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RESEARCH ARTICLE
Contents Vol 60(2)

Reproductive biology of blue mackerel, Scomber australasicus, off southern and eastern Australia: suitability of the Daily Egg Production Method for stock assessment

P. J. Rogers A C , T. M. Ward A , L. J. McLeay A , M. Lowry B , R. J. Saunders B C and D. Williams B
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

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

B NSW Department of Primary Industries, PO Box 21, Cronulla, NSW 2230, Australia.

C Southern Seas Ecology Laboratories, School of Earth and Environmental Science, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA 5005, Australia.

D Corresponding author. Email: rogers.paul2@saugov.sa.gov.au

Marine and Freshwater Research 60(2) 187-202 https://doi.org/10.1071/MF07158
Submitted: 28 August 2007  Accepted: 13 September 2008   Published: 20 February 2009

Abstract

The present study investigated the reproductive biology of blue mackerel (Scomber australasicus) off southern and eastern Australia and assessed the suitability of the Daily Egg Production Method (DEPM) for future stock assessment. This analysis revealed that S. australasicus is a serial spawner with asynchronous oocyte development and indeterminate fecundity. S. australasicus spawns between November and April off southern Australia and between July and October off eastern Australia. In southern Australia, ~50% of males and females were mature at 236.5 and 286.8 mm fork length (FL), respectively. Size at ~50% maturity could not be estimated reliably for eastern Australia owing to the smaller proportion of mature fish in samples. Mean spawning frequencies ranged from 2 to 11 days off southern Australia. Batch fecundity was related to fish size and mean batch size was 69 894 ± 4361 oocytes per batch and 134 oocytes per g of weight. The timing and duration of the spawning season, size at maturity, spawning frequency and batch fecundity of S. australasicus off southern Australia were consistent with those of S. japonicus in the northern Pacific Ocean. The present study’s estimates of adult reproductive parameters of S. australasicus off southern Australia were suitable for the application of the DEPM for estimating spawning biomass. Collecting representative samples of mature fish from waters off eastern Australia during the spawning season is a high priority for future stock assessment of this species.

Additional keywords: biomass, fecundity.


Acknowledgements

We wish to thank the following people who made valuable contributions to this study: David Fleer, Wetjens Dimmlich, Alex Ivey and Paul Van Ruth (SARDI Aquatic Sciences) collected and dissected samples and entered data. The crew of RV Ngerin provided assistance during research surveys. Sandra and Chris Leigh (Adelaide University) conducted histological analyses and provided valuable comments regarding the interpretation of histological features. John Stewart (NSW Fisheries) provided data on blue mackerel collected off eastern Australia. Fisheries Research and Development Corporation provided the funding for this project (2002/061). The Australian Fisheries Management Authority (AFMA), NSW Recreational Saltwater Fishing Trust, South Australian Research and Development Institute (SARDI) Aquatic Sciences, New South Wales Department of Primary Industries (NSW DPI), Tasmanian Aquaculture and Fisheries Institute (TAFI) and the Australian Maritime College (AMC) provided significant in-kind support. Recreational, game and charter fishers in NSW provided samples to NSW Fisheries staff. John Keane, Francisco Neira (TAFI) and students collected samples during ichthyoplankton surveys on RV Bluefin. Scoresby Shepherd, Adrian Linnane, Mike Steer and Tony Fowler provided valuable comments on drafts of the manuscript.


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