Natural Resources and Conservation Commons^™

Fish Health For Fish Farmers In Western Australia, Tina Thorne

Fisheries Published Reports

Disease is a departure from the normal state of health of a fish or any other animal. Diseases have no doubt occurred among fishes since these animals have occupied a place on the earth. Scientific efforts to understand the causes of disease in fishes, and to attempt to control them however, have only been made during the last sixty years.

Fishes, crustaceans and molluscs, as with other animals are subject to a wide spectrum of diseases, that can be classified as infectious or non-infectious. The vast majority of disease problems in the intensive farming of aquatic animals can be traced …

Distribution And Ecological Significance Of On-Farm Bush Remnants In The Southern Wheatbelt Region Of Western Australia - Phase Ii - Save The Bush Project, E A. Griffin

All other publications

This is the second phase of the Southern Wheatbelt Region Remnant Vegetation project aimed at surveying pieces of bushland in the 'Great Southern' of Western Australia. The first phase was completed during 1991-1992 and covered 11 shires

The aims of this survey were to document what is left (as on-farm remnant bush areas), so that the information is a available for use by the wider farming community (see also Mollermans 1992a, b).' In addition, native vegetation was defined as "endemic floral ... communities which have not been planted and which are in place as a result of natural processes" (ACF …

Distribution And Ecological Significance Of On-Farm Bush Remnants In The Southern Wheatbelt Region Of Western Australia - Phase Iii - Save The Bush Project Mz 06, E A. Griffin

All other publications

This is the third phase of the southern wheatbelt region remnant vegetation aimed at surveying pieces of bushland in the ‘Great Southern’ of Western Australia.

The aims of this survey were to document what is left (as on-farm remnant bush areas), so that the information is a available for use by the wider farming community (see also Mollemans 1992a,b). In addition, native vegetation was defined as ‘endemic floral ... communities which have not been planted and which are in place as a result of natural processes’ (ACF vide Mollemans, 1992a,b). Furthermore, remnant vegetation is ‘that component of the native vegetation …

Fisheries Research Report No 102 - A Review Of International Aquaculture Development And Selected Species In Environments Relevant To Western Australia, C. Lawrence

Fisheries Research Reports

This paper discusses aspects of aquaculture development in countries visited during an international study tour, with particular reference to implications for the developing aquaculture industry in Western Australia.

The reasons for aquaculture development, including protein production, employment, fisheries enhancement, tradition/religion, conservation and revenue are discussed from an international perspective, along with case histories and models of development undertaken outside Australia.

The potential benefits of developing an aquaculture industry within Australia are outlined and the relative costs and benefits of developing aquaculture of native aquatic species or imported species are discussed, including relevant examples of each.

A number of species of …

Nature Conservation In The Western Australian Wheatbelt, Max Abensperg-Traun

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

Growing concern about the survival of flora and fauna in the Western Australian wheatbelt prompted CSIRO scientists to start a long-term study to moniter trends in populations. Max Abensperg-Traun and his colleagues reportt on their findings so far.

Rangeland Reference Areas : Summary Of Cooperative Project Between The Western Australian Department Of Agriculture And The Environmental Protection Authority, D A. Blood

Resource management technical reports

The development of agriculture in south-western Australia has been characterised by the replacement of deep-rooted, perennial species of native vegetation with shallow-rooted, annual species. Except for the high rainfall areas, the native vegetation was able to intercept and transpire nearly all of the rainfall resulting in low stream flows and recharge to a groundwater system which was typically deep and restricted to the major valleys. The lack of surface or groundwater movement out of inland catchments used large quantities of cyclic salts to become stored in the regolith. Although annual crops and pastures can be high water users, they are …

Reading The Rangeland: A Guide To The Arid Shrublands Of Western Australia, Don Burnside, Alec Holm, Alan Payne, Georgina Wilson

All other publications

Managing the rangelands is complex. Soils and vegetation can vary considerably over short distances in distinct or subtle ways. Separating climatic from management influences on the condition of the land has always been difficult. Whether we live on a sheep station, in a country town, in an Aboriginal community, a mining camp, or even if we only visit the Australian outback, it is vital that we understand and appreciate the unique character and management requirements of the rangelands. Learning to ‘read the rangeland’ has been a slow process, involving the knowledge and skills of pastoralists, Aboriginal people and scientists. This …

Floristic Survey Of Northern Sandplains Between Perth And Geraldton, Edward Arnold Griffin

Resource management technical reports

A database of plant lists from over 2,500 sites was compiled from the the Northern Sandplains between Perth and Geraldton. Over 2,500 plant taxa were recorded from the area. Preliminary classification revealed in the order of 500 different floristic types. Analysis of these demonstrated strong regional patterns of floristic composition related to geology and soils. Consistencies in these patterns indicated a need to review the location of some of the botanical district boundaries.

Bulletin 4279 - Streamlining - An Environmentally Sustainable Drainage Network For The Swan Coastal Plain (Peel-Harvey Catchment), Garry Heady, Neil Guise

Bulletins 4000 -

Community Catchment Centre Pinjarra

A network of over 1400 kilometres of drains and modified natural waterways constructed by the Public Works Department criss-crosses the Peel-Harvey catchment. There are also over 3300 kilometres of minor drains and natural waterways in this same region.

The expansion of agriculture relied on this extensive drainage network, which was designed to ensure rapid drainage of the region. Unfortunately there was little regard to future environmental consequences.

Along with drainage water, these same drains now carry high loads of silt and nutrients. Many of the drains are also degraded and require expensive maintenance annually.

Bulletin 4278 - How To Use Wide Furrow Sowing For Improved Crop Production On Water Repellent Sand, Paul Blackwell, Grant Morrow, Tony Webster

Bulletins 4000 -

Wide furrow sowing is a method for successfully establishing crops of lupins or cereals on non-wetting sands, and improving crop establishment on non-repellent sands. The same principles can be used to assist establishment of fodder shrubs and long-term pasture (e.g. tagasaste and Rhodes grass).

Fisheries Research Report No 101 - The Big Bank Region Of The Limited Entry Fishery For The Western Rock Lobster, Panulirus Cygnus, C F. Chubb, E H. Barker, C J. Dibden

Fisheries Research Reports

The Big Bank region lies to the north of the Abrolhos Islands zone of the limited entry western rock lobster fishery (Zone A) close to the edge of the continental shelf. Since 1986/87 the catches from this previously lightly exploited region have become important to a number of rock lobster fishermen operating in the northern (A and B) zones.

Fishing at Big Bank occurred predominantly in January and February of each season, however, recently introduced regulations have closed the region to fishing until February 10 each year. A maximum of 83 boats have operated in the region catching up to …

An Inventory And Condition Survey Of The Murchison River Catchment, Western Australia, Peter James Curry, A L. Payne, K A. Leighton, P Hennig, D A. Blood

Technical Bulletins

The inventory and condition survey of the Murchison River catchment and surrounds, undertaken by the Department of Agriculture between 1985 and 1988, describes and maps the natural resources of the region’s pastoral leasehold land. This survey report provides a baseline record of the existence and condition of the natural area’s resources, to assist with the planning and implementation of land management practices. The report identified and described the condition of soils, landforms, vegetation, habitat, ecosystems, and declared plants and animals. It also assessed the impact of pastoralism and made land management recommendations. The area surveyed by field work during 1985-88 …

An Inventory And Condition Survey Of Rangelands In The North-Eastern Goldfields, Western Australia, H J. Pringle, S A. Gilligan, A M E Van Vreeswyk

Technical Bulletins

The inventory and condition survey of the north-eastern Goldfields, undertaken by the Department of Agriculture and Food, Western Australia (DAFWA) between 1988 and 1990, describes and maps the natural resources of the region’s pastoral leasehold land. This survey report provides a baseline record of the existence and condition of the natural area’s resources, to assist with the planning and implementation of land management practices. The report identified and described the condition of soils, landforms, vegetation, habitat, ecosystems, and declared plants and animals. It also assessed the impact of pastoralism and made land management recommendations. The area surveyed covers about 100 …

No-Tillage Sowing Decreases Water Erosion On Loamy Soils And Increases Earthworm Activity, Kevin Bligh

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

No-tillage sowing places seed and fertiliser in the soil without loosening all of the topsoil. Soil is cultivated only in the sown rows, leaving the inter-row areas largely undisturbed.

No-tillage sowing reduces both wind and water erosion. Soil structure is generally improved, and pasture regeneration is increased because seed is not buried too deeply for re-establishment.

Two long-term trials were establis_hed on loamy soils to determine effects of tillage and cropping on runoff and soil loss.

Resource Inventory And Condition Survey Of The Ord River Regeneration Reserve, John De Salis

Natural resources published reports

It is now some 33 years since the Ord River Regeneration Project, the largest and most ambitious of its kind in Australian rangelands, commenced.

During this time there have been a number of publications and miscellaneous reports about the project, but this publication is by far the most comprehensive produced to date. Although the field work was undertaken in 1981, the findings recorded here will stand in a good stead as a detailed account and reference work for years to come.

Much has changed within the Regeneration Reserve area since the project commenced. Cattle and feral donkey numbers have finally …

Managing Bushland On The Farm, Penny Hussey

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

Since the time of European settlement in Western Australia, the replacement of native vegetation with crops and pastures has led to problems for both agricultural production and nature conservation. The most obvious of these are hydrological changes leading to salinisation and waterlogging, and the extinction of some native plants and animals.

Protection of remaining remnants of native bushland, together with revegetation, is increasingly seen as important ways of achieving sustainable agriculture and maintaining our unique wildlife.

Coastal Rehabilitation Manual, Veronica P M Oma, D M. Clayton, J. B. Broun, C D M. Keating

Bulletins 4000 -

Provides an overview of the coastal environment to ensure that the natural environment and coastal processes are considered properly. Describes how to develop a successful coastal rehabilitation strategy and detail rehabilitation techniques applicable to Western Australia. Lists sources of further advice and information.

Integrated Catchment Management : Upper Denmark Catchment, R Ferdowsian, K J. Greenham

Resource management technical reports

The project mapped the landforms and land management units on cleared parts of the catchment ; defined the extent of, processes causing and options for solving the salinity problem in the Upper Denmark Catchment; developed a catchment management plan that would reverse the increasing soil and stream salinity trend within the catchment; encouraged and assisted the landholders to adopt the plan; and applied the results of the study to other areas.

An Evaluation Of The Remnant Vegetation Protection Scheme 1988-1991 : A Report, Department Of Agriculture And Food, Western Australia, Soil And Land Conservation Council (W.A.)

All other publications

The objective of the Remnant Vegetation Protection Scheme is to encourage land owners to fence and protect areas of remnant vegetation for the purposes of flora and fauna conservation, land conservation and aesthetics. The means by which land owners are encouraged to protect remnant vegetation is the provision of a grant equal to half the cost of labour and materials to erect a stock-proof fence around the vegetation concerned. The RVPS is jointly administered by the Departments of Conservation and Land Management (CALM) and Agriculture (DAWA), with the latter as the lead agency. CALM contributes substantially to the RVPS through …

Floristic Survey Of Remnant Vegetation In The Bindoon To Moora Area, Western Australia, Edward Arnold Griffin

Resource management technical reports

No abstract provided.

Wider Spaced Rows For Lupins, Ron Jarvis

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

In this farm scale trial at Wongan Hills, a lined combine was used to seed lupins into rows spaced 380 mm apart in wheat stubble.

Stubble Retention For Control Of Wind Erosion, Dan Carter, Paul Findlater, Steve Porritt

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

The surest way to control wind erosion in continuous cropping systems is to retain stubble. Over the past ten years, Western Australian research has focused on the amounts of stubble needed to prevent that erosion.

Land Resources Of The Kellerberrin Region, William Morrison Mcarthur

Resource management technical reports

The landforms and associated soils in the Kellerberrin area (Figure 1) were mapped using a combination of air photo interpretation (1:50,000 black and white, 1984 photography) and ground traverses along roads and tracks. Mapping units used are similar to those described by Bettenay and Hingston (1961; 1964) and Hingston and Bettenay (1961) for the Merredin district. The present survey may be seen as a western extension of the Merredin survey; it adjoins the work of Lantzke (in prep) on the west

Rangeland Survey In Western Australia - History, Methodology And Applications, H. J. R. Pringle

Natural resources published reports

The rangelands of Western Australia lie to the north-west of the agricultural areas, extending east to the Nullarbor and north to the Kimberley (Fig. 1). The major areas that are used for pastoralism are most of the Kimberley and the Pilbara, nearly all of the mulga shrublands, plus some of the Goldfields gum belt and part of the Nullarbor Plain.

Fisheries Research Report No 91 - A Synopsis Of The Biology And The Exploitation Of The Australasian Pilchard, Sardinops Neopilchardus (Steindachner) Part Ii: History Of Stock Assessment And Exploitation, W. J. Fletcher

Fisheries Research Reports

This report summarises the studies which have provided information on the population characteristics and exploitation of the pilchard, Sardinops neopilchardus in Australia and New Zealand. This review was undertaken to determine whether existing data could be used to assess the status of Western Australian or other stocks or, alternatively, what additional information was required.

The mean size of pilchards caught varies among locations but, in general, fish are between 140 and 160 mm LCF, corresponding to ages 2 - 5 years. The length-weight relationship also varies between locations

Attempts to initiate pilchard fisheries have been hampered by the lack of …

Variable Quality Of Saltbush Seed Influences Establishment, Stephen Vlahos, Donald Nicholas, Clive Malcolm

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

Farmers are using niche seeders to direct-seed saltbushes (Atriplex spp.) cheaply on large areas of salt affected land. While many factors influence successful establishment of these shrubs, fanners can control the quality of the seed they use. Too often, the lack of knowledge of saltbush seed quality has resulted in extremely poor establishment. The importance of seed quality is well recognized in the establishment of grain crops and pastures, but it is often overlooked when farmers buy or select seed of saltbush. If farmers know the quality of the seed they buy, they can make appropriate adjustments to the sowing …

Reclaiming Sandplain Seeps Planting Trees, Richard George

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

Sandplain seeps affect large areas of agricultural land in Western Australia's eastern and northern wheatbelt and in the Great Southern. These seeps are estimated to account for about 10 per cent of dryland salinity in the agricultural area. Research and field observations show that seeps may be cheaply and quickly reclaimed using various types of drains or small blocks of trees (George 1990). This article discusses results of reclamation methods associated with tree planting on sandplain seeps in the eastern wheatbelt.

Trees And Livestock : A Productive Co-Existence, Richard Moore

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

Trees, as part of farming can help to combat land degradation problems and produce a good economic return from timber at the same time. For example, there is now clear evidence that planting trees can help combat salinity by lowering water-table levels. Trees can also substantially improve overall farm productivity by providing shelter for pastures and livestock. The challenge is to find practical and economical methods of integrating trees and farming. A combination of widely-spaced trees and livestock is one promising method. This article describes the benefits of this type of agroforestry to farmers, suitable locations and how to practice …

Unique Co-Operative Landcare Venture In The Avon Catchment, Darrel Brewin, John Collett

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

The Avon catchment is bustling with landcare activity generated by a unique co-operative venture between farmers, the Department of Agriculture, the National Soil Conservation Program and Alcoa of Australia Ltd. The Avon Catchment Landcare Program was initiated by the Department of Agriculture and Alcoa, in support of the national Decade ofLandcare. The program provides financial, human and technical resources to undertake catchment and farm planning and demonstrations of rehabilitation techniques that tackle soil and water degradation problems. We know that without specially planned landcare programs and substantial changes in land management, land degradation will continue and further losses of agricultural …

Regenerating The Rangelands, Adrian Williams, Ron Shepherd

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

Parts of Western Australia's rangelands have been degraded by inappropriately high stocking rates, often associated with large numbers of native or feral animals, poor seasonal plant growth, or the ravages of cyclones, floods or fire. Today, most pastoralists are keen to rehabilitate the degradation of the past, as indicated by the proliferation of Land Conservation Districts (LCDs) throughout the pastoral zones.

There is no 'quick fix' to regenerating the rangelands. It may take many years to achieve the desired result.