The CSIRO Division of Fisheries (1940–1997), also officially named the "CSIRO Division of Fisheries and Oceanography" and "CSIRO Division of Fisheries Research" at different times, was a research section (Division) of the CSIRO (Commonwealth Scientific Industrial and Research organisation), Australia's national science research agency, operating up to 1997, specialising in fisheries research plus some elements of oceanography. It was formally preceded by the CSIRO (then C.S.I.R.) Fisheries Investigations Section (1936–1940). Its principal initial purpose was to explore what fish stocks existed in waters around the Australian continent, and how they could most effectively be exploited for human consumption; later emphasis shifted to whole-of-ecosystem investigation and analysis, from phytoplankton and benthic and pelagic communities to top predators, as well as the oceanographic and physical factors controlling these elements, plus providing advice to fisheries and environmental managers regarding appropriate management and conservation regimes that would be in accord with sustainable use of the stocks concerned. The Division ceased to exist as a named entity (although its work was carried on) in 1997 when it was merged with the CSIRO Division of Oceanography under the name CSIRO Marine Research.
Description and formation The CSIRO (then C.S.I.R.) Division of Fisheries was established in 1940, as a successor the previous Fisheries Investigation Section (1936–1940). In recognition of its developing component of non-biological oceanographic work, it was renamed the Division of Fisheries and Oceanography in 1956. The oceanographic component was split off as a separate Division of Oceanography in 1981, with the balance of staff and activity carried over as the Division of Fisheries Research, which reverted once more to the name Division of Fisheries in 1988. In 1997 it re-merged with the Division of Oceanography to form CSIRO Marine Research.
Location Until c.1984 its headquarters and the majority of its staff were based in Cronulla, New South Wales; from that date the staff were transferred to new, purpose-built accommodation at the CSIRO Marine Laboratories in Hobart, Tasmania. Smaller complements of Division of Fisheries staff were also employed at regional laboratories in Marmion, a suburb of Perth in Western Australia, and Cleveland, a suburb of Brisbane in Queensland., also historically at some other locations around Australia (refer "History").
Staffing and budget According to figures quoted in Mawson et al., in 1938 the nascent Division already employed 10 scientists plus 12 support staff; by 1970/71, as "Fisheries and Oceanography" the figures were 26 research scientists, 27 "other professional" staff and 76 support staff; and in 1987 (with removal of relevant staff to the new Oceanography Division) 97 research and technical staff and 28 support staff.Mawson et al., 1988, p. 98. In 1981-1982 its operating budget (from government sources) was AUD$7.3 million.CSIRO Australia: Annual Report 1981-82. Available at https://csiropedia.csiro.au/wp-content/uploads/1991/10/1981-82-CSIRO-Annual-Report-for-Year-1981-82.pdf.
History and activities To 1988, this section represents, in the main, a condensed version of the "chronology" chapter in Mawson et al., pp. 210-216, to which reference should be made for full information. Pre-1940s 1926: Establishment of a Fisheries Section included in H.F. Heath, "Recommendations for the Reconstitution of the Commonwealth Institute of Science and Industry", the latter established as C.S.I.R. (precursor to CSIRO) the same year 1933: Government allocates funds for fisheries investigations in four areas: procure survey vessel; experiments in fish canning; curing and preserving; marketing 1935: Commonwealth fisheries investigations transferred to C.S.I.R.; secondment to C.S.I.R. of Stanley Fowler 1936: Stanley Fowler commences C.S.I.R. aerial surveys looking for pelagic fish off New South Wales, Victoria and Tasmania 1937: Harold Thompson takes up duties as officer-in-charge of C.S.I.R. "Fisheries Investigation Section", initially based in Melbourne, first other staff appointed (E.J. Ferguson Wood) 1938: Fisheries Investigation Section transfers to former fish hatchery site in Cronulla (occupied 1939); new research vessel Warrreen delivered and makes first cruise 1939: David Rochford (hydrologist) appointed, hydrology work commences
1940s 1940: Fisheries Investigation Section renamed Division of Fisheries, H. Thompson as inaugural chief 1941: Alan Tubb transferred to Tasmania to commence Fisheries work there 1942: Warrreen requisitioned for war work, first aerial surveys in Western Australia 1943: Dom Serventy transferred to Western Australia to establish a presence there for the Division 1945: Liawenee begins hydrological work off Tasmania 1946: "Stowell" (large house in Battery Point, Hobart) purchased by CSIRO for Tasmanian laboratories; Warrreen returned to C.S.I.R. (work re-commenced 1947) 1948: Thursday Island station established for pearl shell work; retirement of Stanley Fowler; commissioning of new vessel in his name (FRV Stenley Fowler); FRV Fairwind used for work in Papua New Guinea 1949: Dunwich research station established on North Stradbroke Island, Queensland; C.S.I.R. becomes CSIRO 1950s 1950: FRV Fairwind lost at sea with all hands; CSIRO purchases FRV Derwent Hunter 1951: Division commences whaling studies; FRV Gahleru commissioned for Torres Strait pearl oyster program; Warrreen transferred to RAN (Royal Australian Navy) 1954: Lake Macquarie study (to 1956); retirement of Harold Thompson (Maurice Blackburn becomes acting chief) 1955: Hamon/Brown-developed CTD trialled on Derwent Hunter 1956: Appointment of G.F. Humphrey as chief, Division renamed "Fisheries and Oceanography"; Derwent Hunter commences blue-water (oceonographic) research 1957: Hamon salinometer developed 1958: Division hosts conference on oceanography of Coral and Tasman Seas 1959: Derwent Hunter returns to fisheries research; HMAS Diamantina loaned to CSIRO for Indian Ocean work 1960s 1960: HMAS Gascoyne loaned to CSIRO for work in Tasman Sea; Division participates in International Indian Ocean Expedition (IIOE) (to 1965) 1962: Camberwell Laboratory established in Melbourne; Derwent Hunter sold 1963: Tasmanian laboratory closed; studies of larval western rock lobster commence in Western Australia; Gulf of Carpentaria prawn survey commences (to 1965) 1966: East Coast Prawn Project begins 1969: Camberwell laboratory closed; Northern Prawn Project begins 1970s 1971: G.F. Humphrey retires as chief, establishes Marine Biochemistry Unit; D.J. Rochford becomes acting chief 1972: Queensland Department of Primary Industries Deception Bay laboratory completed, used by CSIRO as a base for prawn studies; K. Radway Allen appointed as chief; first use of satellite-tracked buoys for studying ocean currents 1973: Estuarine group established; Marmion, WA laboratory opens with R.G. Chittleborough as officer-in-charge; RV Kalinda commissioned for use by the East Coast Prawn Project; R.V. Sprightly chartered for use off Western Australia 1974: Estuarine Ecology commences, with survey of Port Hacking 1975: Cleveland, QLD laboratory planned, with W. Dall as officer-in-charge; FRV Courageous chartered for fisheries research; Karumba, QLD laboratory planned with D. Staples as officer-in-charge (new site purchased in 1976) 1976: Cleveland and Marmion laboratories both completed 1977: Western Australian Coastal Ecology project commences; Marine Biochemistry Unit re-absorbed into Division 1979: FRV Soela chartered for fisheries research; FRV Courageous charter ends
1980s 1981: Oceanographic work split off from Fisheries work as new Division of Oceanogrphy (founding chief: Angus McEwan), still based in Cronulla; parliamentary approval given for construction of new marine Laboratories in Hobart to house both Divisions 1982: RV Sprightly undertakes "Aurorex" circumnavigation cruise; North-West Shelf Project begins 1984: Staff begin transfer to Hobart; Southern Temperate Resources Program begins; last charter cruise of RV Sprightly 1985: Cronulla Laboratories formally cease operation; official opening of new CSIRO Marine Laboratories in Hobart 1988: Name of Division changed from "Fisheries Research" to "Fisheries"
For additional activities over this period, refer "Research Report. Division of Fisheries. 1985-1987" and "CSIRO Division of Fisheries: Research Report 1987/90" (no electronic access presently found). 1990-1997 For activities over this period, refer "Research Report. CSIRO Division of Fisheries, 1990-1991" and successors (as available), also relevant CSIRO (whole of Organisation) annual reports. From the latter, under Division of Fisheries Research Programs, the following are listed: 1990-91: Population dynamics and fish stock assessment; Phytoplankton resources; South and southeast fisheries resources; North and northeast fisheries resources; West and northwest fisheries resources; Biological oceanography; Environmental management and protection 1991-92 through to 1995-96: Tropical Fisheries Resources; Pelagic Fisheries Resources; Mariculture; Temperate and Deepwater Fisheries Resources; Marine Environment Research 1997: Division (re-) merges with Division of Oceanography to form new "Division of Marine Research".
A summary of the Division's activities as at 1989 is included in an account by N. Elliot and A. Woods published in the journal "Maritime Studies". For an extensive earlier account during the Cronulla years, refer Austin, 1973. The comprehensive volume by Mawson et al., 1988, cited above, contains much other historical information including chapters by key figures involved in Divisional research through the years, among them K. Radway Allen, Maurice Blackburn, Graham Chittleborough, George Cresswell, Bill Dall, Bruce Hamon, George Humphrey, Shirley Jeffrey, Harry Jitts, Geoffrey Kesteven, Ian Munro, Alan Pearce, Bruce Phillips, David Rochford and David Tranter.
Divisional chiefs/other leaders Source: CSIROpedia 1940–54 Harold Thompson (previously Officer-in-Charge, Fisheries Investigations Section, 1936–40) 1956–71 George Frederick Humphrey ("Fisheries & Oceanography") 1972–77 Kenneth Radway Allen ("Fisheries & Oceanography") 1977–80 David James Rochford ("Fisheries & Oceanography") 1981 Brian Devenish Stacey ("Fisheries Research", acting) 1981–84 Shirley Winifred Jeffrey ("Fisheries Research", acting) 1984–90 Frederick Robert "Roy" Harden Jones ("Fisheries Research" to 1988, then "Fisheries" again) 1990–97 Peter Colin Young
From 1997 the Division ceased to exist in a formal sense, being replaced by "Marine Research" (founding chief: Christoph Bruno Fandry 1996–97).
Geographic area(s) of activity