Kinchant Dam fish habitat enhancement project

Abstract

Recreational angling in impoundments is increasing in popularity and generates significant social and economic benefits to regional communities. Impoundments with high quality angling attract tourists from all over Queensland, interstate and overseas. Quality habitat is vital to support strong fish communities and angling opportunities. Strategically improving the quantity and quality of structural habitat in an impoundment has the potential to create fishing hotspots and improve fishing in and around these sites.
Kinchant Dam is a medium-sized impoundment near Mackay, primarily known for its barramundi fishing. Despite having good numbers of large fish, angling in Kinchant Dam has been reported to be difficult at times, especially for tourists and more occasional anglers. Apart from the marginal vegetation and dam infrastructure in areas closed to anglers, there is little in the way of structural habitat to aggregate the fish, making them difficult for anglers locate. Strategically improving the structural habitat complexity within the dam has the potential to improve fishing, increase tourism, and ultimately generate greater revenue from visitors within the Mackay region.
A joint project between the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries and Mackay Regional Council, was developed for Kinchant Dam to trial the installation of fish attracting structures (FAS). The project goals were to increase structural fish habitat diversity, improve angler experiences and catch rates, reduce the number of anglers fishing along the dam infrastructure in closed zones, and evaluate the response of fish to the installation of structural habitat.