Fisheries Research 

Fisheries's research team is coordinated by senior scientist Dr Andria Handley.  The team consists of seven scientists and four technical officers.

Aquarium Species | Barramundi | Fish Kills | Indigenous Fishing | Coastal Fish (Jewfish) | Mackerel | Mangrove Habitat | Mud Crab | Offshore Snapper | Shark | Recreational Fishing | Wetlands Habitat 

Aquarium Species 

The role of the aquarium species team is to provide advice on the status of the aquarium fishery industry in the Northern Territory.

A summary of past and present research, and information on the current status of the fishery, is provided in the annual Fishery Status Reports.

The aquarium fishery team is involved in monitoring the commercial fishery by participating in several research monitoring field trips per year.

Marine Scientist: -Mark.Grubert@nt.gov.au - Telephone: +61 8 8999 2167 

Freshwater Scientist: - Thor.Saunders@nt.gov.au  - Telephone: +61 8 8999 2168 

-Current Research

• Commercial monitoring program.
• Land hermit crabs are collected from the NT and sold as pets.  A small research project has just started to investigate the biology and movement of these hermit crabs, and predict possible impacts of harvesting these crabs. 

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Barramundi

The barramundi research team is responsible for the monitoring and assessment of barramundi populations mainly through computer modelling based on trends in the fishery.

Current research includes the annual BARRACADE, a closed depletion study held on Corroberee Billabong. This work has revealed a distinct alternation of high and low abundance of juvenile barramundi.

Previous research undertaken in the Northern Territory includes Post release survival of recreational caught freshwater barramundi.

A summary of past and current research, and information on the status of the associated fishery, is provided in the annual Fishery Status Reports.

Scientist: - Thor.Saunders@nt.gov.au - Telephone +61 8 8999 2168 -

Senior Technician: - Quentin.Allsop@nt.gov.au - Telephone +61 8 8999 2132  -

Technician: - Poncie.Kurnoth@nt.gov.au - Telephone +61 8 8999 2176  -

Current Research

• Barracade
• Half a Century On: Barramundi Research in Australia

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Fish Kills 

Fish kills (observed deaths of fish) are a common occurrence in the Northern Territory.  In most cases they are caused by natural events, such as rain and associated freshwater run-off.  However, because these events are often very visible, they can cause considerable concern in the community.

This department investigates reported fish kills.   Details regarding fish kills is provided in the Fishnote: Freshwater Fish Kills in the Top End.   If requested, samples of fish should be collected as described in the Fish Kill Investigation Manual.

Scientist: -  Thor.Saunders@nt.gov.au - Telephone +61 8 8999 2168 -

Senior Technician: - Quentin.Allsop@nt.gov.au - Telephone +61 8 8999 2132  -

Technician: - Poncie.Kurnoth@nt.gov.au - Telephone +61 8 8999 2176  -

Current Research

• Monitoring and investigating fish kills

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Indigenous Fishing

The Northern Territory's Fisheries Group coordinated the National Recreational and Indigenous Fishing Survey conducted across northern Australia in 2000-01. Prior to this survey, catch and effort data for this important fishing sector was limited.

Information obtained from the national survey has been used by Fisheries for a variety of tasks, including the management of fisheries in which Indigenous people are stakeholders.

Information on the status of Indigenous fishing in the Northern Territory is provided in the annual status report.

Scientist: - Fisheries@nt.gov.au  - Telephone +61 8 8999 2144 -

Current Research

• National Recreational and Indigenous Fishing Survey

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Coastal Fish

The role of the coastal fish research team is to provide advice on the status of several coastal fish species including jewfish.

A summary of past and current research, and information on the status of the associated fishery, is provided in the annual Fishery status report.

The coastal fish research team is currently committed to series of internally and externally funded projects focusing on jewfish. For further information on these projects, click here.

Senior Scientist:  -   Mark.Grubert@nt.gov.au - Telephone +61 8 8999 2167

Scientist: - Chris.Errity@nt.gov.au  - Telephone +61 8 8999 2190 

Current Research

• Jewfish research projects
• Jewfish Barotrauma Study

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Mackerel

The role of the mackerel team is to provide advice on the status of Spanish mackerel.

A summary of past and current research, and information on the status of the associated fishery, is provided in the annual Fishery status reports.

The mackerel team is currently investigating the benefits of genetic tagging in the Genetag Research Project. It is also involved in stock monitoring of the commercial fishery.

Previous research undertaken in the Northern Territory includes a review of the age structure of the commercial catch and a review of the geographic structure of the Spanish mackerel stocks across northern Australia.

Scientist: - Rik.Buckworth@nt.gov.au  - Telephone +61 8 8999 2135 -

Technician: - Adrian.Donati@nt.gov.au - Telephone +61 8 8999 2197  -

Current Research

• Genetag mackerel tagging

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Mangrove Habitat

 Scientist: - Julie.Martin@nt.gov.au 

A study examining the distribution and abundance of fish occupying different mangrove habitats in Darwin Harbour was completed in 2005. The aim of the project was to identify links between mangroves and fish in the harbour.

Mud Crab

The role of the mud crab research team is to provide advice on the status of mud crabs.

A summary of past and current research, and information on the status of the associated fishery, is provided in the annual Fishery status reports.

The mud crab team conducts monthly monitoring of the commercial mud crab catch, collecting a range of biological and fishery information for fishery assessment.

Senior Scientist: - Mark.Grubert@nt.gov.au  - Telephone +61 8 8999 2167 -

Scientist: - Chris.Errity@nt.gov.au - Telephone +61 8 8999 2190 -

Current Research

• Australian Mud Crab Fishery Research and Management Forum

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Offshore Snapper  

• Assessment and monitoring project

Our current research includes collaboration with Queensland and Western Australia on an externally funded project titled: Sustaining the productivity of tropical red snappers using new monitoring and reference points.  This project should be completed by the end of 2010.

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Shark

The role of the shark research team is to provide advice on the status of shark species such as hammerheads and black tip sharks. The team also focusses on grey mackerel as these fish form an important component of the shark fishery's harvest.

A summary of past and current research, and information on the status of the associated fishery, is provided in the annual Fishery status reports: Offshore net and line fishery.

The current focus of the shark research team is the monitoring project titled The Sustainability of Sharks and Rays.

Senior Scientist: - Rik.Buckworth@nt.gov.au - Telephone +61 8 8999 2135  -

Scientist: - Grant.Johnson@nt.gov.au - Telephone + 61 8 8999 2139 -

Technician: - Adrian.Donati@nt.gov.au - Telephone +61 8 8999 2197 -

Current Research

• Commercial monitoring project

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Recreational Fishing

To monitor recreational fishing, the Fisheries Group has conducted monitoring surveys since 1986.

The methodology developed in the Northern Territory for Fishcount95 was so successful that it was adopted by the National Recreational and Indigenous Fishing Survey.

The Amateur Fishermen's Association of the Northern Territory also assists by administering a series of programs through which catch and effort data are provided from the Victoria, McArthur, Roper and Adelaide Rivers.

Catch and effort data are also gathered during annual fishing tournaments. Large numbers of fish are also tagged and released during these events.

A summary of past and current research, and information on the status of the recreational fishery in the Northern Territory, is provided in the annual status report.

Scientist: -   Fisheries@nt.gov.au - Telephone +61 8 8999 2144 -

Current Research

• National Recreational and Indigenous Fishing Survey

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Wetlands Habitat 

The role of the wetlands team is to provide advice regarding wetland fish habitats.

The team regularly inspects saline control walls within wetlands and contributes advice in the planning of future control sites.

In 2001, the team completed an assessment of the impacts of saline water intrusion control activities in the Mary River region. The project demonstrated that the construction of spillways along control walls can negate negative effects by providing an access route for juvenile fish.

Our current wetlands research is focussing on how rainfall and water levels affect numbers of fish. Preliminary results suggest that heavy rain early in the wet season results in more small barramundi surviving. There are some complex and interesting interactions between larger fish and environmental conditions that we are in the process of investigating.

Scientist: - Thor.Saunders@nt.gov.au - Telephone +61 8 8999 2168 -

Technician: - Quentin.Allsop@nt.gov.au; - Telephone +61 8 8999 2132  -

Current Research

• Saltwater intrusion study

Our current wetlands research is focussing on how rainfall and water levels affect numbers of fish. Preliminary results suggest that heavy rain early in the wet season results in more small barramundi surviving. There are some complex and interesting interactions between larger fish and environmental conditions that we are in the process of investigating.

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