Stewart Fielder - Academia.edu (original) (raw)
Papers by Stewart Fielder
The American Naturalist, Mar 1, 2013
JSTOR is a not-for-profit service that helps scholars, researchers, and students discover, use, a... more JSTOR is a not-for-profit service that helps scholars, researchers, and students discover, use, and build upon a wide range of content in a trusted digital archive. We use information technology and tools to increase productivity and facilitate new forms of scholarship. For more information about JSTOR, please contact
Aquaculture, Nov 1, 2005
... a greater effect on fish growth than salinity (Rombough, 1996) and can affect virtually all a... more ... a greater effect on fish growth than salinity (Rombough, 1996) and can affect virtually all aspects of fish reproduction (van der Kraak and ... long-term (> 10 days) exposure to different salinities and temperature on marine fish larval performance has attracted little attention (Hart et al ...
The primary goal of Clean Sea Tuna Ltd (CST) and the recent Seafood CRC-supported collaborative r... more The primary goal of Clean Sea Tuna Ltd (CST) and the recent Seafood CRC-supported collaborative research projects, is to achieve the closed life-cycle production of Southern Bluefin Tuna (SBT)(Thunnus maccoyii), in order to underpin a sustainable aquaculture industry. There are several known bottlenecks in the hatchery production of bluefin tuna species, initially identified through pioneering research in Japan, largely through Kinki University. These mortality events include: surface mortality in newly hatched larvae, sinking and death on the tank bottom in the live feed stage, cannibalism, weaning, and wall collisions. This research has aimed to address early larval mortality bottlenecks through the live feed stage in tank-based larval rearing. In the 2011 spawning season,fertilised SBT eggs were successfully transferred to Darwin (DAC), Port Stephens (PSFI) and two CST hatcheries in Arno Bay. Investigations of light intensity and live feed type at first feeding resulted in an increase in the incidence of swimbladder inflation in SBT larvae compared to the two previous years’ trials. Urinary calculi, which can be indicative of inappropriate culture conditions, were present at a high incidence in SBT larvae reared in some conditions and were not present in other conditions.
Journal of the World Aquaculture Society, Sep 1, 1999
NSW 2316 Australia Absrrcrct.-'Tko experiments were conducted to determine the effects of salinit... more NSW 2316 Australia Absrrcrct.-'Tko experiments were conducted to determine the effects of salinity on growth and survival of mulloway Argvrosomus japonicus larvae and juveniles. First, 6-d-old larvae were stocked into different salinities (5 , 12.5, 20, 27.5 and 35 ppt) for 14 d. Larvae grew at all salinities, but based on results for growth and survival, the optimum range of salinity for 6-d-old to 20-d-old larvae is 5-12.5 ppt. During this experiment larvae held in all experimental salinities were infested by a dinoflagellate ectoparasite, Amvloodiriium sp. Degree of infestation was affected by salinity. There were very low infestation rates at 5 ppt (0.2 parasites/larva). Infestation increased with salinity to 20 ppt (33.1 parasitesflarva), then declined with salinity to 35 ppt (I .5 parasitesflarva). For the second experiment, juveniles (6.1 t 0.1 g/fish) were stocked into different salinities (0.6, 5, 10, 20 and 35 ppt) for 28 d. Juveniles were removed from freshwater 3 d after transfer as they did not feed, several fish died and many fish had lost equilibrium. However, when transferred directly to 5 ppt. these stressed fish recovered and behaved normally. Trends in final mean weight and food conversion ratio of juvenile mulloway suggest that fish performed best at 5 ppt. Although salinity (5 to 35 ppt) had no significant (P > 0.05) effect on growth, survival, or food conversion ratio of juveniles, statistical power of the experiment was low (0.22). Based on these results we recommend that mulloway larvae older than 6 d be cultured at 5 to 12.5 ppt. Optimum growth of juveniles may also be achieved at low salinities.
Aquaculture, Aug 1, 2011
The embryonic development of mulloway, Argyrosomus japonicus, was described. Ozone disinfection p... more The embryonic development of mulloway, Argyrosomus japonicus, was described. Ozone disinfection procedures were investigated using the combined effects of ozone CT (concentration of ozone [mg l −1 ] multiplied by contact time [min]; 0, 0.1, 0.5, 1 or 5) and treatment temperature (19, 22 or 25°C), as well as the effect of ozone exposure (CT = 1) when applied at four different stages of embryonic development (3, 8, 20 or 27 h post fertilisation; HPF) on the hatching success of mulloway larvae. Significantly fewer eggs hatched when treated with a CT of 5 compared with those treated with a CT of 0, 0.1, 0.5 or 1, particularly when eggs were maintained in water of 19°C. There were no apparent negative impacts of treating eggs at 22 or 25°C and the highest CT value that did not negatively affect hatching was a CT of 1; therefore, it is recommended that eggs should be ozone treated with a CT of 1 at 22°C. There were no significant effects of ozone treatment (CT = 1) on hatchability of eggs when applied at any of the development stages examined.
Aquaculture Research, Jun 9, 2010
Mulloway (Argyrosomus japonicus) is an emerging aquaculture species in Australia, but there is a ... more Mulloway (Argyrosomus japonicus) is an emerging aquaculture species in Australia, but there is a need to improve the production technology and lower costs, including those associated with larval rearing and live feeds. Three experiments were conducted to determine appropriate weaning strategies from live feeds, rotifers (Brachionus plicatilis) and Artemia, to cheaper formulated pellet diets. Experiment 1 examined the e¡ects of feeding Artemia at di¡erent levels [0%, 50% or 100% ration of Artemia fed from 18 days after hatching (dah); based on current hatchery protocols] and a pellet diet from two larval ages (14 or 23 dah). In addition, rotifers were supplied to larvae in all treatments for the duration of the experiment (14^29 dah), at which time all larvae were successfully weaned onto the pellet diet. No signi¢cant (P40.05) di¡erences existed between the growth of ¢sh fed a 50% and 100% ration of Artemia; however, ¢sh fed a 0% ration of Artemia had signi¢cantly (Po0.05) reduced growth. The time of pellet introduction had no signi¢cant (P40.05) e¡ects on the growth of larvae. Experiments 2 and 3 were designed to determine the size [total length (TL), mm] at which mulloway larvae selected Artemia equally or in preference to rotifers, and pellet (400 mm) equally or in preference to Artemia respectively. Each day, larvae were transferred from a holding tank to experimental vessels and provided with rotifers (2 mL À 1), Artemia (2 mL À 1) or a combination of rotifers (1mL À 1) and Artemia (1mL À 1) (Experiment 2), and Artemia (2 mL À 1), a pellet diet or a combination of Artemia (1mL À 1) and a pellet diet that was broadcast every 15 min (Experiment 3). After 1h, a sub-sample of larvae was randomly selected from each replicate vessel (n 5 5) and the gut contents were examined under a light microscope. Mulloway larvae began selecting Artemia equally to rotifers at 5.2 AE 0.5 mm TL and selected pellets equally to Artemia at 10.6 AE 1.8 mm TL. Our results have led to the establishment of weaning protocols for larval mulloway, which optimize larval growth while reducing feed cost by minimizing the amount of Artemia used during production.
Fisheries Management and Ecology, Dec 1, 2009
Hatchery-reared Argyrosomus japonicus (Temminck & Schlegel) were released into estuaries of varyi... more Hatchery-reared Argyrosomus japonicus (Temminck & Schlegel) were released into estuaries of varying habitat between 1996 and 2004, and growth and recruitment to the fishery evaluated. Fish stocked earlier in summer had significantly faster growth rates (P < 0.01), and post-stocking mortality ranged from 1.1% to 11.7% within 7 day post-release. Argyrosomus japonicus stocked in the Georges River in 2003 and 2004 yielded fishery independent recapture rates up to 0.2%. For A. japonicus stocked in SmithÕs Lake in 1997 and 2004, growth rates, timing of recaptures and increases in commercial catches suggested recruitment to the fishery by 18 months. The 1997 stocking led to a 30-fold increase in A. japonicus catch, but stocking was not financially viable, with a cost:benefit ratio of 2.1. Small, shallow coastal lagoons may represent experimental units for refining stocking strategies, but are not optimal for A. japonicus. The potential for density-dependent effects, and complex relationships between growth, habitat and mortality, highlighted the need for a thorough understanding of speciessystem interactions. Pilot releases can contribute to this understanding, particularly assessment of habitat requirements, and season, site and size-of-release.
Estuaries and Coasts, Oct 1, 2006
SIBIC 2022, Jun 8, 2022
This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative... more This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY
Journal of Fish Biology, Aug 1, 2005
The responsible approach to marine stock enhancement is a set of principles aimed at maximising t... more The responsible approach to marine stock enhancement is a set of principles aimed at maximising the success and benefits of artificially restocking depleted fisheries. The benefits of such an approach are evident in the 400% increase in survival of stocked striped mullet in Hawaii through refinement of release techniques, however financially or temporally constrained stocking programs in Australia have not adhered to all principles. A pragmatic approach to address these principles is proposed, using international examples and Australian marine finfish pilot stockings of barramundi, mulloway, sand whiting, dusky flathead and black bream. Biological ranking of candidate species by estuarine residency, a low natural-mortality to growth ratio, a large L 1 and comparison by recreational value and available rearing technologies, show that mulloway, barramundi and sea mullet are ideal species for stocking in Australia. Australian intermittently closed opening landlocked lagoons and recreational fishing havens, especially near cities, provide experimental opportunities to apply this approach and stock suitable species through small-scale pilot experiments. This would allow evaluation of production and carrying capacity, and density dependent processes with respect to optimal stocking strategies unconfounded by emigration and commercial fishing practices. Twenty per cent of Australians fish each year, and harvest approximately 27 000 t of finfish. Stocking recreationally important species in Australia should give a greater financial benefit, which is spread across a larger cross-section of the community, compared to stocking to enhance commercial fisheries. The pragmatic application of the responsible approach, and stocking of fast growing estuarine residents into recreational fishing havens would enhance the benefit from marine stocking.
Marine Ecology Progress Series, Dec 20, 2006
The preferred habitats, home range and activity patterns of sub-adult mulloway Argyrosomus japoni... more The preferred habitats, home range and activity patterns of sub-adult mulloway Argyrosomus japonicus (Sciaenidae) in the Georges River, New South Wales, Australia, were investigated using ultrasonic telemetry. Tags were surgically implanted in 9 hatchery-reared and 12 wild-caught mulloway (330 to 730 mm total length, TL). Fish were tracked for 2 periods of continuous tracking over 72 h in a 15 km section of river, once daily for a 20 d period, and up to 3 times mo-1 for 11 mo. Key habitats were identified as discrete holes or basins up to 20 m deep. Mulloway preferred this deep hole habitat as small fish (hatchery-reared, 300 to 500 mm TL) remained in these deep holes both day and night, while large fish (wild, 500 to 800 mm TL) ventured outside the holes at night. Maximum home range of small and large mulloway was 6000 and 17 710 m 2 , respectively, and home range correlated significantly with length. Small fish moved up to 7 km d-1 while large fish moved up to 16 km d-1. Small fish released in shallow water initially had significantly greater movements than those released directly over deep holes, with movement up to 10 km in 3 d. Activity patterns varied between small and large fish, with significantly larger movements by large fish during the night and early morning than daytime. Five wild-caught mulloway tracked over 11 mo showed strong fidelity to holes within their particular home range. Mulloway should be stocked directly into their deep holes to minimise movements. The use of key habitats by mulloway indicate that their survival will be sensitive to stocking density. Optimal stocking density could be estimated from the area of key habitat in the target estuary.
The closed life-cycle production of Southern bluefin tuna (SBT) ( Thunnus maccoyii ) is under inv... more The closed life-cycle production of Southern bluefin tuna (SBT) ( Thunnus maccoyii ) is under investigation in Australia, with the first spawning of fertilized eggs from captive broodstock occurring in 2008 at Clean Seas Tuna Ltd (CST), South Australia. Establishment of a sustainable aquaculture industry, not dependent on wild caught juvenile SBT, is the primary goal of CST and the Australian Seafood Cooperative Research Centre (CRC) supported collaborative research projects. Wild-caught broodstock are maintained in a land-based facility at Amo Bay in South Australia, with environmental control and active research to manage reproduction and facilitate annual spawning. Recent larval rearing activity has addressed critical mortality events, including surface mortality in newly hatched larvae, sinking and death on the tank bottom in the live feed stage, cannibalism, weaning, and wall collisions. These are known bottlenecks in the hatchery production of other bluefin tuna species, initially identified through research in Japan (Kumai, 1997; Sawada et al ., 2005; Masuma et al ., 2011; Ishibashi et al ., 2012; Kurata et al ., 2012). The SBT research is an internationally collaborative effort, involving four international partners, eight Australian organisations and larval rearing in five hatchery sites from 2008 to 2012. This paper presents a summary of recent research and future directions.
Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology, Aug 1, 2022
DNA barcode data hosted in the Data Portal of the Barcode of Life Data Systems. Records consist o... more DNA barcode data hosted in the Data Portal of the Barcode of Life Data Systems. Records consist of specimen metadata, specimen images, and sequence data.
![Research paper thumbnail of Erratum to “Effect of rapid changes in temperature and salinity on availability of the rotifers Brachionus rotundiformis and Brachionus plicatilis [Aquaculture 189 (2000) 85–99]”](https://attachments.academia-assets.com/111198663/thumbnails/1.jpg)
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General and Comparative Endocrinology, Oct 1, 2019
We developed a specific competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for yellowtail king... more We developed a specific competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for yellowtail kingfish (Seriola lalandi) follicle stimulating hormone (FSH). We previously produced a full-length single chain recombinant yellowtail kingfish FSH using the Pichia pastoris expression system. We used the same method to produce the β subunit of the hormone, against which polyclonal antibodies were raised in rabbits. We first confirmed immunoreactivity of the polyclonal antibodies with the recombinant full length FSH and FSHβ as well as plasma and pituitary FSH of sexually immature and mature yellowtail kingfish by Western blot analysis. We then developed a precise and reproducible ELISA for yellowtail kingfish FSH and validated the assay in plasma and pituitary extracts. The intra- and inter-assay coefficients of variation was <2.2% and 10.2%, respectively. The sensitivity of the assay was 78 pg/ml. For further validation of the assay, we measured the plasma FSH in immature yellowtail kingfish treated with increasing doses (blank, 50, 100 and 150 µg/kg) of kisseptin2-10 peptide from a previous study. The dose response observed in treated females was not significant, however the increased plasma FSH levels coincided with the significantly higher estradiol levels we previously reported in the treated groups. We assessed the applicability of the assay in measuring circulating FSH in other species. We observed parallelism between the linearized FSH standard curve and displacement curves of serially diluted plasma from Atlantic bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus) and tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus). We also observed similar parallelism with full length recombinant giant grouper (Epinephelus lanceolatus) FSH. The ELISA we developed for yellowtail kingfish FSH will be useful in understanding the reproductive biology of the species as well as enhancing its aquaculture.
New Technologies in Aquaculture, 2009
Abstract: Increasing demand for aquaculture has led to the development of new production systems.... more Abstract: Increasing demand for aquaculture has led to the development of new production systems. Inland saline aquaculture, defined here as land-based aquaculture using saline groundwater, occurs in several countries including Israel, the USA, India and Australia. A number of species are cultured, or are being evaluated for their potential, including finfish such as tilapia, Asian sea bass and trout, shrimp and oysters. Sources of saline groundwater include ephemeral and permanent saline lakes, saline water extracted with coal seam gas and saline groundwater extracted from aquifers. Saline groundwater is extracted in some areas to protect the root zone of plants. Characteristics of saline-affected land are described, with particular focus on Australia and India. Another emerging source of saline groundwater is the coal bed methane gas industry. Saline water accompanies extraction of the gas and, while it can be a major environmental problem for the gas industry, it presents an opportunity for aquaculture. Saline groundwater can differ in chemistry compared with coastal seawater and adjusting the chemistry or choosing species that are tolerant to the differences is one of the major challenges for expansion of inland saline aquaculture. The chemistry of different sources of water is described and common methods of adjusting the chemistry described. Finally, case studies of inland saline aquaculture are presented for Australia, India, Israel and the USA. Novel food production methods, such as inland saline aquaculture, are needed to increase aquaculture production and meet increasing demands for seafood.
Aquaculture International, 2013
The American Naturalist, Mar 1, 2013
JSTOR is a not-for-profit service that helps scholars, researchers, and students discover, use, a... more JSTOR is a not-for-profit service that helps scholars, researchers, and students discover, use, and build upon a wide range of content in a trusted digital archive. We use information technology and tools to increase productivity and facilitate new forms of scholarship. For more information about JSTOR, please contact
Aquaculture, Nov 1, 2005
... a greater effect on fish growth than salinity (Rombough, 1996) and can affect virtually all a... more ... a greater effect on fish growth than salinity (Rombough, 1996) and can affect virtually all aspects of fish reproduction (van der Kraak and ... long-term (> 10 days) exposure to different salinities and temperature on marine fish larval performance has attracted little attention (Hart et al ...
The primary goal of Clean Sea Tuna Ltd (CST) and the recent Seafood CRC-supported collaborative r... more The primary goal of Clean Sea Tuna Ltd (CST) and the recent Seafood CRC-supported collaborative research projects, is to achieve the closed life-cycle production of Southern Bluefin Tuna (SBT)(Thunnus maccoyii), in order to underpin a sustainable aquaculture industry. There are several known bottlenecks in the hatchery production of bluefin tuna species, initially identified through pioneering research in Japan, largely through Kinki University. These mortality events include: surface mortality in newly hatched larvae, sinking and death on the tank bottom in the live feed stage, cannibalism, weaning, and wall collisions. This research has aimed to address early larval mortality bottlenecks through the live feed stage in tank-based larval rearing. In the 2011 spawning season,fertilised SBT eggs were successfully transferred to Darwin (DAC), Port Stephens (PSFI) and two CST hatcheries in Arno Bay. Investigations of light intensity and live feed type at first feeding resulted in an increase in the incidence of swimbladder inflation in SBT larvae compared to the two previous years’ trials. Urinary calculi, which can be indicative of inappropriate culture conditions, were present at a high incidence in SBT larvae reared in some conditions and were not present in other conditions.
Journal of the World Aquaculture Society, Sep 1, 1999
NSW 2316 Australia Absrrcrct.-'Tko experiments were conducted to determine the effects of salinit... more NSW 2316 Australia Absrrcrct.-'Tko experiments were conducted to determine the effects of salinity on growth and survival of mulloway Argvrosomus japonicus larvae and juveniles. First, 6-d-old larvae were stocked into different salinities (5 , 12.5, 20, 27.5 and 35 ppt) for 14 d. Larvae grew at all salinities, but based on results for growth and survival, the optimum range of salinity for 6-d-old to 20-d-old larvae is 5-12.5 ppt. During this experiment larvae held in all experimental salinities were infested by a dinoflagellate ectoparasite, Amvloodiriium sp. Degree of infestation was affected by salinity. There were very low infestation rates at 5 ppt (0.2 parasites/larva). Infestation increased with salinity to 20 ppt (33.1 parasitesflarva), then declined with salinity to 35 ppt (I .5 parasitesflarva). For the second experiment, juveniles (6.1 t 0.1 g/fish) were stocked into different salinities (0.6, 5, 10, 20 and 35 ppt) for 28 d. Juveniles were removed from freshwater 3 d after transfer as they did not feed, several fish died and many fish had lost equilibrium. However, when transferred directly to 5 ppt. these stressed fish recovered and behaved normally. Trends in final mean weight and food conversion ratio of juvenile mulloway suggest that fish performed best at 5 ppt. Although salinity (5 to 35 ppt) had no significant (P > 0.05) effect on growth, survival, or food conversion ratio of juveniles, statistical power of the experiment was low (0.22). Based on these results we recommend that mulloway larvae older than 6 d be cultured at 5 to 12.5 ppt. Optimum growth of juveniles may also be achieved at low salinities.
Aquaculture, Aug 1, 2011
The embryonic development of mulloway, Argyrosomus japonicus, was described. Ozone disinfection p... more The embryonic development of mulloway, Argyrosomus japonicus, was described. Ozone disinfection procedures were investigated using the combined effects of ozone CT (concentration of ozone [mg l −1 ] multiplied by contact time [min]; 0, 0.1, 0.5, 1 or 5) and treatment temperature (19, 22 or 25°C), as well as the effect of ozone exposure (CT = 1) when applied at four different stages of embryonic development (3, 8, 20 or 27 h post fertilisation; HPF) on the hatching success of mulloway larvae. Significantly fewer eggs hatched when treated with a CT of 5 compared with those treated with a CT of 0, 0.1, 0.5 or 1, particularly when eggs were maintained in water of 19°C. There were no apparent negative impacts of treating eggs at 22 or 25°C and the highest CT value that did not negatively affect hatching was a CT of 1; therefore, it is recommended that eggs should be ozone treated with a CT of 1 at 22°C. There were no significant effects of ozone treatment (CT = 1) on hatchability of eggs when applied at any of the development stages examined.
Aquaculture Research, Jun 9, 2010
Mulloway (Argyrosomus japonicus) is an emerging aquaculture species in Australia, but there is a ... more Mulloway (Argyrosomus japonicus) is an emerging aquaculture species in Australia, but there is a need to improve the production technology and lower costs, including those associated with larval rearing and live feeds. Three experiments were conducted to determine appropriate weaning strategies from live feeds, rotifers (Brachionus plicatilis) and Artemia, to cheaper formulated pellet diets. Experiment 1 examined the e¡ects of feeding Artemia at di¡erent levels [0%, 50% or 100% ration of Artemia fed from 18 days after hatching (dah); based on current hatchery protocols] and a pellet diet from two larval ages (14 or 23 dah). In addition, rotifers were supplied to larvae in all treatments for the duration of the experiment (14^29 dah), at which time all larvae were successfully weaned onto the pellet diet. No signi¢cant (P40.05) di¡erences existed between the growth of ¢sh fed a 50% and 100% ration of Artemia; however, ¢sh fed a 0% ration of Artemia had signi¢cantly (Po0.05) reduced growth. The time of pellet introduction had no signi¢cant (P40.05) e¡ects on the growth of larvae. Experiments 2 and 3 were designed to determine the size [total length (TL), mm] at which mulloway larvae selected Artemia equally or in preference to rotifers, and pellet (400 mm) equally or in preference to Artemia respectively. Each day, larvae were transferred from a holding tank to experimental vessels and provided with rotifers (2 mL À 1), Artemia (2 mL À 1) or a combination of rotifers (1mL À 1) and Artemia (1mL À 1) (Experiment 2), and Artemia (2 mL À 1), a pellet diet or a combination of Artemia (1mL À 1) and a pellet diet that was broadcast every 15 min (Experiment 3). After 1h, a sub-sample of larvae was randomly selected from each replicate vessel (n 5 5) and the gut contents were examined under a light microscope. Mulloway larvae began selecting Artemia equally to rotifers at 5.2 AE 0.5 mm TL and selected pellets equally to Artemia at 10.6 AE 1.8 mm TL. Our results have led to the establishment of weaning protocols for larval mulloway, which optimize larval growth while reducing feed cost by minimizing the amount of Artemia used during production.
Fisheries Management and Ecology, Dec 1, 2009
Hatchery-reared Argyrosomus japonicus (Temminck & Schlegel) were released into estuaries of varyi... more Hatchery-reared Argyrosomus japonicus (Temminck & Schlegel) were released into estuaries of varying habitat between 1996 and 2004, and growth and recruitment to the fishery evaluated. Fish stocked earlier in summer had significantly faster growth rates (P < 0.01), and post-stocking mortality ranged from 1.1% to 11.7% within 7 day post-release. Argyrosomus japonicus stocked in the Georges River in 2003 and 2004 yielded fishery independent recapture rates up to 0.2%. For A. japonicus stocked in SmithÕs Lake in 1997 and 2004, growth rates, timing of recaptures and increases in commercial catches suggested recruitment to the fishery by 18 months. The 1997 stocking led to a 30-fold increase in A. japonicus catch, but stocking was not financially viable, with a cost:benefit ratio of 2.1. Small, shallow coastal lagoons may represent experimental units for refining stocking strategies, but are not optimal for A. japonicus. The potential for density-dependent effects, and complex relationships between growth, habitat and mortality, highlighted the need for a thorough understanding of speciessystem interactions. Pilot releases can contribute to this understanding, particularly assessment of habitat requirements, and season, site and size-of-release.
Estuaries and Coasts, Oct 1, 2006
SIBIC 2022, Jun 8, 2022
This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative... more This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY
Journal of Fish Biology, Aug 1, 2005
The responsible approach to marine stock enhancement is a set of principles aimed at maximising t... more The responsible approach to marine stock enhancement is a set of principles aimed at maximising the success and benefits of artificially restocking depleted fisheries. The benefits of such an approach are evident in the 400% increase in survival of stocked striped mullet in Hawaii through refinement of release techniques, however financially or temporally constrained stocking programs in Australia have not adhered to all principles. A pragmatic approach to address these principles is proposed, using international examples and Australian marine finfish pilot stockings of barramundi, mulloway, sand whiting, dusky flathead and black bream. Biological ranking of candidate species by estuarine residency, a low natural-mortality to growth ratio, a large L 1 and comparison by recreational value and available rearing technologies, show that mulloway, barramundi and sea mullet are ideal species for stocking in Australia. Australian intermittently closed opening landlocked lagoons and recreational fishing havens, especially near cities, provide experimental opportunities to apply this approach and stock suitable species through small-scale pilot experiments. This would allow evaluation of production and carrying capacity, and density dependent processes with respect to optimal stocking strategies unconfounded by emigration and commercial fishing practices. Twenty per cent of Australians fish each year, and harvest approximately 27 000 t of finfish. Stocking recreationally important species in Australia should give a greater financial benefit, which is spread across a larger cross-section of the community, compared to stocking to enhance commercial fisheries. The pragmatic application of the responsible approach, and stocking of fast growing estuarine residents into recreational fishing havens would enhance the benefit from marine stocking.
Marine Ecology Progress Series, Dec 20, 2006
The preferred habitats, home range and activity patterns of sub-adult mulloway Argyrosomus japoni... more The preferred habitats, home range and activity patterns of sub-adult mulloway Argyrosomus japonicus (Sciaenidae) in the Georges River, New South Wales, Australia, were investigated using ultrasonic telemetry. Tags were surgically implanted in 9 hatchery-reared and 12 wild-caught mulloway (330 to 730 mm total length, TL). Fish were tracked for 2 periods of continuous tracking over 72 h in a 15 km section of river, once daily for a 20 d period, and up to 3 times mo-1 for 11 mo. Key habitats were identified as discrete holes or basins up to 20 m deep. Mulloway preferred this deep hole habitat as small fish (hatchery-reared, 300 to 500 mm TL) remained in these deep holes both day and night, while large fish (wild, 500 to 800 mm TL) ventured outside the holes at night. Maximum home range of small and large mulloway was 6000 and 17 710 m 2 , respectively, and home range correlated significantly with length. Small fish moved up to 7 km d-1 while large fish moved up to 16 km d-1. Small fish released in shallow water initially had significantly greater movements than those released directly over deep holes, with movement up to 10 km in 3 d. Activity patterns varied between small and large fish, with significantly larger movements by large fish during the night and early morning than daytime. Five wild-caught mulloway tracked over 11 mo showed strong fidelity to holes within their particular home range. Mulloway should be stocked directly into their deep holes to minimise movements. The use of key habitats by mulloway indicate that their survival will be sensitive to stocking density. Optimal stocking density could be estimated from the area of key habitat in the target estuary.
The closed life-cycle production of Southern bluefin tuna (SBT) ( Thunnus maccoyii ) is under inv... more The closed life-cycle production of Southern bluefin tuna (SBT) ( Thunnus maccoyii ) is under investigation in Australia, with the first spawning of fertilized eggs from captive broodstock occurring in 2008 at Clean Seas Tuna Ltd (CST), South Australia. Establishment of a sustainable aquaculture industry, not dependent on wild caught juvenile SBT, is the primary goal of CST and the Australian Seafood Cooperative Research Centre (CRC) supported collaborative research projects. Wild-caught broodstock are maintained in a land-based facility at Amo Bay in South Australia, with environmental control and active research to manage reproduction and facilitate annual spawning. Recent larval rearing activity has addressed critical mortality events, including surface mortality in newly hatched larvae, sinking and death on the tank bottom in the live feed stage, cannibalism, weaning, and wall collisions. These are known bottlenecks in the hatchery production of other bluefin tuna species, initially identified through research in Japan (Kumai, 1997; Sawada et al ., 2005; Masuma et al ., 2011; Ishibashi et al ., 2012; Kurata et al ., 2012). The SBT research is an internationally collaborative effort, involving four international partners, eight Australian organisations and larval rearing in five hatchery sites from 2008 to 2012. This paper presents a summary of recent research and future directions.
Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology, Aug 1, 2022
DNA barcode data hosted in the Data Portal of the Barcode of Life Data Systems. Records consist o... more DNA barcode data hosted in the Data Portal of the Barcode of Life Data Systems. Records consist of specimen metadata, specimen images, and sequence data.
General and Comparative Endocrinology, Oct 1, 2019
We developed a specific competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for yellowtail king... more We developed a specific competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for yellowtail kingfish (Seriola lalandi) follicle stimulating hormone (FSH). We previously produced a full-length single chain recombinant yellowtail kingfish FSH using the Pichia pastoris expression system. We used the same method to produce the β subunit of the hormone, against which polyclonal antibodies were raised in rabbits. We first confirmed immunoreactivity of the polyclonal antibodies with the recombinant full length FSH and FSHβ as well as plasma and pituitary FSH of sexually immature and mature yellowtail kingfish by Western blot analysis. We then developed a precise and reproducible ELISA for yellowtail kingfish FSH and validated the assay in plasma and pituitary extracts. The intra- and inter-assay coefficients of variation was <2.2% and 10.2%, respectively. The sensitivity of the assay was 78 pg/ml. For further validation of the assay, we measured the plasma FSH in immature yellowtail kingfish treated with increasing doses (blank, 50, 100 and 150 µg/kg) of kisseptin2-10 peptide from a previous study. The dose response observed in treated females was not significant, however the increased plasma FSH levels coincided with the significantly higher estradiol levels we previously reported in the treated groups. We assessed the applicability of the assay in measuring circulating FSH in other species. We observed parallelism between the linearized FSH standard curve and displacement curves of serially diluted plasma from Atlantic bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus) and tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus). We also observed similar parallelism with full length recombinant giant grouper (Epinephelus lanceolatus) FSH. The ELISA we developed for yellowtail kingfish FSH will be useful in understanding the reproductive biology of the species as well as enhancing its aquaculture.
New Technologies in Aquaculture, 2009
Abstract: Increasing demand for aquaculture has led to the development of new production systems.... more Abstract: Increasing demand for aquaculture has led to the development of new production systems. Inland saline aquaculture, defined here as land-based aquaculture using saline groundwater, occurs in several countries including Israel, the USA, India and Australia. A number of species are cultured, or are being evaluated for their potential, including finfish such as tilapia, Asian sea bass and trout, shrimp and oysters. Sources of saline groundwater include ephemeral and permanent saline lakes, saline water extracted with coal seam gas and saline groundwater extracted from aquifers. Saline groundwater is extracted in some areas to protect the root zone of plants. Characteristics of saline-affected land are described, with particular focus on Australia and India. Another emerging source of saline groundwater is the coal bed methane gas industry. Saline water accompanies extraction of the gas and, while it can be a major environmental problem for the gas industry, it presents an opportunity for aquaculture. Saline groundwater can differ in chemistry compared with coastal seawater and adjusting the chemistry or choosing species that are tolerant to the differences is one of the major challenges for expansion of inland saline aquaculture. The chemistry of different sources of water is described and common methods of adjusting the chemistry described. Finally, case studies of inland saline aquaculture are presented for Australia, India, Israel and the USA. Novel food production methods, such as inland saline aquaculture, are needed to increase aquaculture production and meet increasing demands for seafood.
Aquaculture International, 2013