Impacts of stock enhancement strategies on the effective population size of Murray cod, <i>Maccullochella peelii</i>, a threatened Australian fish

Ingram, Brett A.; Hayes, Ben J.; Rourke, Meaghan L.

doi:10.1111/j.1365-2400.2011.00798.x

Cited by 18 publications

(20 citation statements)

References 36 publications

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“…Furthermore, lotic fish tend to be targeted more by nontournament anglers in Australia, who traditionally use more natural baits than anglers who participate in catch-and-release tournaments (Dowling et al 2010;Brown 2011). Because over 60% of the total recreational catch of native Australian freshwater fish is obtained from rivers (Henry and Lyle 2003), where many remnant selfsustaining populations that are less impacted by stocking still exist (Ingram et al 2011), it is important to better understand the influence of natural bait angling on the postrelease mortality of key species in these environments.…”

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confidence: 99%

Deep Hooking and Postrelease Mortality of Two Australian Native Freshwater Fishes Angled from Rivers by using Natural Baits

2015

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Deep hooking is one of the key causes of mortality among angled-and-released teleosts worldwide. We assessed the effects of natural baits and other variables on the frequency of deep hooking and postrelease mortality in two Australian native freshwater fishes that are classified as vulnerable or endangered: Golden Perch Macquaria ambigua and Freshwater Catfish Tandanus tandanus. Sixty-one angled Golden Perch were released and monitored in individual submersible cages at their capture location or were held in shore-based group tanks; of these fish, 97% were hooked with natural baits, 41% were deep hooked and had their lines cut, and 44% died. Of the Golden Perch that died, 70% were deep hooked, and hook location and two associated factors (hook removal and ease of handling) were identified as significant predictors of mortality. Mortality of Golden Perch was also significantly greater during the afternoon session on the first day of angling than during other sessions and days. In contrast, of the 98 Freshwater Catfish that were similarly angled with natural baits, only 9% ingested hooks and only 3% died, with no significant mortality factors identified. None of the control fish died. Interspecific differences in deep-hooking frequency are discussed in relation to the significant influences of time of day (both species), angler experience (Freshwater Catfish), and river reach (Golden Perch) and the likely differences in mouth morphology and feeding mechanisms. The results indicate that anglers should refrain from using natural baits when fishing for Golden Perch so as to minimize deep hooking and postrelease mortality, which will ultimately help conserve and manage these stocks.

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confidence: 99%

Deep Hooking and Postrelease Mortality of Two Australian Native Freshwater Fishes Angled from Rivers by using Natural Baits

2015

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“…Stock enhancement has long been practiced in Australian freshwater areas for species such as Murray cod (Maccullochella peelii) and this has supported recreational fishing as well as conservation efforts [87]. Until relatively recently in Australia, there has been substantially less focus on stock enhancement in marine areas due to concerns about the cost-benefit of activities and potential environmental impacts associated with stocking, and the practical constraint of being able to hatchery rear sufficient numbers of juveniles of key angling species.…”

Section: Stock Enhancementmentioning

confidence: 99%

Urban Recreational Fisheries in the Australian Coastal Zone: The Sustainability Challenge

McPhee

2017

Sustainability

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Abstract:Recreational fishing is an important wildlife harvesting activity in urban coastal areas, and recreational harvest in these areas can frequently exceed the commercial harvest. Recreational fishing is a key way that many members of the public experience the environment. The activity enhances social capital, promotes respect for nature, provides health benefits and can provide economic benefits to coastal communities. It is also an important driver of the science on aquatic animals and habitats, and an important tangible reason for many members of the public to conserve and protect aquatic resources. Overall, there has been little specific consideration of urban recreational fisheries management in Australia, despite the paramount importance of urban areas as a focus of recreational fishing activity. This paper identifies that in order to maximize individual and societal benefits from recreational fishing, there needs to be a refocussing of management with the aim of being more holistic. Historically, fisheries management in Australia has focused on maximum sustainable yield (MSY) or maximum economic yield (MEY) which is relevant for the commercial fishing sector, but neither of these is directly relevant to recreational fisheries. This paper identifies that Urban Fisheries Management Plans are required that recognize the specific issues associated with urban recreational fisheries. These plans need to coordinate within and between levels of government and have clear management objectives relevant to urban recreational fisheries. Enhanced opportunities for meaningful citizen science can be incorporated at multiple levels within these plans and this can engender public support for environmental stewardship, as well as fill a very important gap in the knowledge base necessary for managing the activity. As urban recreational fisheries are often occurring in highly modified or degraded habitats, a central element of these plans needs to be habitat restoration and this can have broader benefits for aquatic health. Other management tools include habitat creation (e.g., artificial reefs), optimization of coastal infrastructure as fisheries habitat, and stock enhancement. Overall, Urban Fisheries Management Plans represent a necessary evolution of fisheries management to better address the specific challenges of urban recreational fisheries management, and to best ensure that benefits are optimised.

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“…But the audit makes no determination as to whether the very significant Murray cod re-stocking programme is having a positive impact on overall fish population numbers. In a recent study of the impact of stock enhancement strategies for Murray cod on effective population size, Ingram et al [30] report that 12.89 million Murray cod have been produced at both government and private (commercial) hatcheries since 1971, but conclude that 'there is no information on the survival of stocked fish to maturity'.…”

Section: Assessing Native Fish Numbersmentioning

confidence: 99%

Restoring native fish populations in Australia’s murray darling basin

Marohasy¹,

Abbot²

2015

Int. J. SDP

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In 2003, the Australian government launched The Native Fish Strategy for the Murray Darling Basin 2003-2013 with the objective of restoring native fish populations in the Murray Darling Basin to 60% of their of pre-European (before 1788) settlement levels. Ten years on, there is no evidence that native fish populations show any sign of recovery, despite the Millennium drought breaking and significant government expenditure including the buyback of irrigation licences to increase in-streamflow and facilitate the watering of adjacent forests and wetlands. We review the native fish strategy, considering the five priority interventions originally identified. We conclude that more freshwater is unlikely to be effective at restoring native fish populations unless three additional issues are addressed: cold-water pollution, predation from introduced salmonids and the damming of the estuary. Unfortunately, however, these contentious issues are neither identified nor discussed in the new official planning document.

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Impacts of stock enhancement strategies on the effective population size of Murray cod, Maccullochella peelii, a threatened Australian fish

Cited by 18 publications

References 36 publications

Deep Hooking and Postrelease Mortality of Two Australian Native Freshwater Fishes Angled from Rivers by using Natural Baits

Deep Hooking and Postrelease Mortality of Two Australian Native Freshwater Fishes Angled from Rivers by using Natural Baits

Urban Recreational Fisheries in the Australian Coastal Zone: The Sustainability Challenge

Restoring native fish populations in Australia’s murray darling basin

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