Progress to Date.
Currently, I am determining the beaches on which detailed surveys will be undertaken. I have been given access to the beachworm fishery catch data (1993 - 1998) held by the Queensland Fisheries Management Authority, and it is these data which I am using, in part, to choose the sites for the study. There seem to be a number of errors in these data (for example: 10,000 worms being caught a day in one entry!). To ensure that the data used for the foundation of the project is correct, I would like to be able to cross reference these data with records held by the beachworm fishers, to check for transcription errors in the QFMA data set. It must be stressed that any information used, either from the QFMA or individual fishers, is confidential, and for reporting purposes names are removed, and data from groups of five beachworm fishers is combined. This ensures privacy for the individual fishers, whilst allowing the trends of the fishery to be assessed.
I would also especially like to meet with any commercial fishermen, and to go out on fishing trips with them, to see how and where beachworms are caught. This will assist in the development of my own methods for estimating beachworm populations, as well as being able to talk to, and hear the needs of the fishers. It is important that commercial beachworm fishers realise that neither the project or myself is a threat to their livelihood. All results of the project will be available to the beachworm fishers, and regular updates of the project will also be available.
This page was last updated on the 6th June, 2000
This site is maintained by me (Matthew)
