After some wild weather caused a slow start, the Fishery Monitoring team (Department of Agriculture and Fisheries) conducted their first annual roving survey on K’gari back in August 2024.

Joining Queensland Fisheries in the field and their outdoor lab, and diving into the science, were Kodi and Jason from the Butchulla Aboriginal Corporation’s Land and Sea Ranger Team.

The results? 772 tailor were measured and 108 pairs of tailor otoliths (fish ear bones) were collected (plus a pair of Spanish mackerel otoliths).

Otoliths are part of the fish’s inner ear (like our ossicles), allowing the fish to hear and sense vibrations in the water, and providing the fish with a sense of balance so it can navigate its surroundings. Researchers can also determine the age of a tailor by counting the number of growth rings within their otoliths in a similar way to growth rings on a tree.

Information collected on K’gari is combined with other fisheries and biological data to help us assess the status of fish stocks, especially tailor, and assists in the sustainable management of Queensland’s fisheries.

This incredible effort wouldn’t have been possible without the support of the recreational fishers on the island. So, a huge thank you to everyone who let them measure their catches and collect fish frames (skeletons). Sharing knowledge and working together was a pleasure — thanks Kodi and Jason!

Article adapted from a story published by Queensland Fisheries