A Survey of the Island Fisheries of the Territory of New Guinea and Papua

Abstract

A survey of two weeks' duration was made of part of the territory of New Guinea and Papua to study the possibility of extending the freshwater and brackish water fisheries. The brackish water region possesses a higher productivity potential than inland waters, owing to the introduction of the normal nutrient components of sea water with the fertile sedimented mud from the rivers, together with organic matter from the rain forests. Ecologically, and in regard to type of vegetation found, the limited coastal flats, the river deltas, and the extensive mangrove swamps are Indonesian in character. The estuarine region has a fauna rich in density, there being numerous fish species and large populations of prawns, while shrimps and oysters are also plentiful. In the freshwater areas two types of river exist — one shallow, subject to flooding and shifting of sands, and few fish; the second deep, with fertile mud, and fairly productive of fish. The lowland lakes, with fertile colloidal mud, were not examined in detail, but should provide a considerable fishery potential. There is considerable scope for fish cultural operations, e.g. in constructed ponds. Before a sound extension of the fisheries can be planned it will be necessary to obtain adequate basic scientific knowledge of the density and composition of the flora and fauna, including the food of the fish stocks, and of the characteristics of the environment. I t appears that a fishery more than adequate to supply the protein requirements of the coastal population could therefore be developed, by relatitive simple means, in the brackish waters and in the great lowland rivers.