Reproductive biology and per-recruit analyses of striped trumpeter ( Latris lineata) from Tasmania, Australia: Implications for management

Abstract

This paper profiles the reproductive biology of and investigates the resilience of Tasmanian striped trumpeter under different levels of fishing pressure and size at entry to the fishery using per-recruit analysis. The spawning season around Tasmania occurs in the austral spring, with peak spawning activity in September and October. Size at 50% maturity was estimated at 543 mm fork length (FL) for females (estimated age = 6.8 years) and 529 mm FL for males (estimated age = 6.2 years). Striped trumpeter is a multiple spawner with batch fecundity estimates ranging from 205,054 for a 2 kg fish (540 mm FL) to 2,351,029 for a 9.5 kg fish (800 mm FL). At the current minimum legal size limit of 450 mm total length (equivalent to approximately 425 mm FL), yield-per-recruit was estimated to be close to maximum, and spawning biomass-per-recruit (SPR) ranged from 35 to 52% of virgin stock, depending on the mortality estimates used. Although these SPR are at a level considered sustainable, this methodology does not incorporate temporal variability, specifically recruitment variability. Therefore, conservative management measures are recommended until a dynamic model is applied to the striped trumpeter population.