Queensland's new Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation (DEEDI) is currently undertaking a research project commenced in November and continuing through this month which is seeing the Johnstone River stocked with thousands of 'microtagged' barramundi.

The project is to help determine if fish stocking methods in rivers and impoundments are delivering the goods for barramundi anglers.

The barramundi have been individually marked with a special microtag about 1mm long which is injected into the cheek muscle of the 50mm long fish prior to its release.

A scanner, similar to the wands used at airport security checks, is used to check for their presence and will help to provide information on when and where the fish were released, how fast they are growing and if they are making any significant movements.

The information will provide a better understanding of the effects that barramundi fish stocking is having - for example checking the impact on the genetic diversity of wild stocks or predation on amphibians and other species in the natural environment.

While DEEDI will be undertaking their own electronic surveillance a collection program will commence again next year where anglers will be asked to retain the frames of any fish they catch in the river.