Fisheries Research Report No 91 - A synopsis of the biology and the exploitation of the Australasian pilchard, Sardinops neopilchardus (Steindachner) Part II: History of stock assessment and exploitation

Authors

W. J. Fletcher, Fisheries Department, Western Australia

Publication Date

3-1991

Series Number

Fisheries Research Report No 91

Publisher

Fisheries Department, Western Australia

City

Perth

ISBN

0 7309 1728 2

ISSN

1035 - 4549

Abstract

This report summarises the studies which have provided information on the population characteristics and exploitation of the pilchard, Sardinops neopilchardus in Australia and New Zealand. This review was undertaken to determine whether existing data could be used to assess the status of Western Australian or other stocks or, alternatively, what additional information was required.

The mean size of pilchards caught varies among locations but, in general, fish are between 140 and 160 mm LCF, corresponding to ages 2 - 5 years. The length-weight relationship also varies between locations

Attempts to initiate pilchard fisheries have been hampered by the lack of a consistent market. Purse-seine fisheries have begun in many locations around Australia and New Zealand, but few have continued. The total yearly production of any state before 1980 rarely exceeded 400 tonnes. The expansion of the angling bait market and the recent development of a market for use of pilchards as petfood has seen the catch in W.A. increase rapidly. Total Australian production is now in the region of 10,000 tonnes/year.

Local abundance of pilchards has been measured by a number of researchers using a variety of techniques including aerial, visual, acoustic and trawl surveys; however, few estimates of actual biomass have been made. There has been little use of population dynamics as method for stock assessment

The review suggests that precise estimates of biomass cannot be made at this time, and would probably be difficult until a detailed study of the population biology of a pilchard stock in one location is accomplished. The more direct acoustic and/or egg production methods could be utilised to provide fishery-independent estimates but required a detailed understanding of the biology of the species in the specific location. Nonetheless, by comparing details of catch rates of the local fisheries with those on conspecifics in California and South Africa (for which details on biomass and exploitation rates are available), this review has provided some general indications of the potential yield of Sardinops neopilchardus for the Albany fishery of Western Australia.

Number of Pages

61

Keywords

Australasian pilchard, Western Australia, Stock assessment, Pilchard exploitation

Disciplines

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

Recommended Citation

Fletcher, W J. (1991), Fisheries Research Report No 91 - A synopsis of the biology and the exploitation of the Australasian pilchard, Sardinops neopilchardus (Steindachner) Part II: History of stock assessment and exploitation. Fisheries Department, Western Australia, Perth. Report Fisheries Research Report No 91.
https://library.dpird.wa.gov.au/fr_rr/280