Publication Date

6-2002

Series Number

93

Publisher

Department of Fisheries, Western Australia

City

Perth

ISBN

0730917525

ISSN

1035-4549

Abstract

This synopsis presents a review of the literature and research to April 2001on the biology of black bream, Acanthopagrus butcheri (Sparidae), particularly in relation to Western Australian populations. A. butcheri is a commercially and recreationally important species, and is endemic to the coastal lakes, estuaries, river systems and sheltered coastal waters of southern Australia, including Tasmania. Separate stocks reside within each river/estuarine system in southwestern Australia, and there is considerable variation in feeding, growth rates and age at maturity among stocks. For rivers/estuaries that are seasonally flushed in winter, downstream movement with the flush is followed by the annual upstream spawning run located near the encroaching salt wedge in spring or early summer. Further biological information on habitat, behaviour, mortality, age, maturity, parasites, reproduction, sex ratio and physiology are presented. There is considerable temporal variation in the strength of recruitment, which is reflected by variation in Western Australia’s annual total commercial catch: fluctuating between 19 and 104 tonnes in the last 10 years. The history and current status of the fishery, particularly in Western Australia, are discussed. Recent aquaculture developments have led to captive bred and reared A. butcheri being released into private farm dams as well as being used for wild stock enhancement for recreational fishers. Biological parameters useful for stock assessment modelling are also presented.

Number of Pages

52

Keywords

black bream, feeding, growth rates, age at maturity, stock assessment

Disciplines

Aquaculture and Fisheries

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