Closing the loop: understanding the relationships between recreational fishing surveys, fishing regulations and fisheries management objectives. The project aims to improve the management of recreational fisheries in Australia by using model-based evaluations to understand the effects of recreational fishing regulations and survey design on the realisation and assessment of fisheries management objectives.
Fish Jenga: metapopulation management for coastal river fish. This project aims to address the escalating threats to coastal freshwater fish from drought, fire, and other disturbances. The project expects to generate new knowledge on contemporary distributions of NSW coastal freshwater fishes, and will develop models of population dynamics to explore the consequences of alternative water management and disturbance scenarios. The expected outcome of the project is to revolutionise management by r ....Fish Jenga: metapopulation management for coastal river fish. This project aims to address the escalating threats to coastal freshwater fish from drought, fire, and other disturbances. The project expects to generate new knowledge on contemporary distributions of NSW coastal freshwater fishes, and will develop models of population dynamics to explore the consequences of alternative water management and disturbance scenarios. The expected outcome of the project is to revolutionise management by replacing the current practice of managing river basins separately, with a framework that accounts for among-basin linkages that are essential for the long-term persistence of fish populations. Significant benefits include more efficient use of water resources and improved conservation outcomes for native fish.Read moreRead less
Reducing the bycatch pf juvenille bream, luderick and mullet in the NSW ocean haul fishery. To ensure long-term sustainability of the targeted species, it is imperative that the ocean haul fishery implements conservation-orientated practices. Failure to reduce the mortality of bycaught bream, luderick and mullet in the ocean haul fishery is likely to impact on the quality of both commercial and recreational fishing for these important species. The aims of the project are to (i) determine selecti ....Reducing the bycatch pf juvenille bream, luderick and mullet in the NSW ocean haul fishery. To ensure long-term sustainability of the targeted species, it is imperative that the ocean haul fishery implements conservation-orientated practices. Failure to reduce the mortality of bycaught bream, luderick and mullet in the ocean haul fishery is likely to impact on the quality of both commercial and recreational fishing for these important species. The aims of the project are to (i) determine selectivity of the existing nets used and (ii) to develop and assess modifications to gears that reduce bycatch. More specifically the utility of simple changes to existing mesh sizes and shapes to improve selectivity and bycatch reduction devices will be investigated. The expected outcomes of this project will be the conservation of hundreds of thousands of juvenile fish ensuring a better fishery, whilst also securing the economic and social structure of coastal communities that support this fishery.Read moreRead less
Trophic cascades in Australian seagrasses: linking nutrients to survival and growth of commercially-important fishes. Despite its high conservation status and importance to commercial and recreational fisheries, seagrass is still declining in Australian waters. By investigating a trophic cascade that links nutrient pollution to the growth and survivorship of seagrass and commercially-important juvenile fishes, our study fills knowledge gaps crucial for improved future management of seagrass hab ....Trophic cascades in Australian seagrasses: linking nutrients to survival and growth of commercially-important fishes. Despite its high conservation status and importance to commercial and recreational fisheries, seagrass is still declining in Australian waters. By investigating a trophic cascade that links nutrient pollution to the growth and survivorship of seagrass and commercially-important juvenile fishes, our study fills knowledge gaps crucial for improved future management of seagrass habitats. The primary outcome of this study will be a model that can predict how changes in nutrient pollution will influence population dynamics of commercially-important fish species supported by seagrass. This information has, therefore, direct relevance to managers of estuarine and coastal environments at all levels of government - local, state and federal.Read moreRead less
A genetic and experimental assessment of the frequency and importance of hybridisation of Black and Yellow Fin Bream. Bream (Acanthopagrus spp.) species underpin several valuable and heavily exploited fisheries in eastern Australia, but the two principal species, yellowfin (A. australis) and black (A, butcheri), interbreed significantly. This hybridisation is poorly documented and, with increasing harvests, could lead to long-term economic impacts and severe repercussions on biodiversity. It cou ....A genetic and experimental assessment of the frequency and importance of hybridisation of Black and Yellow Fin Bream. Bream (Acanthopagrus spp.) species underpin several valuable and heavily exploited fisheries in eastern Australia, but the two principal species, yellowfin (A. australis) and black (A, butcheri), interbreed significantly. This hybridisation is poorly documented and, with increasing harvests, could lead to long-term economic impacts and severe repercussions on biodiversity. It could, for example, increase the risk of localised extinctions and impact on genetic diversity of both species. We will use an innovative combination of molecular genetics and breeding experiments to: (i) determine frequency and direction of hybridisation; (ii) infer strength of genetic connections among estuaries; and, (iii) explore implications for sustainable fisheries management.Read moreRead less
Stocking of fish and prawns at ecologically determined densities into Australian estuaries. Increasing numbers of people like to go fishing, and to catch a fish, which translates into tourism income and aquaculture business. Restocking is a fisheries management option when the natural supply or survival of larvae is limited. This study will determine for the first time the ecologically appropriate abundance of small mulloway and prawns that an estuary can sustain. We will assess the extra eff ....Stocking of fish and prawns at ecologically determined densities into Australian estuaries. Increasing numbers of people like to go fishing, and to catch a fish, which translates into tourism income and aquaculture business. Restocking is a fisheries management option when the natural supply or survival of larvae is limited. This study will determine for the first time the ecologically appropriate abundance of small mulloway and prawns that an estuary can sustain. We will assess the extra effort needed to release larvae into particular key habitats, and develop new technologies to identify our larvae from the wild. Our findings will be relevant to restocking of Australia's inland rivers, which at present has little ecological basis.Read moreRead less
Feeding and breeding: Rainfall effects on connectivity and fidelity of iconic coastal fishes. Large predatory fish are of great significance to recreational anglers, not only for their trophy status but also for their disproportional fecundity and contribution to future fishing. Remarkably, the distribution and movements of large estuarine fish in estuaries and the coastal ocean are unknown, despite their importance to the national economy. We will determine the role of freshwater discharge an ....Feeding and breeding: Rainfall effects on connectivity and fidelity of iconic coastal fishes. Large predatory fish are of great significance to recreational anglers, not only for their trophy status but also for their disproportional fecundity and contribution to future fishing. Remarkably, the distribution and movements of large estuarine fish in estuaries and the coastal ocean are unknown, despite their importance to the national economy. We will determine the role of freshwater discharge and oceanography on the coastal and estuarine habitat requirements, movements and home ranges of mulloway, flathead and bream from the scale of hours to years, and extend these findings to evaluate population sub-structuring and connectivity in the context of a changing climate.Read moreRead less
Phylogeography, Conservation Genetics and Stocking Management of Perches and Basses. This project will use DNA data to address fundamental questions about the origin and maintenance of biodiversity in a popular and widely distributed fish group. From a conservation perspective, the project will produce a benchmark about management of fish resources. We will investigate questions related to important conservation issues (including the recovery plan of a nationally threatened species) and the mana ....Phylogeography, Conservation Genetics and Stocking Management of Perches and Basses. This project will use DNA data to address fundamental questions about the origin and maintenance of biodiversity in a popular and widely distributed fish group. From a conservation perspective, the project will produce a benchmark about management of fish resources. We will investigate questions related to important conservation issues (including the recovery plan of a nationally threatened species) and the management of stocking activities in recreational fisheries of coastal and inland waters. The latter is particularly relevant to rural communities since they provide both social and economic benefits to rural people.Read moreRead less
Environmental impact and survival of re-stocked mulloway fingerlings into NSW estuaries. NSW estuaries are subject to significant commercial and increasing recreational fishing pressure. Increasing the relative abundance of fish by restocking is a popular concept with many anglers, aquaculture businesses and politicians, especially with the recent introduction of a marine angling license in NSW. It is also an emotive concept to estuary management committees and some fishing groups, but there i ....Environmental impact and survival of re-stocked mulloway fingerlings into NSW estuaries. NSW estuaries are subject to significant commercial and increasing recreational fishing pressure. Increasing the relative abundance of fish by restocking is a popular concept with many anglers, aquaculture businesses and politicians, especially with the recent introduction of a marine angling license in NSW. It is also an emotive concept to estuary management committees and some fishing groups, but there is little information on the possible impacts. This proposal will examine the environmental impact of releasing juvenile mulloway - a top level predator - on local forage species in two target estuaries, and thus make predictions for management of restocking.Read moreRead less
Establishing an ecological basis for stocking density of Australian bass in freshwaters: Experimental field tests of a general numerical model. Large numbers of the Australian public go fishing, particularly in rivers and impoundments. Angling in these waterways provides a strong source of income for rural and regional communities. The stocking of native fish to support inland angling also sustains much of the aquaculture industry in western NSW and Queensland. This study will develop an optimal ....Establishing an ecological basis for stocking density of Australian bass in freshwaters: Experimental field tests of a general numerical model. Large numbers of the Australian public go fishing, particularly in rivers and impoundments. Angling in these waterways provides a strong source of income for rural and regional communities. The stocking of native fish to support inland angling also sustains much of the aquaculture industry in western NSW and Queensland. This study will develop an optimal approach to stocking Australian bass which is relevant for other stocked freshwater species, and will allow stocking to be undertaken in an environmentally responsible manner. This will both enhance the outcome of investment of public funds in stocking, and enhance the recreational fishing experience that is so important to rural regional communities.Read moreRead less