Media release supplied and distributed by Rockhampton State High School
Rockhampton State High School has concluded its very first Barramundi grow-out program with a total of 1000 healthy barramundi being released into the upper reaches of the Fitzroy River on November 12 at 9am.
The school started this venture back in April, receiving fingerlings from Aquaculture Gladstone, following the opening of Rockhampton State High School's 5-million-dollar on-campus facility. The Aquaculture Centre, a state-of-the art, industry-standard facility has housed the current school of barramundi under the care of teachers Collis Holloway and Josh McCall and aquaculture assistant Goldie Locke. Students have been well immersed in aquaculture practices, learning to handle, grade, measure and weigh barramundi; record and analyse relevant growth data; review feeding habits; and observe various other barramundi behaviours.
With great support from Advance Rockhampton, Frenchville Sports Club and local community groups, Fitzroy Stocking Association and CapTag, the school has been able to tag all of the fish and released them into the river at approximately 35cm in length. At this size, they will have a much higher chance of survival and will be better able to assist in providing a positive impact on the Fitzroy River ecosystem.
Fishing enthusiasts are set to really benefit over the next couple of years with a goal of releasing upwards of 6000 tagged barramundi into the river. The information gathered from the catch of these barramundi in the future could be the catalyst to better understanding fish behaviours, breeding rates and other behavioural characteristics.
The school's venture into Aquaculture has been in the works for a few years with local government support from retiring member Barry O'Rourke, a key figure in the school's success in petitioning for the importance of the facility in a school setting as Aquaculture has become a crucial growth industry in Queensland.
In 2025, Rockhampton State High School will be starting their Certificate II in Aquaculture with the Year 11 cohort which will be another exciting and unique venture for the school and its students.
Quotes attributable to Rockhampton Regional Council Mayor, Tony Williams:
"This is a long journey from the initial conversations with the school and local MPs."
"To get to this point and see the first batch of fish released into the river is a really exciting development."
"The aquaculture industry presents a real opportunity for future jobs and growth in our region but we will need the workforce and the skills to support it."
"That is what this initiative does – supports learning, training and skills in aquaculture at our local high school while helping improve fish stocks in our river."
Quotes attributable to Advance Rockhampton Economic Development Manager, Wade Clark:
"The Rockhampton Region hosts a number of Aquaculture Development Areas which are supported by export opportunities through Rockhampton Airport, the Port of Rockhampton and our rail and road infrastructure."
"In supporting the workforce of tomorrow through Rockhampton State High School's Aquaculture Centre, our region is readying itself for future growth and investment in the aquaculture industry."
