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Welcome our newest member:
PeterV
(no. 12974)
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Why Do You Go Fishing?
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For the sport of it
(62.8 %) 187 votes
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To be with family and mates
(8.4 %) 25 votes
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Catch that trophy fish
(6.0 %) 18 votes
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To be outdoors
(15.1 %) 45 votes
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For a Feed
(7.7 %) 23 votes
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(Votes Counted: 298)
Vote Now!
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Fisheries Victoria
'A fortnightly round-up of recreational fisheries management issues'
Fish-e-Fax Issue 207, 25 October 2007
Seagrass habitats crucial to fish production in Corner Inlet
New research has found seagrasses and the filamentous algae growing on seagrass leaves (epiphytes) are a vital source of nutrition for fish in Corner Inlet in south Gippsland. It accounts for up to 90 per cent of the total nutrition of a number of species.
Zostera seagrass bed |
The research identified seagrasses and filamentous algae as major nutritional sources for King George whiting, southern sea garfish and yellow eye mullet in Corner Inlet waters, even though very few of these species feed directly on seagrass or epiphytes.
During the studies, researchers determined that the three seagrass species Heterozostera , Halophilia and Posidonia contributed around 70 per cent of the seagrass-based nutrition for King George whiting, with seagrass epiphytes contributing the remaining 30 per cent; whereas the research indicates 60 per cent of seagrass-based nutrition for southern sea garfish and yellow-eye mullet was obtained from algae epiphytes.
This information will assist researchers assess what impact any future changes in seagrass cover will have on Corner Inlet's fisheries production.
The research was carried out by Fisheries Victoria and the West Gippsland Catchment Management Authority and also supported by funds provided through the Natural Heritage Trust.
The BIA tackles the marine pest problem
The Boating Industry Association (BIA) of Victoria are working in partnership with industry, government and recreational boat owners to raise awareness about marine pests and the measures we can take to stop them spreading.
The marine pest education campaign is the first of its kind in Australia. Victoria is leading the way, showing that our boating community is proactive and keen to preserve our marine environment and maintain our boating lifestyle.
A marine pest invasion poses risks to human health, fish stocks, marine habitats and infrastructure, which in turn, can impact on recreational and commercial marine industry. In a state like Victoria, where coastal activities contribute billions of dollars a year to the State economy, a serious invasion could be crippling.
Until recently, the spread of marine pests was always considered a commercial shipping problem - translocating pests through ballast water exchange. We now know that many of these introductions were not from ballast exchange but hull fouling on the ships. We also know that it is not only ships that can carry pests but all vessels including yachts, powerboats, fishing boats, jet skis and even canoes.
Once a pest arrives in Australian waters it can easily spread by ‘hitching' a ride with a recreational boat – fouling on the hull, tangled in anchors and gear, or carried in plumbing systems and bilge water. Regular and thorough boat maintenance is the key to preventing the spread of marine pests in Victorian and Australian waters.
For more information contact Karen Bennett of the BIA on (03) 8696 5600 or email: karen@biavic.com.au .
Pilot telephone survey to estimate recreational fishing catches in coastal Victoria - coming to a close
In April 2006, fisheries scientists set about estimating the recreational catch of fish from Victoria's coastal waters by contacting a sample of Victorian anglers and asking them a series of questions about their fishing habits in Victoria's coastal marine waters (including Western Port and Port Phillip Bay).
Selected anglers were then asked to participate in a year-long survey and provide regular updates of their fishing activities to the DPI project team. The last phase of this project is now being undertaken.
A further 3000 recreational anglers from across Victoria, who held a Recreational Fishing Licence (RFL) in 2006/07, will be selected to participate in the survey. These anglers will be contacted over the next month and asked to participate in a calibration survey that will include the following questions regarding their fishing activity in the past year:
- The number of fishing trips conducted
- Fishing methods used
- Species of fish caught, and
- Reasons for fishing.
The information gained from the calibration survey will allow researchers to standardise the data collected from the ongoing survey, so that it reflects the demographics of Victorian RFL holders.
The calibration survey should take about five minutes to complete and all information collected will be strictly confidential and will not be reported in any form that would allow individuals to be identified.
The survey is part of a project funded by Fisheries Victoria and the Fisheries Research and Development Corporation.
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