The study showed that because of the streamlined shape of these fish, mesh selectivity took place over a narrow size range, and thus the number of undersize King George whiting could be controlled by manipulating the mesh and ply sizes of the nets. Primary Industries, Queensland. The 1996 biomass estimates will be used to set the 1997 TAC for the South Australian pilchard purse seine fishery. Snapper Sampling of snapper egg production and adult reproductive biology was conducted in Spencer Gulf in an attempt to determine spawning areas and estimate the spawning biomass in the region. Ageing of otoliths from snapper taken from the commercial fishery was also carried out to determine the age composition of snapper taken in the fishery.
Results suggest that snapper is a species with highly variable recruitment.
Determine the extent of genetic discrimination between southern sea garfish stocks of Western Australia, South Australia, Victoria and Tasmania. Determine the size and age structure of the commercial catch from the different sectors in southern Australian waters, and improve understanding of the potential impacts of the competing gear-sectors on the South Australian stocks. Investigate ways of improving the return to fishers, without increasing overall catches, by improving harvest and post-harvest strategies. Survey results have provided fisheries managers with a clear picture of the share of the catch, benefiting policy development and resource allocation. Discussions with commercial and recreational fishers and PISA at a workshop on research needs for the new blue swimmer crab fishery resulted in the initiation of a project to determine the stock status of blue crabs in SA waters.