Floods Good News For Fish Populations And Anglers
18 February, 2004

Recent heavy rains and flooding throughout the State are helping to replenish fish habitats which is good news for fish stocks and Queensland anglers.

Department of Primary Industries Queensland Fisheries Service (QFS) principal scientist Dr John Beumer said the wet weather had brought relief to rural communities as well as aquatic life.

Dr Beumer said many fish species and other aquatic organisms had life cycles dependent on floods.

“During a drought and other dry periods fish tend to stop spawning and when it rains they start to breed again,” he said.

“The recent heavy rains are particularly beneficial to species such as barramundi, mangrove jack, mullet and Australian bass, which are then able to spawn more widely in coastal areas.”

Dr Beumer said floodwaters played an important role in helping fish to spread throughout river systems and into estuaries.

“Upstream areas will become more populated and adult fish will move into spawning sites such as estuaries,” he said.

Dr Beumer said the increased spawning activity was good news for anglers who should notice a difference in catchable fish populations within two to four years.

“Most offspring of the fish that spawned during the floods will be at a legal size limit within the next few years,” he said.

“The reverse happens after a drought or extended dry period when catchable fish numbers drop because of the lack of spawning activity.”

Dr Beumer said floodwaters also affected fish habitats in many ways with mostly positive benefits.

“Floodwaters in coastal areas remove sand bars and other materials that have been deposited in river mouths since the last floods, opening up deep water channels and improving navigation for anglers,” he said.

“At the same time floodwaters also benefit estuarine areas, improving the colonisation of mangroves and encouraging greater fisheries production.”

Department of Primary Industries Media Unit
GPO Box 46 Brisbane Qld 4001 Ph 07 3239 6380
DPI Call Centre 13 25 23 (weekdays 8 am to 6 pm)

Further information: John Beumer (07) 3224 2238
Communications Officer: Liz Smith (07) 3224 7757

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