Publication Date

1964

Series Number

Fisheries Report I (1)

Publisher

Western Australia Fisheries Department

City

Perth

Abstract

As regards both catch and value, the Shark Bay snapper fishery is the second most important scale fishery in Western Australia. Until 195%, the fishing was done solely by means of hard-lines operated from beats drifting over the snapper patches. In 1959 traps were first used with great success and in 196) this method of fishing was again the principal technique.

Prior to the 1960 season there were several suggestions that the use of traps would have a deleterious effect on the fishery. On October 19, 1959, the Western Australian League of the Professional Fishermen's Association wrote to the Fisheries Department requesting that "this method (trapping) of taking fish in the Shark Bay area be totally banned inside Dirk Hartog Island from Steep Point to Cape Inscription, and during the snapper schooling season in outside waters from May 15 to August 31, both dates inclusive." It was, therefore, decided to investigate the effect of snapper-traps during the 1960 season, using the research vessel "Lancelin" to facilitate the study.

At the close of the 1960 season, the majority of the snapper fishermen were interviewed to obtain statistical data for comparison in future years, A detailed study of the 1960 season was also undertaken because press reports had indicated that the season was one of the worst on record.

The results of the various lines of investigation are set out below together with a discussion and recommendations.

Number of Pages

20

Keywords

Shark Bay Fishery, Snapper (Chrysophrys unicolor), Shark Bay, Western Australia

Disciplines

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

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