2015-11-10 - P&O Agenda - Item 7, Attach 1 - Historical Ecology of the Noosa Estuary Fisheries

effort reported by days and license were extracted. As for the Fish Board reports,
landings records are not restricted to the Noosa River. Additionally, the
reporting process differs from earlier records. Since 1990 fishers have reported
their catch location as part of a Queensland-wide grid system. Each grid covers a
30nm by 30nm radius (55.6km by 55.6km). Landings were unable to be analysed
at a finer spatial resolution (6nm by 6nm) (11km by 11km) due to data
confidentiality and a lack of reporting at this scale. Grid W35 covers landings of
species originating within the Noosa saltwater lakes system (e.g., Lake
Cooroibah, Lake Weyba and part of Lake Cootharaba), and along the coast from
just south of Double Island Point (north of the Noosa Estuary) to Peregian Beach
(to the south of the Noosa Estuary). Grid V35 covers the remaining section of
Lake Cootharaba. Hence, while the spatial reporting of contemporary fish
landings differs from the Fish Board reports, the northern and southern
boundaries of W35 are likely to be similar to the areas where commercial fish
were landed for processing at the Tewantin Fish Board.

Local knowledge

Interviews were conducted with long-term local residents and fishers, in
addition to meetings with historians, archaeologists and Traditional Owners.
Fishers were asked about their historical and contemporary catch and effort,
changes in targeting behaviour and locations fished. Fishers and residents were
asked about their perceptions of changes in fish abundance within the river and
estuary system, and observations of changes in the system more generally (e.g.,
changes in shellfish populations, changes in depth/location of the river and river
mouth, mangrove coverage, impacts of development). Non-resident experts were
asked specifically about their field of study and knowledge about the Noosa
River.

Data analysis

Quantitative data on fish catch and effort could be sourced from archival
materials for both recreational and commercial fisheries. Where available, catch
rates were calculated. Catch rates from the recreational fishery were defined



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