Innovative development of the Octopus (cf) tetricus fishery in Western Australia

Authors

Anthony M. Hart
Stephen C. Leporati
Ross Marriott
D. V. Murphy, University of Western Australia

Publication Date

2-2016

Series Number

270

Publisher

Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development

ISBN

978-1-877098-11-6

ISSN

2202-5758

Abstract

In 2010 the broad-scale introduction of a new gear type, the trigger trap, saw a 260% (33 t in 2009 to 119 t in 2010) increase in octopus landings in the Western Australian Developmental Octopus Fishery (DOF). Deployed in waters previously unfished by the DOF, initial catches demonstrated that trigger traps were more efficient and captured a different component of the population, compared to open-ended shelter pots traditionally used in the fishery. This shift caused a surge of interest in commercial octopus fishing.

Number of Pages

108

Keywords

Octopus cf. tetricus, Cephalopod fisheries, Fishery development, Fishery statistics, Age determination, Life history, Biomass, Gear selectivity, Gear research, Western Australia

Disciplines

Aquaculture and Fisheries

Recommended Citation

Hart, A.M., Leporati, S.C., Marriott, R.J. and Murphy, D. 2016. Innovative development of the Octopus (cf) tetricus fishery in Western Australia. FRDC Project No 2010/200. Fisheries Research Report No. 270, Department of Fisheries, Western Australia. 120pp.