Fisheries Research Articles
Spatial variation in life history characteristics of snapper (Pagrus auratus) within Shark Bay, Western Australia
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
4-14-2010
Journal Title
New Zealand Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research
ISSN
Print: 0028-8330 Electronic: 1175-8805
Keywords
Sparidae, stock structure, World Heritage, recreational fishery, fisheries management
Disciplines
Aquaculture and Fisheries | Marine Biology
Abstract
Life history characteristics of snapper (Pagrus auratus) were found to vary at fine spatial scales (less than tens of kilometres) in the sub-tropical waters of Shark Bay, Western Australia, from research undertaken between 1997 and 2004. Differences in the timing and duration of the spawning season, length and age at maturity, and maximum age and growth between snapper from the Eastern Gulf, Denham Sound and Freycinet Estuary were attributed to spatial differences in environmental conditions and density-dependent responses to fishing-induced changes in spawning biomass. Such fine-scale spatial variation in the biological characteristics of snapper is consistent with results of previous stock identification studies and further supports the geographic scale at which local snapper stocks are managed to protect both stock productivity and genetic diversity.
Recommended Citation
Jackson, G,
Norriss, J V,
Mackie, M C,
and
Hall, N G.
(2010), Spatial variation in life history characteristics of snapper (Pagrus auratus) within Shark Bay, Western Australia. New Zealand Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research, 44 (2010), 1-15.
https://library.dpird.wa.gov.au/fr_fja/110
