Publication Date

5-2000

Series Number

119

Publisher

Fisheries Western Australia

City

Perth

ISBN

0 7309 8436 2

ISSN

1035 - 4549

Abstract

Exploratory fishing for the tropical sardine, Sardinella lemuru, offshore of Geraldton on the midwest coast of Western Australia in the early 1990s, led to the establishment of a developmental purse seine fishery in this region. This fishery showed potential for substantial expansion, but as there was no information on S. lemuru in WA there was a need to undertake research during the developmental period. The biology and fishery for S. lemuru in WA were therefore investigated over a three year period between July 1995 and June 1998 with the aim of providing stock assessment advice.

The biology of S. lemuru (reproduction, age, growth and diet) was examined using samples obtained from the commercial fishing fleet. While most samples were collected during the project, others from 1990 to 1994 were also available. Preliminary investigation of stock structure was undertaken by analysis of certain chemical components of otoliths of S. lemuru from Fremantle, Geraldton and Carnarvon. Plankton surveys to collect eggs of S. lemuru were undertaken off Geraldton regularly between September 1995 and March 1996 to examine the distribution of spawning in the region of the fishery. A further plankton survey was undertaken in the region between Kalbarri and Dongara in February 1997 which, with concurrent sampling of adult fish, aimed to provide an estimate of spawning biomass of S. lemuru off the mid-west coast. Detailed data on catch, effort and fleet dynamics (e.g. effects of vessel size and weather) were collected from research logbooks.

Number of Pages

136

Keywords

Sardinella lemuru, otoliths, commercial fisheries, Leeuwin current, stock delineation, catch rates, Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development

Disciplines

Aquaculture and Fisheries | Biology | Natural Resources Management and Policy | Oceanography | Sustainability

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