North Australian FISH FINDER forums

A ground-breaking NT fisheries DNA monitoring project has been given the go-ahead for the next three years.

The Genetag monitoring project, coordinated by NT fisheries scientist Rik Buckworth, has been awarded a $112,000 Fisheries Research and Development Corporation (FRDC) grant to continue until 2007-08.

Funds and in-kind support totalling $297,000 have also been put up by the NT and Queensland governments and the spanish mackerel fishing industry, through the NT Seafood Council and the Amateur Fisherment?s Association of the NT (AFANT).

Dr Buckworth said the project was providing vital information on the valuable spanish mackerel.

"Additional research funding will allow us to conduct further sampling and tissue analysis and complete the project successfully,? Dr Buckworth said.

?It is hoped to apply the genetag methodology to spanish mackerel fisheries across Australia. The industry, conservation bodies and the public will benefit from an increased security of food supply and sustainability.

?However, this method should have a much broader application and will make harvest rate monitoring feasible for a wide range of species, forming the basis for a more effective management of several Australian fisheries.

?Experimental applications are planned for the offshore snapper and shark fisheries in northern Australia. Other fisheries that might benefit include are as diverse as tuna, marlin and rock lobster. Even modest improvements in monitoring will provide improved catches and enhanced sustainability.

?Even if only applied in a small number of Australian fisheries, a small improvement in sustainability and landings may translate to an economic benefit of many millions of dollars.?

Dr Buckworth said large mobile fish such as spanish mackerel were difficult and expensive to survey, catch and handle.

?The Genetag approach has developed several innovations,? he said.

?We use a special lure to obtain in-situ sampling of fish tissue. The hooks have hollow stainless steel tips that collect a small amount of tissue as the fish strikes.

?The shafts of the hooks are made from copper and bend easily to ensure the safe release of the fish.

?The basic idea is simple: the DNA in a small piece of tissue taken from a fish is the fish's identity and can be used as a tag.

?Subsequent screening of landed fish indicates any DNA matches so the basic elements of one of fishery science's most powerful tools - tagging - are all there.?

More than 1000 fish have been tagged with the special lures. Many fish have also been tagged in the conventional manner.

Dr Buckworth said: ?This project could not have been possible without the support of recreational fishers, who have tagged more than 800 fish during annual tagging tournaments. Several thousand fins from landed fish have also been collected for genetic analysis - and for that we are extremely grateful for the assistance and co-operation of professional fishermen.?