Stock structure of blue threadfin Eleutheronema tetradactylum across northern Australia as inferred from stable isotopes in sagittal otolith carbonate

Authors

S. J. Newman, Department of Fisheries, Westerrn AustraliaFollow
M. B. Pember, Department of Fisheries, Westerrn Australia
B. M. Rome, Department of Fisheries, Western Australia
G. E. Mitsopoulos, Department of Fisheries, Western AustraliaFollow
C. L. Skepper, Department of Fisheries, Western AustraliaFollow
Q. Allsop, NT Fisheries, Department of Resources, Darwin, Northen Territory, Australia
T. Saunders, NT Fisheries, Department of Resources, Darwin, Northen Territory, Australia
A. C. Ballagh, James Cook University, Queensland, Australia
L. van Herwerden, James Cook University, Queensland, Australia
R. N. Garrett, Queensland Department of Employmen, Economic Development and Innovation, Northern Fisheries Centre, Queensland, Australia
N. A. Gribble, Queensland Department of Employmen, Economic Development and Innovation, Northern Fisheries Centre, Queensland, Australia
J. M. Stapley, Queensland Department of Employmen, Economic Development and Innovation, Northern Fisheries Centre, Queensland, Australia
J. J. Meeuwig, The University of Western Australia
B. R. Moore, University of Queensland, Australia
D. J. Welch, James Cook University, Australia

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

1-5-2011

Journal Title

Fisheries Management and Ecology

ISSN

Print: 0969-997X Electronic: 1365-2400

Keywords

Connectivity, Fisheries management, Polynemidae, Population subdivision, Stable isotope chemistry

Disciplines

Aquaculture and Fisheries | Genetics | Laboratory and Basic Science Research | Marine Biology | Natural Resources and Conservation | Natural Resources Management and Policy | Spatial Science | Sustainability

Abstract

Stable isotopes of δ18O and δ13C in sagittal otolith carbonates were used to determine the stock structure of the polynemid Eleutheronema tetradactylum (Shaw) across tropical northern Australia, where this species is an important component of inshore commercial and recreational fisheries. Stable isotopes from the sagittal otolith carbonate of 470 fish from 11 discrete locations across western, northern and eastern Australia were sampled between 2007 and 2009. Analysis of these stable isotopes revealed different location-specific signatures, indicating strong population subdivision. The significant differences in the isotopic signatures of E. tetradactylum demonstrated that there is unlikely to be substantial movement of fish between these locations. The spatial separation of these populations indicates a complex fine spatial scale stock structure across northern Australia, with at least 11 stocks or management units present. The population subdivision of E. tetradactylum was evident along expansive stretches of open beach systems and within coastal embayments with no physical barriers such as headlands. These results indicate that optimal fisheries management will require a review of the current spatial arrangements, particularly the potential for localised depletion of stocks on small spatial scales.

Recommended Citation

NEWMAN, S.J., PEMBER, M.B., ROME, B.M., MITSOPOULOS, G.E.A., SKEPPER, C.L., ALLSOP, Q., SAUNDERS, T., BALLAGH, A.C., VAN HERWERDEN, L., GARRETT, R.N., GRIBBLE, N.A., STAPLEY, J.M., MEEUWIG, J.J., MOORE, B.R. and WELCH, D.J. (2011), Stock structure of blue threadfin Eleutheronema tetradactylum across northern Australia as inferred from stable isotopes in sagittal otolith carbonate. Fisheries Management and Ecology, 18: 246-257. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2400.2010.00780.x