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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.
Native fish stocking of rivers: discriminating between hatchery-reared and wild fish. Stocking of fish is widely used in attempts to restore native fish populations. Little is known of the fate of stocked fish or the effects of stocking on resident populations. We will develop and evaluate protocols for chemical marking of otoliths of hatchery-reared fish so that their source can be determined. Experimental stocking of hatchery-reared fish will be undertaken and population structure and sourc ....Native fish stocking of rivers: discriminating between hatchery-reared and wild fish. Stocking of fish is widely used in attempts to restore native fish populations. Little is known of the fate of stocked fish or the effects of stocking on resident populations. We will develop and evaluate protocols for chemical marking of otoliths of hatchery-reared fish so that their source can be determined. Experimental stocking of hatchery-reared fish will be undertaken and population structure and source of stocked versus wild fish determined in stocked and unstocked rivers. Natural chemical signatures will also help determine important recruitment areas. The outcomes will allow fisheries managers to make informed decisions regarding stocking strategies.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
Legal risk management of adverse health outcomes and injury in the fitness industry: developing evidence-informed regulation that improves safety. This project analyses Australian laws, policies and practices designed to manage legal risks and liabilities in the fitness industry, and assesses their effectiveness in preventing adverse health outcomes, injuries, and the legal liability associated with those risks.
Informal sport as a health and social resource for diverse young people. This project aims to investigate the contribution that informal sports participation makes to wellbeing amongst diverse young people, and ways in which governments, sport and health agencies can effectively support this participation. The project expects to generate new knowledge of how informal sports are self-organised and sustained, factors enabling and inhibiting participation, and will provide a detailed evidence base ....Informal sport as a health and social resource for diverse young people. This project aims to investigate the contribution that informal sports participation makes to wellbeing amongst diverse young people, and ways in which governments, sport and health agencies can effectively support this participation. The project expects to generate new knowledge of how informal sports are self-organised and sustained, factors enabling and inhibiting participation, and will provide a detailed evidence base for the economic and social impact of informal participation. Expected outcomes include the provision of coherent guidance for government, sport and health agencies who will be better equipped to support informal sports opportunities for diverse young people that delivers an enhanced health outcome.Read moreRead less
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
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
Enhancement of fish stock by habitat manipulation in artificial coastal waterways. Human settlement significantly changes the spatial characteristics of natural coastal waterways. The value of artificial waterways, such as canals, as a habitat for fish is poorly known. We will evaluate the significance of artificial canals as a fish habitat, and test the effect of habitat modification by artificial reef installation on fish distribution and abundance. We will investigate whether artificial reefs ....Enhancement of fish stock by habitat manipulation in artificial coastal waterways. Human settlement significantly changes the spatial characteristics of natural coastal waterways. The value of artificial waterways, such as canals, as a habitat for fish is poorly known. We will evaluate the significance of artificial canals as a fish habitat, and test the effect of habitat modification by artificial reef installation on fish distribution and abundance. We will investigate whether artificial reefs enhance fish production in canals, rather than simply acting as fish aggregation devices. This research will address an important question in fisheries ecology and help formulate management guidelines for artificial waterways.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