Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

South Yarding Focus Catchment Report, A Hollick

Resource management technical reports

This report provides a record of the activities carried out by the South Yarding Focus Support Team and Catchment Group. It covers the results of investigations and summarises the group's catchment plan of South Yarding, Western Australia, based on the best available information on soils, groundwater hydrology, surface water control, alternative crops and pastures and revegetation options.

Soil-Landscape Mapping In South-Western Australia : An Overview Of Methodology And Outputs, Noel R. Schoknecht, Peter J. Tille, B R. Purdie

Resource management technical reports

This report provides an overview of the soil-landscape mapping program for south-Western Australia. It outlines the techniques and standards used in describing the soil-landscape as well as the outputs of the mapping program and their uses.

Fisheries Research Contract Report No. 10 - Mother-Of-Pearl Shell (Pinctada Maxima): Stock Evaluation For Management And Future Harvesting In Western Australia, Anthony M. Hart, Kim J. Friedman

Fisheries Research Contract Reports

The West Australian Pearling industry is one of Australia's most valuable aquaculture industries, currently generating around $120 - $160 million annually. The majority of pearl shell used to culture pearls come from the pearling beds in the inshore waters near Broome. The fishery for pearl oysters preferentially targets smaller (120mm - 165mm DVM) shell (hereafter defined as 'culture' shell), that are more suitable for culturing of pearls, leaving larger MOP oysters (175mm+) on the pearling grounds. These larger pearl oysters, the majority of which are female (protandric hermaphrodites), form a major component of the broodstock for the

fishery. Although MOP …

Wetland Basins For Saline Drainage Water Disposal Bodallin And Elachbutting Catchments, Eastern Wheatbelt, Western Australia, P De Broekert, N Coles

Resource management technical reports

This report provides an assessment of two large deep drainage schemes within the lower reaches of the Bodallin and Elachbutting Catchments nearby Merredin in Western Australia, wherein groups of isolated wetland basins have been utilised for evaporative saline drainage water disposal. In both cases, the storage capacity of the basins has been exceeded, leading to flooding and death of the surrounding native vegetation.

Proposals For Community Discussion On The Future Management Of Pink Snapper Fishing In Cockburn Sound And Surrounding Waters, Department Of Fisheries

Fisheries Management Papers

This discussion paper outlines the current issues associated with the management of the metropolitan pink snapper fishery along with some options for future management.

Fisheries Research Contract Report No. 8 - The Nutritional Management Of Barramundi, Brett Glencross

Fisheries Research Contract Reports

Barramundi nutrition research has been undertaken since 1988. Since that time the requirements for most nutrients, energy demand, ingredient utilisation and the effects of nutrition on flesh quality aspects have all been examined to varying extents.

Optimal protein content of diets has been shown to vary with diet energy density and also the size of fish which are being fed. Most studies have suggested a protein requirement from 45% to 55%. For small fish a protein to energy ratio of 25 to 30 g/MJ is suggested. Limited work has been done on fish larger than 500 g. The 10 essential …

Reducing Nutrient Discharge From Agriculture Through The Implementation Of Bmps – How Far Can We Go?, David Weaver, Simon Neville, Robert Summers, Martin Clarke

Conference papers and presentations

Algal blooms in south west Western Australia are a symptomatic response to excess nutrient input. Whilst a range of Best Management Practices (BMPs) are available to address the causes of nutrient pollution, most investment has been directed towards symptoms. In order to treat nutrient pollution causes effectively it is important to evaluate possible nutrient reductions and costs, and to determine whether accrued benefits can influence BMP adoption. Models were developed for catchments near Albany (south coast of Western Australia), and for the Peel-Harvey catchment (70 km south of Perth) to estimate costs and benefits of implementing conventional BMPs in scenarios …

Annual Report To The Pastoral Lands Board Of Western Australia: 2003 / 2004 Financial Year, Rod Williams, Philip Thomas

Natural resources published reports

The Department of Agriculture has prepared this Annual Report for the Pastoral Lands Board of Western Australia for the financial year 2003 – 2004. This is the second report incorporating this framework and provides expanded information on issues and trends for a number of indicators of importance to Western Australia’s rangelands.

The Department of Agriculture’s services to the Board are outlined and environmental indicators based on scientific analysis of range condition trend are presented at the regional and property scales. Seasonal conditions at the state level with more specific information at the regional level and information relating to the assistance …

Technical Assessment Of Natural Resource Management Threats And Options In The Northern Agricultural Region Of Western Australia, Lorinda Hunt, G Patterson, Northern Agricultural Catchments Council (Wa)

Resource management technical reports

Analysis of the risk of soil, land and water degradation within the Northern Agricultural Region of Western Australia. Natural resource issues discussed include: acid groundwater, acid sulfate soils, climate change, dryland salinity, flooding, herbicide resistance, non-wetting (water repellence), nutrient loss and eutrophication, remnant vegetation decline, soil acidity, soil fertility decline, soil structure decline, subsurface compaction, waterlogging, wind erosion and soil contamination.

An Audit Of The Uptake Of Agricultural Nutrient Management Practices In The Peel-Harvey Catchment, Kelly Lavell, Robert Summers, David Weaver, Martin Clarke, John Grant, Simon Neville

Conference papers and presentations

Recent funding through the Coastal Catchments Initiative aims to significantly reduce the discharge of nutrients to the waterways of the eutrophic Peel-Harvey catchment. A range of projects within this initiative have been developed, which include activities designed to develop, test and implement point and non-point source best management practices (BMP) for the control of nutrient export, and to audit the current levels of adoption of these practices. Landholders who manage approximately 30% of the catchment area have been interviewed under major BMP themes of fertiliser management, soil amendment, perennial pastures, riparian and water management, revegetation, irrigation management and effluent management. …

The Use Of Bauxite Residue To Control Diffuse Phosphorus Pollution In Western Australia – A Win-Win-Win Outcome, Robert Summers, Mark Rivers, Martin Clarke

Conference papers and presentations

The Department of Agriculture, Western Australia has been working with Alcoa World Alumina Australia Ltd for more than ten years investigating the potential to use bauxite refining residues as soil amendments for the poor, acidic, sandy soils of the Swan Coastal Plain in south west Australia. Regional waterways, especially the Peel Inlet and Harvey Estuary, have historically been susceptible to nuisance algal blooms fed by phosphorus in run-off from farmland and urban areas. Extensive laboratory, field and catchment-scale trials have shown the ability of soil amendment with fine bauxite refining residue (now trademarked in this context as Alkaloam™) to reduce …

Lower Yilgarn Catchment Appraisal 2003, D G. Cummins

Resource management technical reports

This report summarises current information on risks and impacts to agricultural production and natural resources within the Lower Yilgarn Catchment. It also identifies suitable options to manage such risks. The report has been divided into three sections : the natural resource base, the catchment risks and management options and impacts. Rapid Catchment Appraisal aims to document salinity risk and management options by addressing all threats to the natural resource base.

Fisheries Research Report No. 145 - The Western Rock Lobster Fishery 1999/2000 To 2000/2001, C F. Chubb, E H. Barker

Fisheries Research Reports

Season 1999/2000 produced the highest catch in the history of the fishery of 14,500 tonnes following a high catch of about 13,000 tonnes in 1998/1999. The record season led to the highest ever catch in B & C zones of 4,500 and 8,300 tonnes respectively. The Abrolhos Islands fishery produced a catch of 1,800 tonnes, somewhat down on the previous seasons catch of 2,000 tonnes. The record catch was taken by a total of 594 vessels. Nominal fishing effort in 1999/2000 was 10,724 million pot lifts, slightly down on the previous season, which was 10,745 million pot lifts. The 2000/2001 …

Agribusiness Sheep Updates - 2004 Part 3, Ken Hart, Keith Croker, Rob Davidson, Mario D'Antuono, Evan Burt, Tanya Kilminster, Diana Fedorenko, Darryl Mcclements, Robert Beard, Sandy Turton, Martin Atwell, Robert Beard

Sheep Updates

Posters Can Merino Ewes be Teased to Synchronise Oestrus for a Summer/Autumn Mating? Ken Hart, Keith Croker, Department of Agriculture Western Australia, Rob Davidson, School of Animal Biology, University of Western Australia. Mario D'Antuono, Department of Agriculture Western Australia Damara Sheep: Now Looking Domestic Evan Burt and Tanya Kilminster, Department of Agriculture Western Australia Production and Water Use of Lucerne and French Serradella Under Three Sowing Rates Diana Fedorenko1,4, Darryl McClements1,4 , Robert Beard3,4 1Department of Agriculture, 3 Farmer, Meckering, 4CRC for Plant-based Management of Dryland Salinity. E-SHEEP - Individual Animal Management is here Sandy Turton & Martin Atwell, Department …

Agribusiness Sheep Updates - 2004 Part 2, Anyou Liu, Clinton Revell, Phil Nichols, Brad Nutt, Darryl Clements, Lucy Anderton, Stephen Gherardi, Chris Oldham, Paul Sanford, John Gladman, G. E. Donald, A. Edirisinghe, D. A. Henry, S. P. Gittins, R. C. G. Smith, Roy Butler, Kelly Pearce, David Masters, David Pethick, Andrew Thompson, Ken Hart, Johan Greeff, Beth Paganoni, Rachel Kirby, Matt Ryan, Kira Butler, Roger Heggarty, David Hopkins, Samantha Giles, Tom Plaisted, Mark Ferguson, Darren Gordon, John Young, Sandra Brown, Ian Mcfarland, John Archer, John Milton, Rob Davidson, Graeme Martin, David Lindsay, Johnathan England, Mandy Curnow, Karina P. Wood, Ashley K. White, B. Lloyd Davies, Paul M. Carberry, Mark Hyder, Mike Freer, Andrew Van Burgel, Kazue Tanaka, Andrew Peterson, Roger Wiese, Gonzalo Mata, Evan Burt, Amanda Miller, Anne Bennett, Felicity Flugge, Amir Abadi, Perry Dolling, Dean Thomas, Mike Ewing, David Lindsay, Emma Kopke, E. A. Dowling, E. K. Crossley, Brien (Ben) E. Norton, John Karlsson, Geoff Pollott, Diana Fedorenko, Darryl Clements, Robert Beard, Brown Besier, Una Ryan, Caroline Bath

Sheep Updates

Precision Pastures

Using Species Diversity to Improve Pasture Performance Anyou Liu and Clinton Revell, Department of Agriculture, Western Australia

New Annual Pasture Legumes for Sheep Graziers Phil Nichols, Angelo Loi, Brad Nutt and Darryl McClements Department of Agriculture Western Australia

Pastures from Space – Can Satellite Estimates of Pasture Growth Rate be used to Increase Farm Profit? Lucy Anderton, Stephen Gherardi and Chris Oldham Department of Agriculture Western Australia

Summer-active Perennial Grasses for Profitable Sheep Production Paul Sanford and John Gladman, Department of Agriculture, Western Australia

Pastures From Space – Validation Of Predictions Of Pasture Growth Rates DONALD, G.E^{.A …}

Plan Of Management For The Point Quobba Fish Habitat Protection Area, Department Of Fisheries

Fisheries Management Papers

Point Quobba is a popular site for locals and tourists for beach activities, fishing and snorkelling, and as a place for children to learn to swim and gain an awareness of the marine environment. The marine life and habitats of the area are of considerable scientific and recreational interest and are highly valued in the local community. However, the area is at risk from a high level of use and from conflict between users - which is due to the area’s proximity to popular tourism sites, the boat ramp, camping and settlement areas.

Proposals For Community Discussion - A Quality Future For Recreational Fishing In The South Coast. A Five-Year Strategy For Managing The Recreational Component Of The Catch., South Coast Recreational Fishing Working Group.

Fisheries Management Papers

With a growing population and advances in technology, fishing pressure will continue to grow and anglers will become more efficient at targeting fish, particularly offshore demersal species such as blue groper, dhufish, red snapper, breaksea cod and queen snapper. There is also a clear need for recreational fisheries management to complement the existing management arrangements for the charter industry, and provide the necessary framework for recreational fishing to be incorporated into an integrated management framework with other fishing sectors.

Proposals For Community Discussion : A Quality Future For Recreational Fishing In The Pilbara/Kimberley : A Five-Year Draft Strategy For Managing The Recreational Component Of The Catch, Pilbara/Kimberley Recreational Fishing Working Group.

Fisheries Management Papers

With a growing population and advances in technology, fishing pressure will continue to grow and anglers will become more efficient at targeting fish - particularly offshore demersal species, such as tropical snappers and emperors. There is also a clear need for recreational fisheries management to complement the existing management arrangements for the charter industry, and provide the necessary framework for recreational fishing to be incorporated into an integrated management framework with other fishing sectors.

Fisheries Management Paper No.180 - Future Management Arrangements For Western Australia's Temperate Shark Fisheries., Jane Borg, R. Mcauley

Fisheries Management Papers

This paper provides a summary of the attributes of these temperate shark fisheries, and sets out the proposed objectives and the measures available to achieve them.

In summary, primary measures are aimed at the sustainability of dusky and whiskery sharks, with dusky sharks being of greater concern as their status is more critical. The final decision on management of these fisheries cannot compromise sustainability, not only because of the Department’s obligations under the Fish Resources Management Act, 1994, but also:

• national and international obligations associated with ecologically sustainable development;

• export accreditation under the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation …

Groundwater Trends In The North Stirling Pallinup Sub-Region, Ruhi Ferdowsian, Lisa Crossing

Natural resources published reports

The South Coast Regional Initiative Planning Team (SCRIPT) has divided the South Coast region of Western Australia into six sub-regions. This publication describes the groundwater trends, risk of shallow watertables, and technical feasibility of salinity management in the agricultural district of the North Stirling Pallinup sub-region.

This sub-region encompasses the Stirling Range National Park, the North Stirling Basin to the north-east of the Park, and the middle and upper catchments of the Pallinup River. Almost 90% (500,000 ha) of the sub-region's alienated land has been cleared for agriculture, and salinity has been identified as an important issue.

Soil-landscape zones are …

Groundwater Trends In The Fitzgerald Biosphere Sub-Region, Adam Lillicrap

Natural resources published reports

The South Coast Regional Initiative Planning Team (SCRIPT) has divided the South Coast region into six sub-regions. The Fitzgerald Biosphere sub-region is located in the centre of the South Coast region of Western Australia (Figure 1). It is bounded by the Pallinup River to the east, Jerdacuttup River to the west, and includes the catchments of the Gairdner, Fitzgerald and Phillips Rivers. The sub-region encompasses the Fitzgerald Biosphere Reserve and just over half (730,000 ha) has been cleared for agriculture.

This publication describes the groundwater trends, risk of shallow watertables, and technical feasibility of salinity management in the soil landscape …

Fisheries Research Report No. 147 - Quantification Of Changes In Recreational Catch And Effort On Blue Swimmer Crabs In Cockburn Sound And Geographe Bay, Neil R. Sumner, B E. Malseed

Fisheries Research Reports

Information on the size of the recreational catch was required to address resource allocation issues between recreational and commercial crabbers in Cockburn Sound and Geographe Bay. Management measures designed to allocate more of the catch to the recreational sector were put in place prior to this study at both locations. Estimates of the recreational catch were required to evaluate the effectiveness of these new management measures by comparing the catch shares with a survey conducted in 1996/97.

A 12-month creel survey of recreational boat-based and shore-based crabbing in Cockburn Sound was conducted between September 2001 and August 2002 and in …

Draft Aquaculure Plan For Exmouth Gulf, Department Of Fisheries

Fisheries Management Papers

The Plan’s objective is to provide a sound strategy for developing future aquaculture activities in Exmouth Gulf, while at the same time conserving the unique environment of Exmouth Gulf for present and future generations, and minimising conflict with existing and future users of Exmouth Gulf.

Draft Aquaculture Plan For Shark Bay., Department Of Fisheries

Fisheries Management Papers

The Department of Fisheries has prepared this draft aquaculture plan for Shark Bay to provide an agreed framework for future management of aquaculture. The final plan will assist prospective aquaculturists in preparing proposals and will guide the Department of Fisheries in the decision making process for aquaculture licence and lease applications. The plan identifies constraints to aquaculture development and areas where aquaculture may occur. It also identifies species that may be used for aquaculture development. Implementation of this plan will ensure that aquaculture can occur in a sustainable manner, while retaining the unique features of Shark Bay.

Fisheries Occasional Publication No. 6 - Anglers Guide To Assessing Reproductive Stage In Fish, Kim Smith, Mike Mackie, Department Of Fisheries Western Australia

Fisheries Occasional Publications

What is a gonad?

"Gonad" is a general term for a reproductive organ, and is used to describe both ovaries and testes. In male and female fish, the gonad is an elongated organ lying along the upper wall of the gut cavity (i.e. running immediately under the vertebral column). The gonad gonad has 2 lobes. Both lobes are attached to the body near the anus and extend forward inside the gut cavity.

As fish gonads ripen, they become larger, heavier and change colour. Immature and undeveloped adult gonads are very small, strap-like in shape, pinkish in colour and translucent (i.e. …

Miscellaneous Publication 8/2004 - Midas User Manual. Version 1, Ross Kingwell, Felicity Flugge, Emma Kopke, Michael O'Connell

Farm Systems and Economics published reports

What is MIDAS?

It's a computer model of dryland farming in Western Australia. MIDAS is an acronym (Model of an Integrated Dryland Agricultural System). Currently there are five versions of MIDAS, each describes a representative farm in a particular farming region of Western Australia. Versions exist for the following regions (see Figure 1):

• the Eastern Wheatbelt;
• the Central Wheatbelt;
• the West Midlands;
• the Great Southern; and,
• the South Coast.

Each of these versions is a mathematical programming model of a representative farm.

Groundwater Study Of The Narrogin Townsite, Edward K. Crossley

Resource management technical reports

A groundwater study was carried out in the townsite of Narrogin, Western Australia, in April 2002. The study consisted of a drilling program to install a network of groundwater monitoring bores. This report contains background information for the town and its catchment, the climatic, geological and hydrogeological investigations, and conclusions on the town's salinity risk and recommendations for improved water management.

Draft Plan Of Management For The Kalbarri Blue Holes Fish Habitat Protection Area., Department Of Fisheries

Fisheries Management Papers

The overall objective of the proposed FHPA and the associated Plan of Management is to conserve and protect a portion of the near-shore reef ecosystem in the vicinity of the Blue Holes, and to manage activities within the area, to promote the observation and protection of fish living within the area. Strong community commitment has already been demonstrated, and this is crucial in the implementation of the proposed management plan

Fish Stock And Fishery Enhancement In Western Australia. A Summary Report., Department Of Fisheries

Fisheries Management Papers

This summary paper provides an overview of the key proposals set out in the full policy discussion paper, Fisheries Management Paper No 175. It does not discuss the theoretical background for the framework presented and therefore readers interested in such discussion are directed to Fisheries Management Paper No 175.

Both papers have been prepared to encourage public involvement in the development of policy for stock enhancement within Western Australian waters. Stock enhancement can involve an existing fishery or creation of a new fishery through the translocation of fish. It affects both public and private waters.

Groundwater Trends In The Central Agricultural Region, S Ghauri

Resource management technical reports

This report provides an update of groundwater data and interpretation for each of the hydrozones of the central agricultural region in Western Australia.