Age, Spawning Time, and Fecundity of Australian Herring (Arripis georgianus C. & V.) (Pisces : Arripidae) from the Waters around Rottnest Island, Western Australia

Abstract

Scales and ovarian material were examined from Australian herring taken from the amateur line fishery in waters off Rottnest Island, W.A., over the period 28 March to 23 June 1973. The age-length distributions of a number of samples of both males and females are presented. Those fish sampled were predominantly 3+ years old. Resting or undeveloped ova were translucent and less than 0.1 mm in diameter. Developing ova were opaque and greater than 0.1 mm in diameter. Mature or ripe ova were translucent, slightly elliptical, unpigmented with a central oil globule, and were between 0.6 and 1.1 mm in diameter. Spawning was deduced to have occurred during early June. Most fish taken during the 1973 amateur fishery were in an immediate prespawning condition. Only one of the 516 females examined had ovaries containing ripe ova. The equation F = 298 L1.924 describes the relationship between estimated fecundity (F) and fish length (L).

Microsatellite DNA analysis and hydrodynamic modelling reveal the extent of larval transport and gene flow between management zones in an exploited marine fish (Glaucosoma hebraicum)

“…, 2004; Watts and Johnson, 2004). Although these species share a larval life history that facilitates extensive gene flow, their adult behaviours differ considerably, with some undertaking extensive migrations to spawn (e.g., A. georgianu s, A. trutta , P. saltatrix ; Lenanton, 1978; Lenanton et al. , 1996; Ayvazian et al.…”

“…A single genetic stock is a recurring pattern observed in several marine fishes in south-western Australia that have pelagic larvae, including Australian herring (Arripis georgianus), sea mullet (Mugil cephalus), tailor (Pomatomus saltatrix), common blowfish (Torquigener pleurogramma), and Australian salmon (Arripis truttaceus) (MacDonald, 1980;Shinzig, 1992;Lenanton et al, 1996;Ayvazian et al, 2004;Watts and Johnson, 2004). Although these species share a larval life history that facilitates extensive gene flow, their adult behaviours differ considerably, with some undertaking extensive migrations to spawn (e.g., A. georgianus, A. trutta, P. saltatrix; Lenanton, 1978;Lenanton et al, 1996;Ayvazian et al, 2004), whereas others migrate between estuarine or sheltered embayments into near-shore marine environments to spawn (T. pleurogramma, Mugil cephalus; Chubb et al, 1981;Potter et al, 1988). The West Australian dhufish differs from all these species in being a demersal reefdweller and also because both tagging and otolith microchemistry indicate that adults are likely to be relatively sedentary and therefore, unlike the other species, dhufish gene flow would be facilitated primarily by passive and ⁄ or active larval dispersal.…”

Informing Ecosystem-Based Fisheries Management from an Indigenous Perspective: The Mōtū Kahawai Fishery

“…This is more consistent with an estuary rather than open ocean spawning hypothesis. Arripis georgianus is thought to spawn near Rottnest Island, Western Australia (Lenanton, 1978). For the eastern subspecies, A. trutta marginata, no spawning activity was observed in Tasmanian waters but was deduced to occur at the Lakes Entrance, Eden and Bermagui areas, all large bays with large river mouths (Stanley & Malcolm, 1977).…”

Informing Ecosystem-Based Fisheries Management from an Indigenous Perspective: The Mōtū Kahawai Fishery

“…This is more consistent with an estuary rather than open ocean spawning hypothesis. Arripis georgianus is thought to spawn near Rottnest Island, Western Australia (Lenanton, 1978). For the eastern subspecies, A. trutta marginata, no spawning activity was observed in Tasmanian waters but was deduced to occur at the Lakes Entrance, Eden and Bermagui areas, all large bays with large river mouths (Stanley & Malcolm, 1977).…”