This project aimed to gather and synthesize information and modelling tools, to assist traditional owners in identifying suitable locations, areas and stocking rates for reef gardens in Torres Strait, for valuable hand collectable species including sandfish (H. scabra), black teatfish (H. whitmaei) and trochus (T. niloticus). This is potentially an important component in developing adaptive co-management harvest strategies in Torres Strait. Data from previous surveys were used to illustrate potential reef garden sites. No new spatial data were generated during this project.

The reefs of east Torres Strait were surveyed in April 2002 visiting 424 sites; this produced precise density and standing stock estimates for each species in the fishery. We used this information to assess stock status and formulate Total Allowable Catch (TAC) recommendations that will allow continued fishing while reducing the risk of stock collapse. This included a recommendation for a zero take of two overexploited species, black teatfish and surf redfish. The remaining species TACs ranged from 15 t (white teatfish) to 181 t (lollyfish) with an overall TAC of 490 t (wet landed weight). These species should form the basis for sustainable fishery in the immediate future.

This study assessed the relative vulnerability of Torres Strait fisheries by conducting a vulnerability assessment on 15 key fishery species. A structured semi-quantitative approach for the vulnerability assessments was applied, based on a widely-adopted framework that includes the elements of Exposure, Sensitivity and Adaptive Capacity proposed by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. The assessments were informed by comprehensive literature reviews of Torres Strait climate (observed and projected), key fishery habitats and their vulnerability to climate change, and species reviews for 10 fishery groups that covered fishery characteristics, species life cycles and sensitivity to environmental changes. The assessments were further informed by results of interviews with Torres Strait Islanders. The results of the vulnerability assessments identified species with high, medium and low relative vulnerability to climate change. The species identified as having the highest relative vulnerability were: black teatfish, black-lipped pearl oyster, dugong, and trochus. When vulnerability was combined with the level of importance of each species to fisheries in Torres Strait (using a measure of cultural and economic value), a priority list of five species was identified for future action by management. These species were: dugong, turtle, tropical rock lobster, trochus and gold-lipped pearl oyster. This project concludes that there are a number of environmental changes that will be experienced in the Torres Strait by 2030, including habitat impacts that will have flow-on effects on a number of key fisheries. The main drivers are likely to be increases in sea surface temperature, increased severity of storms, and habitat changes particularly to coral reefs and seagrass meadows. The report also provides a range of recommendations on future actions and research that should arise from this project. These are grouped into three themes: (1) improving assessment accuracy, (2) extension of results to communities and decision-makers, and (3) research to address key knowledge gaps.