Mount Isa Fish Stocking Group Inc Report to Northern Fishstocking Workshop Charters Towers May 2000

We have had major problems out here. The translocation issue and our remoteness had ensured our access to barramundi fingerlings has been extremely tenuous. Events over the last couple years have proven to us that barramundi were the key. Until 'the elusive barramundi' were regularly caught, the local community, business and government were skeptical and would not take fish stocking seriously. Consequently we had to battle to raise public awareness and funding.

After relatively small numbers were stocked in lake Moondarra, January 1998 (3,500) and January 1999 (10,000), much fishing activity was generated enabling us to capitalize on the interest. We started by giving presentations at service club meetings. Requests were made for funds for an on going stocking program and assistance in re-establishing the local fishing competition. One club agreed to be the principal caterer while another took naming rights and operated a licensed bar. Since we did not have the scope within our group to under-take the organization of the competition we also called for volunteers from the public.

The Carpentaria Buffalo Club Lake Moondarra Fishing Classic was a great success. The community displayed their support with the large number of boats attracted on the day and the $10,000 raised. At the committee level our group benefited enormously by the contribution of those who organized the fishing competition. The new membership assisted in rapidly transforming the structure of our group. Away from the back yard and a spare family room toward an incorporated body with an ABN number, a management plan and a draft constitution.

Another important change was at the political level, where meetings began to discuss the development of our regional economy, away from its strong mining focus toward tourism. The Mt Isa district boasts seven freshwater lakes nestled between rugged red hills and other beautiful outback scenery. When it became obvious that a basic starting point was to develop our recreational fishing potential, our lobbying gathered force.

With the support of the business community our pleas for funding were now being considered. We lobbied for the GBRA so they could get the funding to employ a fulltime biologist. We lobbied against the 'translocation issue' and gained a commitment from the Minister that the DPI will assist us in establishing 'gulf strain' barramundi brood stock at an Innisfail commercial hatchery. We lobbied the Mt Isa Water Board to help fund the GBRA and to consider what we called the 'Gladstone Model' for a fish-breeding program. At a public meeting to discuss the recreational and tourist development of Lake Moondarra it seemed fish stocking was on everyone's mind.

So far this year we achieved very little in terms of numbers of fish released; however we have gone years ahead in terms of public awareness and the structure of our group. Our core activity has shifted from a sooty grunter breeding program to developing the fishing competition. Moreover with extra financial support almost guaranteed and the money we can raise from the fishing competition and a boat raffle, we will be well placed to purchase bulk numbers of barramundi fingerlings if they become available in the future.

Once the frenzy for 'Moondarra barramundi' has run its course the focus will shift to developing our other lakes. Although our water board has rejected the 'Gladstone Model' I believe with the support of the business community, and by using our remoteness to our advantage in applying for grants we can build the grow out ponds we need. In the future we plan to develop our other lakes with other species including Saratoga. If all goes according to plan the Abingdon Fish Hatchery will soon deliver us enough sooty grunter fingerlings for us to stock Lake Corella and the East Leichhardt dam. Those lakes have never been stocked before and hopefully the fingerlings will establish themselves as sustainable breeding populations.

The re-establishment of the fishing competition has had broad reaching effects. Malcolm Pearce and Alf Hogan paid us a visit with the electro-survey boat and did a survey of Lake Moondarra and Lake Julius. It had been eight years since their last visit and twelve since the last survey was done at those lakes. The outcome of the visit was some great public relations for us, the DPI, as well as a comprehensive updated report. Alf spoke on the Stocked Impoundments Permits Scheme, but the general feeling out here is that it is only fair to local anglers that its implementation is delayed until we develop the fishery.

Alf and Malcolm also made a brief visit to our breeding facilities, which we have slowly built up over the last ten years. The ill health of Johannes Van Ryt meant the backbone of the breeding program was away for treatment, so to fill the gap we enlisted the assistance of an aquaculture student from the Johnstone College of TAFE (Innisfail). We hope to develop a future relationship with our local high schools and TAFE College. Other difficulties faced last season were our restricted access to Lake Julius, our primary source of brood stock and finding volunteers to help.

Toward the end of summer a few good storms caused the dams to flow over. Although only two undersize barramundi were caught during the fishing competition, now up to fifty were caught in the first few days of the Lake Moondarra spillway running over. Once again our cause had publicity with some great fish photos in the local paper. Our group quickly obtained a permit to rescue any fish that were stranded in rock pools. About eight barramundi were rescued. It is proven the two obvious size classes in our lake reach legal size in about eighteen months. If the weather scientists are correct in their prediction of the return of the 'el nino' effect, hopefully we will be able to keep them in there for a few more years. Eventually 'Moondarra Barra' may have a crack at some of the records.

Mark Van Ryt