For the first time, scientists have successfully tagged Kingfish using acoustic transmitters, to learn more about the movements of this popular game fish species that is increasingly found in Tasmanian waters.
Researchers from the University of Tasmania’s Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies (IMAS) have tagged Yellowtail Kingfish Seriola lalandi with transmitters that will ‘ping’ receivers installed on Fish Aggregation Devices (FADs).
Kingfish are popular among recreational fishers across mainland Australia because of their powerful torpedo-shaped body and excellent eating qualities.
Tasmania is an ocean warming hotspot, particularly along the east coast. Because of this, several fish species including Kingfish are becoming regular visitors and perhaps even setting up home here.
“Kingfish are a pelagic schooling species, meaning they swim widely through the ocean in a group, but at times they can be found around physical structures,” IMAS researcher, Dr Sarah Ugalde said.
"This could be jetties, seaweed, farming infrastructure, and the FADs which have been deployed in Tasmania since 2022."
FADs are yellow buoys, deployed and managed by the Tasmanian Government at 13 locations around the state – from Burnie in the north-west to Storm Bay in the south. They are designed to attract a range of fish species like Kingfish.
“Because we’re seeing increasing numbers of Kingfish in Tasmania, we’d like to know more about them, including how they are interacting with FADs,” Dr Ugalde said.
“The best way to do this is to carefully implant a small acoustic transmitter into the fish which will tell us when they are near a FAD.”
The acoustic transmitters emit ultrasonic signals, or ‘pings’, every one to two minutes.
When a transmitter pings within about 400m of an acoustic receiver, the receiver will record individual fish with a transmitter. All FADs in Tasmania have been fitted with receivers.
Data collected from the receivers, will tell IMAS researchers how long Kingfish are spending around individual FADs, and any potential movements between FADs along the coast.
“There’s a possibility we could detect our tagged Kingfish off mainland Australia, which is exciting. This information could tell us more about where Kingfish are going in Tasmanian waters, but also if and when they are returning to mainland waters,” Dr Ugalde said.
Dive in and watch IMAS field team, David Faloon, Charlotte McAneney, and Riana Bell visiting a FAD in Tasmania. Credit: Sarah Ugalde
This project is supported by funding from the Fisheries Research and Development Corporation (FRDC) on behalf of the Australian Government. The Department of Natural Resources and Environment Tasmania (NRE Tas) also provides project funding through the Sustainable Marine Research Collaborative Agreement (SMRCA) between the Tasmanian Government and the University of Tasmania.
Cover image: Fish Aggregation Device (FAD). Credit: NRE Tas