Application for Scientific Permit – Available for Public Comment
Public comment on the following application for a Scientific Research (Fauna) Permit is open until 21 January 2025.
Applicant: Freshwater Biomonitoring
Species/Taxon: aquatic invertebrates, freshwater fish (native and introduced)
Location: Wide range of rivers and streams around Tasmania
Title of research: Biomonitoring of streams around Tasmania to assess impacts of wastewater, mining, aquaculture and other activities.
Aim of project: To assess the potential impacts of industry (mining, aquaculture, wastewater treatment) on stream fauna.
Justification: Biomonitoring of rivers and streams in relation to human impacts is important as a means of documenting and where necessary mitigating potential impacts of human activity on stream health.
Maximum likely numbers of individuals involved: Max. 500 aquatic invertebrates (preserved for later identification)
Max. 100 freshwater fish (returned to water at point of capture)
Activities undertaken and methods: The sampling of aquatic invertebrates is conducted using either kick nets or Surber samplers to collect invertebrates from the benthos of the stream. Light trapping is also used to collect adult macroinvertebrates. The invertebrates are then preserved in ethanol or Formalin on site for later identification and enumeration.
Fish populations are surveyed using a standard electrofishing survey-method (20-min battery time), with electrofishing surveys conducted in accordance with the Australian code of electrofishing practice (NSW Fisheries Management Publication No. 1997).
Fate of animals:
Aquatic invertebrates are preserved in ethanol on site for later identification and enumeration. Captured fish are allowed to fully recover before being returned to the water at the point of capture.
Likely impact on species involved (including any by-catch):
No impact on aquatic invertebrates at the population (river reach) level
No impact on individual fish (all fish are allowed to fully recover before being returned to the water at the point of capture) or fish poulations.