Camden Haven research project to study prawn productivity
30 Sep 2015
A new research project looking at school prawn activity on the State's north coast is underway to examine declining prawn conditions in the Camden Haven Estuary.
The project, led by the Department of Primary Industries (DPI), was initiated following a substantial decrease in the average annual catch of school prawns at Camden Haven, which has resulted in the estuary being listed as a research priority area.
It is thought declining catches could relate to poor water quality and the loss of habitat, a situation that is reported in other estuaries on the NSW north coast.
DPI Senior Research Scientist, Dr Matt Taylor, said the project will determine whether school prawns are still recruiting to certain areas of the estuary and if estuarine conditions are adversely affecting prawn growth and survival.
"Fishers have reported that prawns have almost completely disappeared from some parts of the estuary, and since 2007 they have been substantially smaller," Dr Taylor said.
"We know from previous reports that the periodic presence of environmental conditions such as low dissolved oxygen, low pH and the occurrence of heavy metals can have deadly effects on prawns.
"These conditions can occur in estuarine waters as a by-product of acid-sulphate soil oxidation. However, sub-lethal effects from degraded environmental conditions that compromise growth and reproduction are largely unknown for prawns.
"We want to understand the role this might be playing in the declining productivity of school prawn stocks."
The research project will guide future restoration activities in the Camden Haven estuary and act as a case study for other coastal estuaries in NSW.
It is a collaborative research project with the University of Newcastle and is funded by the Fisheries Research and Development Corporation (FRDC) on behalf of the Australian Government.
The project is supported by DPI, the Professional Fishermen's Association, Hastings River Fishermen's Cooperative, Port Macquarie-Hastings Council and North Coast Local Land Services.
More information
- Why understanding Eastern King Prawn habitat is important
Media contact: Simone Catorall (02) 6391 3686 or 0439 313 843
