Deep sea camera systems have revealed that trawl and longline fisheries are having little impact on seafloor biodiversity around Heard Island and McDonald Islands.

In combination with scientific sampling, the cameras have shown that more than 98% of sensitive seafloor biodiversity in the Heard Island and McDonald Islands fishery remain in pristine condition following commercial fishing over the past 16 years.

A research team has assessed the risk of demersal fishing to the seafloor communities and together with industry developed strategies to minimise fishing impacts including the avoidance of sensitive areas.

The eight-year study, funded by the Fisheries Research and Development Corporation, was a joint project between the Australian Antarctic Division, the Australian Fisheries Management Authority (AFMA) and fishing industry partners, Austral Fisheries and Australian Longline.

Research found that the majority of vulnerable organisms live on the seafloor at depths less than 1,200m. This habitat overlaps with trawl fishing to depths of 1,000m, and to a lesser extent longline fishing, which can fish deeper than 1,000m. Since 2007, trawl fishing in the Heard Island and McDonald Islands fishery has declined and longlining is now the dominant practice which reduces the potential impact on seafloor biodiversity.

The study estimated that the Heard Island and McDonald Islands Marine Reserve, where fishing is not permitted, contains over 40% of the seafloor organisms considered vulnerable to demersal fishing in the region. The findings have led directly to the expansion of the reserve by 6,200 square kilometres, to protect a range of distinct seafloor habitats and vulnerable species of conservation significance.

Australia plans to use the methods and results to assist the Convention on the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources manage bottom fishing across the Southern Ocean.

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