Publication Date
1-1994
Series Number
Fisheries Research Report No 101
Publisher
Fisheries Department, Western Australia
City
Perth
ISBN
0 7309 18165
ISSN
1035-4549
Abstract
The Big Bank region lies to the north of the Abrolhos Islands zone of the limited entry western rock lobster fishery (Zone A) close to the edge of the continental shelf. Since 1986/87 the catches from this previously lightly exploited region have become important to a number of rock lobster fishermen operating in the northern (A and B) zones.
Fishing at Big Bank occurred predominantly in January and February of each season, however, recently introduced regulations have closed the region to fishing until February 10 each year. A maximum of 83 boats have operated in the region catching up to 336 tonnes of lobsters in the period in which fishing has been allowed.
Catch rates (catch per boat) were high in the mid 1980s, however, with continued high exploitation, catch rates appear to have stabilised at between 3 and 4 tonnes per boat. Indications that the abundance of lobsters has increased in recent seasons are given by research log book catch rates (kg per pot lift). However, these rates are based on a very small sample of boats and are heavily biased due to rapid increases in fishing efficiency which are not accounted for by this measure.
Pots are set in waters ranging in depth from about 40-ll0fm (73 to 220m). The deeper waters (approx. 80+fm or 146+m) produce by far the largest catches consisting almost entirely of migrating, immature "white" lobsters. The shallower areas are inhabited by the presumably resident breeding stock. In recent years the density of mature rock lobsters in the shallower waters of the Big Bank region has been reduced by fishing. The implications of fishing in the region are discussed.
Number of Pages
25
Keywords
Abrolhos Islands, Western Australia, Fishery management, Western Rock lobster (Panulirus cygnus)
Disciplines
Aquaculture and Fisheries | Marine Biology | Natural Resources and Conservation | Natural Resources Management and Policy | Sustainability
Recommended Citation
Chubb, C F,
Barker, E H,
and
Dibden, C J.
(1994), Fisheries Research Report No 101 - The Big Bank region of the Limited Entry Fishery for the Western Rock Lobster, Panulirus cygnus. Fisheries Department, Western Australia, Perth. Report Fisheries Research Report No 101.
https://library.dpird.wa.gov.au/fr_rr/284
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