Fisheries Report No 51 - 'Taiyo Maru 71" Demersal trawling cruise in Western Australian coastal waters South of 21 S, July-September, 1979

Authors

D. I. Heald, Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Western Australia
M. H. Walker, Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Western Australia

Publication Date

1982

Series Number

Fisheries Report 51

Publisher

Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Western Australia

City

Perth

ISSN

0726-0733

Abstract

A Japanese demersal trawler, 'Taiyo Maru 771' was given special permission to conduct exploratory trawling in the period 73.7.79-16.9.79 off the Western Australian coast between 21°S Latitude and 35°30'S Latitude, an area which partly overlapped the fishing grounds for the western rock Lobster. The vessel was required to complete a catch, fishing effort and species composition log book issued by the Commonweath Department of Primary Industry. Two Western Australian Department of Fisheries and Wildlife observers on board monitored fishing operations for the entire duration of the cause and undertook research.

Details of each trawl conducted are given and discussed. Catch and effort data were summarized by 30 mile square fishing block. Best catch rates of 0.8-3.7 tonne per hour were taken in 3 general areas viz:

(7) Off the Exmouth/Shark Bay coasts faom Pt Cloates to mid Shark Bay.

(2) Off the Geraldton coast from Edel land to north of the Houtman Abrolhos Islands and,

(3) South-west of Rottnest Island in deep water.

Analyses of variance showed that the effects of both area and daily rhythms of fishes made significant contributions to the total variation among catch rates. the most important species caught were Lenko snapper, scads, striped sea pike, trevally and big-spined boarftish.

The amount of suitable trawling bottom was limited throughout the area, catch rates were generally low and variable and the area was assessed as having limited potential for demersal trawling. The low catch rates found are also interpreted in terms of the geology and primary production the area.

Number of Pages

106

Keywords

Taiyo Maru 71, Demersal trawling, Fishing, Western Australia, Japan, Japanese trawler

Disciplines

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

Recommended Citation

Heald, D I, and Walker, M H. (1982), Fisheries Report No 51 - 'Taiyo Maru 71" Demersal trawling cruise in Western Australian coastal waters South of 21 S, July-September, 1979. Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Western Australia, Perth. Report Fisheries Report 51.
https://library.dpird.wa.gov.au/fr_rr/321