29 results
Industry
Industry
PROJECT NUMBER • 1998-221
PROJECT STATUS:
COMPLETED

Impoundment stocking strategies for eastern and northern Australia

Fish stocking is a valuable and widely used fisheries management tool. If managed well, a fish stocking program can improve the status of declining or threatened fish stocks, restore species diversity to a degraded waterway, and even create a fishery where there was none before. The positive image...
ORGANISATION:
Department of Primary Industries (QLD)
Industry
PROJECT NUMBER • 2003-401
PROJECT STATUS:
COMPLETED

A study on allergic health problems in the Australian seafood processing industry

Survey forms sent to over 800 companies in the aquaculture and processing sectors of the Australian seafood industry on the provision of occupational health services and the prevalence of allergic health problems drew 140 responses. The key findings of this survey were: About half of the...
ORGANISATION:
Department of Primary Industries (QLD)

An Investigation of the Impacts of ponded pastures on Barramundi and other finfish populations in tropical coastal wetlands

Project number: 1997-201
Project Status:
Completed
Budget expenditure: $222,056.00
Principal Investigator: Stuart Hyland
Organisation: Department of Primary Industries (QLD)
Project start/end date: 22 Jun 1997 - 16 Dec 2002
Contact:
FRDC

Need

Wild production of barramundi depends partially on nursery habitats located in tropical coastal wetlands. Modifications of these habitats have potential to impact barramundi populations (Russell and Garrett, 1985). Extensive areas of tropical coastal wetlands (including upper intertidal areas on coastal plains and in estuaries, brackish-water wetlands and riverine floodplains) have been modified by the development of ponded pastures and other pondage systems. The impacts of such developments on barramundi have not been documented despite considerable concern amoungst fisheries stakeholders regarding the entrapment and survival of barramundi in pondage systems.

Similarly, the widespread introduction of exotic species of water-loving grasses in ponded pastures has not been documented nor investigated. The invasion of these species in wetlands and water-courses represents a major change in wetland ecology. The impact of exotic grass species on the value of tropical coastal wetlands as barramundi nurseries is unknown.

Apart from the issues of barramundi entrapment and mortality, ponded pastures and other pondage systems may have potential benefits to fisheries production by increasing the area of wetland or by increasing the duration of inundation. These positive aspects of pondage systems have not been assessed but may provide an avenue to balance the fisheries needs with those of the agricultural sectors and other wetland users. This balance would require the development of wetland management strategies to facilitate barramundi survival and movement in ponded pastures.

The Queensland Government has established an interdepartmental ponded pasture steering committee to develop a policy on ponded pastures in response to considerable community concern over environmental issues associated with ponded pastures and the introduction of exotic grass species. Public and industry comments on a discussion paper produced by the ponded pasture steering committee identified the impact of ponded pastures on fisheries as a major issue. However, the formulation of a policy which adequately safeguards the interests of fisheries stakeholders has been hampered by a lack of information with respect to the impacts of ponded pastures on fisheries, particularly barramundi. It remains to be determined whether the modification of wetlands by embankments and by the introduction of exotic grass species represents a significant impact to barramundi production.

Information on the growth, survival and movement of barramundi in ponded pastures and other pondage systems is required to determine the nature of impacts on barramundi production. Such information is also required to establish a more informed discussion between the fishing industry and agricultural sectors. Ultimately, strategies are required for managing ponded pastures and other pondage systems to balance the needs of fisheries with the requirements of agricultural sectors and other wetland users.

Objectives

1. To document the extent of ponded pastures and other pondage systems in and adjacent to coastal wetlands on the central coast of Queensland.
2. To assess the movement, growth and survival of barramundi in ponded pastures.
3. To assess the utilization by barramundi of ponded pastures and wetlands dominated by exotic grass species.
4. To identify appropriate wetland management strategies for facilitating barramundi movement and survival in ponded pastures and other pondage systems.
5. To document the fish bycatch and their relevant abundance in ponded pastures.
People
Environment
PROJECT NUMBER • 1983-012
PROJECT STATUS:
COMPLETED

Identification of stocks and migration routes of Torres Strait and Gulf of Carpentaria narrow barred Spanish Mackerel, Scomberomorus commerson

Of the eighteen species of Scomberomorus recognized by Collette and Russo (1979), the migratory behavior of only three species S. cavalla (king mackerel), S. maculatus (Spanish mackerel) and S. commerson (the narrow-barred Spanish mackerel) have been studied by tagging programmes. In these instances...
ORGANISATION:
Department of Primary Industries (QLD)
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