Contribution of stocked fish to riverine populations of golden perch (Macquaria ambigua) in the Murray–Darling Basin, Australia
David A. Crook A D G , Damien J. O’Mahony A , Bronwyn M. Gillanders B , Andrew R. Munro B E , Andrew C. Sanger C , Stephen Thurstan C and Lee J. Baumgartner C F
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
A Arthur Rylah Institute for Environmental Research, Department of Environment and Primary Industries, 123 Brown Street, Heidelberg, Vic. 3084, Australia.
B Southern Seas Ecology Laboratories, Darling Building DP418, School of Biological Sciences, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA 5005, Australia.
C New South Wales Department of Primary Industries, 3/556 Macauley Street, Albury, NSW 2640, Australia.
D Present address: Research Institute for the Environment and Livelihoods, Charles Darwin University, Ellengowan Drive, Casuarina, NT 0909, Australia.
E Present address: Commercial Fisheries Division, Alaska Department of Fish and Game, 333 Raspberry Road, Anchorage, AK 99518, USA.
F Present address: Murray–Darling Freshwater Research Centre, LaTrobe University, University Drive, Wodonga, Vic. 3948, Australia.
G Corresponding author. Email: david.crook@cdu.edu.au
Marine and Freshwater Research 67(10) 1401-1409 https://doi.org/10.1071/MF15037
Submitted: 28 January 2015 Accepted: 4 August 2015 Published: 13 October 2015
Abstract
Stocking of native fishes is conducted to augment riverine fisheries in many parts of the world, yet most stocking activities are conducted without empirical information on their effectiveness or impacts. In the Murray–Darling Basin (MDB), Australia, stocking has been underway for several decades to maintain recreational fisheries. We stocked chemically tagged golden perch (Macquaria ambigua) fingerlings in three rivers to determine the proportions of stocked fish within populations of the species. Stocked sites were monitored for up to 5 years in the Murrumbidgee River, Edward River and Billabong Creek and non-stocked sites were monitored in the Murray River. Catch per unit effort of stocked year classes increased substantially in Billabong Creek, with stocked fish contributing 100 (2005), 79 (2006) and 92% (2007). Chemically tagged fish comprised 18–38% of the respective age classes in the Murrumbidgee and Edward rivers and there was little evidence of natural recruitment in the non-stocked Murray River. Tagged fish generally attained the legal minimum size within 4 years and had dispersed up to 60 km from the original release location. Our results demonstrate that artificial stocking has the potential to strongly influence the abundance and population structure of golden perch in rivers of the MDB.
Additional keywords: calcein; chemical tagging; fish stocking; fisheries management; stock enhancement.
References
Anderson, J. R., Morison, A. K., and Ray, D. J. (1992). Validation of the use of thin-sectioned otoliths for determining the age and growth of golden perch, Macquaria ambigua (Perciformes: Percichthyidae), in the Lower Murray–Darling Basin, Australia. Australian Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research 43, 1103–1128.| Validation of the use of thin-sectioned otoliths for determining the age and growth of golden perch, Macquaria ambigua (Perciformes: Percichthyidae), in the Lower Murray–Darling Basin, Australia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Aprahamian, M. W., Martin Smith, K., McGinnity, P., McKelvey, S., and Taylor, J. (2003). Restocking of salmonids – opportunities and limitations. Fisheries Research 62, 211–227.
| Restocking of salmonids – opportunities and limitations.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Brown, C., and Day, R. L. (2002). The future of stock enhancements: lessons for hatchery practice from conservation biology. Fish and Fisheries 3, 79–94.
| The future of stock enhancements: lessons for hatchery practice from conservation biology.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Caddy, J. F., and Defeo, O. (2003). Enhancing or restoring the productivity of natural populations of shellfish and other marine invertebrate resources. FAO Fisheries Technical Paper 448. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Rome.
Cowx, I. G. (1994). Stocking strategies. Fisheries Management and Ecology 1, 15–30.
| Stocking strategies.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Cowx, I. G. (1999). An appraisal of stocking strategies in the light of developing country constraints. Fisheries Management and Ecology 6, 21–34.
| An appraisal of stocking strategies in the light of developing country constraints.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Cowx, I. G., and Gerdeaux, D. (2004). The effects of fisheries management practises on freshwater ecosystems. Fisheries Management and Ecology 11, 145–151.
| The effects of fisheries management practises on freshwater ecosystems.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Crook, D. A., O’Mahony, D. J., Sanger, A. C., Munro, A. R., Gillanders, B. M., and Thurstan, S. (2009). Development and evaluation of methods for osmotic induction marking of golden perch (Macquaria ambigua) with calcein and alizarin red S. North American Journal of Fisheries Management 29, 279–287.
| Development and evaluation of methods for osmotic induction marking of golden perch (Macquaria ambigua) with calcein and alizarin red S.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Eby, L. A., Roach, W. J., Crowder, L. B., and Stanford, J. A. (2006). Effects of stocking-up freshwater food webs. Trends in Ecology & Evolution 21, 576–584.
| Effects of stocking-up freshwater food webs.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Faulks, L. K., Gilligan, D. M., and Beheregaray, L. B. (2010). Islands of water in a sea of dry land: hydrological regime predicts genetic diversity and dispersal in a widespread fish from Australia’s arid zone, the golden perch (Macquaria ambigua). Molecular Ecology 19, 4723–4737.
| Islands of water in a sea of dry land: hydrological regime predicts genetic diversity and dispersal in a widespread fish from Australia’s arid zone, the golden perch (Macquaria ambigua).Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 20887362PubMed |
Fjellheim, A., Raddum, G. G., and Barlaup, B. T. (1995). Dispersal, growth and mortality of brown trout (Salmo trutta L.) stocked in a regulated West Norwegian river. Regulated Rivers: Research and Management 10, 137–145.
| Dispersal, growth and mortality of brown trout (Salmo trutta L.) stocked in a regulated West Norwegian river.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Forbes, J., Watts, R. J., Robinson, W. A., Baumgartner, L. J., McGuffie, P., Cameron, L. M., and Crook, D. A. (2016). Assessment of stocking effectiveness for Murray cod (Maccullochella peelii) and golden perch (Macquaria ambigua) in rivers and impoundments of south-eastern Australia. Marine and Freshwater Research 67, 1410–1419.
| Assessment of stocking effectiveness for Murray cod (Maccullochella peelii) and golden perch (Macquaria ambigua) in rivers and impoundments of south-eastern Australia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Gillanders, B. M., Elsdon, T. S., and Munro, A. R. (2006). Impacts of native fish stocking on fish in the Murray–Darling Basin. Report for Murray–Darling Basin Commission. (Murray–Darling Basin Commission: Canberra, ACT.)
Ham, K. D., and Pearsons, T. N. (2001). A practical approach for containing ecological risks associated with fish stocking programs. Fisheries 26, 15–23.
| A practical approach for containing ecological risks associated with fish stocking programs.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Hunt, R. L., Matveev, V., Jones, G. J., and Warburton, K. (2003). Structuring of the cyanobacterial community by pelagic fish in subtropical reservoirs: experimental evidence from Australia. Freshwater Biology 48, 1482–1495.
| Structuring of the cyanobacterial community by pelagic fish in subtropical reservoirs: experimental evidence from Australia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Hunt, T. L., Allen, M. S., Douglas, J., and Gason, A. (2010). Evaluation of a sport fish stocking program in lakes of the southern Murray–Darling Basin, Australia. North American Journal of Fisheries Management 30, 805–811.
| Evaluation of a sport fish stocking program in lakes of the southern Murray–Darling Basin, Australia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Hunt, T. L., Giri, K., Brown, P., Ingram, B. A., Jones, P. L., Laurenson, L. J. B., and Wallis, A. M. (2014). Consequences of fish stocking density in a recreational fishery. Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences 71, 1554–1560.
| Consequences of fish stocking density in a recreational fishery.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
King, A. J., Tonkin, Z., and Mahoney, J. (2009). Environmental flow enhances native fish spawning and recruitment in the Murray River, Australia. River Research and Applications 25, 1205–1218.
| Environmental flow enhances native fish spawning and recruitment in the Murray River, Australia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Lake, J. (1967a). Rearing experiments with five species of Australian freshwater fishes. I. Inducement to spawning. Australian Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research 18, 137–154.
| Rearing experiments with five species of Australian freshwater fishes. I. Inducement to spawning.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Lake, J. (1967b). Rearing experiments with five species of Australian freshwater fishes. II. Morphogenesis and ontogeny. Australian Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research 18, 155–176.
| Rearing experiments with five species of Australian freshwater fishes. II. Morphogenesis and ontogeny.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Lyon, J. P., Todd, C., Nicol, S. J., MacDonald, A., Stoessel, D., Ingram, B. A., Barker, R. J., and Bradshaw, C. J. A. (2012). Reintroduction success of threatened Australian trout cod (Maccullochella macquariensis) based on growth and reproduction. Marine and Freshwater Research 63, 598–605.
| Reintroduction success of threatened Australian trout cod (Maccullochella macquariensis) based on growth and reproduction.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Mallen-Cooper, M., and Brand, D. A. (2007). Non-salmonids in a salmonid fishway: what do 50 years of data tell us about past and future fish passage? Fisheries Management and Ecology 14, 319–332.
| Non-salmonids in a salmonid fishway: what do 50 years of data tell us about past and future fish passage?Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Mallen-Cooper, M., and Stuart, I. G. (2003). Age, growth and non-flood recruitment of two potamodromous fishes in a large semi-arid/temperate river system. River Research and Applications 19, 697–719.
| Age, growth and non-flood recruitment of two potamodromous fishes in a large semi-arid/temperate river system.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Millar, R. B. (1987). Maximum-likelihood-estimation of mixed stock fishery composition. Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences 44, 583–590.
| Maximum-likelihood-estimation of mixed stock fishery composition.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
O’Connor, J. P., O’Mahony, D. J., and O’Mahony, J. M. (2005). Movements of Macquaria ambigua in the Murray River, south-eastern Australia. Journal of Fish Biology 66, 392–403.
| Movements of Macquaria ambigua in the Murray River, south-eastern Australia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Paragamian, V. L., and Kingery, R. (1992). A comparison of walleye fry and fingerling stockings in three rivers in Iowa. North American Journal of Fisheries Management 12, 313–320.
| A comparison of walleye fry and fingerling stockings in three rivers in Iowa.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Pearsons, T. N., and Hopley, C. W. (1999). A practical approach for assessing ecological risks associated with fish stocking programs. Fisheries 24, 16–23.
| A practical approach for assessing ecological risks associated with fish stocking programs.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Post, J. R., Parkinson, E. A., and Johnston, N. T. (1999). Density-dependent processes in structured fish populations: interaction strengths in whole-lake experiments. Ecological Monographs 69, 155–175.
| Density-dependent processes in structured fish populations: interaction strengths in whole-lake experiments.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Rahel, F. J. (2007). Biogeographic barriers, connectivity and homogenization of freshwater faunas: it’s a small world after all. Freshwater Biology 52, 696–710.
| Biogeographic barriers, connectivity and homogenization of freshwater faunas: it’s a small world after all.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Reynolds, L. F. (1983). Migration patterns of five fish species in the Murray–Darling River system. Australian Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research 34, 857–871.
| Migration patterns of five fish species in the Murray–Darling River system.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Rimmer, M. A., and Russell, D. J. (1998). Survival of stocked barramundi, Lates calcarifer (Bloch), in a coastal river system in far northern Queensland, Australia. Bulletin of Marine Science 62, 325–336.
Rogers, M. W., Allen, M. S., Brown, P., Hunt, T., Fulton, W., and Ingram, B. A. (2010). A simulation model to explore the relative value of stock enhancement versus harvest regulations for fishery sustainability. Ecological Modelling 221, 919–926.
| A simulation model to explore the relative value of stock enhancement versus harvest regulations for fishery sustainability.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Rourke, M. L., McPartlan, H. C., Ingram, B. A., and Taylor, A. C. (2011). Variable stocking effect and endemic population genetic structure in Murray cod Maccullochella peelii. Journal of Fish Biology 79, 155–177.
| Variable stocking effect and endemic population genetic structure in Murray cod Maccullochella peelii.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:STN:280:DC%2BC3Mnlt1ehtA%3D%3D&md5=fd82089a8750d0c7f1dc7191ea5b067dCAS | 21722117PubMed |
Rowland, S. J. (1983a). Spawning of the Australian freshwater fish Murray cod, Maccullochella peeli (Mitchell), in earthen ponds. Journal of Fish Biology 23, 525–534.
| Spawning of the Australian freshwater fish Murray cod, Maccullochella peeli (Mitchell), in earthen ponds.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Rowland, S. J. (1983b). The hormone-induced ovulation and spawning of the Australian freshwater fish golden perch, Macquaria ambigua (Richardson) (Percichthyidae). Aquaculture 35, 221–238.
| The hormone-induced ovulation and spawning of the Australian freshwater fish golden perch, Macquaria ambigua (Richardson) (Percichthyidae).Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DyaL2cXkvFSisQ%3D%3D&md5=b3623df13dd4df729a698e4c6c47e4b2CAS |
Rowland, S. J. (1988). Hormone-induced spawning of the Australian freshwater fish Murray cod, Maccullochella peeli (Mitchell) (Percichthyidae). Aquaculture 70, 371–389.
| Hormone-induced spawning of the Australian freshwater fish Murray cod, Maccullochella peeli (Mitchell) (Percichthyidae).Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DyaL1cXlt1KhsLk%3D&md5=ddd404398fe42c6175e476d194a0eacdCAS |
Rowland, S. J. (1996). Development of techniques for the large-scale rearing of the larvae of the Australian freshwater fish golden perch, Macquaria ambigua (Richardson, 1845). Marine and Freshwater Research 47, 233–242.
| Development of techniques for the large-scale rearing of the larvae of the Australian freshwater fish golden perch, Macquaria ambigua (Richardson, 1845).Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DyaK28Xls1Khu74%3D&md5=493d0e277f7f8c008b1a8288d62ecb8bCAS |
Rowland, S. J., and Tully, P. (2004). ‘Hatchery Quality Assurance Program.’ (NSW Department of Primary Industries: Grafton, NSW, Australia.)
Russell, D. J., Rimmer, M. A., McDougall, A. J., Kistle, S. E., and Johnston, W. L. (2004). Stock enhancement of barramundi, Lates calcarifer (Bloch), in a coastal river system in northern Australia: stocking strategies, survival and benefit-cost. In ‘Stock Enhancement and Sea Ranching: Developments, Pitfalls and Opportunities’. (Eds K. M. Leber, S. Kitada, H. L. Blankenship, and T. Svåsand.) pp. 490–500. (Blackwell: Oxford, UK.)
Smith, T. I. J., McCord, J. W., Collins, M. R., and Post, W. C. (2002). Occurrence of stocked shortnose sturgeon Acipenser brevirostrum in non-target rivers. Journal of Applied Ichthyology 18, 470–474.
| Occurrence of stocked shortnose sturgeon Acipenser brevirostrum in non-target rivers.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Støttrup, J. G., Sparrevohn, C. R., Modin, J., and Lehmann, K. (2002). The use of releases of reared fish to enhance natural populations: a case study on turbot Psetta maxima (Linné, 1758). Fisheries Research 59, 161–180.
| The use of releases of reared fish to enhance natural populations: a case study on turbot Psetta maxima (Linné, 1758).Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Tonn, W. M., Holopainen, I. J., and Paszkowski, C. A. (1994). Density-dependent effects and the regulation of crucian carp populations in single-species ponds. Ecology 75, 824–834.
| Density-dependent effects and the regulation of crucian carp populations in single-species ponds.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
van der Walt, B., and Faragher, R. A. (2003). Otolith marking of rainbow trout fry by immersion in low concentrations of alizarin complexone. North American Journal of Fisheries Management 23, 141–148.
| Otolith marking of rainbow trout fry by immersion in low concentrations of alizarin complexone.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Welcomme, R. L., and Bartley, D. M. (1998). Current approaches to the enhancement of fisheries. Fisheries Management and Ecology 5, 351–382.
| Current approaches to the enhancement of fisheries.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
