Fisheries Research Articles
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
4-2011
Journal Title
The Journal of The Royal Society of Western Australia
ISSN
0035-922X (Print)
Keywords
Fisheries, Finfish, Productivity, Western Australia, Kimberley, North Coast Bioregion
Disciplines
Aquaculture and Fisheries | Environmental Monitoring | Marine Biology | Natural Resources and Conservation | Natural Resources Management and Policy
Abstract
The marine ecosystems of Western Australia, including those in the Kimberley, are classified as being of moderate to low productivity. This is primarily a consequence of the influence of the Leeuwin Current, the eastern boundary current that flows poleward delivering warm, low nutrient waters, and only sporadic short-term upwelling events to shelf habitats off the Western Australian coast. This, coupled with little riverine inflow from old weathered terrestrial systems, results in low levels of primary and secondary production in habitats along most of the coast. The consequence is that finfish fisheries in the Kimberley and throughout the State typically land a diverse range of long-lived species with low levels of productivity, resulting in relatively low levels of sustainable catches. The consequences for monitoring, management and stakeholder aspirations are presented. Additional challenges for finfish fisheries in the Kimberley and North Coast finfish fisheries are also discussed
Recommended Citation
Molony, B W,
Newman, S J,
Loll, L,
Lenanton, R C,
and
Wise, B.
(2011), Are Western Australian waters the least productive waters for finfish across two oceans? A review with a focus on finfish resources in the Kimberley region and North Coast Bioregion. The Journal of The Royal Society of Western Australia, 94, 323-332.
https://library.dpird.wa.gov.au/fr_fja/362
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