Fishers Celebrate a Decade of Unlocking Barra Secrets

Tin or aluminium is the usual gift people get for their 10 year anniversary but this year Queensland's long-term monitoring program want barramundi.

Fisheries Queensland fisheries technician, Brenda Foley said that this year the barramundi monitoring program was celebrating 10 years of collecting information from fishers about the species.  

"The barramundi fishery is an important and popular fishery across Queensland and it is important that we understand its sustainability," Ms Foley said.

"To get information about the sustainability of the fishery we rely on commercial and recreational fishermen as well as fish processors to donate samples of barramundi from their catch.

"From the samples we collect length and age information.

"The age is determined by examining banding patterns in the ear bones (otoliths) from the fish."

John Byers, a commercial fisherman has been giving samples to the program for the past three years.

"I contribute to the program as the barramundi fishery is very important to me, my livelihood and my family's way of life," Mr Byers said. 

"Fisheries Queensland uses not only commercial catch data, recreational catch and effort surveys and diaries but they also use the samples we give them to ensure the barramundi fishery continues to be sustainable."

Ms Foley said the samples from Mr Byers and other fishers in the program had unlocked many barramundi secrets.

"For example we have found that there is a large variation in fish growth between different river systems.

"This difference relates to environmental conditions such as water temperature and food availability.

 "We have also found that most barramundi caught were between three and five years old - indicating the fishery seemed to be in a good state at the moment.

"I would like to thank all fishers and processors for their efforts so far and look forward to working with them again this year - who knows what secrets we will unlock together in the next 10 years."

Other outcomes of the barramundi monitoring program will be available in the 2007-2009 results update available on the website in the coming months.

For more information on barramundi and other species monitored by Fisheries Queensland or to become involved in the monitoring program contact 13 25 23 or visit www.deedi.qld.gov.au