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The significance of length at sexual maturity, mesh size and closed fishing waters to the commercial fishery for the catfish Cnidoglanis macrocephalus in Australian estuaries
Author(s) -
Laurenson Laurie,
Potter I.,
Lenanton R.,
Hall N.
Publication year - 1993
Publication title -
journal of applied ichthyology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.392
H-Index - 62
eISSN - 1439-0426
pISSN - 0175-8659
DOI - 10.1111/j.1439-0426.1993.tb00397.x
Subject(s) - fishery , biology , fishing , catfish , sexual maturity , fish <actinopterygii> , estuary , maturity (psychological) , range (aeronautics) , ecology , engineering , law , aerospace engineering , political science
Summary The total lengths and numbers of Cnidoglanis macrocephalus caught in the closed and open fishing waters of Wilson Inlet, using a gill net cornrising a wide range of mesh sizes, were recorded. These data were then compared with those obtained for the commercial fishery. The results strongly indicate that (I) the density and percentage contribution of large fish are lower in open than in closed fishing waters, (II) female fish were more readily caught than male fish and (III) the minimum legal mesh size and minimum legal length for C. macrocephalus should be increased to prevent fish being caught before they reach sexual maturity.