Keeping Stock

In 1979 a survey done on the Seafood purchasing behavior in Mount Isa, actually stated our average household ate 75 kg of barramundi per year. I would like to see the results if those geographers from James Cook University came back and repeated the survey today. Even if the results were only half correct, wow! Haven’t things changed? The Gulf Country and its people were much wilder then. Twenty-five years ago the use of nets by some recreational fishermen was still commonplace. We would even shock / horror, occasionally hear a story where explosives were used. In those days there were also less professional fishermen working the Lower Gulf Rivers.

Today there is a growing awareness of the increasing effects of human pressure on fish stocks and habitats. This has encouraged more people to embrace fish conservation practices. ‘Catch and release’ is now a favourite catch phrase. The sportfishing ethic of ‘keeping only what you need for a feed’ has achieved significant acceptance. An increasing number people, both professional fishermen and recreational anglers are becoming involved with fish restocking initiatives. People along the East Coast are also concerned about issues such as habitat degradation. Protecting mangrove wetlands the spawning and breeding areas of fish.

Another way all fishermen can help is to become actively involved in tagging or simply returning tagged fish information. Research programs are aimed at providing fisheries managers with important data on fish growth and movement patterns. The state branch of the Australian National Sports Fishing Association manages Queensland recreational tagging projects for the Department of Primary Industries. To encourage the public ANSA issue a handsome certificate that names the place and time of capture, the fish’s length and weight, the tackle used. Copies of the certificate are sent to the original tagger and all subsequent successful anglers. As an added incentive the Mount Isa Fish Stocking Group will award person who recaptures the famous tagged barra from the annual fishing competition with a package of club merchandise.

An impressive 237,000 fish have been tagged statewide since the program’s inception in 1986, with recaptures totaling 20,400. Anglers catching a tagged fish are requested to record the species, tag number and length etc. Then phone the information into the SUNTAG office; their number is also on the tag. Any fish destined for release needs to be handled with care to ensure its future survival. Large specimens, in particular can suffer internal injury when lifted by the gills, so a net is recommended. The use of a wet rag when handling will also minimize the loss of the fish’s protective slime. Pulling them slowly through the water by the lower jaw can usually revive tired fish.

The Mount Isa Fish Stocking Group is affiliated with ANSA. We encourage members to become active taggers. Their work will enable scientific data to be collected on the barramundi we stock. Already from the data collected so far we have evidence that barramundi fingerlings stocked in Lake Moondarra can grow to the legal size of 60 cm in fourteen months. This is an incredible three times faster than they grow in the estuary environment. By tagging not only local fish but also those in the Gulf Rivers we can gather information on their movements. One day it will generate great interest to prove that a ‘Moondarra Barra’ can survive the journey to the gulf.

By Mark Van Ryt
Secretary MIFSG
Mount Isa Fish Stocking Group Inc