Aquaculture and Fisheries Commons^™

Fisheries Research Report No. 121 - Synopsis Of The Biology And Exploitation Of The Blue Swimmer Crab, Portunus Pelagicus Linnaeus, In Western Australia, Mervi I. Kangas

Fisheries Research Reports

This report summarises the existing studies which have provided information on the biology, population characteristics and exploitation of the blue swimmer crab, Portunus pelagicus, in Western Australia. Gaps in the existing knowledge are also highlighted to assist in targeting new research initiatives. Portunus pelagicus matures at about one year and in temperate regions females mate only once a year. This is because mature crabs moult only once a year. It appears from studies to date that Western Australian crabs are one genetic population. This is being further investigated. Migration of the blue swimmer crab occurs between estuaries and the ocean …

Fisheries Research Report No. 120 - A 12-Month Survey Of Recreational Fishing In The Leschenault Estuary Of Western Australia During 1998, B E. Malseed, Neil R. Sumner, P C. Williamson

Fisheries Research Reports

A survey of recreational boat-based and shore-based fishing in the Leschenault Estuary was conducted between January 1998 and December 1998. The survey estimated the total annual boat-based recreational fishing effort as 33,392 fisher days, with 86% of this effort targeting blue swimmer crabs. The total annual shore-based recreational fishing effort was estimated to be 5,610 fisher days, with 88% of this effort targeting blue swimmer crabs.

The recreational blue swimmer crab catch from the Leschenault Estuary is substantial and exceeds the reported commercial catch. The estimated total recreational catch of blue swimmer crabs was 219,000 crabs or 45.7 tonnes. This …

Fisheries Research Report No. 116 - The Western Rock Lobster Fishery 1993/94 To 1994/95, C F. Chubb, E H. Barker

Fisheries Research Reports

This report is the latest in a series covering the West Coast Rock Lobster Managed Fishery (formerly the West Coast Rock Lobster Limited Entry Fishery), Western Australia’s largest and most valuable fishery. These reports form an historical record of fishery data and information documented season by season for use by industry and research personnel now and in the future. The reports provide information on catch, fishing effort and biology; value of the product and licences; input costs (fuel, bait, etc.); changes in fishing practices, gear, technology and boats and management/legislative changes. By necessity, the information contained herein is summarised from …

Fisheries Research Report No. 118 - A Study Into Western Australia's Open Access And Wetline Fisheries, F Crowe, W Lehre, R C J Lenanton

Fisheries Research Reports

Western Australia's wetline fishery potentially includes every licensed fishing boat in the State and encompasses a number of inter-relationships between various boats and commercial fisheries. This study covers the 'wetline' or open access fishery, which encompasses those activities associated with the unrestricted Western Australian fishing boat licence (FBL). The activities associated with this fishery involve any commercial fishing which is not covered by fisheries legislation.

A separate section entitled 'So you want to go wetlining?' is provided at page 101 as an easy reference guide to industry and others interested in wetline fishing. It is recommended that it be read …

Fisheries Research Report No. 117 - A 12-Month Survey Of Coastal Recreational Boat Fishing Between Augusta And Kalbarri On The West Coast Of Western Australia During 1996-97, Neil R. Sumner, Peta C. Williamson

Fisheries Research Reports

A creel survey of recreational boat-based fishers on the west coast of Western Australia was conducted from September 1996 to August 1997 to provide information required by fisheries managers. The bus route method, where a survey interviewer visits all boat ramps in a district on the one day, was used. The time spent fishing, catch, demographic and attitudinal information was collected from boat crews returning to boat ramps at the completion of a fishing trip. The total marine catch (number of fish kept) was estimated for key recreational species. Whiting species (other than King George whiting) (564,000) and Australian herring …

Fisheries Research Report No. 114 - The Western Australian Scallop Industry, D C. Harris, L M. Joll, R A. Watson

Fisheries Research Reports

Five separate commercial fisheries target the saucer scallop, Amusium balloti (Bernadi 1861) in Western Australian waters. While the average annual catch from these fisheries is around 600 tonnes of scallop meat, past catches have been highly variable with annual landings ranging from 150 to 4,400 tonnes of meat worth between $2 and $59 million. Consequently, scallops represent one of the larger single-species fisheries operating in Western Australia (WA).

A. balloti has a distribution spanning most of the WA coast, from Broome in the north around to Esperance in the south. Despite this extensive distribution, saucer scallops tend to be restricted …

Fisheries Research Report No. 115 - Statistical Analysis Of Gascoyne Region Recreational Fishing Study July 1996, Neil R. Sumner, Richard A. Steckis

Fisheries Research Reports

A survey of recreational fishers in the Gascoyne region of Western Australia was conducted in July 1996 to provide information required by fisheries managers. Catch rates, attitudinal, demographic and economic information from boat-based and shore-based fishers was collected by Fisheries Officers. Pink snapper (Pagrus auratus) was the primary species caught by boatbased recreational fishers in the region. Various species of whiting were the predominant catch from shore-based anglers. Most fishers interviewed (80%) supported the introduction of an upper limit on the amount of fish and fillets that a person could take away from the Gascoyne region for personal or family …

Fisheries Research Report No. 111 - Sea Temperature Variability Off Western Australia 1990 To 1994, Alan Pearce, Mark Rossbach, Marion Tait, Rhys Brown

Fisheries Research Reports

Analysis of temperature data from coastal waters between Shark Bay and Cape Mentelle has shown the main features of temporal and spatial variability in temperature along the Western Australian coastline. Three distinct periods of variability emerge: the annual cycle (peak temperatures generally in January-February and troughs in July-August), a few-day (weatherrelated) cycle, and the diurnal pattern.

Summer temperatures range from 24° C (South Passage) to 19° C (Cape Mentelle), and winter temperatures from 21° C (South Passage) to 16° C (Marmion). Mean annual temperature ranges (winter minimum to summer maximum) are between 3° C (South Passage) and 7° C (Alkimos), …

Fisheries Research Report No. 113 - Catch, Effort And The Conversion From Gill Nets To Traps In The Peel-Harvey And Cockburn Sound Blue Swimmer Crab (Portunus Pelagicus) Fisheries, Roy Melville-Smith, Mark Cliff, Sonia M. Anderton

Fisheries Research Reports

Over the last few years, there has been considerable interest on the part of commercial fishers to move away from using gill nets, the traditional method for fishing for blue swimmer crabs in Western Australia (WA), to fishing with traps. Blue swimmer crab fisheries in WA are regulated by effort controls and most gill net fishers are restricted to hauling 1,000 metres (1,200 metres in the case of Cockburn Sound) of gill net per day.

The fieldwork in this study was initiated in March 1994 in Cockburn Sound and in January 1996 in the Peel-Harvey Estuary. It was aimed at …

Fisheries Research Report No. 112 - Final Report, Frdc Project 94/075: Enhancement Of Yabby Production From Western Australian Farm Dams, Fisheries Western Australia, Fisheries Research And Development Corporation

Fisheries Research Reports

Farmers receive higher prices per kilo for large yabbies. Yabby farmers have reported that the majority of yabbies trapped from farm dams are below market size (< 30 g) and therefore of no economic value. In addition, farmers also report that while dams produce large yabbies when first harvested, after a number of years the proportion of large animals gradually decreases.

To identify why yabbies in farm dams stunted and how farmers could increase the size of small yabbies the project had three main experimental areas.

Research station experiments: A field research station consisting of 25 ponds was constructed for running replicated, randomised and reproducible experiments, with controls, in an environment that simulated farm dams. In addition, these ponds were large enough to provide an adequate sample number of yabbies at realistic industry stocking …

Fisheries Research Report No. 110 - A Research Vessel Survey Of Bottom Types In The Area Of The Abrolhos Islands And Mid-West Trawl Fishery., C. J. Dibden, L. M. Joll

Fisheries Research Reports

To address the concern expressed by Commercial rock lobster fishers operating in the Abrolhos Islands area, that expanding saucer scallop trawl activity was damaging the sea floor biota in areas which they considered good rock lobster habitat and poor scallop habitat, an underwater video survey was conducted by the Fisheries Department Research Division, with the following objectives:

1. Examine, classify and map the benthic habitat of areas currently and historically trawled for scallops in the Abrolhos Islands area and adjacent waters;

2. Examine, classify and map the benthic habitat of areas adjacent to these trawled areas, where potential for conflict …

Fisheries Research Report No. 103 - Identifying The Developmental Stages For Eggs Of The Australian Pilchard, Sardinops Sagax, K. V. White, W. J. Fletcher

Fisheries Research Reports

No abstract provided.

Fisheries Research Report No.109 - The Western Rock Lobster Fishery 1991/92 To 1992/93, C. F. Chubb, E. H. Barker

Fisheries Research Reports

The 1991/92 and 1992/93 seasons produced 12,200 and 12,300 tonnes of rock lobsters, taken by 12.8 and 11.8 million pot lifts respectively.

This report covering these two seasons is the latest in a series of reports covering The Western Rock Lobster Fishery, which is Western Australia's largest and most valuable fishery.

These reports are a historical record of various data for use by industry and research personnel now and in the future and covers such issues as: management/legislative changes, value of the product and licences, input costs (fuel, bait etc), changes in fishing practices, gear, technology and boats, together with …

Fisheries Research Report No 108 - Aspects Of The Biology And Stock Assessment Of The Whitebait, Hyperlophus Vittatus,In South Western Australia, D. J. Gaughan, W. J. Fletcher, R J. Tregonning, J. Goh

Fisheries Research Reports

The biology, distribution and stock size of whitebait along the lower west coast of Western Australia were studied between 1991 and 1994. Age, growth and reproductive biology of whitebait were investigated using samples collected from the commercial fishery. The distribution of adult whitebait and their main spawning times were determined using data on eggs that were caught in plankton samples. Aspects of the population dynamics of whitebait were investigated by examining the relationships of historical catch data with fishing effort and some environmental parameters.

Whitebait are a small species with most growth occurring in the first year (K = I. …

Fisheries Research Report No 107 - Chemical Composition Of Yabbies (Cherax Albidus Clark 1936) From Western Australian Farm Dams, Kevin A. Francesconi, Noel M. Morrissy

Fisheries Research Reports

Proximate analyses, amino acid and fatty acid profiles, mineral composition and heavy metal and pesticide residues have been determined for tail muscle from Cherax albidus Clark 1936 (the yabby), sampled from Western Australian farm dams. The proximate analysis values for water, protein, ash, carbohydrate and energy content and the amino acid and fatty acid profiles of yabby tail muscle were similar to those reported for other decapods. Fat levels were low and, hence, cholesterol was very low in tail meat. Organochlorine pesticides were undetectable and heavy metal residues were well below maximum permitted concentrations for human consumption.

Fisheries Research Report No 105 - The Western Rock Lobster Fishery 1986/87 To 1990/91, C. F. Chubb, E. H. Barker, R. S. Brown

Fisheries Research Reports

This report on the western rock lobster (Panulirus cygnus, George 1962) fishery covers the five seasons 1986/87 to 1990/91 and is the latest in a series of reports on the State's largest and most valuable fishery. While more detailed data bases exist, these reports form a historical record of basic data for use by both industry and research workers, now and in the future. Catch and fishing effort in the seasons (1986/87 to 1990/91) varied between 8500 and 12300 tonnes and 11.3 and 12.8 million pot lifts respectively. This report provides detail on the distribution of catches and fishing effort; …

Fisheries Research Report No 104 - Assessment Of The Effects Of A Trial Period Of Unattended Recreational Netting In Selected Estuaries Of Temperate Western Australia, Between 1 January 1994 And 30 June 1995, R. C. Lenanton, R. Allison, Sg Ayvazian

Fisheries Research Reports

Gill nets have been used in coastal marine and estuarine waters of Western Australia to take fish for sale and/or domestic consumption since the State was first settled. However, over recent years, as the usage of these coastal waters has continued to increase, and the competition for fish resources becomes more intense, fishing methods, such as unattended gill nets that are indiscriminate with respect to target species, and generally ,wasteful of resources have become less tolerated by the general community.

As part of a push for tighter controls on the use of recreational gill nets, a requirement for fishers to …

Fisheries Research Report No 102 - A Review Of International Aquaculture Development And Selected Species In Environments Relevant To Western Australia, C. Lawrence

Fisheries Research Reports

This paper discusses aspects of aquaculture development in countries visited during an international study tour, with particular reference to implications for the developing aquaculture industry in Western Australia.

The reasons for aquaculture development, including protein production, employment, fisheries enhancement, tradition/religion, conservation and revenue are discussed from an international perspective, along with case histories and models of development undertaken outside Australia.

The potential benefits of developing an aquaculture industry within Australia are outlined and the relative costs and benefits of developing aquaculture of native aquatic species or imported species are discussed, including relevant examples of each.

A number of species of …

Fisheries Research Report No 101 - The Big Bank Region Of The Limited Entry Fishery For The Western Rock Lobster, Panulirus Cygnus, C F. Chubb, E H. Barker, C J. Dibden

Fisheries Research Reports

The Big Bank region lies to the north of the Abrolhos Islands zone of the limited entry western rock lobster fishery (Zone A) close to the edge of the continental shelf. Since 1986/87 the catches from this previously lightly exploited region have become important to a number of rock lobster fishermen operating in the northern (A and B) zones.

Fishing at Big Bank occurred predominantly in January and February of each season, however, recently introduced regulations have closed the region to fishing until February 10 each year. A maximum of 83 boats have operated in the region catching up to …

Fisheries Research Report No.100 - The Impact Of Trawling For Saucer Scallops And Western King Prawns On The Benthic Communities In Coastal Waters Off South-Western Australia, L. J.B. Laurenson, P. Unsworth, J. W. Penn, R. C.J. Lenanton

Fisheries Research Reports

A two year study was undertaken to collect data for the assessment of the impact of the saucer scallop and western king prawn trawl fisheries on the benthic communities in coastal waters off south western Australia, between 31°20'5 and 34°23'5 latitude.

Monitoring of reported commercial landings, on-board sampling of commercial catches, research vessel trawl surveys, experimental and exploratory trawling, and underwater television observations, have enabled the development of an extensive data-base on the fishery and benthic communities of the region.

These data indicate that the existing fishery operates on a number of relatively small, discrete grounds where saucer scallops or …

Fisheries Research Report No 91 - A Synopsis Of The Biology And The Exploitation Of The Australasian Pilchard, Sardinops Neopilchardus (Steindachner) Part Ii: History Of Stock Assessment And Exploitation, W. J. Fletcher

Fisheries Research Reports

This report summarises the studies which have provided information on the population characteristics and exploitation of the pilchard, Sardinops neopilchardus in Australia and New Zealand. This review was undertaken to determine whether existing data could be used to assess the status of Western Australian or other stocks or, alternatively, what additional information was required.

The mean size of pilchards caught varies among locations but, in general, fish are between 140 and 160 mm LCF, corresponding to ages 2 - 5 years. The length-weight relationship also varies between locations

Attempts to initiate pilchard fisheries have been hampered by the lack of …

Fisheries Research Report No. 89 - Relationships Among Partial And Whole Lengths And Weights For Western Australian Pink Snapper Chrysophrys Auratus (Sparidae), M. J. Moran, C. Burton

Fisheries Research Reports

Pink snapper, Chrysophrysauratus (Sparidae) is one of the major commercial and recreational fish in Western Australian inshore waters. This report presents a number of equations and conversion factors for management and scientific study of the species. Equations to calculate total lengths from partial lengths will facilitate enforcement of minimum legal lengths when snapper are landed in a "head-off" condition. For fisheries science purposes, there are equations to convert among total length, standard length and length to caudal fork; and to convert lengths and weights of processed fish to whole lengths and weights. Length-weight relationships are presented and compared with those …

Fisheries Research Report No 88 - A Synopsis Of The Biology And The Exploitation Of The Australiasian Pilchard, Sardinops Neopilchardus (Steindachner) Part 1: Biology, W. J. Fletcher

Fisheries Research Reports

There have been a large number of studies which relate to the biology and exploitation of the Australian pilchard, Sardinops neopilchardus. Much of the data, however, are located in journals which are hard to obtain, or in unpublished reports, and theses. With the increase in catch of pil­chards, particularly in Western Australia, a collation of all the available knowledge pertaining to pilchards in Australia and New Zealand was desired to help with the planning of future research into the Western Australian stocks of this species. This report contains all the information located on the biology of Sardinops neopilchardus, a companion …

Fisheries Research Report No 99 - An Investigation Of Weight Loss Of Marron (Cherax Tenuimanus) In Air During Live Transport To Market, Noel Morrissy, Peter Walker, Cliff Fellows, Warren Moore

Fisheries Research Reports

It is generally acknowledged that more competitive marketing of Australian fisheries and aquaculture harvests requires closer attention to post-harvest technology. Historically, these products have been marketed in a variety of forms (e.g., for freshwater crayfish:- boiled fresh, boiled frozen, whole or tails, and live). Some of these forms present a product of actual, or perceived, poorer quality to the retailer and consumer and, thereby, obtain low prices.

Freshwater crayfish can survive out of water for extended periods and, so, can be economically transported alive to the (overseas) restaurant chef. This live product commands the very highest price for the grower. …

Fisheries Research Report No. 87 - The Recreational Marron Fishery In Western Australia, Summarised Research Statistics, 1971-1987, N. M. Morrissy, C. J. Fellows

Fisheries Research Reports

The freshwater crayfish Cherax tenuimanus, called marron, provides an important recreational fishery in the south-west of Western Australia. The annual fishing catch and fishing effort have been monitored by a log book research programme and an end-of season telephone survey since the 1971/72 season.

Following the 1986/87 fishing season, the fishery remained closed for two seasons (1987/88 and 1988/89) to permit stocks to recover from the effects of high total fishing effort and unfavourable water conditions over the preceding seasons

This paper provides a detailed account of the catch and effort statistics to the close of the 1986/87 fishing season, …

Fisheries Research Report No. 84 - The Marine Open Shelf Environment: Review Of Human Influences, D. A. Hancock

Fisheries Research Reports

For the purpose of this review, the marine environment has been classified into three physical zones - the littoral zone, the open-shelf environment and the coral reef. Since the boundaries are arbitrary, there will inevitably be some overlap, but for this review the subject matter will be related to the area between low water of ordinary spring tides and the edge of the continental shelf; i.e., to a depth varying to 200 metres.

Human influences may have a dual role in affecting the marine environment, firstly in a causative manner and secondly in providing a remedy, in which case the …

Fisheries Research Report No. 92 - Spread Of The Introduced Yabbie Cherax Albidus Clark, 1936 In Western Australia, N. M. Morrissy, G. Cassells

Fisheries Research Reports

This report presents information on the probable original introduction of the eastern Australian yabbie to farm dams in the Wheat-belt Region of the southwest of Western Australia (in 1932 at Narembeen); the probable type of yabbie (the "White Yabby", Cherax albidus Clark 1936 ) and source (Miram Swamp in the Victorian Wimmera); and, in 1985, the first voicing of concern over the spread of yabbies to natural habitats, particularly in the higher rainfall region of the southwest, together with current national and international concerns and advice on introduced aquatic species.

Commercial harvesting ("extensive" aquaculture) of existing yabbie stocks in wheat-belt …

Fisheries Research Report No. 83 - The Western Rock Lobster Fishery 1985/86, R. S. Brown, E H. Barker

Fisheries Research Reports

The 1985/86 annual catch of the western rock lobster Panulirus cygnus, totalled 7,191,968kg (Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) ), a drop of 1,774,497kg (19.8 per cent) on the 1984/85 season. The value of the 1985/86 catch was approximately $94M based on ABS figures. This drop in catch was almost entirely the result of lower puerulus (first post larval stage, approximately 9 to 11 months old) settlement three to four years before (i.e. 1982/83 and 1981/82). The fall in catch was accompanied by a drop in fishing effort (total number of pot lifts) of 12.1 per cent on the previous season …

Fisheries Research Report No 85 - A Description Of The British United Trawlers/Southern Ocean Trawlers Operation In The Great Australian Bight During The Period 19.11.77 To 28.5.79, M. H. Walker, S. J. Blight, D. P. Clarke

Fisheries Research Reports

This report documents the operations of three British United Trawlers/Southern Ocean Trawlers freezer stern trawlers in the Great Australian Bight for the period 19.11.77 to 28.5.79. During this period the trawlers conducted 20 fishing trips utilising demersal and pelagic trawling. A description and brief resume of these fishing operations is provided. The trawlers' vessel and gear specifications and fishing and processing operations are also described. The report provides background to Fisheries Research Report 86, which documents the demersal catches made during the trawler operations.

Fisheries Research Report No 86 - The Demersal Trawl Resources Of The Great Australian Bight As Indicated By The Fishing Operations Of The Stern Trawlers Othello, Orsino And Cassio In The Period 19.11.77 To 28.5.79, M. H. Walker, D. P. Clarke

Fisheries Research Reports

A joint fishing venture between a Western Australian company, Southern Ocean Fish Processors, and a United Kingdom company, British United Trawlers, operated three large Othello class stern trawlers in the Great Australian Bight in the period 19.11.77 to 28.5.79. This report documents the catch and effort data collected from the vessels’ demersal trawling activities. Descriptions of gear and fishing operations are provided in Fisheries Research Report 85, 1989. The three trawlers made a total of 20 trips to Great Australian Bight waters. A daily trawling log was kept for each trip, recording position and time of trawls, net type, and …