Natural Resources Management and Policy Commons^™

Bulletin No 4023 - Pasture Plants Of The Western Australian Shrublands, D G. Wilcox, J G. Morrissey

Bulletins 4000 -

The use of the shrubland pastures of Western Australia began in 1861 when Mr. W. Burges of the Bowes Station near Northampton sent a flock of sheep along the Greenough River to graze the country where Yuin station is today. Following his example, a number of other enterprising men established grazing areas along the river courses of this harsh and often drought stricken and forbidding land. By 1925, virtually all of the pastoral land of value in the mulga zone west of the Gibson Desert and the Great Victoria Desert had been developed, and by 1934, over four million sheep …

Fisheries Report No 26 - Report On Lake Chandala With Recommendations Of Its Importance As A Fauna Reserve, Alan Tingay, Susan R. Tingay

Fisheries Research Reports

The hydrology, vegetation, fauna and land use of Lake Chandala (31°30 'S, 115°57'E) is described on the basis of field and literature surveys. The significance of the Lake as a Straw-necked Ibis (Thresktornts spinicollis) nesting rookery is emphasised and recommendations are made for its acquisition and future management.

Fisheries Report No 23 - The Management Of Nature Reserves In Western Australia, Andrew A. Burbidge, Trevor Evans

Fisheries Research Reports

The number and area of Nature Reserves in Western Australia has grown rapidly in recent times. At 80 June 1975 there were 491 reserves with an area of 5 103 037 hectares. By 31 December 1975, with the inclusion of reserves for the Conservation of Flora in the definition of a Nature Reserve, there were 900 reserves totalling 5 317 965 ha. With the implementation of the Environmental Protection Authority's recommendations based on the Conservation Through Reserves Committee's Report on Systems 4, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12 the Nature Reserve System will jump to 985 reserves with an area …

Fisheries Report No 22 - The Western Rock Lobster Fishery 1971 - 1972, G. R. Morgan, E H. Barker

Fisheries Research Reports

The fishery for the western rock lobster* is one of the most important single fisheries in Australia and an important export earner for the State. The fishery is governed by a complex set of regulations which have been reviewed by Bowen (1971) and which are designed to limit the total effort to acceptable levels and to enforce a legal minimum size. It is thus important to constantly monitor the state of the fishery both to ensure that the effort is remaining within the accepted limits and that the regulations are adequately performing their function of maintaining reasonably stable catches. Inherent …

Report No 21 - A Resource Survey Of Woody Island, Archipelago Of The Recherche, J. Goodsell, A. Tingay, S. R. Tingay

Fisheries Research Reports

A resource survey of Woody Island was undertaken by the three authors from 26 October, 1975 to 8 November, 1975.

The island has some unusual faunal and floral features not yet recorded for the Archipelago. These are discussed.

Some problems in relation to the island's management are identified.

Fisheries Report No 25 - The Western Australian Amateur Fishery For Australian Herring (Arripis Georgianus) - Results Of The 1973 Creel Census, R C.J. Lenanton, N. G. Hall

Fisheries Research Reports

Historically, the Western Australian production of Australian herring (Arrtpts georgtanus) has fluctuated from year to year in response to changing market demand. Prior to 1968, the annual catch taken by professional fishermen was relatively stable, ranging from 200 000 kg (approx. 500 000 pounds) to 450 000 kg (approx. 1 000 000 pounds). From 1968, commercial production has risen to a peak of 1 187 440 kg (2 617 857 pounds) recorded in 1972/73 (Table I). An increase in demand for herring as bait for the rock lobster fishery is considered to be the major factor involved in this observed …

Fisheries Report No 19 - The Western Rock Lobster Fishery 1973 - 1974, G. R. Morgan, E H. Barker

Fisheries Research Reports

The fishery for the western rock lobster* is one of the most important single fisheries in Australia and an important export earner for the State. The fishery is governed by a complex set of regulations which have been reviewed by Bowen (1971) and which are designed to limit the total effort to acceptable levels and to enforce a legal minimum size. It is thus important to constantly monitor the state of the fishery both to ensure that the effort is remaining within the accepted limits and that the regulations are adequately performing their function of maintaining reasonably stable catches. Inherent …

Fisheries Report No 18 - Tuna Survey In Waters Off The Western Australian Coast During The Period August 1973 To August 1974, J. P. Robins

Fisheries Research Reports

In September 1972, Markwell Ross Fisheries Pty Ltd (a subsidiary fishing division of Q.U.F. Industries Ltd) approached the Western Australian Department of Fisheries and Fauna (now Department of Fisheries and Wildlife) for assistance in the development and carrying out of a purse seining programme using the 25m rock lob­ster vessel F.B. Western Star.

Negotiation and agreement was reached, with the objective to under­take and carry out an investigation into the feasibility of developing a purse seine fishery for tuna in Western Australian waters. The Department of Fisheries and Wildlife (Development Section) supplied, on loan, capital fishing equipment (purse seine net, …

Fisheries Report No 16 - Notes On The Wildlife Of A Proposed Nature Reserve Around Lake Grace And Lake Chinokup, Western Australia, N. L. Mckenzie, W. K. Youngson

Fisheries Research Reports

During 1972 and 1973 plants and vertebrate animals were collected and recorded from a proposed 22 000 ha nature reserve centred on a chain of salt lakes in south-western Western Australia (33° 10' S - 33° 35' 8 and 118° 19' B - 118° 29' E).

The dominant plant species were collected, the structural formations desert bed and a vegetation map produced. Seven species of native terrestrial mammal and three species of bat were recorded.

Three of the terrestrial species are endemic to southwestern Western Australia, and two of these - Pseudomys occidentalis and Sminthopsis granulipes - are regarded as …

Fisheries Report No 17 - Some Aspects Of Tuna And Its Potential In The Oceanic Waters Off Western Australia, J. P. Robins

Fisheries Research Reports

In this report an endeavour has been made to describe very briefly the growth of the tuna fishery in Australia, world production, utilisation, price and future demand, tuna species descriptions, species occurrence around the Australian coast and the results of two aerial surveys for tuna off. the west and north-west coasts of Western Australia.

Bulletin 3933 - Trickle Irrigation For Home Gardens, K Cole

Bulletins - 3000 - 3999

The use of trickle irrigation in the home garden can save money, time and water.

Trickle irrigation is a concept first used in glasshouses in England, then applied to field crops in Israel and developed and refined in Australia and America. Today it is widely used in orchards, vineyards, vegetable gardens and now has gained wide acceptance in the growing of ornamental plants.

Any good trickle system uses small quantities of water over an extended period of time. In the home garden, flows of 2.25 litres to 4.5 litres per hour are usual though for small shrubs lesser amounts may …

Fisheries Report No 14 - Wilson Inlet - A Seasonally Closed Western Australian South Coast Estuary, R C.J. Lenanton

Fisheries Research Reports

Considerable conflict has existed for many years between professional fishing, recreational usage and development in the west and south coast estuaries of Western Australia. One of the areas where intense conflict exists is Wilson Inlet.

The Government's task of advising the various interests concerned in these conflicts has been difficult, due to the lack of knowledge of estuarine fauna and environment in relation to usage and development.

The objective of this report is to present a preliminary description of the Wilson Inlet environment, to record the history of netting closures in the Inlet, and to discuss the history of the …

Bulletin No 3883 - Dairying In W.A., Western Australian Department Of Agriculture

Bulletins - 3000 - 3999

Western Australia has a small dairy industry compared with its other rural production. However, the industry has consolidated over recent years.

Tree clearing and pasture development on existing holdings and the amalgamation of small dairy farms has led to a rapid increase in the area of pasture per farm. The trend in Western Australia is towards bigger herds, more efficient dairies, more fodder conservation and increasing production per cow and per· hectare.

Fisheries Report No 15 - The Western Rock Lobster Fishery 1972 - 1973, G. R. Morgan, E H. Barker

Fisheries Research Reports

The fishery for the western rock lobster* is one of the most important single fisheries in Australia and an important export earner for the State. The fishery is governed by a complex set of regulations which have been reviewed by Bowen (1971) and which are designed to limit the total effort to acceptable levels and to enforce a legal minimum size. It is thus important to constantly monitor the state of the fishery both to ensure that the effort is remaining within the accepted limits and that the regulations are adequately performing their function of maintaining reasonably stable catches. Inherent …

Land Systems Of The Brockman River Catchments, S. Porritt

Natural resources published reports

The survey was conducted to gain basic information about the agricultural land use of the Brockman River Catchment. The University of Western Australia Faculty of Agriculture was interested in the area as a compact, agriculturally diverse area close to Perth which was, therefore, suitable for filed studies. The Department of Agriculture, Moora Office was interested in this study as a framework within which to improve its extension services in the area.

Both parties cooperated in investigations of the area by providing data and equipment. Field work was carried out in summer 1973-74 and data compiled by an agricultural science student …

Fisheries Report No 13 - Results Of A Biological Survey Of The Shire Of Kent, Western Australia, N. L. Mckenzie

Fisheries Research Reports

The Department of Fisheries and Fauna is responsible for the conservation of the native fauna in Western Australia. The main approach to this problem has been the creation of reserves for "The Conservation of Flora and Fauna". These reserves, known as "Wildlife Sanctuaries", are controlled by the Western Australian Wild Life Authority - a Statutory Authority serviced by the Department.

The object of the acquisition programme is to develop a reserve system which will include, as far as possible, a full and permanent cross-section of the State's native floral and faunal assemblages and, at the same time, provide for the …

Fisheries Report No 12 - Results Of A Biological Survey Of A Proposed Wildlife Sanctuary At Dragon Rocks Near Hyden, Western Australia, N. L. Mckenzie, A. A. Burbidge, N. G. Marchant

Fisheries Research Reports

In 1972, three visits were made to an area of vacant crown lam 30 kilometres south-south~east of Hyden, Western Australia.

A preliminary survey was made in April 1972 and following this recommendations were made on the equipment and staff required for a detailed survey of the vegetation and animals.

From the 30th July to the 4th August 1972, a team from the Fauna Research Branch of the Department of Fisheries and Fauna began a detailed fauna survey.

Between the 20th August and the 25th August 1972, the fauna survey was continued am a botanist from the Western Australian Herbarium undertook …

Bulletin No 3867 - Water For Agriculture. Clearing Cloudy Or Coloured Water, N. E. Platell

Bulletins - 3000 - 3999

THE suspended material in most water supplies is generally clay, although sometimes organic matter and materials precipitated from solution, such as hydrated iron oxides, may be present. Coloured waters are those waters that are still coloured, due to dissolved coloured matter, after suspended material has been removed. Some coloured waters such as those found in swampy areas may be entirely free of suspended material.

The amount of clay or colour present is mainly of concern where the water is used for household purposes. Only rarely is the clay or colour present in such quantities that the water is undrinkable for …

Fisheries Report No 11 - The Fauna, Flora And Planned Usage Of The Dampier Archipelago, A. A. Burbidge, R. I. T. Prince

Fisheries Research Reports

The Dampier Archipelago is a group of islands off the north west coast of Australia (20 20! - 20 45'S, 116 Cast . 117°E), first discovered by William Dampier in 1699 and subsequently named after him by the Baudin expedition of 1801. This name has since been applied by some authors to include all islands from Roebourne to North West Cape, including both Barrow Island and the Monte Bello Islands, but it is more correctly applied to those islands within a 30 mile radius of the town of Dampier.

Ir. recent times, three parties have visited the Archipelago and examined …

Fisheries Report No. 10 - An Investigation Into The Status Of Introduced Trout (Salmo Spp.) In Western Australia, Dr N. M. Morrissy

Fisheries Research Reports

Both brown (Salmo trutta L.) and rainbow (S. gairdnerii trout Richardson) have been introduced into inland waters of the south-west of Western Australia to provide an amateur sport fishery on a gamefish. The large indigenous marron (Cherax tenuimanus Smith) is present in most of these waters. The only large native fish present is the cobbler (Tand- anus bostocki Whitley) which, while highly edible like the marron, has no game-fish qualities.

Hatchery production of trout for stocking waters has been centred at Pemberton in the lower south-west since 1931 when Mr. Cyril Glew, acting in a private capacity, succeeded in hatching …

Agriculture And Pollution In Western Australia. Part 2. Pollution Problems In W.A, C V. Malcolm

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

In Part I pollution was defined as a reduction in the usefulness of a resource and its significance in relation to resource fragility was discussed. Pollution problems in Western Australia are here considered in broad geographical regions with further subdivision into pollution types.

Fisheries Report No 9 - The Fauna And Flora Of Monte Bello Islands, A. A. Burbidge Dr

Fisheries Research Reports

Two visits were made to the Monte Bello Islands in 1970 and 1971.

The aim of the visits was to examine the islands for the presence of native mammals and other fauna, and to explore the possibility of re-establishing fauna now extinct,

The first survey was carried out in conjunction with a more detailed examination of the Dampier Archipelago. The fisheries patrols vessel "Dampier" was used to reach the islands and as a base. Personnel were R. Johnstone (W.A. Museum), E.J. Little and J.D. Harman (crew of the "Dampier"), R.F. Dear and A.A, Burbidge, all from the Department of Fisheries …

Fisheries Report No Vii (7) - Results Of A Biological Survey Of The Millstream Area, A. A. Burbidge Dr

Fisheries Research Reports

Millstream has long been recognised as an unique and outstanding area, both scenically and from a biological aspect. The area of prime interest consists of a series of deep pools in the bed of the Fortescue River (about 15 miles long including Gregory Gorge) and the springs and streams which feed them. Most of the springs are in the sides of the river bed but one of the largest is about 1% miles to the south. This feeds a swift flowing stream running north into the river bed.

The first Europeans to see the area were the exploring party led …

Irrigation In South-Western Australia, K S. Cole

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

THE pattern of irrigation in South-Western Australia is constantly changing, At present, the main increase is in the private sector.

In the past century, there has been a see-saw effect from private to Government to private schemes.

Some Wildflowers Of Western Australia, C. F. H. Jenkins, A. S. George

Bulletins - 3000 - 3999

MUCH recent discussion on conservation has centred around the importance of wild flower reserves and the need for protecting one of thci State's most important tourist attractions. Although less important to visitors than the flowers, many of our wild animals hold equal interest for nature lovers and scientists, and they also need protection.

ALTHOUGH the brilliance and diversity of West Australian wildflowers are widely appreci­ated, the localities where they can best be observed in their natural state are not so well known.

In this article a brief outline is given of the more important districts in the south western part …

Fisheries Report No V (5) - Report On Marron In Farm Dams (Cherax Tenuimanus), N M. Morrissy

Fisheries Research Reports

A programme of selling marron (Cherax tenuimanus) to country dwellers for stocking farm dams, has been carried out by the Pemberton Trout Board for the past few years with considerable financial gain. In this case permission to sell the marron was granted by the Department of Fisheries and Fauna so as to encourage the provision of stocks of this large, freshwater crustacean for farmers in the dryer inland areas of the Southwest which are remote from sources of fresh fish and from natural stocks of marron.

The marron, however, have been sold indiscriminately, upon request, without any advice as to …

Fisheries Report No Iv (6) - Report On The Current Status Of Crocodiles In Western Australia, H. Robert Bustard Dr

Fisheries Research Reports

The aim of the survey was fivefold,

(1) to determine the present abundance and composition of saltwater crocodile populations in Western Australia,

(2) to comment on the status of the freshwater crocodile in Western Australia following 7 years of total protection,

(3) to locate study area(s) for detailed work on crocodile biology,

(4) to investigate the feelings of people on the spot (especially shooters or ex-shooters) towards crocodile conservation, and

(5) to investigate law enforcement problems relating to crocodiles

Fishery Report Iv (4) - Report On The Barramundi Fishery In Western Australia, N M. Morrissy

Fisheries Research Reports

Barramundi are widely distributed in rivers and estuaries in the semi-tropical and tropical regions of the Indo- Pacific from South China to the Persian Gulf and along the coast of northern Australia. The limiting factors to the distribution appear to be temperature and salinity.

Bulletin No 3609 - Land Development In The South Eastern Wheatbelt, G T. Halpin, P. Nelson

Bulletins - 3000 - 3999

Interest in the development of light lands in the south-eastern wheatbelt was spurred by the many ex-servicemen seeking farms after the 1939-45 World War.

Previous attempts to develop this area had been frustrated by poor crop yields, and by the poor carrying capacity of those volunteer pastures which developed on cleared land.

Research into reasons for the poor crop results was begun in 1948-49 with trials sown by Messrs Smith and Halpin between Borden and Lake Grace. The results clearly showed the important role played by copper and zinc in successful crop growth. Since then, field trials have been conducted …

Bulletin No 3547 - Kimberley Research Station - Progress Report 1968, Western Australian Department Of Agriculture

Bulletins - 3000 - 3999

Rivers flowing to the Gulf of Carpentaria and the Timor Sea have been estimated by hydrologists to carry about three times the water transported annually over the Murray drainage system and the South Eastern slopes which, together, comprise the highly settled agricultural areas of South Eastern Australia.

In 1945, the North Australian Development Committee recommended research in the Ord-Victoria rivers region as a first step toward ultimate agricultural development of this Northern potential and, in 1946, the Kim- berley Research Station commenced operations under the joint control of the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization and the Western Australian Department …