Wednesday 7 October, 2009

A State Government-funded ‘fish down’ trial will start at Lake Albert in the Lower Lakes today.

The two-week trial is designed to reduce the effects of a likely fish kill in the European carp population of Lake Albert. The move has become necessary as declining water levels and increased salinity will seriously impact the ability of the fish to survive.

Manager of PIRSA Biosecurity – Marine Biosecurity, Vic Neverauskas said that more than a dozen commercial fishers would be involved in the trial.

PIRSA has been working with the Lake Albert Community Reference Group and the Southern Fishermen’s Association to develop a plan to help reduce fish kills in the lake. The fish down trial was proposed as part of the plan.

“We’ve had a positive response from local commercial fishermen with quite a number of licensees in the Lakes and Coorong fishery signing agreements with PIRSA to take part in the trial,” Mr Neverauskas said.

“An operation like this has never been attempted in South Australia before, and we are therefore implementing a two week trial in the first instance so that data can be collected to evaluate the effectiveness of the fishing effort in removing the carp.

“Participating fisherman will be required to work cooperatively with the local council, fish processors and researchers from the South Australian Research and Development Institute so that accurate data on the amount of fish being caught can be recorded.”

SARDI staff will count and measure fish and fishers will be required to lodge their normal returns daily. The local council will provide an inspector who will inspect every incoming boat and take catch records before the fish are sent to local processors.

Marine safety staff will be on standby during the operation and a Fisheries Compliance vessel will be in attendance.

“This trial will hopefully show us a way forward in successfully diminishing the impact on the community from what seems an inevitable fish kill,” Mr Neverauskas said.

“The State Government appreciates the efforts of the local commercial fishers in being involved in this operation.

“What we are aiming to avoid is a major fish kill. If that occurred across a lake the size of Lake Albert, it would result in a prolonged period of strong odours blowing with the prevailing winds, which in the summer time, are likely to blow over the town of Meningie.

“Carp, in particular are sensitive to increased salinity and predictions indicate that they will succumb to salinity in the latter part of this year if we don’t do something about it.”

The State Government has committed $500,000 toward this trial and will review its commitment once the trial has been completed and evaluated.