FRC is widely experienced in the design and conduct of fisheries surveys, and in the assessment of both finfish and crustacean fisheries. Fisheries surveys are designed to enable a description of the finfish and crustacea present, and to provide an assessment of the environmental sensitivities of those species. FRC is able to undertake comprehensive surveys using standard techniques including beam trawling, seining, set netting and trapping, that provide results that are compatible with DPI Fisheries and CSIRO data bases. Using the results of such surveys FRC can predict the impact of habitat loss, disruption to migratory patterns, the effects of contaminants, and the requirements for a variety of environmental flows. The development of mitigating measures such as fish-ways is also a frequent component of our studies.

FRC is also skilled in the conduct of underwater census of both home range and pelagic fishes using such techniques as swum transect and Rapid Visual Census.

FRC has undertaken commercial fisheries stock assessment, and studies relating to the interpretation of catch and effort data for wide range of finfish and crustacean fisheries world-wide.
Examples of recent studies include:

• Review of the Ecological Assessment of the Queensland East Coast Otter Trawl Fishery, Queensland Fisheries Service, 2002
  
  FRC Environmental has recently reviewed and edited the draft Ecological Assessment of the Queensland East Coast Otter Trawl Fishery prepared by the Queensland Fisheries Service.


• Evaluation of Fish Species Nominated for Import. Environment Australia
  
  FRC's Dr John Thorogood was contracted by Environment Australia to review the biology and ecology of ten species of freshwater finfish, nominated by the aquarium industry for importation into Australia. Dr Thorogoods review included an assessment of both the likelihood that nominated species would become established in Australian waterways, and of the ecological consequences of establishment.


• Fish Stocking, Edenbrooke Residential Estate, Urban Pacific Pty Ltd
  
  Edenbrooke, situated at Seventeen Mile rocks is an urban development focused on the rehabilitated reaches of Jindalee Creek. FRC was commissioned to consider the desirability of stocking the rehabilitated creek to enhance local environmental values. FRC's study, lead by Dr Thorogood involved determining the historical fish fauna of the creek, surveying existing waters, and providing recommendations on suitable species and stocking rates.


• Pioneer River Fish Survey, Mackay hinterland, Qld. Dept. Natural Resources
  
  As part of the assessment of the impact of raising Kinchant Dam, FRC undertook a survey of finfish and macro-invertebrate fauna of the Pioneer River downstream of the dam wall. Set nets, seines, traps and scoop nets were used.


• FinFish and Macro-invertebrate Survey of Cooroy Creek, Cooroy, Noosa Council
  
  FRC undertook a survey of finfish and macroinvertebrates in the Cooroy Six Mile Creek system as part of the assessment of the planned expansion of the Cooroy Waste Water Treatment Plant. The survey focused on the detection of rare and endangered species.


• Burrum Heads Environmental (Fisheries) Audit; Hervey Bay City Council
  
  The proposed redevelopment of a portion of the southern foreshore of the Burrum River led to the requirement to undertake an audit (or semi quantitative description) of the fish and fisheries of the Burrum River estuary. FRC undertook a survey of the finfish and crustacea of the estuary using set nets, seines, a beam trawl and a variety of set traps. The fishery was described following consultation with the Queensland Commercial Fishermens Organisation, SUNFISH, indigenous councils, and locally based commercial and recreational fishers.


• Baseline and Monitoring Studies of the Fish Fauna of the Tarong Region, Austa Electric.
  
  As a consequence of the commissioning of the Wivenhoe to Tarong water supply pipeline, Austa Electric commissioned a series of monitoring studies to determine the effectiveness of pipeline screening and chlorination in preventing the translocation of fishes from the Brisbane River catchment. Monitoring involves fish surveys of a number of dams at Tarong, and elsewhere within the Burnett River catchment, and of a number of creeks within both the Brisbane and Burnett catchments. Surveys used an electro-fisher, set nets, scoop nets and traps.


• Western Samoa Fisheries Training and Extension Project - Review Team; AusAID.
  
  FRC's Dr John Thorogood was a member of the 3 person Review Team commissioned to review this project, assessing the effectiveness of program design and implementation. Project aims were to reduce the intensity of fishing within inshore waters; encourage the conservation management of inshore habitat; encourage an increase in fishing effort within near-offshore waters; manage the introduction of exotic species; and enhance the countries aquaculture production. The review relied heavily upon Dr Thorogoods expertise spanning fisheries science and coastal environmental assessment.


• Dayboro Sewage Plant EIS; Pine Rivers Shire Council.
  
  The project required studies relating to the freshwater aquatic fauna (fishes and invertebrates) and flora, and riparian fauna and flora of Terrors Creek and the South Pine River, as part of an Environmental Impact Study for construction of a new sewage plant at Dayboro, Pine Rivers Shire. FRC surveyed the finfish and crustacea of these waters using seine nets, scoop nets and set traps.


• The Environmental Impacts of Raising Tinaroo Dam and constructing the Bilwon Weir (aquatic ecology), Barron River; Qld. Dept. Natural Resources.
  
  This study comprised field surveys of the aquatic flora and fauna (including fishes) of Lake Tinaroo and the Barron River, and the assessment of the scale and scope of potential impacts relating to the proposed raising of the dam wall and the construction of the Bilwon Weir. The study focused on the effects of altered water quality and the Barron Rivers environmental flow requirements. Recommendations relating to the design and siting of fish-ways were provided.


• Review of Catch and Effort Statistics and Fisheries Management Practices for the Queensland Spanner Crab Fishery; Australia Fresh Corporation.
  
  Australia Fresh is one of the largest processors of spanner crab in Queensland, and sought a review of the QFMAs proposed industry management plan. FRC was able to develop a rigorous argument for amendment, based upon the analysis of catch and effort data, and a review of the biology of the target species.


• Fisheries Survey, Mooloolah River; Kawana Estates Pty Ltd.
  
  As a component of the approvals process, the proponent was required to commission baseline studies of the finfish and crustaceans of the Mooloolah River. The study involved the broad description of aquatic and riparian habitat, acquisition of water quality data, and the sampling of aquatic fauna using beam trawl, beach seines, and traps.


• Fourth Fisheries Development Project, Yemen; European Community / The World Bank.
  
  Dr Thorogood led a team of fisheries scientists and coastal ecologists to Yemen. The team guided and co-ordinated the restructuring of the Marine Science and Resources Research Institute of Yemen, and advised the minister of Fish Wealth. The team provided expertise in fish biology; stock assessment; the management of commercial and artisanal fisheries (finfish, crustacea and mollusc); and the assessment and management of the coastal environment (wetlands, seagrass meadows, near shore coral reefs and soft bottom habitats).


• Stream Habitat, Fauna and Flora Study, Breakfast Creek; Brisbane City Council.
  
  Proposed flood mitigation works required the conduct of a fisheries survey of Breakfast Creek. FRC undertook a field survey using a variety of nets and traps. A local angling club was then sponsored by FRC to undertake a fishing competition targeting cryptic species, and difficult to net habitat.


• Ecological Monitoring of Kirra Reef, Gold Coast; NSW Dept. Public Works.
  
  Dr Thorogood was responsible for the design and implementation of baseline studies and an ecological monitoring program to assess the impacts of dredging and beach nourishment, on adjacent rocky reefs. Studies considered the likely impacts on a range of benthic communities and the reefs fish fauna. Fishes were surveyed using swum-transect and Rapid Visual Census techniques.