Evaluating The Economic And Environmental Return On Investment Of Modern Fish Screens
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$2,318,858.00
Summary
This project is about helping people look after fish and farms.
Most water diversions in Australia are either unscreened or use outdated ‘trash racks’. These are poor performers – providing very little protection against the entrainment of native fish and debris. As a result, millions of native fish are lost from our waterways ever year and farmers needlessly suffer debris in their irrigation systems, which can damage pumps, clog filters and block sprinklers.
Modern fish-prot ....This project is about helping people look after fish and farms.
Most water diversions in Australia are either unscreened or use outdated ‘trash racks’. These are poor performers – providing very little protection against the entrainment of native fish and debris. As a result, millions of native fish are lost from our waterways ever year and farmers needlessly suffer debris in their irrigation systems, which can damage pumps, clog filters and block sprinklers.
Modern fish-protection screens are available for use in Australia. They keep fish and debris where they belong – in the river and out of irrigation infrastructure. They have the potential to provide significant, widespread benefits for both biodiversity and businesses. Early accounts from farmers at over 20 showcase sites across the Murray-Darling Basin show that farmers are already saving time and money through reduced labour and maintenance costs. However, this evidence is largely anecdotal. There is a real need to rigorously document and communicate the environmental and economic benefits of modern screens. Being able to document these benefits will enable screening to move from an international best practice which is poorly applied in Australia, to common-practice in Australia.
The proposed project fills a critical knowledge gap in the evolution of modern fish screening in Australia, by recording and articulating the public and private value proposition of modern screens across a range of farming systems. Doing so will (1) improve farmer awareness and understanding of modern screening technology; (2) inform farmers’ decision-making, to maximise returns on investment; and, (3) guide prioritisation and integration of screening in large-scale conservation and fisheries management policy. Ultimately, this project aims to support adoption of screens where they are most beneficial to deliver benefits for rivers, fish and farms.
Objectives: 1. Evaluate the economic value proposition of modern fish screens. 2. Evaluate the environmental value proposition of modern fish screens. 3. Inform and advance the adoption of modern fish screens in Australia. Read moreRead less
Field Based Trials And Risk Assessment Of New Species To Enhance The Value Of Tropical And Subtropical Impoundment Fisheries
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$910,505.00
Summary
This project offers a significant opportunity to enhance tropical and sub-tropical impoundment fisheries in Queensland and other parts of northern Australia, by using new iconic species to diversify the fisheries and attract new anglers to stocked waterways. Accessibility to large pelagic gamefish is not easy for many anglers. Creating access to trevally in impoundments will make such species more accessible to anglers, potentially reduce the pressure on the wild fishery, and offer a unique fres ....This project offers a significant opportunity to enhance tropical and sub-tropical impoundment fisheries in Queensland and other parts of northern Australia, by using new iconic species to diversify the fisheries and attract new anglers to stocked waterways. Accessibility to large pelagic gamefish is not easy for many anglers. Creating access to trevally in impoundments will make such species more accessible to anglers, potentially reduce the pressure on the wild fishery, and offer a unique freshwater impoundment fishing experience in a protected setting. Since trevally will not breed in impoundments, their abundance can be readily managed through stocking rates.
Access to trevally in impoundments is something that anglers want. In 2006, Queensland stocking groups voted trevally as one of the top three ranked new species for development of impoundment fisheries. Published papers indicate trevally are relatively easy to produce, with production methods like those for Barramundi. The other two highly ranked species, Jungle Perch and Mangrove Jack have proved more difficult to produce in large numbers compared to trevallies, and more than 20 years of trying to develop impoundment Mangrove Jack fisheries has achieved only limited success.
Giant and Bigeye Trevally are iconic sportfish, which if stocked, have potential to increase regional tourism. Local governments have already recognised the value of angling tourism in their regions. For example, Rockhampton, Mackay and Cairns Regional Councils have all developed recreational fishing strategies to boost tourist visitation. Townsville City Council is also in the process of opening the Ross River Dam to stocking to develop angling opportunities and attract additional tourists. Trevally will offer an opportunity to create sustained angling tourism to value-add to existing fisheries in the post-pandemic period.
The only way to determine if one or both trevally species can translate into successful impoundment fisheries compatible with existing Barramundi fisheries, is to conduct comprehensive stocking trials using fingerlings and sub-adult fish. The two highest risk factors identified for trevally stocking in large near coastal impoundments are their potential to impact on prey abundance (and therefore carrying capacity) and rare and threatened species. Rare and threatened species are unlikely to be in the impounded waters dominated by Barramundi, but they could exist in impoundment tributary streams. Therefore, knowledge on whether trevally will mostly remain in the impounded waters or will tend to run upstream into tributaries is critical.
This project aims to use stocking trials to evaluate potential stocking risk factors for Bigeye and Giant Trevally, such as relative survival, growth, diet, residency, impacts on prey abundance and rare and threatened species, catchability by anglers at conservative stocking rates, and angler attitudes to and perceptions of the fishery. This project will serve as a useful case study for other diversification options in northern Australia and elsewhere. Without these trials it would be impossible to progress euryhaline trevally species as new fisheries for large, near-coastal impoundments in Australia. This project directly meets the QRAC priority of field-based trials and risk assessment of new species to enhance the value of tropical and sub-tropical impoundment fisheries.
Objectives: 1. Formalise a desk top risk assessment for stocking of Bigeye Trevally and Giant Trevally in tropical and sub-tropical impoundments. 2. Produce Bigeye and Giant Trevally fingerlings for stocking trials 3. Assess the capacity for prey species in a Barramundi dominated impoundment to support conservatively stocked numbers of Bigeye Trevally and Giant Trevally 4. Assess the potential for Bigeye Trevally and Giant Trevally to enter impoundment tributary streams where they could impact on rare and threatened species. 5. Assess relative survival, growth and diets of Bigeye Trevally and Giant Trevally in a Barramundi dominated impoundment. 6. Assess angler attitudes to trevally in Barramundi impoundments 7. Assess angler catch of Bigeye and Giant trevally in an impoundment. 8. Extend trevally fingerling production techniques to hatcheries in Queensland and other parts of northern Australia. Read moreRead less
Two-Eyed Seeing – A Framework For Cultural Fishery Assessments Supporting Equitable And Sustainable Access To Shared Resources In NSW Inland Rivers
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$1,460,500.00
Summary
Fish are totemic and a primary food source; and so are part of the deep cultural, spiritual and economic connections Aboriginal communities have to their waterways that are part of ‘Country’. Cultural knowledge tells us that when there’s more water availability cultural fishers experience increased total catches and greater diversity of target species, and they fish more (e.g. increase in recreational and subsistence fishing). These narratives also suggest that as a result of these improved cult ....Fish are totemic and a primary food source; and so are part of the deep cultural, spiritual and economic connections Aboriginal communities have to their waterways that are part of ‘Country’. Cultural knowledge tells us that when there’s more water availability cultural fishers experience increased total catches and greater diversity of target species, and they fish more (e.g. increase in recreational and subsistence fishing). These narratives also suggest that as a result of these improved cultural fishing opportunities, there are flow on socio-economic benefits to household budgets, diets of communities, social behaviours and mental health and well-being.
Water is sacred and living; and central to the cultural, social and spiritual identity of Aboriginal people, as well as to their livelihoods. Conceptual models underpinning western water management frameworks and decision making do not incorporate Aboriginal/First Nations socio-cultural complexity, local knowledge and governance arrangements. These are critical – Aboriginal/First Nations people have strong connections with fish, water, rivers and knowledge to contribute to planning, as well as a fundamental right to participate. Water and fish are central to the way of life, two-way knowledge and planning frameworks will support reciprocity in engagement and participation.
Two-Eyed Seeing Frameworks (Ganma, Yolgnu for two-ways) provide a way forward for cultural fishery assessments supporting equitable and sustainable access to shared resources. In this framework, knowledge systems (western and cultural) contribute in parallel, on an equal footing, and both serve as evidence bases to produce an enriched picture of mutual understanding. Application of this framework can empower Aboriginal communities to participate more equitably and negotiate by using their science and values and providing a method for inclusion.
The overall objective of this proposed project is to empower Aboriginal communities through application of a “Two-Eyed seeing framework” (Reid et al. 2020) to participate more equitably and negotiate for cultural fishing practices and water allocation and management. This project will define the cultural fishery and quantify the socio-economic value of cultural fishing in two NSW river regions, and assist communities to identify water management needs for key cultural fish species to support ongoing planning and negotiations. It will improve our current fishery and water management by providing a pathway for cultural fisheries and cultural science to be included. Overall, it will increase our current knowledge of fish and fisheries, by bridging the gap between cultural science and western science practitioners and knowledge holders to share understandings, insights and skills. The application and extension of this framework to a national project will be considered for future use in addressing cultural fishery allocations and management.
Objectives: 1. Identify suitable NSW riverine cultural fisheries, engage with Aboriginal Communities, Traditional Owners, codesign the project and confirm move to phase 2. 2. Define and quanitfy the cultural fishery and associated totemic, cultura and social values 3. Identify and describe fish objectives and water management needs for cultural fish species using the Fish and Flows Framework. 4. Determine if changes in (2) are related to changes in water availability, policy and operations and/or river restoration activities (e.g. fish passage restoration, cold water passage, screening), if possible. 5. Objectively assess the efficacy and utility of the “Two-Eyed Seeing framework” in assessing the totemic, culutal and social fishing values and linking them to the fish and flows framework, including consideration of National applicability. Read moreRead less
Improving water quality modelling by better understanding solute transport. Poor stream water quality is a critical problem in Australia and globally. Stream water quality depends directly on pathways and time taken for water to transport pollutants through catchments. Predicting these pathways is highly challenging and currently requires specialised data. This project aims to better model the movement of water from rainfall to streams, enable greatly improved use of water quality data routinely ....Improving water quality modelling by better understanding solute transport. Poor stream water quality is a critical problem in Australia and globally. Stream water quality depends directly on pathways and time taken for water to transport pollutants through catchments. Predicting these pathways is highly challenging and currently requires specialised data. This project aims to better model the movement of water from rainfall to streams, enable greatly improved use of water quality data routinely collected in Australia's catchments and thereby better predict water quality behaviour. Proposed field studies aim to support this development. The outcomes sought are improved planning and management of water quality in our rivers, lakes and estuaries, improved health of these water bodies and improved water supplies.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE230100132
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$438,909.00
Summary
Population genetics from environmental DNA to revolutionise conservation. This project aims to revolutionise conservation monitoring by developing environmental DNA tools to rapidly and efficiently extract detailed genetic data on entire populations from a simple environmental sample. This project expects to significantly enhance conservation management by providing critical information on genetic diversity and population health. Expected outcomes include new techniques to collect population gen ....Population genetics from environmental DNA to revolutionise conservation. This project aims to revolutionise conservation monitoring by developing environmental DNA tools to rapidly and efficiently extract detailed genetic data on entire populations from a simple environmental sample. This project expects to significantly enhance conservation management by providing critical information on genetic diversity and population health. Expected outcomes include new techniques to collect population genetic information with increased speed and affordability, enhancing the capacity for both industry and government to address conservation questions. This project is likely to provide significant benefits for aquatic conservation, where traditional monitoring proves problematic for many cryptic, elusive or rare species.Read moreRead less
Investigation Of The Direct And Indirect Role Of Submarine Groundwater Discharge (SGD) On Western Rock Lobster Settlement Processes: With Consideration Of The Potential Role Of Contaminants
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$237,535.00
Summary
In Western Australia, the positive and negative effects of SGD in marine benthic communities remains unknown. In Marmion Lagoon, SGD is known to supply up to 50% of the nutrients required for the macrophyte growth rates observed (Johannes and Hearn 1985). Freshwater input has been observed to positively impact seagrass germination (Xu et al., 2016), and although no similar studies exist for temperate seagrass species in the southern hemisphere, SGD may have a role in the creation, maintenance an ....In Western Australia, the positive and negative effects of SGD in marine benthic communities remains unknown. In Marmion Lagoon, SGD is known to supply up to 50% of the nutrients required for the macrophyte growth rates observed (Johannes and Hearn 1985). Freshwater input has been observed to positively impact seagrass germination (Xu et al., 2016), and although no similar studies exist for temperate seagrass species in the southern hemisphere, SGD may have a role in the creation, maintenance and augmentation of seagrass beds. The direct influence of SGD on puerulus settlement rates is unknown but freshwater discharge has been shown to be positively correlated with crab larval abundance (Boylan and Wenner, 1993). An ongoing FRDC project (2016-260: Assess causes and implications of anomalous low lobster catch rates) has demonstrated post-puerulus western rock lobster exhibit a strong choice for the chemical signature of seagrass (Brooker et al. in prep). These findings suggest that SGD may affect puerulus settlement rates either directly through chemotaxis or indirectly by impacting the density of seagrass meadows. Hence, there is a need to investigate both the role of SGD and the presence of seagrass on puerulus settlement rates. Land derived contaminants potentially impacting puerulus settlement and survival could include heavy metals and endocrine disrupting chemicals, such as flame-retardants or pesticides targeting insects (McKenney, 1999). Adult lobster have been shown to be repelled by the presence of copper (McLeese, 1975) and both flame-retardants (polybrominated diphenyl ethers - PBDEs) (Davies and Zou, 2012) and various insecticides (Ghekiere et al., 2005) have been shown to disrupt moulting in marine crustacea. Alkylphenol pollution was implicated in a major die-off of the American lobster (Homarus americanus) population that occurred in Long Island Sound in 1999, with acute impact on post-puerulus mortality during moulting (Laufer et al., 2013). There is a need to investigate both the occurrence and concentration of likely contaminants at potential source locations within the Western Rock Lobster fishery and assess their impact on post-puerulus survival.
Objectives: 1. Identify areas of significant submarine groundwater discharge (SGD) nearby established western rock lobster settlement monitoring sites. 2. Investigate the direct role of SGD on western rock lobster settlement rates. 3. Investigate the link between SGD and the extent and condition of important lobster habitat (e.g. seagrass). 4. Identify and map input of contaminants by SGD in key fishery areas. 5. Investigate impact of contaminants on the survival of puerulus and post-puerulus lobster. Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE210100032
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$456,645.00
Summary
Unravelling how ecosystems function through time and space. This project aims to build a whole-of-ecosystem model to trace the biological capture of energy and cycling of matter as it moves through entire river catchments. It is expected to generate new knowledge about ecological responses to environmental streamflow through the novel integration of all major food-web compartments – from dissolved molecules to predatory fish – in a single framework. The expected outcome of this project is an enh ....Unravelling how ecosystems function through time and space. This project aims to build a whole-of-ecosystem model to trace the biological capture of energy and cycling of matter as it moves through entire river catchments. It is expected to generate new knowledge about ecological responses to environmental streamflow through the novel integration of all major food-web compartments – from dissolved molecules to predatory fish – in a single framework. The expected outcome of this project is an enhanced capacity to predict the ecological consequences of future water management scenarios, facilitating more precise management of river systems. This should provide considerable benefits to the health of Australia’s rivers and the contributions these ecosystems make to society, environment, and agriculture.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE230101729
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$455,652.00
Summary
Volatile Rivers and the Infrastructure Politics in the Mekong Region. This project focusses on the challenge of repurposing large-scale hydraulic infrastructures to serve climate objectives, and aims to advance understanding of changing entanglements of rivers, infrastructure, and power relations in a time of climate change. It expects to contribute novel insights into water and climate change governance within and beyond the Mekong Region. Bridging political-ecology and infrastructure studies, ....Volatile Rivers and the Infrastructure Politics in the Mekong Region. This project focusses on the challenge of repurposing large-scale hydraulic infrastructures to serve climate objectives, and aims to advance understanding of changing entanglements of rivers, infrastructure, and power relations in a time of climate change. It expects to contribute novel insights into water and climate change governance within and beyond the Mekong Region. Bridging political-ecology and infrastructure studies, planned outcomes include conceptual innovations that advance critical studies on river engineering. The project should benefit policy-makers, practitioners and advocacy groups in the Mekong and in Australia seeking to improve interventions and strengthen the coping strategies of vulnerable riverine communities. Read moreRead less
A global standard for the status of Wetlands of International Importance. The project will develop and test a new global standard for the assessment and reporting on ecological condition of internationally important wetlands, listed under the Ramsar Convention. It has four aims: establishment of a strategic adaptive management and governance framework, a meta-analysis of the 2,303 internationally listed wetlands, development of a protocol for assessment and prediction and delivering a digital re ....A global standard for the status of Wetlands of International Importance. The project will develop and test a new global standard for the assessment and reporting on ecological condition of internationally important wetlands, listed under the Ramsar Convention. It has four aims: establishment of a strategic adaptive management and governance framework, a meta-analysis of the 2,303 internationally listed wetlands, development of a protocol for assessment and prediction and delivering a digital reporting platform for effective management. The project is significant because it tackles the decline of freshwater ecosystems, by targeting the most prominent wetlands. It also assists state and national governments to meet their obligations under the Ramsar Convention and most importantly guides more effective management.Read moreRead less