Free Standard AU & NZ Shipping For All Book Orders Over $80!
Register      Login
Marine and Freshwater Research Marine and Freshwater Research Society
Advances in the aquatic sciences
Shopping Cart: ( empty )
You are here: Home > Journals > MF > MF06061
RESEARCH ARTICLE
Contents Vol 58(3)

Two monitoring methods that assess species composition and spatio-temporal trends in bycatch from an important temperate rock lobster (Jasus edwardsii) fishery

Daniel J. Brock A B , Peter J. Hawthorne A , Timothy M. Ward A and Adrian J. Linnane A C
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A South Australian Research and Development Institute (Aquatic Sciences), PO Box 120, Henley Beach, SA 5022, Australia.

B School of Environmental Sciences, Adelaide University, Adelaide, SA 5005, Australia.

C Corresponding author. Email: linnane.adrian@saugov.sa.gov.au

Marine and Freshwater Research 58(3) 273-285 https://doi.org/10.1071/MF06061
Submitted: 18 April 2006  Accepted: 10 January 2007   Published: 27 March 2007

Abstract

The effectiveness of two monitoring programs, designed to describe and quantify the bycatch from commercial pots, was examined in the South Australian rock lobster (Jasus edwardsii) fishery (SARLF). The first, logbook sampling, relied on information collected and recorded by fishers in logbooks. The second, bycatch sampling, required fishers to collect bycatch specimens on a nominated day for later scientific analysis. A total of 40 bycatch species were recorded during the study. Finfish, mainly blue-throat wrasse (Notolabrus tetricus) and leather jacket species (Meuschenia hippocrepis and Meushenia australis), were the major component (>90% by number). Data from the logbook program were appropriate for monitoring spatio-temporal trends in bycatch, whereas the bycatch sampling provided more accurate information on bycatch species. Each program was subject to bias when estimating total bycatch numbers and, as a result, a combination of both methods indicated a cost-effective and appropriate way with which to monitor bycatch from the fishery. In comparison with other fisheries, bycatch from the SARLF was relatively low; however, because bycatch was dominated by relatively few species, ongoing monitoring and risk assessment of these populations is needed to ensure long-term sustainability of bycatch levels.

Additional keywords: pots, species composition.


Acknowledgements

This research was made possible by the voluntary collection of bycatch samples by commercial lobster fishers in both the southern and northern zones of the South Australian rock lobster fishery throughout the 2001–02 and 2002–03 seasons. Special thanks also go to processors in both zones who allowed samples to be stored on their premises. Thanks to Coby Mathews for processing samples from the northern zone fishery. We also thank Sean Sloan, John Carragher, Stephen Mayfield and three anonymous referees for their constructive comments on this manuscript.


References

Alverson D. L. (1997). Global assessment of fisheries bycatch and discards: a summary overview. In ‘Proceedings of the American Fisheries Society Symposium on Global Trends: Fisheries Management’. (Eds E. K. Pikitch, D. D. Huppert and M. P. Sissenwine.) pp. 327. (American Fisheries Society: Seattle, WA.)

Andrew, N. L. , and Pepperell, J. G. (1992). The bycatch of shrimp trawl fisheries. Oceanography and Marine Biology: An Annual Review 30, 527–565.
Anon  (2003). ‘Assessment of the Ecological Sustainability of Management Arrangements for the South Australian Rock Lobster Fishery.’ (Department of the Environment and Heritage: Canberra.)

Brock, D. J. , and Ward, T. M. (2004). Octopus (Octopus maorum) bycatch and lobster (Jasus edwardsii) mortality in the South Australian Rock Lobster Fishery. Fishery Bulletin 102, 430–440.
Brown R. S., and Phillips B. F. (1994). The current status of Australia’s rock lobster fisheries. In ‘Spiny Lobster Management’. (Eds B. F. Phillips, J. S. Cobb and J. Kittaka.) pp. 33–63. (Blackwell Scientific Publications: London.)

Cole, R. V. , and Helser, T. E. (2001). Effect of three bycatch reduction devices on diamondback terrapin Malaclemys terrapin capture and blue crab Callinectes sapidus harvest in Delaware Bay. North American Journal of Fisheries Management 21, 825–833.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | FAO (2005). ‘Capture Production.’ FAO Yearbook of Fishery Statistics Vol. 96, No. 1. (FAO: Rome.)

Frusher S., and Gibson I. J. (1998). Bycatch in the Tasmanian rock lobster fishery. In ‘Proceedings of the Australian Society for Fish Biology Workshop on Establishing Meaningful Targets for Bycatch Reduction in Australian Fisheries’. (Eds C. Buxton and S. Eayrs.) pp. 73–81. (Australian Society for Fish Biology: Hobart.)

Gray, C. A. , McDonnell, V. C. , and Reid, D. D. (1990). Bycatch from prawn trawling in the Hawkesbury River, New South Wales: Species composition, distribution and abundance. Australian Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research 41, 13–26.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | Grove-Jones R. P. (1991). ‘Fisheries Biology of the Ocean Jacket (MONACANTHIDAE: Nelusetta ayraudi) in Eastern Waters of the Great Australian Bight, South Australia.’ Final Report DFS01Z. (Fishing Industry Research and Development Council, South Australian Department of Figheries: Adelaide.)

Hill, B. J. , and Wassenberg, T. J. (1990). Fate of discards from prawn trawlers in Torres Strait. Australian Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research 41, 53–64.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | Kelleher K. (2005). ‘Discards of the World’s Marine Fisheries. An update.’ FAO Fisheries Technical Paper No. 470. (FAO: Rome.)

Kennelly, S. J. , Liggins, G. W. , and Broadhurst, M. K. (1998). Retained and discarded bycatch from oceanic prawn trawling in New South Wales, Australia. Fisheries Research 36, 217–236.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | Linnane A., McGarvey R., Feenstra J., and Ward T. M. (2006). ‘Southern Zone Rock Lobster (Jasus edwardsii) Fishery 2004/05. Final Stock Assessment Report to PIRSA Fisheries.’ SARDI Aquatic Sciences Publication No. RD04/0164–3. (SARDI: Adelaide.)

Matthews, T. R. , Cox, C. , and Eaken, D. (2005). Bycatch in Florida's spiny lobster trap fishery. Proceedings of the Gulf and Caribbean Fisheries Institute 47, 66–78.
Zar J. H. (1984). ‘Biostatistical Analysis.’ (Prentice-Hall: Upper Saddle River, NJ.)

Zhou, S. , and Shirley, T. C. (1997). Behavioral responses of red king crab to crab pots and the application in pot design. Journal of Shellfish Research 16, 318.