Towards Healthy And Sustainable Freshwater Fish Populations – Assessing Genetic Health Of Priority Fish Species To Inform Management
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$793,355.00
Summary
There are at least four clear needs supporting the proposal, and these are separated below.
1) Genetic health is important for healthy fisheries. A genetically healthy population has good natural recruitment, connectivity to adjacent populations to promote gene flow, sufficient genetic diversity (this relates directly to adaptive potential) and low inbreeding. If genetic health is eroded, populations are less resilient to anthropogenic and natural impacts, affecting their persistence o ....There are at least four clear needs supporting the proposal, and these are separated below.
1) Genetic health is important for healthy fisheries. A genetically healthy population has good natural recruitment, connectivity to adjacent populations to promote gene flow, sufficient genetic diversity (this relates directly to adaptive potential) and low inbreeding. If genetic health is eroded, populations are less resilient to anthropogenic and natural impacts, affecting their persistence over the long term.
2) Public investment to support healthy fisheries is significant. There is continuing extensive investment in native fish protection and enhancement, including more than $13B to the MDB under the Basin Plan to restore populations and recover ecosystem function. The relative outcomes of these efforts need to be evaluated to ensure the greatest benefits from public investment.
3) Fish stocking is a key component of recovery efforts. Millions of hatchery fish have been stocked throughout Australian waterways in the last two decades. There are limited data on the impacts of stocked fish on the genetic health of wild populations, but our recent FishGen research indicates issues with using closely related and inbred broodfish within hatcheries.
4) The project will help maintain and improve the genetic health of Australia’s fisheries assets. By providing hatcheries with information to maximise the genetic health of stocked fish, the work will minimise negative impacts on wild populations. This includes (i) informing on minimum population size and geographic location for broodfish sampling to capture appropriate wild genetic diversity, and (ii) identifying the best broodfish combinations within and across hatcheries to avoid inbreeding and promote health of stocked fish. This will help to build natural genetic resilience so that populations can adapt to rapidly changing environments under climate change.
The work will promote the long-term sustainability of wild fish populations in freshwater ecosystems by protecting the genetic integrity of wild populations. This will contribute to realised economic benefits for recreational and commercial fishing, tourism, cultural and mental-health in communities in regional Australia.
Objectives: 1. Advance and improve hatchery practices to ensure high quality broodfish are stocked to maintain the genetic health and persistence of wild fish populations. 2. Use genomic and other existing complimentary datasets (stocking records, otolith microchemistry, telemetry) and advanced analytical approaches to track the movements of stocked golden perch, Murray cod and silver perch from their released locations and to inform the Status of Australian Fish Stocks (SAFS). Read moreRead less
Cracking The Code On Captive Breeding Of Macquarie Perch
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$1,303,630.00
Summary
Currently, the inability to consistently produce Macquarie perch from captive held broodstock is severely constraining its recovery. Being able to captively breed Macquarie perch will firstly save the species from extinction from a conservation standpoint and secondly, re-establish recreational fisheries for Macquarie perch across its former range in Victoria, NSW and ACT. Establishing captive breeding may also provide new and unique opportunities for aquaculture in Australia for the commercial ....Currently, the inability to consistently produce Macquarie perch from captive held broodstock is severely constraining its recovery. Being able to captively breed Macquarie perch will firstly save the species from extinction from a conservation standpoint and secondly, re-establish recreational fisheries for Macquarie perch across its former range in Victoria, NSW and ACT. Establishing captive breeding may also provide new and unique opportunities for aquaculture in Australia for the commercial production of Macquarie perch, suitable for the restaurant industry, akin to Murray cod.
This proposal details four key focus areas of research and development to achieve captive breeding of Macquarie perch within three years, such that Government and in the future, private aquaculture hatcheries, can adopt commercial production of the species. The project seeks $698,630 of investment from FRDC and is supported with over $3 million of co-investment (including matching $605,000 cash and $2.41 million in-kind) from 9 partners across Victoria, NSW, Qld, and ACT. The project aligns with the FRDC R&D Plan 2020-2025, as well as priorities, actions and outcomes in other key national and state plans (Table 4). Objectives: 1. Develop and optimise artificial diets to meet the nutritional requirements of captive Macquarie perch broodstock and larvae. 2. Optimise the hormonal treatment and explore environmental manipulation to improve spawning of captive held Macquarie perch broodstock. 3. Review, refine and develop breeding strategies and husbandry practices in the hatchery to maximise fish production and fish stocking outcomes with learnings incorporated into Macquarie perch captive breeding hatchery manual. 4. Monitor and evaluate the success of stocked Macquarie perch fingerlings into rivers in northeast Victoria and, where research numbers permit, conduct genetic analyses to inform dietary treatment and genetic management of the species in ongoing captive breeding and stocking of the species. 5. Build community awareness and support by sharing information and encouraging participation in fish stocking and population monitoring events. Read moreRead less