ABARES Acting Deputy Executive Director, Kim Ritman, said the assessment will provide an understanding of the dimensions and degree of impact on individuals, businesses and communities in the Southwest Marine Region.
As part of the assessment process ABARES officers are conducting surveys, focus groups and indepth interviews with commercial fishers, charter boat operators, supply chain businesses and community representatives that are potentially going to be impacted by the proposed marine reserves, Dr Ritman said.
Our findings will be combined with other information and research to help ensure the Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities has a detailed understanding of the potential impacts of the proposed marine reserves.
The survey has been developed in consultation with the Western Australian Fishing Industry Council, Wildcatch Fisheries South Australia and the Commonwealth Fisheries Association.
The surveys, focus groups and indepth interviews for the Southwest Marine Region will be running throughout late July and early August 2011.
If you believe that you will be impacted by the proposed Commonwealth marine reserves, and have not yet received a survey, please contact the ABARES research team on 1800 723 777.
Commonwealth Marine Reserves Survey Underway
AUSTRALIA - The Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences (ABARES) has commenced data collection to aid the social and economic impact assessment of the proposed Commonwealth marine reserves for southwest Australia.
