182 results
Environment
PROJECT NUMBER • 2009-038
PROJECT STATUS:
COMPLETED

Aboriginal fisheries in New South Wales: determining catch, cultural significance of species and traditional fishing knowledge needs

This report presents the results of a Fisheries Research Development Corporation (FRDC) funded study of Aboriginal fisheries in New South Wales. A key objective of the study was to address information gaps in relation to catch, cultural significance of species and traditional fishing knowledge (TFK)...
ORGANISATION:
Southern Cross University (SCU) Lismore Campus
Adoption
PROJECT NUMBER • 2002-651
PROJECT STATUS:
COMPLETED

Aquatic Animal Health Subprogram: whirling disease a disease strategy manual

Whirling disease is the disease of freshwater salmonid fish caused by the myxozoan parasite Myxobolus cerebralis. The parasite has never been detected in Australia, but is present in New Zealand and areas of North America, Europe, Africa and Asia. Whirling disease is a reportable disease in...
ORGANISATION:
Paul Hardy-Smith
Environment
PROJECT NUMBER • 2001-245
PROJECT STATUS:
COMPLETED

Aquafin CRC - Atlantic Salmon Aquaculture Subprogram: model development for epidemiology of Amoebic Gill Disease

Amoebic Gill Disease (AGD) is the main health problem affecting salmon industry in Southern Tasmania. To improve management of fish with AGD on the farms, the industry needs better understanding of AGD epidemiology. This will provide a basis on which to develop strategies for new...
ORGANISATION:
University of Tasmania (UTAS)
Environment
PROJECT NUMBER • 1998-153
PROJECT STATUS:
COMPLETED

Mother-of-pearl (Pinctada maxima) shell: stock evaluation for management and future harvesting in Western Australia

The West Australian Pearling industry is one of Australia’s most valuable aquaculture industries, currently generating around $120 - $160 million annually. The majority of pearl shell used to culture pearls come from the pearling beds in the inshore waters near Broome. The fishery for...
ORGANISATION:
Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) WA
Industry
PROJECT NUMBER • 1999-160
PROJECT STATUS:
COMPLETED

Assessing Australia's future resource requirements to the Year 2020 and beyond: strategic options for fisheries

The Australian fishing industry has grown rapidly into an industry with a gross value of production of approximately $2.4billion. However, in recent years many of the resources that underpin the industry have shown the effects of excessive human impact, both targeted and accidental. As human...
ORGANISATION:
University of Canberra
Industry
PROJECT NUMBER • 1998-354
PROJECT STATUS:
COMPLETED

Electronic cooking end point determination and the effectiveness of alternative cooking methods for Crustacea

A prawn cooking meter and self-centring thermocouple clip has been successfully developed for monitoring the cooking of prawns. This cooking meter provides a much needed control tool for ensuring reliable and consistent quality required of modern quality assurance programs. The design of the prawn...
ORGANISATION:
Department of Primary Industries (QLD)

Mapping and distribution of Sabella spallanzanii in Port Phillip Bay

Project number: 1994-164
Project Status:
Completed
Budget expenditure: $66,250.00
Principal Investigator: Greg Parry
Organisation: Agriculture Victoria
Project start/end date: 28 Jun 1995 - 30 Jul 1996
Contact:
FRDC

Objectives

1. Describe habitat requirements of Sabella in the Geelong Arm and map the distribution of the worm Sabella spallanzanii in Port Phillip Bay during 1995
2. Determine whether there have been changes to fish communities in regions of Port Phillip Bay affected by Sabella
3. Identify the significance of S spallanzanii in the diets of fish species in Port Phillip Bay.
4. Describe the distribution, breeding cycles and larval duration of all exotic species found in Port Phillip Bay in their natural habitats, from published sources.

Final report

Author: Greg Parry
Final Report • 1996-07-05 • 3.30 MB
1994-164-DLD.pdf

Summary

This final report for the FRDC funded project "Mapping and distribution of Sabella spallanzanii in Port Phillip Bay" is considered in two sections: The first section contains original data.' collected during this project to satisfy Objectives 1, 2 and 3 and is organised to be suitable for publication in Marine and Freshwater Research. The second section contains the literature review required to satisfy Objective 4 and will be produced as a VFRI Technical report. Details of the methods, results and interpretation of results are presented in each of these sections and are included in this report as Appendices 1 and 2.

Project products

Report • 1996-07-05 • 1.05 MB
1994-164-PDT-1.pdf

Summary

The sabellid polychaete Sabella spallanzanii, a native to the Mediterannean, established in Port Phillip Bay in the late 1980s. Initially it was found only in Corio Bay, but during the past five years it has spread so that it now occurs throughout the western half of Port Phillip Bay. Densities in many parts of the bay remain low but densities are usually higher (up to 13/m2) in deeper water and the worm's distribution extends into shallower depths in calmer regions. Larvae probably require a 'hard' surface (shell fragment, rock, seaweed, mollusc or sea squirt) for initial attachment, but subsequently they may use their own tube as an anchor. The only measurable effect of the spread of S. spallanzanii on fish communities was an increase in the abundance of little rock whiting, which uses the habitat created by the forest of S. spallanzanii tubes. No fish has been found to prey on S. spallanzanii, possibly because their feeding crowns contain particularly high levels of vanadium.

 The channelling of particulate food away from native filter-feeders may have considerable long term effects on fish communities. As the density and coverage of S. spallanzanii increases more energy may be channelled into trophic pathways that appear to lead only to bacterial breakdown upon the death of the worms. S. spallanzanii may also significantly affect the growth and survival of other epifauna with which they compete for food and suitable settlement surfaces.

Report • 1996-07-05 • 1.86 MB
1994-164-PDT-2.pdf

Summary

Twenty two exotic species of marine invertebrates have been recorded from Victorian waters. Eighteen of these are reported from Port Phillip Bay and four are known only from other localities in Victoria. Some of the exotic species recorded from Port Phillip Bay are well established and are present in large numbers, some have been recorded only as isolated individuals and the occurrence of others has been reported but not confirmed.

In this report, literature on the exotic species recorded from Victoria is reviewed, with particular attention being given to those species recorded from Port Phillip Bay. Potential impacts of these introduced species on the local marine fauna are discussed.

Industry
PROJECT NUMBER • 2016-049
PROJECT STATUS:
COMPLETED

IPA APFA: detection of pesticide impacts on larval prawns in hatcheries and presence in estuarine intake water

The use patterns of pesticides in Australia has changed over the last decade, with the use of pyrethroid and neonicotinoid insecticides increasing. The limited water quality data that is available has measured increased concentrations of the neonicotinoid insecticide imidacloprid in...
ORGANISATION:
CSIRO Oceans and Atmosphere Hobart

9th International Conference on Harmful Algal Blooms, 7-11 February 2000, Hobart

Project number: 1998-343
Project Status:
Completed
Budget expenditure: $25,000.00
Principal Investigator: Gustaaf Hallegraeff
Organisation: University of Tasmania (UTAS)
Project start/end date: 28 Jun 1998 - 30 Dec 2001
Contact:
FRDC

Need

Starting in the mid 1980s, Australia has experienced an increased public
awareness of harmful algal blooms, especially their suspected involvement
in causing fish kills and feared public health risks following consumption
of contaminated seafood products and drinking water supplies. If not
adequately monitored and managed, the economic impacts on Australia's
developing aquaculture industry and on both domestic and export markets
could be devastating. An example of the first problem is the 1989 bloom
event by the golden-brown flagellate Heterosigma akashiwo in Big Glory
Bay, New Zealand, which killed NZ$ 12 million worth of cage-reared chinook
salmon. An example of the second problem is the 1993 New Zealand outbreak
of neurotoxic shellfish poisoning by the dinoflagellate Gymnodinium cf.
breve (NSP; 180 illnesses, no deaths) which led to export losses of NZ $
4.5 million in the first quarter of 1993 and a 25% decrease in domestic
shellfish demand . Similarly, positive test results are now available from
Australian shellfish products for paralytic shellfish poisons (NSW,
TAS,VIC,SA), diarrhetic shellfish poisons (TAS), amnesic shellfish poisons
(VIC) , neurotoxic shellfish poisons (VIC) and cyanobacterial peptide
toxins (WA). While algal biotoxins only in extreme cases lead to human
fatalities, it is the so-called "halo"-effect of bad publicity resulting
from a few human poisonings that can devastate aquaculture industries.
Compared to our neighbour New Zealand, which spends $3.2 M per year in
biotoxin monitoring efforts (most comes from the Ministry of Health, with
industry providing $750,000 per year via an industry levy), Australian
efforts in this area of quality assurance and environmental protection of
aquaculture operations are unsatisfactory.

Objectives

1. To host a successful international conference dealing with: (1) Ecology and oceanography of harmful algae events
(2) Taxonomy of the causative organisms
(3) Chemistry of the toxins involved
(4) Management of toxic and harmful events
and (5) Pharmacological and epidemiological aspects. The conference will comprise: Keynote lectures, Oral and poster presentations, Round table discussions
Workshops
as well as a Social Programme including excursions to key Tasmanian aquaculture operations. A conference web site on the internet will also be created.

Final report

ISBN: 0 85901 965 9
Author: Gustaaf Hallegraeff
Final Report • 2001-10-05 • 3.47 MB
1998-343-DLD.pdf

Summary

The FRDC sponsored 9th International Conference on Harmful Algal Blooms held in Hobart, Tasmania, from 7-11 February 2000, was a resounding success. It was the largest conference on this topic (526 participants from 47 countries) ever held anywhere in the world. A total of 130 talks and 308 poster presentations were given. The conference broke important new ground by dedicating a special session to Algal Bloom Monitoring, Management & Mitigation. Special sessions were also dedicated to Impacts on Shellfish Aquaculture and Impacts on Finfish Aquaculture. Two FRDC representatives (Peter Lee and Alex Wells) attended, and as a special service to the Tasmanian finfish aquaculture industry US expert Dr Jack Rensel gave a keynote conference address, a special satellite seminar for fishfarmers and government staff, as well as met with 4 fish farming companies on site. US experts Prof. Sandra Shumway and Dr Monica Bricelj visited several shellfish aquaculture operations. A public forum on "Harmful Algal Blooms: Impacts on Health, Environment & Economy" was scheduled in association with the conference. The publication outputs from this meeting include a 518 pages Conference Proceedings Volume (to be published through the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO) and a special issue of the international journal Phycologia (vol. 40(3)) both to appear in 2001.

Keywords: Harmful Algal Blooms; Shellfish Biotoxins; Aquaculture Finfish Kills

Project products

Presentation • 1.99 MB
Conference Abstracts.pdf

Summary

Abstracts of oral communications from the 9th International Conference on Harmful Algal Blooms held in Tasmania 7-11 February 2000.

 

Proceedings • 32.37 MB
Harmful Algal Blooms - Conference Proceedings.pdf

Summary

The 9th International Conference on Harmful Algal Blooms (HAB2000) was held in Hobart (Tasmania, Australia) from 7 to 11 February 2000. The conference venue was the Wrest Point Convention Centre located on the magnificent foreshores of the Derwent River estuary. HAB2000 brought together a record number of 526 participants (473 full and 43 day registrations, including 87 students) from 47 countries. This was the first time this prestigious conference series was scheduled in the Southern Hemisphere, but this appeared not to have deterred strong participation from Europe (122), USA (77) and South East Asia (84).

A total of 130 talks and 308 posters were presented, and where parallel sessions were scheduled the plenary introductory session featured reviews covering the full range of topics. A total of 472 abstracts, organised as a searchable database, were made available via internet during the months preceding the meeting and for registered conference participants this complete conference abstract record is also included in CD-ROM format with this Proceedings volume. The scientific programme of HAB2000 focused on new algal bloom species and new toxic phenomena, new regional bloom events, ecophysiology and bloom dynamics, cysts and sediments, eutrophication, novel toxins, ecophysiology of toxin production, exotoxins, foodchain effects, population genetics, molecular probes, immunological methods, role of bacteria, and impacts on finfish and shellfish aquaculture operations. Being held in Australia, this was the first conference in this series which prominently featured problems caused by freshwater cyanobacterial blooms, including impacts of cyanotoxins on human health and aquatic foodwebs, and aspects of drinking water treatment. A special session on international algal bloom programmes and future conferences, as well as a dedicated session on algal bloom control and management were also scheduled. The opening address was presented by Dr Meryl Williams (pp.1-2), director-general of the International Commission of Living Aquatic Resources Management (ICLARM), while the closing address was given by Prof. Max Taylor (pp.3-7), to whose lifetime pioneering achievements this conference was dedicated.

Developing jungle perch fingerling production to improve fishing opportunities

Project number: 2012-213
Project Status:
Completed
Budget expenditure: $482,907.00
Principal Investigator: Michael Hutchison
Organisation: Department of Primary Industries (QLD)
Project start/end date: 14 Jun 2012 - 29 Jun 2015
Contact:
FRDC

Need

Jungle perch once occurred widely in coastal Queensland rivers, from Cape York to Northern NSW. Central and southern populations have declined or become locally extinct due to dams and weirs blocking migration pathways between saltwater (where they spawn) and freshwater habitats (where they reside as juveniles and adults). Unlike barramundi, mullet and bass; jungle perch cannot persist long-term in saltwater habitats. Barriers lead to rapid local extinction. Construction of fishways on barriers in the past 10 years has created suitable conditions for the reintroduction of jungle perch. There are limited opportunities for natural recolonisation, and remnant adult populations of local strains are too few for translocation to be a practical solution. Restocking from captive bred individuals is the only option to bring back jungle perch fisheries.

Restoring wild jungle perch fisheries is a high priority for recreational fishers in Queensland. Reintroduction of self sustaining populations in rivers in south-eastern Queensland and the Mackay-Whitsunday Region will provide angling opportunities to large populations of anglers. Development of jungle perch fingerling production will also create future opportunities to further enhance Queensland's stocked impoundments and make jungle perch accessible to even more anglers.

Recent research by DEEDI has solved much of the reproductive biology of jungle perch, which can now be spawned regularly in captivity. Jungle perch larvae are much smaller (2.3 mm) than bass and barramundi larvae and establishment of first feeding has been problematic. Strategies to promote larval feeding need to be developed. The transition from larvae to fingerlings is critical for future development of jungle perch fisheries.

Objectives

1. Develop hatchery production techniques for jungle perch fingerlings
2. Successfully release jungle perch fingerlings into suitable south-eastern Queensland and Mackay-Whitsunday regional waterways
3. Communicate with anglers on the restoration of jungle perch fisheries
4. Understand environmental factors influencing post-release survival of jungle perch in rivers.
5. Develop a jungle perch production manual for fish hatcheries

Final report

ISBN: 978-0-7345-0453-1
Author: Michael Hutchison
Final Report • 2016-03-17 • 5.18 MB
2012-213-DLD.pdf

Summary

This project has for the first time demonstrated the feasibility of hatchery production of jungle perch fingerlings. The research on jungle perch production has enabled a hatchery production manual with accompanying videos to be produced. This has given private commercial hatcheries the information needed to produce jungle perch fingerlings. Several hatcheries have already indicated an interest in producing jungle perch and will be assisted to do so in 2016. Currently jungle perch are not a permitted stocking species, so cannot be sold to fish stocking groups. However, hatcheries will be able to sell fingerlings to the aquarium trade or supply grow out facilities that could produce jungle perch for human consumption. Should jungle perch become a permitted species for stocking, this will provide hatcheries with a major new product option to sell to fish stocking groups. It would also benefit anglers by providing another iconic species for impoundment stocking programs. This could have flow-on benefits to regional economies through angler tourism.

Should the pilot reintroductions of jungle perch into streams result in self-sustaining jungle perch populations, then there will be three restored jungle perch populations close to major population centres. This will create a new opportunity for anglers not normally able to target jungle perch. Since the majority of anglers who target jungle perch are catch and release fishers, angling is expected to have minimal impact on recovery of the populations.

This project led to the development of a hatchery manual for jungle perch production and to a summary brochure. In late 2014 and in 2015 researchers were able to make the first ever releases of jungle perch fingerlings back into rivers and streams within their historical range.

Keywords: Jungle perch, Kuhlia rupestris, hatchery production, restoration, fish stocking, captive breeding, larval culture, recreational fishing.

Project products

Manual • 2.19 MB
2012-213 Jungle fingerling production manual.pdf

Summary

This manual is based on the knowledge gained by researchers at the Bribie Island Research Centre (BIRC), working on developing jungle perch Kuhlia rupestris captive breeding as part of the FRDC funded project 2012/213 “Developing jungle perch fingerling production to improve fishing opportunities”. Further refinements can certainly be made to improve larval rearing and fingerling production. This manual reports on methods that have worked at BIRC to date, and perhaps more importantly, on what didn’t work. Knowledge of what has failed will help private hatchery operators avoid mistakes as they try to further refine the jungle perch production process in their own facilities.

The manual describes each of the key parts of jungle perch production, including broodstock management, spawning induction, spawning, egg and larvae management, live feed production, pond management, pond harvesting and fingerling management. The manual also includes links to video segments to demonstrate how things were done at BIRC. Videos are integral for the use of this manual. Click on the video link at the end of each production step described in this manual. It is intended that the video segments will enhance understanding of the jungle perch production process. The videos in this document are also available in the attached video folder that accompanies DVD and USB drive versions of this document and can be viewed as stand-alone files. The written document contains the majority of the technical information required, such as stocking densities, fertilising rates, feeding rates etc. The videos demonstrate the processes, which words are not always adequate to describe.

Brochure • 453.38 KB
2012-213 Jungle perch project summary brochure.pdf

Summary

This brochure outlines the achievement of the project. It is intended to provide general information on project outcomes to recreational anglers.

It summarises the results of the project.

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