103 results

Age validation in tailor (Pomatomus saltatrix)

Project number: 1999-123
Project Status:
Completed
Budget expenditure: $241,470.00
Principal Investigator: Ian Brown
Organisation: Department of Primary Industries (QLD)
Project start/end date: 11 Jul 1999 - 23 Sep 2004
:

Need

A comprehensive age-validation exercise is needed to determine whether or not the existing ISAMP tailor age estimates are biased. If they are biased, adjustments could be applied to rectify the data and produce a more reliable mortality estimate.

If they prove to be unbiased, either the high Z value is correct, or older age-classes have been under-represented in the catch-at-age samples. In the latter case it would need to be demonstrated that the age composition of the ocean beach catch is different from that of the fully recruited sector of the entire population case, in order to rule out the possibility that the fishery is in a dangerous situation.

Objectives

1. To validate the age interpretation of tailor otoliths and establish protocols for age and growth determination in this species.
2. To evaluate available evidence for size segregation of tailor stocks between offshore and inshore waters of southern Queensland.

Tactical Research Fund: incidence and possible causes of saddleback syndrome in the fish species of south east Queensland

Project number: 2010-070
Project Status:
Completed
Budget expenditure: $40,414.00
Principal Investigator: Matthew J. Campbell
Organisation: Department of Primary Industries (QLD)
Project start/end date: 30 Jun 2011 - 29 Jul 2012
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Need

The yellowfin bream is an important commercial and recreational species in Queensland, with over 400t landed annually. Anecdotal evidence suggests that the incidence of Saddleback Syndrome (SBS), a skeletal deformity primarily affecting the development of the dorsal fin spines, is increasing. This increase in the prevalence of SBS may result in recreational fishers and the public losing confidence in catching and consuming fish afflicted with the syndrome. It is, therefore, important that objective information is available to counter these concerns.

This project addresses one of the Queensland Fisheries Research Advisory Board's Research & Development priorities for 2010. Specifically, it addresses the "urgent need for research into the cause of a particular deformity of bream that is occurring in the important Moreton Bay fishery". The Queensland Fisheries Research Advisory Board (QFRAB) recently advised that a desktop study should be undertaken to determine potential causes of SBS in the international literature. Additonally, QFRAB advised that data from DEEDI's Long Term Monitoring Program should be analysed to determine the extent of SBS in Queensland.

Mr. Tony Ham, Fisheries Queensland Manager of Recreational Fisheries, has advised that SBS is an important issue, requiring attention in order to determine the incidence and cause of the syndrome in key recreational fish species.

Further, the need to investigate the cause of saddle-back deformities in yellowfin bream in SE Qld is of major importance and concern to the recreational fishing sector according to Sunfish Queensland, the recreational fishing representative group on the inshore finfish Scientific Advisory Group (SAG).

This project also addresses the concerns of commercial net fishers in Moreton Bay, specifically through the Moreton Bay Seafood Industry Association. These concerns relate to the potential difficulties in marketing bream and other species suffering from Saddleback Syndrome considering the perceived increase in the syndrome’s prevalence in recent years.

Objectives

1. Quantify the extent of Saddleback Syndrome in Queensland using existing databases
2. Review National and International published and grey literature in order to document the occurrence of Saddleback Syndrome and its causes
3. Convene a workshop of stakeholders to present the results of the database searches and literature review

Final report

ISBN: 978-0-7345-0434-0
Author: Matthew Campbell

Production technology for redclaw crayfish (Cherax quadricarinatus)

Project number: 1992-119
Project Status:
Completed
Budget expenditure: $230,278.00
Principal Investigator: Clive Jones
Organisation: Department of Primary Industries (QLD)
Project start/end date: 21 Nov 1992 - 30 Jun 1997
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Objectives

1. To evaluate the biological characteristics of the recognised stocks of redclaw, determine thier genetic basis and assess their relative suitability to cultivation.
2. To investigate the nutrition of redclaw through studies of digestive physiology/morphology, natural food availability and comparative feeding trials.
3. To develop standard growout techniques in relation to pond preparation, stocking density and size, pond management and harvesting, and to prepare a practical manual for the industry.
4. To investigate the feasibility of polyculturing redclaw and silver perch

Final report

Author: C.M. Jones I.M. Ruscoe
Final Report • 1996-08-06 • 3.47 MB
1992-119-DLD.pdf

Summary

This research and development project aimed to define specific guidelines for the aquaculture production of redclaw crayfish, Cherax quadricarinatus. This aim was achieved, and a comprehensive list of such guidelines is now documented.

Redclaw crayfish aquaculture was a small industry when this project was initiated, generating less than 40 tonnes of product per year. Production technology was undefined and extremely variable across the industry. Now, in 1996, production has risen to around 100 tonnes and a more consistent and appropriate approach is applied to production. This is due to a large extent to the technologies developed by this project, the full benefits of which are still flowing to industry.

Armed with a ‘best practice’ approach, the redclaw aquaculture industry is poised for significant expansion, which will enable it to more fully exploit the excellent export opportunities which have been clearly identified for the product.

Environment

Fish stocking programs - assessing the benefits against potential long term genetic and ecological impacts

Project number: 2009-040
Project Status:
Completed
Budget expenditure: $549,951.00
Principal Investigator: John Russell
Organisation: Department of Primary Industries (QLD)
Project start/end date: 30 Aug 2009 - 31 Jul 2012
:
SPECIES

Need

Recreational fish stocking is widely practiced throughout Australia and has delivered considerable benefits to anglers and substantial economic flow-on effects have been previously documented in some fisheries (Rutledge et al. 1991). The long-term “success” of freshwater fish stocking in Queensland and other States is, however, contingent on demonstrating that it is an ecologically sustainable practice having no detrimental effects on wild populations and ecosystems. Some environmental groups and government agencies (e.g. Wet Tropics Management Authority) are now questioning if freshwater fish stocking is a sustainable activity and the Threatened Species Scientific Committee considered a nomination to list the introduction of live native or non-native fish into Australian watercourses that are outside their natural geographic distribution as a key threatening process. One of the criteria that fisheries managers now use for assessing freshwater fish stocking applications is the risk that they pose to local aquatic communities, although there is very little real information on the likely ecological and genetic impacts of native freshwater fish stocking activities to support this decision making process. This type of information is therefore urgently needed if our stocking industry is to adopt “world’s best practice” to ensure future sustainability.
These same concerns were expressed at a recent FRDC national expert workshop “Towards responsible native freshwater fish stocking” where the potential ecological and genetic impacts of fish stocking, particularly for barramundi and Murray cod, were nominated as the most pressing research and management issues. This proposed project and another being developed on Murray cod, are part of a coordinated national response to these critical issues.

Objectives

1. Assess movements and ecological impacts of stocked barramundi in a model river and impoundment
2. Determine if barramundi stocking has any discernable adverse genetic impacts on wild populations in a previously stocked river system

Final report

ISBN: 9 780734 504333
Author: John Russell

A study of the sand crab (Portunus pelagicus) and its exploitation in a sub-tropical multi-sector fishery

Project number: 1984-023
Project Status:
Completed
Budget expenditure: $0.00
Principal Investigator: Mike Potter
Organisation: Department of Primary Industries (QLD)
Project start/end date: 28 Dec 1986 - 31 Dec 1986
:

Objectives

1. Compare, contrast life history parameters of sand crab in sub-tropical sth Qld vs. Gulf of Carpentaria & temperate waters.
2. Assess Moreton Bay sand crab stocks
relative impact of recreational, otterboard trawl & commercial crab pot fisheries
effectiveness existing mgt strategies & alternatives

Final report

Author: M.A. Potter W.D. Sumpton
Final Report • 1986-12-31 • 1.77 MB
1984-023-DLD.pdf

Summary

Based on logbook records the sand crab commercial pot fishery in Moreton Bay is worth in the vicinity of $2 million wholesale annually. Sand crabs are also taken as an incidental by-catch by otter trawlers and in addition Moreton Bay supports a substantial recreational fishery.

Sand crabs are caught throughout the year but fishing effort is greatest from October to June. Peak catches in the pot fishery occur during March and April when daily catch rates may exceed 3 legal males per pot. Gravid females are present throughout the year but the highest proportion of egg bearing females is found in the population during August and September. Peaks in mating activity occur in autumn and spring with recruitment of juvenile crabs commencing in November. The parasitic barnacle Sacculina granifera infects 3% of all sand crabs in Moreton Bay and a previously unreported microsporidian parasite is found in 0.7% of the population.

Tagging studies show that fishing effort and mortality of sand crabs is highly variable throughout the Bay. Recapture rates for different areas vary from 1% to 65% with an overall return rate of 14%. The pattern of tag returns does not indicate any ordered directional movement of crabs either into or out of the Bay.

Male and female sand crabs exhibit differences in preferred habitat. Large males are generally more abundant in deeper water, whereas females predominate in shallower water, particularly on the top of sand banks.

Management recommendations arising from the project work include a change in the method of sand crab measurement to the width at the base of the antero-lateral spines, lowering of the existing size limit, the introduction of a bag 1 limit for recreational fishermen and an abolition of the prohibition on taking females provided that suitable management conditions can be maintained.

Small prawn habitat and recruitment study

Project number: 1992-007
Project Status:
Completed
Budget expenditure: $553,079.96
Principal Investigator: Kurt Derbyshire
Organisation: Department of Primary Industries (QLD)
Project start/end date: 3 Apr 1993 - 1 Jan 1996
:

Objectives

1. Evaluate the relative importance and pattern of use of different seagrass habitats by juvenile commercial penaeid prawns
2. Study and describe the recruitment process of penaeid prawns
3. Provide advice to managers and fishermen on the best use of strip closures
4. Develop an interactive animated model that can be used as an educational and decision support for managers and industry

Project products

Guide • 2.16 MB
1992-007 Geographical Fisheries System.pdf

Summary

Geographical Fisheries System (GFS) was developed as part of a project jointly funded by the Fisheries Research and Development Corporation, Queensland Fisheries Management Authority and the Department of Primary Industries, Queensland and based at the Northern Fisheries Centre, Cairns. The project 'Small prawn habitat and recruitment study' (FRDC 92/7) ran from July 1992 to June 1995. GFS was developed during the period August 1994 to June 1995 as an animated, interactive model for displaying the data collected during this project. It can also display other user's data, making GFS a more flexible tool.
 
Geographical Fisheries System (GFS) is an interactive, animated tool for visualising fisheries data. It is able to read M.ap Info mif files for importing maps, whilst Access, Paradox, SQL Server, Btreive, Excel and text files can be read for data input. The data can then be displayed on a map. GFS has the facility to track movement through time on the map (such as in tagging data). GFS also has thematic mapping functions (such as densities or species composition at each site mapped through time). Although GFS is set up to be specific to this project, it has been developed to be flexible enough for many different applications depending on the data input.
Guide • 344.90 KB
1992-007 Exploring Strip Closure Options in the Turtle Group Region Using GFS.pdf

Summary

GFS is provided with data from the Turtle Group region that you can use to explore strip closure options. As GFS is a flexible tool, there are a number of ways you can approach this task. What follows is a suggested path for exploring closure options. As you become more familiar with GFS,you may develop your own procedure, or even use your own data for other regions. Consult the GFS User's Manual or the on-line help for full details of how to use the features described below.

Impoundment stocking strategies for eastern and northern Australia

Project number: 1998-221
Project Status:
Completed
Budget expenditure: $589,325.00
Principal Investigator: Michael Hutchison
Organisation: Department of Primary Industries (QLD)
Project start/end date: 20 Jun 1998 - 27 Sep 2006
:

Need

Despite the large number of impoundments currently stocked in Queensland for recreational fishing, and the economic benefits resulting from this activity, almost no research has been conducted on developing strategies to maximise survival of stocked fry. Post-stocking surveys and creel surveys have given an indication of whether a given fishery is successful or not, but these surveys have not been designed to test any hypotheses on effective release strategies. To achieve maximum productivity at minimum cost freshwater fish stocking groups require reliable information that will assist them improve stocking procedures. This information will help stocking groups to be more cost effective in their operations by increasing the chances of stocked fish reaching a catchable size. To date impoundment stocking groups have been releasing fry without knowledge of whether different size classes of fry have different probabilities of survival. Similarly it is not known if point of release of stocked fry has any influence on survival rates. Properly conducted experiments which examine the relative survival of different size classes of fry and the influence of different release strategies on survival would be of immense benefit to recreational fishing groups in Queensland and other states. If for example small fry of one species (eg barramundi) were found to survive equally well as larger size classes, then it would make sense for the stocking groups to stock the cheaper smaller size classes. If larger size classes survive well, but smaller size classes have poor survival, then fish stocking groups will have better returns by stocking the more expensive larger size classes of fry. Similarly knowledge of whether point of release has any influence on survival for different stocked species will assist stocking groups to use their time and money efficiently.

It is clear from post-stocking and creel surveys that fry survive and grow better in some impoundments than others. A number of new dams are planned in various parts of Queensland. Knowledge of the environmental characteristics which influence the productivity and carrying capacity of impoundments will also benefit stocking groups by directing their efforts to productive locations or providing advice on actions which may enhance productivity or carrying capacity of impoundments. The current proposed project is a necessary first step to develop efficient stocking protocols and will lead to a follow up experiment/project examining in greater detail the success of stocked fisheries in a up to twenty impoundments. The subsequent project is expected to lead to predictions of the suitability of new impoundments for stocked fisheries and to strategies to improve the fisheries value of impoundments.

Objectives

1. To determine optimal stocking size and release strategies to maximise the survival of four fish species (golden perch, silver perch, Australian bass and barramundi ) in stocked impoundments.
2. Identify differences between impoundments that may influence the survival and growth of fish stocks.
3. Verify use of scale pattern analysis as a reliable means of identifying up to three fish stocks.
4. Ensure adequate replication of stocking strategies for barramundi, golden perch and silver perch.

Manual

Author: Bob Simpson Michael Hutchison Tom Gallagher Keith Chilcott
Manual • 2.10 MB
fishstockmanual.b.f.1102 (ed2) (003).pdf

Summary

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 of thousands of small fish being released into a waterway ensures that fish stocking is equally popular among politicians, fisheries managers and the general community.

This manual provides guidelines to help plan and carry out fish stocking programs in northern and eastern Australian impoundments. It presents an introduction to the main biological and ecological concepts that determine the outcome of stocking programs, and provides community fish stocking groups with a protocol to help ensure the success of their stocking activities. 

Project products

Guide • 161.91 KB
f0140_fish_stocking_pamphlett2.pdf

Summary

The information in this document is taken from Fish stocking in impoundments: A best practice manual for eastern and northern Australia; Fisheries Research and Development Corporation Project 1998-221.

The information is based on research carried out in south-east Queensland, but can also be applied to fish stocking in impoundments in other parts of Australia. It should be regarded as general advice to assist groups or individuals in their fish stocking activities.

Guide • 254.95 KB
f0139_FAQ_glossary_aquacult.pdf

Summary

Although fish stocking has been carried out in northern and eastern Australia for some years now, there are still many unknowns regarding the best methods and approaches required to provide optimum results for anglers and for the environment. This document attempts to shed light on some of these unknowns, but given the highly variable conditions experienced in different regions and impoundments, and the complex interactions that occur between different combinations of fish species, there is a need to tailor stocking approaches to suit particular situations.

Despite these difficulties, it is possible to provide some answers to the questions that are commonly asked by people and organisations involved in fish stocking.

Presentation • 2.79 MB
Does size matter.ppt

Summary

Impoundment stocking strategies for Australian native species: Does size matter? was presented by Tom Gallagher and Michael Hutchison at the Australian Society for Fish Biology Annual Conference.

The ASFB Annual Conference was held in Cairns, August 14-17 2002.

Final Report • 2005-08-30 • 4.90 MB
1998-221-DLD.pdf

Summary

This project has provided scientifically validated information on optimal stocking sizes and optimal release strategies for four popular freshwater angling species. We now also have a better understanding of the impacts of different predators and impoundment conditions on stocking success. This information will enable community groups and fisheries managers to determine cost-effective stocking strategies and maximise survival of stocked fish. This information has been summarised in a user-friendly fish stocking manual.

By following this advice, stocking groups can increase survival of stocked fish by more than 10 times (depending on past stocking practices by each group), or ensure that they get the most cost-efficient result in terms of numbers of fish reaching legal size per stocking dollar. A copy of the stocking manual has been sent to every fish stocking group in Queensland, and also to peak angler representative bodies and fisheries management agencies in New South Wales and Victoria. The manual has also been made available in PDF format on the internet. The advice in the stocking manual, and outlined in this report, will lead to improved impoundment fisheries and associated economic benefits in those areas where it is implemented.

Our evaluation of the use of scales as tags has shown that scales do have potential as low-cost batch tags, but there are also limitations. Such tags are likely to be more reliable for fish stocked at larger sizes. Our research has proven the need for verification of scale patterns as tags through use of a secondary tagging system. If researchers recognise the limitations of scales and assess reliability of scales for each new species via secondary tagging, then costly research mistakes can be avoided in the future.

Keywords: Fish stocking, release size, release strategies, stocking strategies, batch tagging, visual implant elastomer (VIE) tag, coded wire tag, impoundment, lake, dam, Australian bass, silver perch, barramundi, golden perch, scale pattern analysis, Australia.

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