Estimation of the abundance of the tropical lobster Panulirus ornatus in Torres Strait, using visual transect-survey methods

Pitcher, C. Roland; Skewes, Tim; Dennis, Darren; Prescott, J. H.

doi:10.1007/bf00367638

Cited by 21 publications

(10 citation statements)

References 9 publications

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“…An underwater visual census (UVC), a non-destructive, fishery independent method (Curtis et al 2004), was carried out to assess the status of sea cucumber stocks in the two geographical regions; northwest and east coast of Sri Lanka. This approach has been successful for estimating the abundance of reef-associated fishes (Sale et al 1984), spiny lobster (Pitcher et al 1992) and sea cucumbers in Great Barrier Reef and New Caledonia (Skewes et al 2002;Uthicke et al 2004a;Purcell et al 2009). …”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Abundance and distribution of commercial sea cucumber species in the coastal waters of Sri Lanka

Dissanayake

Stefansson

2010

Aquat. Living Resour.

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-The sea cucumber stocks off the east and northwest coasts of Sri Lanka were estimated by surveying 1307 km 2 and 1779 km 2 by an underwater visual census (UVC) in June and October 2008 respectively. The presence of twenty-five sea cucumber species belonging to seven genera; Actinopyga, Bohadschia, Holothuria, Pearsonothuria, Stichopus, Thelenota and Acaudina was identified in five hundred sampling sites randomly selected in each area. The overall average density (± SD) of sea cucumbers was higher in the northwest (350 ± 648 ind ha −1 ) than in the east (90 ± 130 ind ha −1 ) and low-value species were predominant in both survey areas (79 ± 125 ind ha −1 in the east, 244 ± 488 in the northwest) when compared with medium ( 10 ± 34 ind ha −1 , 105 ± 175 ind ha −1 , respectively) and highvalue category (<2 ind ha −1 ). The estimated total biomass in the northwest (13 024 t) was roughly four times greater than the east (3027 t). Holothuria edulis was the most abundant species in numbers while Holothuria atra had the highest stock biomass in both areas. Sea cucumber densities were significantly different among the habitat (p < 0.001) and depth categories. The highest density was reported in rocky habitat associated with seagrass and / or macroalgae. The density of low-value species was significantly high in 1-10 m depth category (p < 0.001) in the northwest while other commercial groups were dominant in 20-30 m depth range in both areas. Temporal banning of the fishery for high and medium-value species would be a better management option to avoid further stock depletion.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Abundance and distribution of commercial sea cucumber species in the coastal waters of Sri Lanka

Dissanayake

Stefansson

2010

Aquat. Living Resour.

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“…A pilot survey was conducted in 1988 to assess the feasibility of estimating the standing stock of lobsters in Torres Strait and to determine the most effective sampling strategy (Pitcher et al, 1992). Based on the results of the pilot survey, a full-scale survey was then designed and carried out during 7 weeks in May-June 1989.…”

Section: Field Surveymentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The entire survey area was divided into 2650 sites (each being a 3 × 3 km block), which were stratified based on habitat, and a total of 271 sites were randomly selected with the number in each stratum proportional to its known area. Two transects were randomly selected within each site (Table 1; for details see Pitcher et al, 1992).…”

Section: Field Surveymentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Without fishing effort information, a stock abundance index becomes essential for most forms of stock assessment. As lobster abundance could not be estimated from logbook data, CSIRO initiated an annual fishery-independent survey of the lobster population in Torres Strait in1989 (Pitcher et al, 1992). The annual surveys was carried out in all subsequent years, but its design and implementation have not always been consistent.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Lobster fishing in Torres Strait is carried out exclusively by divers working from 4 to 6 m tenders as this species will not readily enter baited traps (Pitcher et al, 1992). The divers use a short hand spear or snare either with surface supplied air (hookah) or free diving.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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