Fish production
The Fish Production and Enhancement team develops technology for large-scale production of temperate marine fish and supports aquaculture and recreational fishing industries. Current research efforts are focused on improving methods for hatchery production of mulloway, Australian bass, yellowtail kingfish and dusky flathead for stock enhancement.
To learn more about our fish production and enhancement research please contact Dr Stewart Fielder.
Research focus
- Half a million fingerlings produced annually for industry and restocking
- Developed production technology for Australian Bass, Snapper, Mulloway, Yellowtail Kingfish and Dusky Flathead
Current projects
Production of Australian bass for stock enhancement. Australian bass are a mostly freshwater fish, that migrate to saltwater to spawn. We produce approximately 350,000 fingerlings each year and stock them into many freshwater impoundments east of the Great Dividing Range in NSW to create and enhance recreational fisheries.
Production of mulloway. Mulloway is a depleted stock in NSW and efforts are being made to restore the population. One method to enhance the population is to produce advanced juvenile fish in hatcheries and to stock them into estuarine systems. We produce approximately 100,000 fingerlings each year and stock them into estuarine recreational fishing havens in NSW. Mulloway also grows well in aquaculture systems and there is interest in producing the fish in ponds and enclosed recirculating aquaculture systems.
Production of dusky flathead for stock enhancement. Dusky Flathead are a highly valued recreational fishing species that are accessible to all saltwater fishers. While working to develop the technology for reliable large-scale production of flathead, the fingerlings we produce are being restocked into NSW waters.
Production of yellowtail kingfish (YTK). The PSFI has been producing YTK fingerlings for approximately 10 years, initially for culture, but more recently for release in areas such as Botany Bay. This fast-growing species has a well-established aquaculture industry in Australia and is now being cultured internationally in enclosed systems. The technology has been developed to allow YTK to be produced year-round, with those fish currently being produced going toward recreational stocking efforts.
Key publications
Fielder, D.S. and M.P. Heasman, 2011. Hatchery Manual for the production of Australian bass, mulloway and yellowtail kingfish. Industry and Investment NSW. 170 pp. ISBN 978 1 74256 058 8
