Update on the ‘Demersal interactions with marine benthos in the Australian EEZ of the Southern Ocean: an assessment of the vulnerability of benthic habitats to impact by demersal gears’ project

We provide an update on progress in the FRDC and industry-funded project “Demersal interactions with marine benthos in the Australian EEZ of the Southern Ocean: an assessment of the vulnerability of benthic habitats to impact by demersal gears”. This project commenced in 2006 and is due to conclude with the publication of a final report in late 2011. Outputs of this project, including novel technologies and unique datasets for quantifying the dynamics and extent of the interactions between demersal fishing gears and deep sea habitats in the Southern Ocean, will assist with providing key components for the development of robust impact risk assessments and adaptive management strategies necessary to ensure CCAMLR will achieve its goal of avoiding significant adverse impacts to benthic assemblages.