Paper| Year: | 2017 |
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| Author(s): | J. Emmerson, J. Haig, G. Robson, H. Hinz, L. Le Vay, M. Kaiser |
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| Title: | Size-selective fishing of Palaemon serratus (Decapoda, Palaemonidae) in Wales, UK: implications of sexual dimorphism and reproductive biology for fisheries management and conservation |
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| Journal: | JOURNAL OF THE MARINE BIOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION OF THE UNITED KINGDOM |
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| ISSN: | 0025-3154 |
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| JCR Impact Factor: | 1.403 |
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| Volume: | 97 |
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| Issue No.: | 6 |
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| Pages: | 1223-1232 |
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| D.O.I.: | 10.1017/S0025315416000722 |
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| Web: | https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/journal-of-the-marine-biological-association-of-the-united-kingdom/article/sizeselective-fishing-of-palaemon-serratus-decapoda-palaemonidae-in-wales-uk-implications-of-sexual-dimorphism-and-reproductive-biology-for-fisheries-management-and-conservation/4996C1FD64A09C957ACE41487C31FBC1 |
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| Abstract: | The common prawn (Palaemon serratus)
supports a small-scale but economically important seasonal static-gear
fishery in Cardigan Bay, Wales (UK). Due to a lack of statutory
obligation and scientific evidence, the fishery has operated to date
without any harvest-control rules that afford protection from
overfishing. In response to fluctuations in landings and in pursuit of
increased economic returns for their catch, some members of the fishing
industry have adopted a size-selective harvesting regime, which we
evaluate here using baseline data. Monthly samples were obtained from
fishers operating out of five ports between October 2013 and May 2015 (N
= 4233). All prawn were sexed, weighed and measured, whilst the
fecundity of females was estimated for 273 (44%) individuals. Peak
spawning occurred during the spring and females were estimated to
undergo a ‘puberty moult’ at a carapace length (CL) of 7.7 mm, whilst
functional maturity was estimated at a CL of 9.9 mm. The sampled
population exhibited sexual dimorphism, with females attaining a greater
size than males. The current harvesting regime results in a sex bias in
landings as even large mature males remained under the recruitment size
to the fishery, unlike the large mature females. The temporal trend in
sex-ratio indicates a continual decrease in the catchability of female
prawn through the fishing season; however, whether this is caused by
depletion via fishing mortality or migratory behaviour is yet to be
resolved. Here, we provide a comprehensive baseline evaluation of
population biology and discuss the implications of our findings for
fisheries management. |
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Related staffHilmar Hinz
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