It takes more than a kiss to ensure they survive
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A photo and a kiss are not enough to ensure the survival of fish caught and released by recreational anglers.
Instead, scientists at the NSW Department of Primary Industries will spend three years researching the factors that contribute to the survival rates of various fish species after they are hooked then released back into the water.
The project, worth almost $1 million, is jointly funded by the NSW DPI and the Saltwater Recreational Fishing Trust - one of two independent bodies which invest funds from fishing licenses into projects to promote recreational fishing.
The research builds on an earlier two-year project, also jointly funded by the recreational trust and the NSW DPI, which involved estimating the short-term survival rates of many popular recreational fishing species.
This new phase in the research will involve a more detailed look at the impacts of catch-and-release on key species.
Researchers will look at developing new designs for fish hooks, which will both increase the chance of a catch while limiting the mortality rates of fish caught and then released back into the water.
The earlier project, now in its final year, has estimated the short-term survival rates of popular species such as snapper (67%), yellowfin bream (72-100%), trevally (63-98%), sand whiting (93%) and mulloway (69-92%) after being released by anglers.
The factors contributing towards the mortality of fish released by anglers vary considerably, although for some species, one of the main causes involves removing swallowed hooks before fish are released.
Recent research has demonstrated that if the fishing line is cut, and the swallowed hooks are left in yellowfin bream, in many cases the fish will survive and the hook will eventually corrode and be passed.
The research done over the past 18 months has involved fish being caught by recreational fishers and then put into holding cages or tanks.
Although this method can provide accurate estimates of short-term survival, fish may not experience all of the factors that contribute towards mortality such as a reduced ability to feed, susceptibility to predators and increased stress.
To provide some assessment of the longer-term effects of being hooked and released, the new project will involve tagging and monitoring fish in their natural habitat.
Internationally renowned scientists at the NSW DPI Fisheries Conservation Unit in Coffs Harbour will conduct the research.
The unit plays a vital role in examining some of the key issues facing the state’s fishing resources and developing new and innovative technologies which help ensure the sustainability of fishing in NSW.
The catch-and-release research will help improve the survival chances of fish and therefore ensure fish numbers are enhanced.
The information from the new project, when combined with the results from the current research, will provide clear and realistic options for maximising the post-release survival rates of popular recreational species.