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Age, growth and demographic characteristics of Sillago flindersi exploited in a multi-species trawl fishery

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Abstract

This study investigated variability in the growth, length, and age compositions and the rates of mortality of Flinders’ sillago Sillago flindersi exploited in a demersal trawl fishery in eastern Australia. Sampling was done over 2 years across three depth strata at two locations approximately 400 km apart. Ageing of sectioned sagittal otoliths indicated that the observed maximum age of females was 6 years and that of males 5 years, that growth was variable and that the von Bertalanffy growth parameters significantly differed according to gender and location. Females attained a greater L ∞ than males, but males displayed greater k values. The L ∞ values of both sexes and the mean length-at-age for fish aged 3–5 years were greater at the location of highest latitude. Length and age compositions differed according to depth, with smaller (<15 cm FL) and younger (<2 years) fish generally more predominant in the shallow (<30 m) strata than in the deeper (>31 m) strata. S. flindersi appear to use the shallow strata as a juvenile habitat, moving to deeper waters as they grow. This depth stratification between cohorts may reduce intraspecific competition and could potentially be used as a spatial management tool to reduce any fishing-associated impacts on juveniles. Fish between 1 and 3 years old dominated the age compositions of populations combined across all depths, with estimated total mortality ranging between 2.24 and 2.40. Fishing mortality ranged between 1.54 and 1.70 and was more than twice the derived natural mortality. Exploitation rates were approximately 0.70, indicating that the species was heavily fished.

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Acknowledgments

This research was funded by the NSW Government and done in accordance with the NSW DPI Animal Care and Ethics Permit 2005/05 whilst the authors were employed by the NSW Government and based at the (now closed) Cronulla Fisheries Research Centre of Excellence. We thank Don Anderson (El Margo) and Bruce Korner (Little John) for their fishing expertise and assistance with sampling. Damian Young assisted with fieldwork and Caitlin Young, Justin McKinnon, Martin Jackson and Adam Welfare helped process samples in the laboratory. Jim Craig provided database management and Kevin Rowling, Ken Graham, Matt Broadhurst, Geoff Liggins, John Stewart and Steve Kennelly provided discussions and/or reviews of the study. The journal referees provided constructive comments on the manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. WildFish Research, Grays Point, Sydney, Australia

    Charles A. Gray

  2. Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia

    Charles A. Gray, Faith A. Ochwada-Doyle & Dylan E. van der Meulen

  3. Sydney Institute of Marine Science, Sydney, Australia

    Charles A. Gray & Faith A. Ochwada-Doyle

  4. Cardno, Sydney, Australia

    Lachlan M. Barnes

  5. Batemans Bay Fisheries Centre, Batemans Bay, Australia

    Dylan E. van der Meulen

  6. Seglaregatan, Gothenburg, Sweden

    Ben W. Kendall

  7. Wildlife Marine, Perth, Australia

    William D. Robbins

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  1. Charles A. Gray
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  2. Lachlan M. Barnes
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  5. Ben W. Kendall
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  6. William D. Robbins
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Correspondence to Charles A. Gray.

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Gray, C.A., Barnes, L.M., Ochwada-Doyle, F.A. et al. Age, growth and demographic characteristics of Sillago flindersi exploited in a multi-species trawl fishery. Fish Sci 80, 915–924 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12562-014-0793-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12562-014-0793-z

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