Low levels of bycatch from estuarine prawn seining in New South Wales, Australia

Fishery‐specific differences in the size selectivity and catch of diamond‐ and square‐mesh codends in two Australian penaeid seines

“…The quantity and composition of bycatch (excluding jellyfish and weed) varied considerably between the two methods and this is reflected in the performance of the different codends tested. Overall, relatively small quantities of bycatch were recorded during the river‐seine experiment: an observation consistent with previous observer‐type studies carried out in this fishery (Gray et al. 2003).…”

“…In the Australian state of New South Wales (NSW), seining for penaeids involves the use of similar gears (all with a minimum legal mesh size of 30 mm), which are operated slightly differently so as to target mostly school prawns, Metapenaeus macleayi (Haswell) in rivers, or greasyback prawns, Metapenaeus bennettae (Racek & Dall), and eastern king prawns, Penaeus plebijus (Hess), in coastal lagoons. These different estuarine systems and their associated ecologies, combined with the large geographical range of the fishery, means that there is considerable spatial and temporal variation in the compositions and abundances of catches (Gray 2001; Gray, Kennelly & Hodgson 2003). One common problem is the bycatch of many organisms smaller than the targeted penaeids, and especially conspecifics considered too small for sale [i.e.…”

A simple change in fishing practice reduces bycatch in an estuarine prawn seine fishery

“…As a direct result of this research and that reported in Gray et al . (2003), the regulations concerning the way fishers operate prawn seine nets in the Manning River have been changed.…”

“…In an observer‐based study of bycatches in the NSW prawn seine fishery (Gray et al . 2003), negligible levels of bycatch were observed in the Richmond River where fishers set and retrieve nets midstream.…”

“…Although we could not assess the effects of this change in fishing practice on catches of the targeted prawns because of low catch rates, commercial quantities of prawns are taken via midstream seining in other estuaries (Gray et al . 2003) and advice from local fishers in the Manning River indicated that good catches of prawns will be maintained when seining midstream.…”