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

etween sites is normal and expected. This data indicates that the grinner caught inGladstone Harbour had not been exposed to any chronic elevated levels of metals.PelagicsSampling sites for pelagic fish species during Phase 1 included the Calliope River, GladstoneHarbour, Boyne River (upper and lower reaches), Rodds Bay, the Spoil Grounds as well asthe Fitzroy River and Bundaberg (reference sites).Sampling sites for pelagic fish species during Phase 2 included the Calliope River, BoyneRiver (lower reaches), Spoil Grounds, as well as the Fitzroy River and Bundaberg (referencesites). The candidate pelagic species for Phase 2 were queenfish due to conditions observedin this species during Phase 1 (Figure 45).Figure 45. Queenfish caught at Bundaberg during the sampling program.Observational findings Phase 1During October 2011, golden trevally (1), snubnosed dart (2) and queenfish (2) were caughtin Rodds Bay while targeting barramundi. These fish were all considered to be in good healthwith no signs of redness or lesions observed. A giant trevally was also caught in the upperreaches of the Boyne River that had minor redness.During November 2011, while conducting a targeted prawn survey in the Harbour, onequeenfish was captured and displayed damage to the snout and lower jaw, with someassociated minor redness. Twenty small trevally (mixed species) were also caught during thetrawl survey, but all were described as being in good health with no discolouration or lesions.A single queenfish was also caught during netting activities with no signs of ill health.During December 2011, an oxeye herring caught in the Boyne River and a queenfish caughtin Rodds Bay showed no signs of ill health. Sampling in the Calliope River caught a singleoxeye herring observed to be in good health, however two of the six queenfish caught wereobserved to have skin discolouration with minor redness or red pin point marks on the bodyor fins.During net sampling in January 2012, three golden trevally were caught in Bundaberg, twoqueenfish in the Calliope River and two queenfish in the Boyne River. None of these fishshowed external signs of ill health. At the Spoil Ground, 42 queenfish were caught, of which67