A systematic program of research and development is needed to enable reliable cost-effective hatchery production of Sydney rock oyster (SRO) seed to allow demonstrated benefits of triploid oysters and advances in SRO selection for growth and disease resistance. This R&D program incorporates relevant recommendations of the recent “Review of Hatchery Production Technology and Breeding Program for Sydney Rock Oysters (“Benzie et al., FRDC 2001/213). This review acknowledged that the potential benefits of solving SRO hatchery production problems far outweigh the likely costs. The R&D program also incorporates and integrates recommendations the of the NSW Fisheries – FRDC “Sydney Rock Oyster Hatchery and Nursery Health Workshop” held on the 8 th and 9th of August 2002 at Nelson Bay. Central among these recommendations were:
1 The need for a revision of hatchery procedures and the assessment/adoption of alternate algal, larval and spat rearing technology.
2 The need to elucidate the fundamental autecological (temperature and salinity) and nutritional requirements of SRO during early ontogeny, that have not yet been addressed and will be central to the production of the species.
3 The need for systematic and appropriate sampling procedures for the diagnosis of potential disease occurrences.

Independent of the species involved, there is a need to document the processes involved in developing techniques and strategies to culture otherwise intransigent species. This research will provide a unique opportunity to document the history of problems with SRO, the consultation undertaken, the strategies developed for SRO and the techniques for their implementation. This document, the FRDC final report for this research, would provide a reference for dealing systematically with hatchery based problems and will provide an array of monitoring and assessment protocols for other molluscs.

Jungle perch once occurred widely in coastal Queensland rivers, from Cape York to Northern NSW. Central and southern populations have declined or become locally extinct due to dams and weirs blocking migration pathways between saltwater (where they spawn) and freshwater habitats (where they reside as juveniles and adults). Unlike barramundi, mullet and bass; jungle perch cannot persist long-term in saltwater habitats. Barriers lead to rapid local extinction. Construction of fishways on barriers in the past 10 years has created suitable conditions for the reintroduction of jungle perch. There are limited opportunities for natural recolonisation, and remnant adult populations of local strains are too few for translocation to be a practical solution. Restocking from captive bred individuals is the only option to bring back jungle perch fisheries.

Restoring wild jungle perch fisheries is a high priority for recreational fishers in Queensland. Reintroduction of self sustaining populations in rivers in south-eastern Queensland and the Mackay-Whitsunday Region will provide angling opportunities to large populations of anglers. Development of jungle perch fingerling production will also create future opportunities to further enhance Queensland's stocked impoundments and make jungle perch accessible to even more anglers.

Recent research by DEEDI has solved much of the reproductive biology of jungle perch, which can now be spawned regularly in captivity. Jungle perch larvae are much smaller (2.3 mm) than bass and barramundi larvae and establishment of first feeding has been problematic. Strategies to promote larval feeding need to be developed. The transition from larvae to fingerlings is critical for future development of jungle perch fisheries.

The decline of the WSPs in the Swan-Canning Estuary was marked firstly in commercial catches in the 1970s and subsequently, a decline in recreational catches through to the late 1990s. Reasons for the decline are not well understood but coincide with actions to improve environmental conditions of the river system. This once abundant and iconic species is highly prized by recreational fishers in the region and is a core community value identified in surveys of river users. For this reason, addressing the population decline of the WSP is seen as priority for research under the SRT Healthy Rivers Action Plan. The WAFF project on the production and release of WSPs in the Swan-Canning Estuary, funded through WA Recreational Fishing Initiatives Fund, will work to develop production technologies for WSPs and engage the community but is not funded to fully evaluate the effectiveness of the restocking. This WAFF program needs to be supported by an investigative and evaluative program that can ascertain current population levels and factors limiting natural recruitment, optimize release strategies and evaluate cost-benefits, which forms the basis for this FRDC application.

The combination of the WAFF project with this FRDC proposal will also help evaluate the potential effectiveness of a major restocking program to rebuild the stocks of WSPs in the Swan-Canning estuary. The stock enhancement and associated community engagement program (PrawnWatch) have the potential to increase the numbers of recreational fishers in this fishery, the quality of their fishing experience and provide recreational fishers (and the broader community) with a greater understanding of the biology and ecology of WSPs and the environmental conditions of the system. The WAFF project, particularly the PrawnWatch component, also provides opportunities to engage fishers in improved stewardship of the fishery and the Swan-Canning Estuary.