2015-11-10 - P&O Agenda - Item 7, Attach 1 - Historical Ecology of the Noosa Estuary Fisheries

Table of contents


Executive Summary ........................................................................................................... 2

Acknowledgements ............................................................................................................ 4

Table of contents................................................................................................................. 6

Introduction ......................................................................................................................... 7
    Historical ecology ........................................................................................................................ 7
    Study objectives ........................................................................................................................... 9
    Previous studies .........................................................................................................................10

Methods ............................................................................................................................... 11
    Data sources ................................................................................................................................11
    Local knowledge ........................................................................................................................13
    Data analysis ...............................................................................................................................13

Results ................................................................................................................................. 15
    Data sources uncovered ..........................................................................................................15
    Commercial fisheries ...............................................................................................................16
        Oyster fishing ........................................................................................................................................ 17
        Net fishing .............................................................................................................................................. 23
        Prawn trawling .................................................................................................................................... 29
    Recreational fisheries ..............................................................................................................30
        Estuary and beach fishing................................................................................................................ 30
        Fishing competitions ......................................................................................................................... 35
        ‘Outside’ fishing ................................................................................................................................... 38
        Recreational records and potential bias .................................................................................... 39
    Early controversy: net versus line .......................................................................................40
    Megafauna ....................................................................................................................................42
    Physical changes to the Noosa River...................................................................................44
    Contemporary perceptions ....................................................................................................45

Summary ............................................................................................................................. 47

Key Lessons........................................................................................................................ 49

References .......................................................................................................................... 50



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