Richmond River flood survey

NSW DPI scientific and technical staff (Will Macbeth, Doug Rotherham, Marcus Miller, Charles Gray, Steve Kennelly) from the wild fisheries program worked with local commercial fishers to monitor fish recovery in the Richmond River following a major flood and subsequent fish kill in January 2008.

Two types of surveys were done. The first used the local expertise and experience of commercial fishers to survey fish throughout the river. The second was done by researchers doing a fishery-independent sampling survey of the river using specially-designed research nets.

Both surveys showed that important species such as sea mullet, bream, dusky flathead, sand whiting and mud crabs were present throughout the river downstream of Coraki, after a month of the closure.

The scientists recommended that the river be re-opened to fishing in March, and this occurred.

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