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Contribution of stocked fish to riverine populations of golden perch (Macquaria ambigua) in the Murray-Darling Basin, Australia

Crook, David A., O'Mahony, Damien J., Gillanders, Bronwyn M., Munro, Andrew R., Sanger, Andrew C., Thurstan, Stephen and Baumgartner, Lee J. (2016). Contribution of stocked fish to riverine populations of golden perch (Macquaria ambigua) in the Murray-Darling Basin, Australia. Marine and Freshwater Research,67(10):1401-1409.

Document type: Journal Article
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IRMA ID 84376995xPUB288
Title Contribution of stocked fish to riverine populations of golden perch (Macquaria ambigua) in the Murray-Darling Basin, Australia
Author Crook, David A.
O'Mahony, Damien J.
Gillanders, Bronwyn M.
Munro, Andrew R.
Sanger, Andrew C.
Thurstan, Stephen
Baumgartner, Lee J.
Journal Name Marine and Freshwater Research
Publication Date 2016
Volume Number 67
Issue Number 10
ISSN 1323-1650   (check CDU catalogue open catalogue search in new window)
Start Page 1401
End Page 1409
Total Pages 9
Place of Publication Australia
Publisher C S I R O Publishing
Field of Research 0704 - Fisheries Sciences
HERDC Category C1 - Journal Article (DIISR)
Abstract Stocking of native fishes is conducted to augment riverine fisheries in many parts of the world, yet most stocking activities are conducted without empirical information on their effectiveness or impacts. In the Murray–Darling Basin (MDB), Australia, stocking has been underway for several decades to maintain recreational fisheries. We stocked chemically tagged golden perch (Macquaria ambigua) fingerlings in three rivers to determine the proportions of stocked fish within populations of the species. Stocked sites were monitored for up to 5 years in the Murrumbidgee River, Edward River and Billabong Creek and non-stocked sites were monitored in the Murray River. Catch per unit effort of stocked year classes increased substantially in Billabong Creek, with stocked fish contributing 100 (2005), 79 (2006) and 92% (2007). Chemically tagged fish comprised 18–38% of the respective age classes in the Murrumbidgee and Edward rivers and there was little evidence of natural recruitment in the non-stocked Murray River. Tagged fish generally attained the legal minimum size within 4 years and had dispersed up to 60 km from the original release location. Our results demonstrate that artificial stocking has the potential to strongly influence the abundance and population structure of golden perch in rivers of the MDB.
Keywords calcein
chemical tagging
fish stocking
fisheries management
stock enhancement
DOI http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/MF15037   (check subscription with CDU E-Gateway service for CDU Staff and Students  check subscription with CDU E-Gateway in new window)
 
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