Survey estimates of fishable biomass following a mass mortality in an Australian molluscan fishery.
J Fish Dis
; 34(4): 287-302, 2011 Apr.
Article
en En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-21382050
Mass mortality events are relatively uncommon in commercially fished populations, but when they occur, they reduce production and degrade ecosystems. Observing and documenting mass mortalities is simpler than quantifying the impact on stocks, monitoring or predicting recovery, and re-establishing commercial fishing. Direct survey measures of abundance, distribution and harvestable biomass provide the most tenable approach to informing decisions about future harvests in cases where stock collapses have occurred because conventional methods have been disrupted and are less applicable. Abalone viral ganglioneuritis (AVG) has resulted in high levels of mortality across all length classes of blacklip abalone, Haliotis rubra Leach, off western Victoria, Australia, since May 2006. Commercial catches in this previously valuable fishery were reduced substantially. This paper describes the integration of research surveys with commercial fishermen's knowledge to estimate the biomass of abalone on AVG-impacted reefs. Experienced commercial abalone divers provided credible information on the precise locations of historical fishing grounds within which fishery-independent surveys were undertaken. Abalone density estimates remained low relative to pre-AVG levels, and total biomass estimates were similar to historical annual catch levels, indicating that the abalone populations have yet to adequately recover. Survey biomass estimates were incorporated into harvest decision tables and used with prior accumulated knowledge of the populations to determine a conservative harvest strategy for the fishery.
Texto completo:
1
Colección:
01-internacional
Base de datos:
MEDLINE
Asunto principal:
Caracoles
/
Monitoreo del Ambiente
/
Biomasa
/
Explotaciones Pesqueras
Tipo de estudio:
Prognostic_studies
Límite:
Animals
País/Región como asunto:
Oceania
Idioma:
En
Revista:
J Fish Dis
Asunto de la revista:
BIOLOGIA
/
MEDICINA VETERINARIA
Año:
2011
Tipo del documento:
Article
País de afiliación:
Australia
Pais de publicación:
Reino Unido