Michael Hutchison completed a PhD on freshwater fish of the Murray River, Western Australia at the University of Western Australia.  He then moved to Japan, where he was a research fellow at the National Research Institute of Aquaculture for just over two years. His research in Japan focused on  the ecophysiology territorial and migratory behaviours of Japanese salmon and trout.  He also compared the temperature tolerances of Japanese and Western Australian strain rainbow trout.  He then did a 3 year stint in Sydney, before seeing the light and moving to Queensland to coordinate freshwater fisheries research in the (DEEDI).   His current research interests include native fish ecology, pest fish control, enhancing fish stocks through fish habitat rehabilitation, threatened species recovery and fish stocking strategies.  Michael is also a keen, but not always successful recreational angler.   

Fisheries biologist Dr Michael Hutchinson will present two studies at this years conference. First up is the captive breeding of jungle perch. When this is achieved, the project aims to reintroduce jungle perch in their traditional habitats in south-east Queensland and restore this popular angling fish to its former glory.