Contribution of stocked fish to riverine populations of golden perch (Macquaria ambigua) in the Murray–Darling Basin, Australia

2016 ◽  
Vol 67 (10) ◽  
pp. 1401 ◽  
Author(s):  
David A. Crook ◽  
Damien J. O'Mahony ◽  
Bronwyn M. Gillanders ◽  
Andrew R. Munro ◽  
Andrew C. Sanger ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Minimum Size ◽  
Recreational Fisheries ◽  
Catch Per Unit Effort ◽  
Age Classes ◽  
Murray Darling Basin ◽  
Murray River ◽  
Native Fishes ◽  
Release Location ◽  
Three Rivers ◽  
Natural Recruitment

Stocking of native fishes is conducted to augment riverine fisheries in many parts of the world, yet most stocking activities are conducted without empirical information on their effectiveness or impacts. In the Murray–Darling Basin (MDB), Australia, stocking has been underway for several decades to maintain recreational fisheries. We stocked chemically tagged golden perch (Macquaria ambigua) fingerlings in three rivers to determine the proportions of stocked fish within populations of the species. Stocked sites were monitored for up to 5 years in the Murrumbidgee River, Edward River and Billabong Creek and non-stocked sites were monitored in the Murray River. Catch per unit effort of stocked year classes increased substantially in Billabong Creek, with stocked fish contributing 100 (2005), 79 (2006) and 92% (2007). Chemically tagged fish comprised 18–38% of the respective age classes in the Murrumbidgee and Edward rivers and there was little evidence of natural recruitment in the non-stocked Murray River. Tagged fish generally attained the legal minimum size within 4 years and had dispersed up to 60km from the original release location. Our results demonstrate that artificial stocking has the potential to strongly influence the abundance and population structure of golden perch in rivers of the MDB.

scholarly journals The future for managing recreational fisheries in the Murray-Darling Basin

2014 ◽  
Vol 15 ◽  
pp. 75-81 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matt J. Barwick ◽  
John D. Koehn ◽  
David Crook ◽  
Charles R. Todd ◽  
Cameron Westaway ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Recreational Fisheries ◽  
Murray Darling Basin ◽  
The Future

scholarly journals Shore-based competitive recreational fisheries in southern Bahia, Brazil: A baseline study

2020 ◽  
Vol 33 (2) ◽  
pp. 183-203
Author(s):  
Katia Meirelles Felizola Freire ◽  
Felipe Pinto Nascimento ◽  
Gecely Rodrigues Alves Rocha
Keyword(s):  
Minimum Size ◽  
Current Status ◽  
Total Catch ◽  
Recreational Fisheries ◽  
Middle Aged ◽  
Baseline Study ◽  
Commercial Importance ◽  
Southern Bahia ◽  
Catch Composition ◽  
Main Factor

This study describes shore-based competitive fishing events in Ilhéus, southern Bahia (Brazil), including catch composition, and provides information on the profile of recreational fishers participating in these events. Information was collected in all events promoted by the Clube de Pesca de Ilhéus (CLUPESIL) in 2007-2008. A total of 26 competitive fishing events were organized during this period, with 47 species caught. The top species were: Cathorops spixii, Menticirrhus littoralis, Trachinotus goodei, Eucinostomus melanopterus, Polydactylus virginicus, Atherinella brasiliensis, and Eucinostomus argenteus. These seven species represented 87% of the total catch in number and 78% in weight. Menticirrhus littoralis and Polydactylus virginicus are species of commercial interest and their catch was dominated by juveniles. Local recreational fishers were predominately middle-aged men, who tended to use small hooks and mainly shrimp as bait. They were consumption-oriented, but also released small fishes. During competitions, fishers used even smaller hooks. Most of them perceived shrimp trawling as the main factor affecting recreational fisheries. The use of larger hooks and a minimum size of 20 cm are suggested to decrease the capture of juveniles, mainly those of commercial importance. This study sets a baseline from which new studies can be proposed to access the current status of local recreational fisheries.

scholarly journals What is needed to restore native fishes in Australia’s Murray–Darling Basin?

2020 ◽  
Vol 71 (11) ◽  
pp. 1464
Author(s):  
John D. Koehn ◽  
Stephen R. Balcombe ◽  
Lee J. Baumgartner ◽  
Christopher M. Bice ◽  
Kate Burndred ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
First Nations ◽  
Native Species ◽  
Cultural Practices ◽  
Native Fish ◽  
The Past ◽  
Murray Darling Basin ◽  
Native Fishes ◽  
Conservation Concern ◽  
First Nations People

The Murray–Darling Basin (MDB) is Australia’s food bowl, contributing 40% of agricultural production and supporting a population of over 4 million people. Historically, the MDB supported a unique native fish community with significant cultural, subsistence, recreational, commercial and ecological values. Approximately one-quarter of the MDB’s native species are endemic. Changes to river flows and habitats have led to a >90% decline in native fish populations over the past 150 years, with almost half the species now of conservation concern. Commercial fisheries have collapsed, and important traditional cultural practices of First Nations People have been weakened. The past 20 years have seen significant advances in the scientific understanding of native fish ecology, the effects of human-related activities and the recovery measures needed. The science is well established, and some robust restoration-enabling policies have been initiated to underpin actions. What is now required is the political vision and commitment to support investment to drive long-term recovery. We present a summary of 30 priority activities urgently needed to restore MDB native fishes.

Seasonality, sex ratio, spawning frequency and sexual maturity of the opakapaka Pristipomoides filamentosus (Perciformes: Lutjanidae) from the Main Hawaiian Islands: fundamental input to size-at-retention regulations

2018 ◽  
Vol 69 (2) ◽  
pp. 325 ◽  
Author(s):  
Meagan A. Luers ◽  
Edward E. DeMartini ◽  
Robert L. Humphreys
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Maturity ◽  
Comprehensive Evaluation ◽  
Hawaiian Islands ◽  
Fork Length ◽  
Minimum Size ◽  
Recreational Fisheries ◽  
Median Length ◽  
Spawning Frequency ◽  
Stock Status ◽  
Body Sizes

The crimson jobfish Pristipomoides filamentosus (locally known as ‘opakapaka’ in Hawaii) is a deep-water eteline lutjanid that supports important commercial and recreational fisheries in Hawaii and throughout much of the Indo-Pacific region. It is one of the most commonly caught species of the ‘Deep-7’ bottomfish species complex in the commercial bottomfish fishery of Hawaii. However, there are currently no validated estimates of median body sizes at sexual maturity that can be used in a comprehensive evaluation of the species’ stock status within Hawaiian bottomfish fisheries. Herein we provide size-at-maturity estimates for the species in the main Hawaiian Islands: median length at maturity of 40.7-cm fork length (FL; 95% confidence interval (CI) 40.3–41.2cm) for females and 34.3cm FL (95% CI 33.3–35.3cm) for males, with respective equivalent median weight-at-maturity estimates of ~1.17 and ~0.70kg (2.58 and 1.55 lb). We suggest these newly available data be seriously considered in any future evaluations of minimum size regulations, currently set at ~0.45kg (1 lb) regardless of sex, for the species’ fisheries in Hawaii.

Spatial partitioning in the use of structural woody habitat supports the cohabitation of two cod species in a large lowland river

2016 ◽  
Vol 67 (12) ◽  
pp. 1835 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. A. Lieschke ◽  
J. P. Lyon ◽  
P. D. Moloney ◽  
S. J. Nicol
Keyword(s):  
Lowland River ◽  
Specific Interactions ◽  
Negative Consequences ◽  
Catch Per Unit Effort ◽  
Spatial Partitioning ◽  
Murray River ◽  
Eastern Australia ◽  
The Common ◽  
Species Specific ◽  
Murray Cod

Many freshwater fish worldwide have been shown to use Structural Woody Habitat (SWH) for a variety of reasons. The mid reaches of the Murray River, a large lowland river in south-eastern Australia, was surveyed by boat electrofishing, to investigate the use of SWH type (hollows, rootmass and solids), SWH distance to bank (near bank, intermediate to bank and mid-channel) and the interaction between SWH type and distance to bank. The study found that Murray cod catch per unit effort (CPUE) increased in near-bank areas when hollows were a component of the SWH. The CPUE of trout cod was higher when hollows were present. However, the interactions between distance to bank and hollow SWH were complex and dependent on presence or absence of rootmass. The species-specific interactions between SWH microhabitat and distance to bank found within this study has important relevance for stream managers. The common practice of realigning SWH favours Murray cod over trout cod, which could have negative consequences for the endangered trout cod. More broadly, managers may need to consider a balance of SWH type and where it is placed in the river for the species they are targeting when rehabilitating rivers via the introduction of SWH.

Murray-Darling Basin Commission: a case study in integrated catchment management

1995 ◽  
Vol 32 (5-6) ◽  
pp. 15-25 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. J. Blackmore
Keyword(s):  
Natural Resources ◽  
Community Action ◽  
Catchment Management ◽  
State Governments ◽  
Integrated Catchment Management ◽  
Murray Darling Basin ◽  
Murray River ◽  
Common Interests ◽  
Basin Water

This paper describes the Australian Murray-Darling basin experience in integrated catchment management, what has been achieved and what remains to be done. The basin water is shared by three states, but falls under the jurisdiction of four governments, that of the Commonwealth as well as the State governments. The critical development in recent years at the political and bureaucratic level was the establishment of a three-tier management structure that allows common interests to be developed, discussed, resolved and implemented. Two main problems had to be resolved before significant co-operative action could take place, namely the issues of water sharing between the states and the sharing of costs associated with Murray River salinity. A framework Salinity and Drainage Strategy was developed to address this, and is described. This paper also describes the Natural Resources Management Strategy, the cornerstone of efforts to sustain the natural resources of the basin. The strategy emphasises community participation and empowerment. The problems identified, strategic aims to address these problems and the role of community action are detailed.

scholarly journals On-farm options for managing stream salinity in irrigation areas: an example from the Murray Darling Basin, Australia

2008 ◽  
Vol 39 (2) ◽  
pp. 157-170 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shahbaz Khan ◽  
Muhammad Nadeem Asghar ◽  
Shahbaz Mushtaq ◽  
Aftab Ahmad
Keyword(s):  
Salt Concentration ◽  
Social Issues ◽  
Catchment Scale ◽  
Stream Flows ◽  
Murray Darling Basin ◽  
Murray River ◽  
Water Tables ◽  
Farm Scale ◽  
Salinity Management ◽  
On Farm

Increasing salt concentration in tributaries from catchments and rising water tables are the prime contributor to environmental degradation of rivers, creeks, streams or other water bodies. This is especially true during periods of mid- and low stream flows in arid and semi-arid regions around the globe. Catchment scale studies suggest that management of stream salinity requires greater land use change than is economically viable. Therefore, rather than focusing on the opportunity cost of catchment scale interventions, exploring interventions that are potentially viable at farm scale could be an appropriate strategy for stream salinity management. This paper presents an analysis of alternative on-farm strategies, such as evaporation ponds and serial biological concentration of salts, aimed at developing an economically self-sustainable stream salinity management system for the Box Creek stormwater escape channel located in the Murray–Darling Basin (MDB), Australia. It is concluded that irrigation areas, with careful management of flows in tributary streams, may be able to play a role in safeguarding the Murray River against further salinisation from irrigation and dryland areas. The outcomes of this paper will be helpful, but not limited to, the MDB in addressing environmental, economic and social issues associated with management of salt concentration in tributaries.

Downstream Water Management Strategy in Murray–Darling Basin to Improve Adelaide’s Water Quality and Agricultural Output — Feasibility Analysis of a Dual-Purpose Coastal Reservoir

2019 ◽  
Vol 02 (03n04) ◽  
pp. 1940004
Author(s):  
Kun-Cheng Zhang ◽  
Shu-Qing Yang
Keyword(s):  
Water Quality ◽  
Water Supply ◽  
Agricultural Development ◽  
Complete Solution ◽  
Agricultural Output ◽  
Murray Darling Basin ◽  
Murray River ◽  
Millennium Drought ◽  
Negative Impacts ◽  
Desalination Plants

Australia is the driest country in the world, and the lower Murray–Darling Basin and Adelaide have experienced extreme water scarcity crisis, especially during the Millennium Drought (2000–2010). Many counter measures have been proposed or implemented like desalination plants and water buyback, etc., some progress has been made, but far away from a complete solution. Different from existing measures, this research aims at using coastal reservoir technology to shift from upstream water development to downstream development, in order to solve a series of water supply and ecological environment problems by redesigning a coastal reservoir in the downstream area. It is suggested that high-quality water is stored in a “coastal reservoir” inside the Alexandrina Lake for Adelaide’s water supply. The lake water outside the “coastal reservoir” is used for agricultural development. A preliminary feasibility study was conducted in terms of water quantity and water quality, river’s environmental flow and agricultural output. The results show that if a small size (550–630[Formula: see text]GL) coastal reservoir was created inside the Lake Alexandrina in the mouth of Murray River, the Adelaide’s water supply could be secured and its water quality be improved even during droughts like the Millennium Drought. Besides, if the agricultural development is concentrated around the lake, its water demand can be fully met from the lake, rather than the river, thus the agricultural development has little negative impacts on the river’s ecosystem, it is a win-win solution for agricultural development and river ecosystem. It is suggested that Australian government should provide stimulus package for upstream farmers to relocate to areas around the lake.

Genetic analyses reveal limited dispersal and recovery potential in the large freshwater crayfish Euastacus armatus from the southern Murray–Darling Basin

2017 ◽  
Vol 68 (2) ◽  
pp. 213 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nick S. Whiterod ◽  
Sylvia Zukowski ◽  
Martin Asmus ◽  
Dean Gilligan ◽  
Adam D. Miller
Keyword(s):  
Gene Flow ◽  
Anthropogenic Impacts ◽  
Population Decline ◽  
Biological Traits ◽  
Freshwater Crayfish ◽  
Freshwater Species ◽  
Genetic Structuring ◽  
Murray Darling Basin ◽  
Murray River ◽  
Dispersal Limitations

Understanding dispersal traits and adaptive potential is critically important when assessing the vulnerability of freshwater species in highly modified ecosystems. The present study investigates the population genetic structure of the Murray crayfish Euastacus armatus in the southern Murray–Darling Basin. This species has suffered significant population declines in sections of the Murray River in recent years, prompting the need for information on natural recruitment processes to help guide conservation. We assessed allele frequencies from 10 polymorphic microsatellite loci across 20 sites encompassing the majority of the species’ range. Low levels of gene flow were observed throughout hydrologically connected waterways, but significant spatial autocorrelation and low migration rate estimates reflect local genetic structuring and dispersal limitations, with home ranges limited to distances <50-km. Significant genetic differentiation of headwater populations upstream of barriers imposed by impoundments were also observed; however, population simulations demonstrate that these patterns likely reflect historical limitations to gene flow rather than contemporary anthropogenic impacts. Dispersal limitations, coupled with its biological traits, suggest that local populations are vulnerable to environmental disturbance with limited potential for natural recolonisation following population decline. We discuss the implications of these findings in the context of managing the recovery of the species.

Derivation of a salinity target for the Lower Murray Darling Valley

2003 ◽  
Vol 48 (7) ◽  
pp. 105-112
Author(s):  
N. Maini ◽  
A. Buchan ◽  
S. Joseph
Keyword(s):  
Management Policy ◽  
Catchment Management ◽  
Catchment Scale ◽  
Main River ◽  
Murray Darling Basin ◽  
Murray River ◽  
Salinity Levels ◽  
Salinity Management ◽  
Management Changes ◽  
Valley River

The NSW Government commissioned catchment management boards (CMBs) to set the direction and process for catchment scale natural resource management. In the Lower Murray Darling, Rivers are highly regulated and water resources shared between three states. The Catchment Board only has jurisdiction over the northern bank of the Murray but salt and water enter the river from many locations upstream and along the area boundary. River salt and flow modelling has continually been improved to reflect and contribute to an increased understanding of salinity processes. The MDBC Salt Load study correlates 10 years of actual measured data with its modelled outputs, and estimates river salinities for 2020, 2050 and 2100. Routing models such as SALTFLO and MURKEY generate percentile salinity levels at different nodes in the River Murray downstream of the Lower Darling confluence. National, Murray-Darling Basin and NSW salinity management policy and legislative requirements were considered, MDBC model output was used to ensure the interim targets are achievable, auditable, and appropriate to the catchment. The method for an end-of-valley river based target for salinity is described. A target of less than 463 μS/cm for Lock 6, a point in the lower reaches of the Murray River is recommended for year 2010. Catchment management targets that express the main river salinity risk in five hydrologically distinct management zones are also recommended. Salinity management changes are needed in each zone to meet the end-of-valley target.

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