Gladstone Fish Health Investigation 2011 - 2012 - Western Basin ...

Figure 21. Examples of shell abnormalities (circled) observed in mud crabs during the Gladstone FishHealth Monitoring Program.Observational findings Phase 1Of the 1435 mud crabs observed during Phase 1, 5.33% were identified as having shellabnormalities from sites within the Gladstone region and 2.14% from the Fitzroy River. Nosamples were collected from Bundaberg during Phase 1.The percentage of crabs showing abnormalities varied between sites within Gladstone, withnumbers of abnormal crabs ranging from 1.87% (Rodds Bay) to 9.26% (South Trees Inlet)(Figure 22).Percentage of mud crabs showing signs of shell abnormalities at each site, Phase 1.NormalAffectedPercentage100%90%80%70%60%50%40%30%20%10%0%Fitzroy River(n = 140)Narrows(n = 607)Port DevelopmentArea(n = 150)Calliope River(n = 108)South Trees Inlet(n = 55)Rodds Bay(n = 375)LocationFigure 22. The percentage of mud crabs with shell abnormalities observed at all sites during theGladstone Fish Health Monitoring Program, Phase 1. Note, (n) refers to the total number of crabsexamined at each site.42