Impoundment stocking strategies for eastern and northern Australia
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.
Manual
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
People Development Program: Visiting Expert – Paul Lumley
The ASFB, through our annual conference and network of members has a forum for exchange of information. For our 2015 conference we are proposing to support the attendance of Paul Lumley the Executive Director of the Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission (CRITFC) as a keynote speaker and organise some targeted workshops prior to the conference in Darwin (lead by NT Fisheries, Bo Carne and Charles Darwin University, Alison King) and Mildura (lead by Murray-Darling Freshwater Research Centre, Lee Baumgartner & Deb Bogenhuber).
Mr Lumley has been selected as our preferred keynote based on his extensive history working with Northwest US tribes on salmon issues, particularly in the Columbia River Basin. He previously spent 17 years with CRITFC working on biological issues associated with power stations, and has also assisted in fund raising and establishing a grant program for the four Columbia River treaty tribes. Mr Lumley has indicated availability and a preliminary commitment to attend and undertake proposed workshops and present Keynote.
ASFB has a commitment to increase engagement between ASFB members and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, within the scope of the society. We recognise that to support this involves improving opportunities for Indigenous people to engage in research, fisheries management and compliance and other commercial activities. There is a great deal of interest in the ability to develop and start new commercial initiatives that maintain ongoing Indigenous interests and concerns in the fisheries management and industry and environmental rehabilitation. Australian Indigenous experience in commercial fisheries has gained momentum, and many of our members have expressed an interest in learning from International First Nations and Indigenous peoples experience.
We have in principal support for this activity through Indigenous agencies and advisory groups, including the Fisheries Research and Development Corporations Indigenous Reference Group, Northern Territory Department of Primary Industry and Fisheries, the New South Wales Aboriginal Land Council, the Murray Lower Darling Indigenous Nations.
The second international symposium on abalone biology fisheries and culture
The production of larval native fish in larval rearing ponds
Development of barramundi (Lates calcarifer bloch) hatchery and farming techniques in Australia
Aquatic Animal Health Subprogram: conduct of a multi-jurisdiction simulation exercise focussed on health management in Australian aquaculture
The current program of simulation exercises conducted under the auspices of the Federal Budget Initiative is designed to provide individual jurisdictions with training in the management of aquatic animal disease emergencies. However, within Australia, both marine and freshwater environments cross State/Territory boundaries. The need for inter-jurisdictional co-operation in successful disease control and eradication has not previously been addressed. A current FRDC project, 2002/660 is providing training focussed on the operation of the Consultative Committee on Emergency Animal Diseases, however, the aims and objectives of the current proposal are to develop cooperation at a technical and operational level rather than the strategic level addressed by project 2002/660.
The current proposal follows on from a previous project (2002/655) that involved:
1. Recruitment of stakeholders to the proposed exercise,
2. The development of the exercise documentation and plans,
3. Obtaining financial support from stakeholders
All of these objectives have been met. The project outlined in the current proposal will allow for the conduct of the exercise as planned. This project submission has been requested by the FRDC Aquatic Animal Health Subprogram.