The Charles Sturt University Aquatic Fish Lab is a leading facility dedicated to advancing a range of research areas that support the health and sustainability of aquatic ecosystems. With a strong emphasis on fisheries ecology and invasive species management, the lab conducts critical studies on risks associated with disease transmission and anthropogenic threats to marine and freshwater environments. Researchers develop biosecurity protocols that mitigate risks and enhance the resilience of vulnerable fish populations.

By employing advanced monitoring techniques and fostering interdisciplinary collaborations, the Aquatic Fish Lab generates valuable insights that inform policy development and resource management strategies. Its commitment to biosecurity ensures the health of fisheries and contributes to the sustainability of aquatic ecosystems on a national and international scale.

Key projects

Under the National Carp Control Program, Charles Sturt University staff and collaborators recently delivered a national carp biomass estimate to predict abundance under wet, dry and average hydrological scenarios. This estimate formed the foundation for scoping a potential release of the cyprinid carp herpes virus (CHV-3).

We continue to lead carp research projects at several sites along the Murray River, trialling automated carp removal technology and conducting research in preparation for potential release of the carp herpes virus. We have also recently delivered carp population estimates and their response to flows in the Menindee Lakes, mid-Murray and lower Murray systems.

Stuart, I.G., Fanson, B.G., Lyon, J.P., Stocks, J., Brooks, S., Norris, A., Thwaites, L., Beitzel, M., Hutchison, M., Ye, Q. and Koehn, J.D., 2021. Continental threat: How many common carp (Cyprinus carpio) are there in Australia?. Biological Conservation, 254, p.108942.

Fanson, B.G., Hale, R., Thiem, J.D., Lyon, J.P., Koehn, J.D., Bennett, A.F. and Stuart, I., 2024. Assessing impacts of a notorious invader (common carp Cyprinus carpio) on Australia's aquatic ecosystems: Coupling abundance-impact relationships with a spatial biomass model. Biological Conservation, 290, p.110420.

Todd, C.R., Koehn, J.D., Stuart, I.G., Wootton, H.F., Zampatti, B.P., Thwaites, L., Conallin, A., Ye, Q., Stamation, K. and Bice, C., 2024. Modelling the response of common carp (Cyprinus carpio) to natural and managed flows using a stochastic population model. Biological Invasions, pp.1-20.

Caley, P., Hill, M.P., Stuart, I., Duncan, R.P. and Forsyth, D.M., 2024. Large-scale serial replacement of invasive tench (Tinca tinca) by invasive carp (Cyprinus carpio) in the Murray-Darling River system, Australia.