Ageing validation of northern carp populations

The Carp is considered a threat to our native river fish and ecosystems by its ability to adapt to almost any fresh water body and through its feeding and breeding habits, change environmental parameters such as turbidity, light and water temperatures. This project forms part of the Invasive Animal CRC's freshwater program and is part of a strategy to develop control measures for carp. The age and size at maturity for carp in the northern part of their range (ie. Queensland) is currently unknown

A review of domestication effects on stocked fishes, strategies to improve post stocking survival of fishes and their potential application to threatened fish species recovery programs in the Murray–Darling Basin

Introduction A number of Australian native fish species in the Murray–Darling Basin have declined significantly and are listed as vulnerable or endangered in part of, or across all of their former range within the Basin (Lintermans 2007). These species include large bodied icon species such as Murray cod (Maccullochella peelii), trout cod (Maccullochella macquariensis), Macquarie perch (Macquaria australasica), silver perch (Bidyanus bidyanus) and eel-tailed catfish (Tandanus tandanus), as well as small bodied species like the southern purple spotted gudgeon (Mogurnda adspersa) and the olive perchlet (Ambassis agassizi) (Murray–Darling Basin Commission 2004). The Murray–Darling Basin Commission (now Murray–Darling Basin Authority) has developed a Native Fish Strategy (the Strategy) with the long-term goal of restoring native fish populations to 60% of their pre-European colonisation levels. One of the objectives of the Strategy is to devise and implement recovery plans for threatened fish species. Driving actions of the Strategy include rehabilitating fish habitat, protecting fish habitat, managing riverine structures (barriers to migration), controlling alien fish species, protecting threatened fish species and managing fish translocation and stocking (Murray–Darling Basin Commission 2004). Although all these actions are likely to have positive effects on the recovery of threatened fishes, in some catchments of the Basin these fish have already become locally extinct, or declined so drastically that carefully managed conservation stocking of hatchery-reared fish may become a necessary part of any recovery program. If the driving actions of the Native Fish Strategy are successful, then reintroduced hatchery-reared threatened fish that survive should go on to produce self-sustaining populations. However, conservation stockings are not always successful. Much of this has been attributed to domestication effects of captive rearing. The basis of this review is to investigate why stocking of hatchery-reared fish is not always successful and how to improve the post-stocking survival of hatchery-reared fish. The review also includes an investigation of current hatchery practices in eastern Australia to determine likely domestication effects on threatened Murray–Darling Basin species

Jungle perch Kuhlia rupestris fingerling production manual

This manual consists of written descriptions of jungle perch Kuhlia rupestris production and video material to demonstrate each of the key production steps. Video links are at the end of each major written section in the document. To activate the link use ctrl click. The videos enhance the instructive ability of this manual. The keys to producing jungle perch are: - maintaining broodstock in freshwater or low salinity water less than 5 ppt - spawning fish in full seawater at 28C - incubating eggs in full seawater. Salinities must not be less than 32 ppt - ensuring that first feed jungle perch larvae have an adequate supply of copepod nauplii - rearing larvae in full seawater under bright light - use of gentle aeration in tanks - postponing spawns until adequate densities of copepod nauplii are present in ponds - sustaining copepod blooms in ponds for at least 20 days - avoiding use of paddlewheels in ponds - supplementary feeding with Artemia salina and weaning diets from 20 days after hatch - harvesting of fingerlings or fry after they are 25-30 mm in length (50 to 60 days post hatch) - covering tanks of fingerlings with 5 mm mesh and submerging freshwater inlets to prevent jumping

Jungle perch Kuhlia rupestris fingerling production manual

This manual consists of written descriptions of jungle perch Kuhlia rupestris production and video material to demonstrate each of the key production steps. Video links are at the end of each major written section in the document. To activate the link use ctrl click. The videos enhance the instructive ability of this manual. The keys to producing jungle perch are: - maintaining broodstock in freshwater or low salinity water less than 5 ppt - spawning fish in full seawater at 28C - incubating eggs in full seawater. Salinities must not be less than 32 ppt - ensuring that first feed jungle perch larvae have an adequate supply of copepod nauplii - rearing larvae in full seawater under bright light - use of gentle aeration in tanks - postponing spawns until adequate densities of copepod nauplii are present in ponds - sustaining copepod blooms in ponds for at least 20 days - avoiding use of paddlewheels in ponds - supplementary feeding with Artemia salina and weaning diets from 20 days after hatch - harvesting of fingerlings or fry after they are 25-30 mm in length (50 to 60 days post hatch) - covering tanks of fingerlings with 5 mm mesh and submerging freshwater inlets to prevent jumping

The multiple sclerosis risk sharing scheme monitoring study - early results and lessons for the future

Background: Risk sharing schemes represent an innovative and important approach to the problems of rationing and achieving cost-effectiveness in high cost or controversial health interventions. This study aimed to assess the feasibility of risk sharing schemes, looking at long term clinical outcomes, to determine the price at which high cost treatments would be acceptable to the NHS. Methods: This case study of the first NHS risk sharing scheme, a long term prospective cohort study of beta interferon and glatiramer acetate in multiple sclerosis ( MS) patients in 71 specialist MS centres in UK NHS hospitals, recruited adults with relapsing forms of MS, meeting Association of British Neurologists (ABN) criteria for disease modifying therapy. Outcome measures were: success of recruitment and follow up over the first three years, analysis of baseline and initial follow up data and the prospect of estimating the long term cost-effectiveness of these treatments. Results: Centres consented 5560 patients. Of the 4240 patients who had been in the study for a least one year, annual review data were available for 3730 (88.0%). Of the patients who had been in the study for at least two years and three years, subsequent annual review data were available for 2055 (78.5%) and 265 (71.8%) patients respectively. Baseline characteristics and a small but statistically significant progression of disease were similar to those reported in previous pivotal studies. Conclusion: Successful recruitment, follow up and early data analysis suggest that risk sharing schemes should be able to deliver their objectives. However, important issues of analysis, and political and commercial conflicts of interest still need to be addressed

Improved methodology for introducing threatened hatchery reared fish

Eel tailed catfish, silver perch and Murray cod are three key recreational fishing species that have declined in the Murray-Darling Basin region. This research project will be an important step towards developing methods to restore and enhance stocks of these fish

Developing Jungle Perch Fingerling Production to Improve Fishing Opportunities

This project has for the first time demonstrated the feasibility of hatchery production of jungle perch fingerlings. The research on jungle perch production has enabled a hatchery production manual with accompanying videos to be produced. This has given private commercial hatcheries the information needed to produce jungle perch fingerlings. Several hatcheries have already indicated an interest in producing jungle perch and will be assisted to do so in 2016. Currently jungle perch are not a permitted stocking species, so cannot be sold to fish stocking groups. However, hatcheries will be able to sell fingerlings to the aquarium trade or supply grow out facilities that could produce jungle perch for human consumption. Should jungle perch become a permitted species for stocking, this will provide hatcheries with a major new product option to sell to fish stocking groups. It would also benefit anglers by providing another iconic species for impoundment stocking programs. This could have flow-on benefits to regional economies through angler tourism. Should the pilot reintroductions of jungle perch into streams result in self-sustaining jungle perch populations, then there will be three restored jungle perch populations close to major population centres. This will create a new opportunity for anglers not normally able to target jungle perch. Since the majority of anglers who target jungle perch are catch and release fishers, angling is expected to have minimal impact on recovery of the populations. This project led to the development of a hatchery manual for jungle perch production and to a summary brochure. In late 2014 and in 2015 researchers were able to make the first ever releases of jungle perch fingerlings back into rivers and streams within their historical range

Developing Jungle Perch Fingerling Production to Improve Fishing Opportunities

This project has for the first time demonstrated the feasibility of hatchery production of jungle perch fingerlings. The research on jungle perch production has enabled a hatchery production manual with accompanying videos to be produced. This has given private commercial hatcheries the information needed to produce jungle perch fingerlings. Several hatcheries have already indicated an interest in producing jungle perch and will be assisted to do so in 2016. Currently jungle perch are not a permitted stocking species, so cannot be sold to fish stocking groups. However, hatcheries will be able to sell fingerlings to the aquarium trade or supply grow out facilities that could produce jungle perch for human consumption. Should jungle perch become a permitted species for stocking, this will provide hatcheries with a major new product option to sell to fish stocking groups. It would also benefit anglers by providing another iconic species for impoundment stocking programs. This could have flow-on benefits to regional economies through angler tourism. Should the pilot reintroductions of jungle perch into streams result in self-sustaining jungle perch populations, then there will be three restored jungle perch populations close to major population centres. This will create a new opportunity for anglers not normally able to target jungle perch. Since the majority of anglers who target jungle perch are catch and release fishers, angling is expected to have minimal impact on recovery of the populations. This project led to the development of a hatchery manual for jungle perch production and to a summary brochure. In late 2014 and in 2015 researchers were able to make the first ever releases of jungle perch fingerlings back into rivers and streams within their historical range