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Declining trends in annual catch rates of the tiger shark (Galeocerdo cuvier) in Queensland, Australia

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Holmes, B. J., Sumpton, W. D., Mayer, D. G., Tibbetts, I. R., Neil, D. T. and Bennett, M. B. (2012) Declining trends in annual catch rates of the tiger shark (Galeocerdo cuvier) in Queensland, Australia. Fisheries Research, 129-130 . pp. 38-45. ISSN 01657836 (ISSN)

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Article Link: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.fishres.2012.06.005

Publisher URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0165783612001786

Abstract

Suitable long term species-specific catch rate and biological data are seldom available for large shark species, particularly where historical commercial logbook reporting has been poor. However, shark control programs can provide suitable data from gear that consistently fishes nearshore waters all year round. We present an analysis of the distribution of 4757 . Galeocerdo cuvier caught in surface nets and on drumlines across 9 of the 10 locations of the Queensland Shark Control Program (QSCP) between 1993 and 2010. Standardised catch rates showed a significant decline (p<. 0.0001) in southern Queensland locations for both gear types, which contrasts with studies at other locations where increases in tiger shark catch per unit effort (CPUE) have been reported. Significant temporal declines in the average size of tiger sharks occurred at four of the nine locations analysed (p<. 0.05), which may be indicative of fishing reducing abundance in these areas. Given the long term nature of shark control programs along the Australian east coast, effects on local abundance should have been evident many years ago, which suggests that factors other than the effects of shark control programs have also contributed to the decline. While reductions in catch rate are consistent with a decline in tiger shark abundance, this interpretation should be made with caution, as the inter-annual CPUE varies considerably at most locations. Nevertheless, the overall downward trend, particularly in southern Queensland, indicates that current fishing pressures on the species may be unsustainable. © 2012 Elsevier B.V.

Item Type:Article
Business groups:Fisheries Queensland
Keywords:CPUE Galeocerdo cuvier Shark control program Tiger shark Chondrichthyes Galeocerdo Pisces
Subjects:Aquaculture and Fisheries > Fisheries > Fishery for individual species
Aquaculture and Fisheries > Fisheries > Fishery research
Aquaculture and Fisheries > Fisheries > Methods and gear. Catching of fish
Live Archive:04 Sep 2013 02:19
Last Modified:03 Sep 2021 16:49

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