Fisheries Research Articles
Recreational fishing pressure impacts the density and behaviour of the western rock lobster (Panulirus cygnus, George): evidence from small, no-take marine reserves
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
10-8-2022
Journal Title
ICES Journal of Marine Science
ISSN
Print: 1054-3139 Electronic: 1095-9289
Keywords
behaviour, fishing pressure, lobster, no-take reserves, Panulirus cygnus, Rottnest Island, sublethal predation
Disciplines
Aquaculture and Fisheries | Marine Biology
Abstract
It is unknown whether lobster behaviour is sensitive to fishing, as has been previously suggested for fish. This study investigated the impacts of recreational fishing on the wariness of western rock lobster (Panulirus cygnus, George) through comparisons between fished sites and no-take reserves (NTRs) at Rottnest Island. We used visual census to survey the density and size structure of lobster at sites inside and outside three comparable NTRs, and baited remote underwater video to study the behaviour of lobster at comparable sites. The density of legal-sized P. cygnus was twice as high within NTRs (0.34 ± 0.05) than fished sites (0.16 ± 0.03). P. cygnus also spent less time with bait in fished sites (0.42 ± 0.15 min) than NTRs (1.15 ± 0.28 min). This study provides the first evidence that behaviour of decapods, namely P. cygnus, is sensitive to noninjury-related disturbance associated with recreational fishing, with higher wariness in fished areas. Investigation is required into potentially confounding biotic and abiotic factors to further explore the applicability of lobster wariness as an indicator for fishing pressure.
Recommended Citation
Lindstedt, D G,
Langlois, T,
Prince, J,
and
de Lestang, S.
(2022), Recreational fishing pressure impacts the density and behaviour of the western rock lobster (Panulirus cygnus, George): evidence from small, no-take marine reserves. ICES Journal of Marine Science, 79 (9), 2413-2421.
https://library.dpird.wa.gov.au/fr_fja/15
