Comparing Murray Crayfish (Euastacus armatus) Population Parameters Between Recreationally Fished and Non-fished Areas
Published Online: 12/10/2013
Abstract
The implementation of fishing regulations becomes increasingly complex where the natural state of fisheries resources is unknown. Comparing populations in fished and non-fished areas can provide information that is vital for the management and protection of species. We conducted field surveys of Euastacus armatus in non-fished and fished reservoirs and provide comparisons with a heavily fished area of the River Murray. The non-fished population (Talbingo Reservoir) of E. armatus exhibited almost equal sex ratios, robust normally-distributed population structure and a high proportion of mature and berried females. The parameters defining two fished populations (Blowering Reservoir and the River Murray) deviated significantly, to varying degrees, from the benchmark population (Talbingo). These differences suggest that recreational fishing may impose a considerable impact on the population parameters of E. armatus. Comparison with the benchmark defined in the present study will allow tracking of the population recovery under the new fishing regulations for E. armatus in the southern Murray-Darling Basin.
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How to Cite
Zukowski S, Whiterod NS and Watts RJ. (2013). Comparing Murray Crayfish (Euastacus armatus) Population Parameters Between Recreationally Fished and Non-fished Areas. Freshwater Crayfish 19(2):153-160. doi: 10.5869/fc.2013.v19-2.153
Author Information
Sylvia Zukowski,* Institute for Land, Water and Society, School of Environmental Sciences, Charles Sturt University, PO Box 789, Albury, New South Wales, Australia2640. E-mail: szukowski@csu.edu.au
Nick Whiterod, Aquasave, Aquasave - Nature Glenelg Trust, 7 Kemp St , Goolwa Beach, South Australia, Australia5214. E-mail: nick.whiterod@aquasave.com.au
Robyn Watts, Institute for Land, Water and Society, School of Environmental Sciences, Charles Sturt University, PO Box 789, Albury, New South Wales, Australia2640. E-mail: rwatts@csu.edu.au
Corresponding Author indicated by an *.
Publication History
Manuscript Submitted: 7/4/2013
Manuscript Accepted: 10/30/2013
Published Online: 12/10/2013
Published in Print: 12/10/2013
Funding Information
No specific funding statement is available for this article.