Saltwater Trusts Allocation

2007-08 $364,000

Aim

Prepare a marine fish stocking fishery management strategy and environmental impact assessment.

Background

The Recreational Fishing Saltwater Trust has supported funding for University of NSW (UNSW) to undertake a pilot research program (since 2003/04) designed to evaluate the ecological aspects of stocking mulloway. The aims of the program are to refine release techniques to optimise the survival and growth of mulloway with respect to fingerling size, release season and habitat; enhance the recreational mulloway fisheries in Botany Bay and 3 North Coast estuaries, and in turn evaluate the contribution of stocked mulloway to the recreational catch.

The Saltwater Trust has also supported funding for UNSW to investigate the techniques and effectiveness of stocking the eastern king prawn Penaeus plebejus into recruitment limited coastal lakes (commenced 2006/07) for the enhancement of recreational fishing.

These current studies involving small scale stockings are providing essential information, which will contribute to the development of formal management arrangements and environmental assessment of future, state-wide marine stocking activities in NSW. However, marine stockings beyond these current research programs will require an Environmental Impact Statement in accordance with the comprehensive requirements of the NSW Environment Planning and Assessment Act 1979 and the Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Act.

Other potential stocking species have been identified by the Advisory Council on Recreational Fishing, including yellowfin and black bream, dusky flathead, sand whiting and kingfish. It is proposed to include these species and mulloway and eastern king prawns in the FMS.