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Australia

Why carp, one of Australia’s worst introduced pests, could be a great budget-friendly fish

A close up image of a big carp fish with its mouth opened.

Just a fraction of the 5,000 seafood species make it from the ocean to dinner plates, but experts say broadening our nets could help seafood sustainability while keeping the weekly food budget in check.

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Is it time for our fish-and-chip menus to change?

New South Wales Department of Primary Industries senior fisheries manager Luke Pearce told ABC Radio Melbourne that while carp had a bad name, the fish could find some love in the kitchen.

Carp are one of the worst introduced pests in Australia and have negative impacts on water quality and biodiversity, according to the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry.

“They have such a negative impact on our environment and they’ve just caused such huge problems in our river system,” Mr Pearce said.

A swap of carp in brown water swimming.
The more carp taken out of waterways the better, according to senior fisheries manager Luke Pearce.(Rural ABC)

There was also a notion that carp made bad eating and that put people off.

“I was of the opinion for a long time but I’ve convinced a lot of people over my time to taste them,” Mr Pearce said.

“But there are a few things you’ve got to do first.”

Plating up a pest

While Mr Pearce said carp could survive in some pretty unappealing environments, like in the water at a sewerage treatment plant, a good rule of thumb was that if you’d eat any other fish from the water source, carp would also be safe to consume .

Dead carp falling out of a crate
A national control plan is being developed for carp.(Landline: Kerry Staight)

“So if you’d eat a trout or a golden perch or a cod from the same waterway, then a carp would be fine to eat from it,” he said.

Mr Pearce said tackling the fish’s flavor was also something to keep in mind.

When under stress, carp produces histamines which create an odor and its distinctive muddy taste.

“The quicker you can get that fish on ice, the less likely the muddy taste will be present,” he said.

Slippery mucus on the fish’s body also tarnished carp’s eating reputation, but Mr Pearce said the solution was skinning.

“Once you skin your fish, that mucus is gone and you’ve got a really nice clean, fresh and tasty fillet of fish that you can do a bunch of things with,” he said.

cook vs cull

A $15.2 million carp control plan is being developed with the aim of slashing numbers of the invasive species using a herpes virus, but Mr Pearce said there was still a push for people to see the fish as a protein alternative.

“Carp are being turned into fertilizer … but they’re consuming all these resources that take away from our native fish and the more we can take out the better,” he said.

How about eels?

Co-founder of the Lake Bolac Eel Festival Neil Murray lives on Jupagalk Country in south-west Victoria and has been participating in an annual eel harvest for almost two decades.

Mr Murry said First Nations people would gather in the late summer at Lake Bolac as the eels began their annual migration to the sea to spawn, known as kuyang season.

“The eel was the most-favored fish by First Nations people,” he said.

“It’s highly nutritious, very abundant and it’s easy to catch.”

Raw eel on a plat
Eel is still largely exported overseas.(ABC Radio Sydney: Amanda Hoh)

Mr Murry said while the industry was still fairly lucrative, most of the catch was frozen for export.

“I just prefer it freshly grilled over coals and I usually cut it into sections about four-inches long and let the oil drip out of it,” he said.

“I think initially a lot of people were put off it because it’s a slimy, squirmy thing that looks like a snake, but when you’re brought up in the area like I was, it was a part of our diet.”

different not more

University of Melbourne marine and fisheries ecologist John Ford said of the species that fishers caught, only a few made it to the retail giants.

“The fish you see on the supermarket shelves, the ones that are already in demand, are only going to get more expensive,” Dr Ford said.

“The ocean can’t give us any more fish than it is right now and as the population grows, the demand grows.”

Dr Ford said that meant looking at eating lower-quality products, like fish meal, a product made from wild-caught fish and by-products.

But he said there was one major reason lesser-known products weren’t at the shops.

“We don’t know how to cook them, and that’s the real challenge,” he said.

Big pieces of Norwegian salmon are stacked on top of each other in a fridge at a supermarket.
It would need to be profitable for supermarkets to stock alternative seafood.(Flickr: BakiOguz)

Consumers would have to feel comfortable cooking an unfamiliar product.

“It requires someone to be bold and put these products on the shelf and to educate people,” Dr Ford said.

He said while Australia’s supermarket duopoly would make a shake-up a challenge, future collaboration with peak fishing bodies could shore up seafood’s future.

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Australia

Fish species opting for a sea change are making Tasmanian fishers happy

Fish species opting for a sea change are making Tasmanian fishers happy

Thirty years ago, passionate snapper fisher Damon Sherriff was lucky to catch 10 a year in Tasmania.

In the past few years, however, he’s seen his catch rate jump.

Fisher in a hat holds up a large red snapper out on a boat.
Snapper is Damon Sherriff’s favorite recreational fish.(Supplied: Damon Sherriff)

“I’ve actually caught over 200 [snapper] per season, so it just shows you how much the species has exploded in Tasmania,” he said.

Mr Sherriff has been chasing snapper since the early 1990s and mainly fishes out of the Tamar estuary in the state’s north.

And while he also loves a fresh fillet, the catch rate for his favorite eating fish, King George whiting, has skyrocketed as well.

“The whiting is another emerging species; it’s a fish that’s always been in Tasmania like the snapper, but the last few years it’s really exploded and it’s a very common fish now.”

A man in a beanie holds up two long fish he has caught.
King George whiting is also finding Damon Sherriff’s hook off north-east Tasmania.(Supplied: Damon Sherriff)

His experience hooking more warm-water fish in Tasmanian waters is backed up by new research from the Institute of Marine and Antarctic Studies (IMAS).

Scientists looking at key biological and ecological traits of snapper, yellowtail kingfish and King George whiting have found all three are settling in.

Woman wearing a coat looking forward.
Alexia Graba-Landry is investigating the potential of new fisheries.(ABC News: Maren Preuss)

“They’ve become more and more abundant in Tasmania,” marine scientist Alexia Graba-Landry said.

“As waters become warmer over a greater proportion of the state, that leads to better habitat for these fish and they’re likely to become more abundant.”

The research found that yellowtail kingfish were present in Tasmanian waters between October and May as small immature fish, while snapper were present year-round and there were reproductively mature adults.

King George whiting were also in Tasmania year-round and with adults successfully reproducing, the research said.

Fish on a boat.
King George whiting caught in Tasmania’s north-east.(Supplied: Damon Sherriff)

“There are historical records of King George whiting since the 1920s but they’re only occasional records, so increasingly we are finding more and more reports of King George whiting in Tasmania from recreational and commercial fishers,” Dr Graba-Landry said.

“For all three species, under future warming the habitat is likely to become more suitable, therefore they are likely to extend their range and increase their abundance.”

man looking at fish skeletons on table
Researcher Barrett Wolfe inspects fish frames from warm-water species found in Tasmanian waters.(Supplied: Dave Mossop)

The scientific team also ran data through modeling to work out what effect future population increases would have on local ecosystems.

“Across all scenarios there’s little evidence for any ecosystem collapse should these species extend their range and increase their abundance,” Dr Graba-Landry said.

It’s good news for fishers — King George whiting has become so comfortable it’s been flagged by IMAS as a developing fishery to keep an eye on.

“We’re presented with this unique opportunity to proactively manage these emerging fisheries,” Dr Graba-Landry said.

man holding small fish
IMAS officers including Dave Mossop have been investigating snapper numbers.(Supplied)

A lot of the research was done with the help of recreational fishers.

Instead of throwing out their fish waste, they have been donating their fish skeletons to scientists, helping them fill critical knowledge gaps on some species.

There were 16 drop-off points at tackle shops around the state.

“There was a lot of enthusiasm; 30 recreational fishers regularly donated frames,” Dr Graba-Landry said.

man holding a big fish, standing next to kayak
Damon Sherriff and a prize snapper caught from a kayak.(Supplied: Damon Sherriff)

Mr Sherriff donated his fair share. For the avid fisher, snapper will remain his favorite.

The amateur artist and fish taxidermist loves to draw and paint them and the prettier ones go on the wall.

“I love the colors in the snapper… I’m an arty-farty person and I really enjoy looking at a snapper fresh out of the water,” he said.

“I really enjoy trying to replicate the colors in a fish.”

stuffed fish on wall
Damon Sherriff taxidermises snapper he catches.(Supplied)

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Australia

Hundreds of dead fish found on banks of waterways near Gladstone and Biloela

A fish floats dead in the water, surrouded by weeds.

Hundreds of dead fish have been found on the banks of several central Queensland waterways, but authorities say there could be a simple explanation behind the deadly occurrence.

About 350 to 400 dead barramundi have been found at Callide Dam, just outside Biloela.

Colin Bendall, the executive general manager for Sunwater — the government organization that operates the dam — said the dead fish were large, about 10 kilograms and 1.2 meters in size.

“We have seen increased numbers over the past week,” he said.

“Most of those are introduced barramundi.”

About 100 dead barramundis have also been found in the past month at Lake Awoonga, near Gladstone.

Cause of fish deaths

Darren Barlow of the Gladstone Area Water Board said those fish were showing signs of a seasonal fungal infection, likely caused by adverse weather conditions.

“Conditions such as unseasonal winter rain, prolonged strong westerly winds, and limited access to warm water bays due to current lake levels can all impact fish health,” Mr Barlow said.

“While there is potential for more fish death sightings at Lake Awoonga, don’t be alarmed if you find a sick or dead fish.

“This event is rare… [but] similar events have occurred at Lake Awoonga and many other impoundments in the past.”

A fish floats on top of the water near the banks of a dam, weeds in the background.
Queensland’s Environment and Science Department says highly variable temperatures have coincided with the fish deaths.(ABC Capricorn: Tobi Loftus)

Mr Bendall said it was too early to tell whether the fish in the Callide Dam had also been impacted by a fungal infection.

But across winter, a minimum of minus 0.5 degrees Celsius and a maximum of 21.5 degrees have been recorded at Callide Dam.

The changes in temperatures are believed to have played a part in those deaths.

“Our main concern is making sure we get the fish cleaned up as soon as possible … as obviously it’s quite concerning for locals visiting the dam and also the fish stock society,” he said.

He said the incident had not impacted water quality from the dam, which provided drinking water to Biloela.

“We take regular samples of the water quality, and we’re also working closely with the local council,” Mr Bendall said.

A coal fire power station sitting just behind a large dam.
Callide Dam is located near the Callide Power Station just outside Biloela.(ABC Capricorn: Tobi Loftus)

Fishers and recreational users at both dams have been urged not to touch the dead fish due to the risk of injury or potential infection.

A spokesperson from Queensland’s Department of Environment and Science said it was aware of both incidents and was monitoring for further reports.

“Members of the public can report fish deaths to the department’s pollution hotline on 1300 130 372,” the spokesperson said.

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Australia

Commercial fishers eyeing compensation as six offshore wind farm zones get green light

Commercial fishers eyeing compensation as six offshore wind farm zones get green light

Trawl fishers have ramped up calls for compensation following the federal government’s announcement that it will establish six offshore wind energy zones.

Waters off Gippsland, Portland, the Hunter Valley, Illawarra, northern Tasmania, Perth and Bunbury have been earmarked for development.

But fishers are concerned they will be excluded from the sections of the ocean where the turbines are built.

The most progressed wind farm proposal is the Star of the South project in Gippsland.

“I think it’s obvious that Australia is moving to a lower carbon future,” South East Trawl Fishing Industry Association executive officer Simon Boag said.

“The problem we have is that the federal government has already given out rights … to go commercial fishing.

“Then they appear to be giving out a second set of rights to put in wind farms.

“The two are obviously to some extent mutually exclusive.”

An offshore wind farm
If built, the Star of the South wind farm may resemble Veja Mate in Germany.(Supplied: Star of South)

Bottom line for fishers

Mr Boag’s organization represents the interests of owners, fishers and sellers in the trawl fishery of south-eastern Australia.

He said fishing or quota rights sat “in the balance sheets of fishing businesses”.

“Fishing businesses borrow against them. They’re bought and sold between fishing businesses,” Mr Boag said.

Fishers already work around oil and gas platforms in Bass Strait.

Mr Boag said the exploration phase for new oil and gas developments was intrusive for the industry, but the longer-term exclusion zones were only a few hundred square meters.

“These wind farms are more or less a 500-square-kilometre exclusion,” he said.

“We’re assuming trawlers can’t go in there.

“What we need and want is that if we’re giving up our rights to go fishing and they’re going to build a wind farm and we’re all going to enjoy the electricity … that the fishing industry is adequately compensated.”

A 60-day consultation period was initiated alongside last week’s wind energy zone announcement.

Star of the South acting chief executive officer Erin Coldham encouraged people who used the waters to engage in the consultation process.

She said Star of the South’s turbines would be between seven and 25 kilometers from the coast of Woodside Beach, McLoughlins Beach and Port Albert.

“We’re aiming to get power into the grid by the end of this decade and we think that’s important, noting Yallourn [power station] is closing by 2028,” Ms Coldham said.

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Australia

Scientists discover cause of catastrophic mangrove destruction in Gulf of Carpentaria

Scientists discover cause of catastrophic mangrove destruction in Gulf of Carpentaria

In the summer of 2015-16, one of the most catastrophic mangrove diebacks ever recorded globally occurred in the Gulf of Carpentaria.

Some 40 million mangroves died across more than 2,000 kilometers of coastline, releasing nearly 1 million tonnes of carbon — equivalent to 1,000 jumbo jets flying back from Sydney to Paris.

After six years of searching for answers, scientists have formally identified what is causing the mass destruction. They hope the discovery will help predict and possibly prevent future events.

Valuable mangroves ‘died of thirst’

Map showing areas affected by severe mangrove dieback in late 2015.
Areas affected by severe mangrove dieback in late 2015 (grey shaded) along the gulf. Aerial surveys (red lines) were undertaken in 2016.(Supplied: NC Duke)

Mangrove ecologist and senior research scientist at James Cook University (JCU) Norman Duke was behind the discovery.

Dr Duke found that unusually low sea levels caused by severe El Niño events meant mangrove trees “essentially died of thirst”.

“The key factor responsible for this catastrophe appears to have been the sudden 40-centimetre drop in sea level that lasted for about six months, coinciding with no rainfall, killing vast areas of mangroves,” he said.

Author assisting with data analysis and JCU researcher Adam Canning said the study’s evidence for sea-level drop being the cause was found in the discovery of an earlier mass dieback in 1982, observed in satellite imagery.

Mass die-off of mangroves off Karumba on Queensland's Gulf Country coast
Hundreds of kilometers of mangroves along the coast of Karumba have turned a ghostly white.(Supplied: James Cook University)

“The 1982 dieback also coincided with an unusually extreme drop in sea level during another very severe El Niño event. We know from satellite data that the mangroves took at least 15 years to recover from that dieback,” Dr Canning said.

“Now they are caught in a vicious collapse and recovery cycle because of repeated pressure from climate change — the question remains when or if they will recover.”

Economic impact

Mangroves are valuable coastal ecosystems providing buffer shorelines against rising sea levels, protection against erosion, abundant carbon sinks, shelter for animals, nursery habitats, and food for marine life.

The destruction of mangroves can lead to a loss of fisheries, increased flooding, increased coastal damage from cyclones, and increased salinity of coastal soils and water supplies.

Mangroves stripped of foliage along a small tidal channel near the Robinson River.
Mangroves stripped of foliage along a small tidal channel near the Robinson River.(Supplied: Dr Norman Duke)

In the gulf, the mangrove dieback threatens a $30 million fishing industry, Dr Duke said.

“The fishing industry relies on these mangroves, including for redleg banana prawns, mudcrabs and fin fish,” he said.

“When the El Niño of 2015-16 struck, redleg banana prawn fishers reported their lowest-ever catches.”

Dr Duke said it was unlikely the gulf’s mangroves would recover due to the growing intensity of El Nino events.

“Our research reveals the presence of a previously unrecognized ‘collapse-recovery cycle’ of mangroves along gulf shorelines,” he said.

Composite image of NT mangrove dieback
Images of different sections of foreshore taken months apart show the extent of mangrove dieback in the NT.(Supplied: NC Duke)
Before and after mangrove death
Before and after the loss of a section of mangroves in the Gulf of Carpentaria.(Supplied: Dr Norman Duke)

“The threat of future El Niño-driven sea level drops appears imminent, as evidence points to a link between climate change and severe El Niño and La Niña events.

“Indeed, El Niño and La Niña have become more deadly over the last 50 years, and the long-term damage they inflict is expected to escalate.

“Under these circumstances, the potential for the mangroves to recover is understandably low.

Protecting future ecosystems

Dr Duke said closer monitoring was key to preventing future mass diebacks. He said regular aerial surveys were a place to start.

“Tropical mangroves need much greater protection, and more effective maintenance with regular health checks from dedicated national shoreline monitoring,” he said.

Mangrove dieback in the Northern Territory
Mangroves have died along a 2,000km stretch of coastline in the Gulf of Carpentaria.(Supplied: NC Duke)

“Our aerial surveys of more than 10,000 kilometers of north Australian coastlines have made a start.

“We’ve recorded environmental conditions and drivers of shoreline change for north-western Australia, eastern Cape York Peninsula, Torres Strait Islands and, of course, the Gulf of Carpentaria.

“As the climate continues to change, it’s vital to keep a close eye on our changing shoreline wetlands and to ensure we’re better prepared next time another El Niño disaster strikes.”

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Australia

Three new marine parks announced for Buccaneer Archipelago in WA’s Kimberley region

Aboriginal men in ceremonial garb dancing on the Dampier Peninsula

The WA government has announced three new marine parks, covering thousands of kilometers of the Kimberley coastline in Western Australia’s far north.

Formally unveiled this morning, the Bardi Jawi Garra, Mayala and Maiyalam Marine Parks cover more than 600,000 hectares of the Buccaneer Archipelago.

In a first for Western Australia, the parks have been co-designed and will be jointly managed by the area’s Bardi Jawi, Mayala and Dambeemangarddee traditional owners.

The new parks cover waters surrounding the Dampier Peninsula, north of Broome, land and coastline to the north of Derby, and the thousands of islands that make up the Buccaneer Archipelago.

A rocky island surrounded by mangroves, surrounded by blue water at high tide
This island in Yaloon (Cone Bay) is part of the newly created Maiyalam Marine Park.(Supplied: Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions)

Through amalgamations with existing parks, the new reserve includes high-profile Kimberley locations such as Horizontal Falls and Yaloon on the shore of Cone Bay.

Speaking at this morning’s announcement in Broome, Bardi Jawi traditional owner Kevin George said the formal recognition was a significant step forward.

“We’ve got a duty of care to the environment, and a duty of care to our people,” he said.

“It’s very much important to our people to be part and parcel of designing all of this … and we’re pretty happy with the process.”

Dambimangari Corporation director Leah Umbagi said the park was an important recognition of her people’s connection with the sea.

A man and two women standing in front of blue water, all with Aboriginal corporation shirts on
Rowena Mouda, Kevin George, and Leah Umbagi at the signing on Sunday morning.(ABC Kimberly)

“By doing this in collaboration with the other groups … I think coming forward as a group as the saltwater people it’s a big [step] forward,” she said.

Mayala Inninalang Aboriginal Corporation chair Rowena Mouda said the cultural health of the coastline was imperative to the health of traditional owners.

“The cultural belonging, the cultural maintenance and preservation is so important. If we lose sight of that, then we’ve lost sight of our identity of who we are,” she said.

“With this process, there have been families that have returned to the country for the first time.

“There’ve been families that have returned after many years and been able to plant their feet on that country, and we’ve seen healing take place with people who have not gone back to country since they were there as a child.

“There’s a healing in oneself, your body, your spirit, your mind that comes into play, and it’s hard to explain when you don’t have that belonging.”

Six people on an isolated beach conducting a traditional smoking ceremony.
Dambeemangarddee traditional owners hold a smoking ceremony at Yaloon Bay.(Supplied: Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions)

Parks’ troubled birth

While the mood at today’s announcement was celebratory, the planning process for the marine parks had been divisive.

Draft plans to ban and restrict recreational fishing from nearly 40 per cent of the park were met with a tense reaction from local and statewide fishing groups, who argued they had been left out of the consultation process.

The government returned to the drawing board to consider their concerns, which ended in concessions including access to Dam Creek, the Graveyard, Kimbolton Creek, Strickland Bay, and areas of reef near the Cone Bay Barramundi Farm.

A large group of mostly men.
Broome fishing club members were briefed on the proposed marine park for the Buccaneer Archipelago.(ABC Kimberley: Erin Parke)

Recfishwest chief executive Andrew Rowland says the government needed to learn lessons from the process.

“We were really disappointed with the original draft plan. The government essentially railroaded the process and fishers were excluded from putting in comment,” Dr Rowland said.

“We’re pleased fishers got to sit down with traditional owners following the draft plans, and we’ve now, as of today, seen a much better outcome for fishing.”

But the conservation group Environs Kimberley dismissed concerns from the recreational fishers’ lobby about access restrictions.

“We’ve got a very balanced marine park,” Environs director Martin Prichard said.

“More than half of it is open to recreational fishers.”

Mr Pritchard said the co-design process involving traditional owners was a “shining light” for the rest of Australia when it came to designing conservation areas with Indigenous people.

“This is an outstanding win for conservation in the Kimberley and conservation in Australia,” he said.

“The thousand islands of the Buccaneer Archipelago have coral reef systems, seagrass beds, really productive river mouths, very important cultural areas.”

A man in a wide brim hat standing in front of a beach background
Martin Pritchard says the marine parks are a welcome first step in protecting at-risk parts of the Kimberley.(ABC Kimberley: Andrew Seabourne)

Mr Pritchard said the group was now lobbying for the state government to extend protections to more areas of the Kimberley coast.

“What we’ve got left now is an opportunity for the McGowan government to actually put the whole of the Kimberley coast in a marine park,” he said.

“What we would have would be the Great Kimberley Marine Park to rival the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park.”

One million hectares protected

Environment Minister Reece Whitby said he understood the concerns of fishing groups but said he made no apologies for the government’s commitment to the co-design process.

“All stakeholders are involved, there’s no doubt about that,” he said.

“The traditional owners have said that they’ve found time to listen to the commercial fishers, the recreational fishers, and the other users of this country.

“It needs to be managed in a way that everyone’s interests are taken note of. There will be areas that are set aside in terms of zones to protect conservation values ​​and Aboriginal heritage values.

Minister Tony Buti and Reece Whitby watch on as two Mayala representatives sign papers
Traditional owners sign official marine park declarations at an event on Sunday.(ABC Kimberly)

“But there are zones also that acknowledge that this is about recreation, it’s about tourism, it’s about commercial businesses.

“My experience with commercial operators is they actually want this environment protected for the long term so that their industry is sustainable — the best way to do that is with the marine park where the conservation estate is recognized and protected.”

As part of the government’s plan, a sector support package will be provided to support commercial, charter, and recreational fishers operating in the park and impacted by its boundaries.

“[The package] will be developed with the community to ensure the continuation of sustainable fisheries, high-quality fishing experiences, and support for local industries,” Fisheries Minister Don Punch said.

Sunset over a bay and islands.
Cascade Bay is a popular destination for recreational fishers in the archipelago.(ABC Kimberley: Ben Collins)

The creation of the parks also marks a key milestone for the McGowan government, with more than 1 million hectares of new conservation estate established since it took office in 2017.

The government has set a target of 5 million hectares in total.

The three marine parks’ borders take effect on July 1, 2023.

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