Southern Fisheries Centre

Street address:13 Beach Road Deception Bay, QLD 4508
Postal address: PO Box 76, Deception Bay  QLD 4508
Phone: +61 7 3817 9500
Fax: +61 7 3817 9555

Background

The Department of Primary Industries Southern Fisheries Centre is located on the shores of  Deception Bay, about 40km north of Brisbane and was opened in 1972.  Since then the role of the centre has expanded beyond initial studies of prawns. In more recent years, the centre has engaged in research that has a direct, industry-wide application from inland fisheries to those in estuaries and the open ocean. Today the centre is a contributor to technological development of the commercial and recreational fishing industry as well as the management of fisheries habitat in environmentally sensitive areas in tropical and subtropical Queensland. It has direct access to seawater, hatchery and tank holding facilities, PC2 genetics laboratory, biology laboratory with specialist equipment for fish ageing, and two general-purpose wet laboratories used for biological catch sorting.

Primary activities

• Conduct research and development into areas of strategic significance to fisheries sustainability and development in Queensland.
• Research into the effects of fisheries on aquatic ecosystems and non-target species in particular.
• Liaise with other government agencies to facilitate development of sustainable fisheries in Queensland, based on worldwide best practice.
• Provide information on new and existing technologies to commercial & recreational fishers.
• Conduct high-quality contract research and consultancies for industry clients.
• Inputs to fisheries resource management aimed at achieving ecologically sustainable development of the state's fishery resources based on stock assessment and ongoing monitoring.
• Advise government and regulatory authorities in matters pertaining to fisheries.
• Inputs on development proposals involving impact on marine and freshwater ecosystems.
• Surveys on commercial and recreational fishing activities.
• Research into south east Queensland's marine fishery resources with emphasis on important commercial and recreational species.
• Research on freshwater fish species in Queensland, with emphasis on restocking strategies, aquacultural opportunities and endangered species.

Geography

The Southern Fisheries Centre covers an area of 1.4 hectares on the waterfront at the northern end of Deception Bay township.  It sources additional specialist or technical knowledge through centralised departmental facilities, or through major universities based in Brisbane and on the Sunshine Coast.  The Centre is less than an hour's drive from these agencies and the Brisbane domestic and international airports.  Unique features of the Centre are access to a supply of estuarine-quality seawater, proximity to airports and scientific and educational institutions, and proximity to Scarborough Boat Harbour.

Achievements

• Winner of the 2001 Queensland Seafood Industry Fisheries R&D Award - for the Integrated Stock Assessment and Monitoring project.
• Development of a range of ecologically-friendly turtle exclusion devices for fitting to trawl nets.
• Major involvement in developing Queensland's first Ecological Sustainability report to Environment Australia.
• Major involvement in development of monitoring processes for most of the States important fishery stocks.
• Major involvement in the development of assessment procedures for spanner crab and stout whiting stocks, and the production of annual assessments.

Location

Southern Fisheries Centre is located at 13 Beach Road Deception Bay Qld 4508.  The centre is in the state electorate of Murrumba and the federal electorate of Longman.  The site is 1.1324 hectares in area plus an area of gazetted road approximately 2590m and is described as prime beachfront allotment.  All urban services are connected.  The topography is flat.  Access is by a private sealed road.  The usage of the site is for fisheries research, development and extension.