11 results
People
Industry

People development program: 2014 FRDC International Travel Award - Dr Ben Doolan

Project number: 2008-314.38
Project Status:
Completed
Budget expenditure: $6,000.00
Organisation: Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (NSW)
Project start/end date: 30 May 2014 - 30 Oct 2014
Contact:
FRDC

Need

Inland fish stocking programs in NSW are administered by NSW DPI under the NSW Freshwater Fish Stocking Fishery Management Strategy (FMS) which outlines the rules, regulations and programs for fish stocking. The FMS is due for review in the near future and it is an opportune time to investigate the strategies used by international agencies for the management of their stocking programs. An extensive worldwide network of scientists and fisheries managers will be in attendance at the FSBI conference in Hull and it will be most beneficial to gain exposure on an international scale, obtain up to date information and share perspectives on inland fisheries management with experts from international agencies. In addition to attendance at the conference, I have made contact with several staff members from the Environment Agency and the Angling Trust to gain further insights into the management of inland fish stocking programs in the UK. I have organised to meet with these experts at various locations including Brampton, Reading and Frimley outside of the conference to gain further exposure and directly observe management practices and perceptions from both Government and non-Government organisations which may be transferable to existing NSW programs and other Australian jurisdictions developing or refining stocking policies. The project will assist in bridging the gap between management and research by potentially identifying key research priorities for stocking programs. The project will importantly enhance my international presentation, networking and analysis skills which are essential for my development as a future leader in fisheries management.

Objectives

1. To provide a presentation and receive feedback from an international audience on the management of NSW freshwater fish stocking programs and assessment process.
2. To network with other fisheries managers and researchers.
3. To gain knowledge from international fisheries managers to apply to NSW stocking programs.
4. To add to my personal development and leadership skills through the above objectives.

Description of the biology and an assessment of the fishery for adult longfinned eels in NSW

Project number: 1998-127
Project Status:
Completed
Budget expenditure: $361,355.32
Principal Investigator: Bruce C. Pease
Organisation: Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (NSW)
Project start/end date: 28 Jun 1998 - 30 Mar 2005
Contact:
FRDC

Need

Internationally, the demand and resulting value of glass eels has increased tremendously in recent years. Live glass eels are now selling for over $15,000 per kilo. This international demand results from over-fishing of adult and glass eels in Asia, North America and Europe. This world experience indicates that recruitment over-fishing of long-lived freshwater eels can be catastrophic. Because of the increasing significance of adult eels in the estuarine fisheries of NSW, decreased catches in recent years and the prospect of increased future catches of glass eels for aquaculture, it is important to undertake research which will lead to an understanding of the current status of adult eel stocks in NSW. Stocks of adult eels must be managed properly to ensure continued production of the commercial fishery for adult eels, continued recruitment of glass eels and elvers for aquaculture and stability of coastal catchment ecosystems.

Limited research into the basic biology and ecology of longfinned eels has been carried out in Victoria and Tasmania, but there have been no biological studies conducted in NSW. The only published age and growth information for this species comes from one catchment in Tasmania and indicates that they are relatively long-lived (40 years), but this age data has not been validated. The available literature indicates that growth rates of freshwater eel species are highly variable among habitats and distributional ranges. Therefore, there is a need to determine the basic biological parameters of NSW longfinned eel stocks, including validated age structure, growth and mortality rates, and reproductive characteristics for use in stock assessment modelling.

Since there is a significant commercial fishery for adult eels in NSW, fishery-dependent techniques based on sampling of commercial catches represent the most cost effective stock assessment and monitoring methodology. Age and growth monitoring of many commercial finfish species in NSW is currently carried out by sampling fish at the Sydney Fish Markets and regional fishermen’s co-operatives. Most of the commercial eel catch in NSW is exported live through a few (currently four) specialised processors. Therefore, it will be necessary to establish a specialised monitoring regime and fishery-dependent model which will provide data on which to base advice for the future sustainable management of exploitation of the resource.

Objectives

1. Compile all available survey data on longfinned eels in NSW to provide a quantitative summary of their distribution and relative abundance in coastal catchments.
2. Compile and cross-check all available historic catch and effort data for the commercial fishery on longfinned eels in NSW from all sources (monthly catch returns, permit logs, and export records) into a database of catch and effort information.
3. Conduct a literature review of fishery-dependent techniques for assessing adult anguillid eel stocks.
4. Describe the size, age, reproductive status and stock structure of the commercial catch of longfinned eels and their populations in representative fished and unfished catchments of NSW.
5. Assess the magnitude of the recreational fishery and the magnitude and cultural significance of the traditional fishery for freshwater eels in NSW.
6. Develop a preliminary fishery dependent model for stock assessment of longfinned eels which incorporates relevant catch, effort, recruitment and growth information.
7. Develop a strategy for monitoring the commercial fishery for longfinned eels and associated impacts related to glass eel harvest in the future.
8. Provide advice to fishery managers on the status of the stocks of longfinned eels in NSW, along with an assessment of the adequacy of existing management restrictions.
9. Provide advice to the Australia - New Zealand Eel Reference Group about the development and implementation of fishery dependent techniques for assessing other anguillid eel stocks of eastern Australia.
Environment
PROJECT NUMBER • 2013-006
PROJECT STATUS:
COMPLETED

The impact of habitat loss and rehabilitation on recruitment to the NSW eastern king prawn fishery

New South Wales Department of Primary Industries (NSW DPI) presents new information exploring the linkages between estuarine habitats and exploited species. Establishing linkages between fisheries and the habitats that support them is essential to the effective management and repair of marine and...
ORGANISATION:
Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (NSW)
Adoption
Environment
PROJECT NUMBER • 1998-215
PROJECT STATUS:
COMPLETED

Coastal floodplain management in eastern Australia: barriers to fish and invertebrate recruitment in acid sulphate soil catchments

Estuarine habitats, and in particular coastal floodplains and wetlands, provide essential nursery habitat for a large number of fish and prawn species, many of which are commercially and recreationally significant. Human activities on coastal land, such as those associated with grazing and...
ORGANISATION:
Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (NSW)
Environment
PROJECT NUMBER • 1994-027
PROJECT STATUS:
COMPLETED

NSW inland commercial fisheries analysis

The inland commercial fishery in New South Wales had a _mean annual catch of 344t over the past three decades, and is currently worth $1. 7 million per annum (1995/96 value). The commercial fishery commenced in the late 19th Century, and although production figures are available from 1883 onwards,...
ORGANISATION:
Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (NSW)
Environment
Industry
PROJECT NUMBER • 2015-011
PROJECT STATUS:
COMPLETED

Understanding the factors contributing to decreased school prawn productivity in Camden Haven Estuary and associated lakes, to target ameliorative actions

New South Wales Department of Primary Industries (NSW DPI) presents new information exploring the effect of catchment-derived stressors on Eastern School Prawn. Declines in School Prawn productivity over decadal time scales have been reported anecdotally across many estuaries in New South Wales, and...
ORGANISATION:
Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (NSW)
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