Fisheries Research Articles

Role of embayments in local recruitment and connectivity of the fisheries-important snapper Chrysophrys auratus

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

4-30-2026

Journal Title

Marine Ecology Progress Series

ISSN

Online: ISSN 1616-1599, Print: ISSN 0171-8630

Keywords

Fisheries genomics, Natal homing, Stock structure, Stock assessment, Fisheries biology, Connectivity

Disciplines

Aquaculture and Fisheries | Genomics

Abstract

Understanding the reproductive contribution of different geographic areas to fisheries stocks is crucial for their effective management. This is particularly important for heavily exploited marine resources with large populations and high connectivity. The Australasian snapper Chrysophrys auratus is an important fisheries resource that forms major spawning aggregations along its range, especially in embayments, such as Cockburn Sound and Warnbro Sound on the west coast of Australia. Here, we combined population genomic analyses with assessments of reproductive output to evaluate the contribution of embayment spawning aggregations to the adjacent open coast stock. We used 10438 SNPs for 533 individuals from 19 locations to characterize fine-scale population structure and connectivity. Adults and juveniles sampled over consecutive spawning seasons were used to test whether recruitment within embayments occurs primarily from local spawning events. We found low genetic differentiation and high connectivity, yet strong evidence of local recruitment, including within embayments. Seascape genomics revealed a signal of local genetic differentiation associated with variation in sea surface temperature and primary productivity. While population genomics demonstrates that Cockburn Sound and Warnbro Sound spawning aggregations contribute to recruitment across the species’ south-western Australian stock, our assessment of relative reproductive output indicates that the contribution of individuals from embayments may be higher than from the adjacent open coast. Our findings expand our knowledge about fine-scale connectivity and population dynamics in a highly mobile, heavily exploited species and highlight the important role of embayments to regional population recruitment by providing favourable conditions for both spawning aggregations and juveniles.

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Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

https://doi.org/10.3354/meps15126