DAF

Did you know that there are more grey mackerel caught in the Gulf of Carpentaria than anywhere else in Australia? Grey mackerel are found from Shark Bay in Western Australia, across northern Australia and down the east coast to northern NSW. This year Fishery Monitoring have expanded the collection of length, sex, and age information from commercial catches of grey …

The largest release of seahorses ever undertaken took place last week, with 350 Endangered White’s Seahorses successfully deployed into Seahorse Hotels in the first ever Port Stephens release! This deployment is part of the White’s Seahorse Conservation Recovery Project, which is a collaboration between NSW DPI Fisheries and SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium. Following this monumental seahorse release, divers from NSW …

Two women have been fined $2000 each with a third woman incurring $500 in professional costs after collecting invertebrates in excess of the bag limits from Hastings Point rocky shore. Following an Information Report received via the Fisherwatch 1800 number, Fisheries Officers apprehended 3 women (and one dependent) collecting invertebrates, including sea urchins and turban snails at the Hastings Point …

What kind of red crab walks forwards and backwards instead of sideways? If you said a spanner crab, you’re absolutely right! They’re a high sought after delicacy and our scientists are hitting the water to take part in the 21st annual fishery-independent spanner crab survey! Fishery Monitoring staff will be working onboard chartered commercial vessels to gather size, sex and …

Fishers who support research by reporting tagged mud crabs in Queensland can get their claws on free escape vents. The reports will help researchers track the spawning migration of female mud crabs and learn more about the species. Department of Agriculture and Fisheries principal scientist Dr Julie Robins said the research would help ensure Queensland mud crab fisheries remained sustainable. …

Dusky flathead stocks in three popular NSW South Coast estuary systems have received a significant boost following the recent release of more than 50,000 flattie fingerlings! Over recent weeks 27,900 dusky fingerlings have been released into St Georges Basin, 12,900 into Burrill Lake and 11,450 into Lake Conjola – bringing the total number of flatties released by NSW DPI this …

Be Crocwise Croc country (considered to be typical crocodile habitat) begins at the Boyne River south of Gladstone, and extends northward, up the east coast and across Far North Queensland. Crocodiles can sometimes also be found outside of croc country. Just because you can’t see a crocodile, it doesn’t mean there is not one close by. Crocodiles can stay underwater …

Working groups provide Fisheries Queensland with important operational advice on the sustainable management of our fisheries – a key action under the Sustainable Fisheries Strategy. We are currently seeking a range of people to join 14 fishery working groups, including commercial and recreational fishers, charter operators, seafood marketers and processors, conservation representatives and First Nations peoples. We look for a …

A diver has been caught illegally fishing for eastern rock lobsters in Long Reef Aquatic Reserve. On a recent patrol Fisheries Officers were conducting covert surveillance at Long Reef on the Northern Beaches of Sydney, when they intercepted a diver who was found with three eastern rock lobster taken illegally from the reserve. Two of the lobsters were prohibited in …

The Darling River was once again making headlines as the muddy waters were hardly visible through a blanket of dead fish. The Murray-Darling Basin Authority’s mantra of ‘just add water’ has had a schooling once again by Mother Nature as the kills came on the back of some of the highest inflows and floods on record. Closer to home, residents …