Fitzy
21-11-2001, 03:44 PM
Fish Stock Survey Yields Bulk Barra at Baralaba
A five-hour netting survey of fish species in Baralaba’s Neville Hewitt Weir on the Dawson River created plenty of excitement and a sense of achievement for members of the Baralaba Fish Stocking Group.
Department of Primary Industries Queensland Fisheries Service senior extension officer, Peter Long, said the annual survey captured, recorded and released 71 barramundi, 22 Saratoga, two yellowbelly and other species.
Mr Long said the capture of so many barramundi had the locals reminiscing of the pre-1970s prolific barramundi population in the upper reaches of the Fitzroy and Dawson River system prior to the construction of the Rockhampton Barrage and the Baralaba weir.
"The surveyed barramundi were in two distinct size classes that clearly reflected the last year’s January 16 release of 15,000 fingerlings above and below the weir and a followup release last summer of 5400 fingerling on December 18," said mr Long.
"The biggest specimens approaching two-year-old were 50cm in length while last summer’s release now averaged 370mm long. These stocked fish were purchased conjointly through the Queensland Government’s Freshwater Enhancement Program and the fund-raising efforts of the Baralaba Fish Stocking Group," said Mr Long.
Baralaba Fish Stocking Group president, Robbie Price, said the local community had thrown its support behind the fish stocking project that was successfully recreating a viable recreational fishery. Under Mr Long’s supervision, the survey group used the DPI boat and two stocking group vessels to set 10 nets between 4pm and 9pm.
"Prospects for a continuing natural resurgence of the native fish population in the Fitzroy and the lower Dawson River systems have greatly improved in the past seven years. We have an effective vertical slot fishway constructed on the Rockhampton City Council Barrage and a fish lock on the Eden Bann Weir on the Fitzroy River.
"Last year, the Department of Natural Resources and Mines incorporated a fish lock into the existing Baralaba Weir and a vertical slot fishway was built into the Moura Weir that will enhance the spawning prospects for yellowbelly and other migratory species," he said.
Further upstream in the Dawson system, migratory fish still encountered impassable barriers at the Theodore, Orange Creek, Gyranda and Glebe weirs where there was no provision for fish transfer.
Mr Long said significant storm rains of 75-125mm in the upper Dawson catchment early last week were expected to fill Taroom’s Glebe Weir. It was anticipated there would be limited flows further downstream. It was approaching the right time of year to stimulate spawning activity for migratory native fish species.
A five-hour netting survey of fish species in Baralaba’s Neville Hewitt Weir on the Dawson River created plenty of excitement and a sense of achievement for members of the Baralaba Fish Stocking Group.
Department of Primary Industries Queensland Fisheries Service senior extension officer, Peter Long, said the annual survey captured, recorded and released 71 barramundi, 22 Saratoga, two yellowbelly and other species.
Mr Long said the capture of so many barramundi had the locals reminiscing of the pre-1970s prolific barramundi population in the upper reaches of the Fitzroy and Dawson River system prior to the construction of the Rockhampton Barrage and the Baralaba weir.
"The surveyed barramundi were in two distinct size classes that clearly reflected the last year’s January 16 release of 15,000 fingerlings above and below the weir and a followup release last summer of 5400 fingerling on December 18," said mr Long.
"The biggest specimens approaching two-year-old were 50cm in length while last summer’s release now averaged 370mm long. These stocked fish were purchased conjointly through the Queensland Government’s Freshwater Enhancement Program and the fund-raising efforts of the Baralaba Fish Stocking Group," said Mr Long.
Baralaba Fish Stocking Group president, Robbie Price, said the local community had thrown its support behind the fish stocking project that was successfully recreating a viable recreational fishery. Under Mr Long’s supervision, the survey group used the DPI boat and two stocking group vessels to set 10 nets between 4pm and 9pm.
"Prospects for a continuing natural resurgence of the native fish population in the Fitzroy and the lower Dawson River systems have greatly improved in the past seven years. We have an effective vertical slot fishway constructed on the Rockhampton City Council Barrage and a fish lock on the Eden Bann Weir on the Fitzroy River.
"Last year, the Department of Natural Resources and Mines incorporated a fish lock into the existing Baralaba Weir and a vertical slot fishway was built into the Moura Weir that will enhance the spawning prospects for yellowbelly and other migratory species," he said.
Further upstream in the Dawson system, migratory fish still encountered impassable barriers at the Theodore, Orange Creek, Gyranda and Glebe weirs where there was no provision for fish transfer.
Mr Long said significant storm rains of 75-125mm in the upper Dawson catchment early last week were expected to fill Taroom’s Glebe Weir. It was anticipated there would be limited flows further downstream. It was approaching the right time of year to stimulate spawning activity for migratory native fish species.