Publication Date

1984

Series Number

Fisheries Report No 65

Publisher

Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Western Australia

City

Perth

ISBN

O 7309 0353 2

ISSN

0726 0733

Abstract

The large, native crayfish called marron, Cherax tenuimanus, supports an extensive recreational fishery in the southwest of Western Australia. This report examines annual catch and effort statistics gathered from a Logbook programme, initiated in the 1971/72 season and supplemented by an end of season telephone survey from 1977. Logbook data gave estimates of relative abundance, but were too biased for projection to total catch and effort for the fishery, while telephone surveys gave unbiased estimates of total annual fishing effort (trips)l.

Relative abundance showed a significant decline in the major rivers and the most popular dam (Wellington) over the monitoring period. Taking total fishing effort into account, marron stocks in the major rivers appeared to be adversely affected by eutrophication (sourced in inland agricultural catchments) intensified by low flow conditions due to prolonged drought. Catch rates recovered in Wellington Dam towards the end of the period, following relief of Low water conditions, but Low catch rates and adverse water conditions persisted in rivers.

Number of Pages

42

Keywords

Marron, Cherax Tenuimanus, Western Australia, Recreational marron fishing

Disciplines

Aquaculture and Fisheries | Natural Resources and Conservation | Natural Resources Management and Policy | Sustainability

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