Spatial management of garfish in SA - stock structure and adult movement

Funded Activity Summary

Knowledge of adult fish movement and stock structure is fundamental to identifying the appropriate spatial scale at which the processes of population replenishment work, and thus the spatial units to which fishery management should be applied. The management of the garfish fishery of South Australia has recently been at a heightened sensitivity due to serious concerns about the sustainability of the fishery. Yet, a comprehensive understanding of fundamental aspects of the life history and population biology of this species is lacking, which significantly impedes identifying the most appropriate spatial management structure. There is no understanding of the movement patterns of the adult fish, and the influence of that movement on the stock structure. Thus, it is not known the extent to which such movement helps sustain different regional populations and the extent to which these are independent and discrete. There is a need to rectify this lack of knowledge and understanding for southern sea garfish, so that management of the South Australian fishery can be applied at the appropriate spatial scale and spatial management units.

Objectives:
1. To determine the spatial scale of movement of the adults of southern sea garfish (Hyporhamphus melanochir) in South Australia using a number of otolith-based techniques
2. and to utilise that information to determine the stock structure for this species.

Funded Activity Details

Start Date: 14-09-2007

End Date: 01-07-2009

Funding Scheme: Funding Scheme not available

Funding Amount: $227,860.00

Funder: Fisheries Research and Development Corporation

Research Topics

ANZSRC Field of Research (FoR)

There are no FoR codes available for this funding activity

ANZSRC Socio-Economic Objective (SEO)

There are no SEO codes available for this funding activity

Other Keywords

Stock Assessment

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