My project investigates rec fisher catch, harvest and effort for Murray cod, golden perch and Murray crayfish using survey methodologies. I am also investigating length and age at maturity for Murray cod and golden perch to assess existing minimum legal lengths, and also using calcein marked hatchery reared Murray cod to assess the effectiveness of stocking this species. I plan to present some of my results, most likely from the fisher survey, to the American fisheries society at their annual conference where I will gain exposure to other experts in this field and share my knowledge and findings with other researchers. In addition to the conference attendance I will also spend time with either Mark Allen who researches striped bass (which correlates closely with Murray cod), or ken pollock, who is a global authority with fisher surveys.

MPAs are often promoted as a fisheries management tool, despite theoretical results and practical evidence that shows that often MPAs can only improve fisheries production in extremely poorly managed fisheries. Furthermore decreasing fishery production (e.g. through the introduction of an MPA) will increase demand for production in other food sectors. As wild fisheries are one of the most environmentally friendly food production methods, this shift can result in an overall net increase in environmental impact. This is rarely considered by environmental organisations that lobby for changes across many sectors without considering the trade-offs involved.

This project will kick-start a collaboration that examines production impacts of MPAs and methods for including environmental impacts in fisheries management. These methods will highlight the importance of fisheries in environmentally friendly food production.

The nominated ISC far exceeds any fish biology/fisheries meeting held in Australia (e.g. ASFB conferences generally attract ~150 attendees versus ~500 attendees expected at the upcoming ISC2013). Given the ISCs tri-annular occurrence, this is a unique opportunity to present my research to those relevant international peers and leaders in the fields of fish biology, fisheries science and sclerochronology.

As an early career researcher (ECR), attending and presenting at an international conference provides me with an exciting opportunity to develop professionally, by broadening my knowledge base within the field, as well as in assisting in identifying gaps for future research. Most of all it will enable me to meet fellow fish enthusiasts and to forge new collaborative ties with world leading researchers in the fields of invertebrate and vertebrate fisheries science and climate research.

For ECRs there are few opportunities available to attain financial support to attend meetings. By combining this conference attendance with a laboratory placement/visit and attendance at the field week, I aim to maximise this funding opportunity provided by the FRDC. Integrating these events in this one overseas trip will provided a means of having access to innovative research groups in order to develop research skill sets that are novel within the Australian fisheries science community. This will no doubt be of great benefit to my professional development as an ECR and provides an opportunity to bring new skill sets back to Australia.