Seasonal growth dynamics and maximum potential growth rates of Australasian snapper (Chrysophrys auratus) and yellow-eyed mullet (Aldrichetta forsteri)

Investigating food limitations in wild fisheries: the attendance and growth responses of fish at an anthropogenic feeding station within a temperate estuary

“… b Laboratory‐based growth experiments on captive yellow‐eyed mullet provided with excess food for a 13‐month period (Flikac et al ., 2020). Values describe peak growth rates observed proceeding the initial month of unlimited food trials. …”

“…Despite the continued presence of yellow‐eyed mullet in the Haven (as determined during video and acoustic observations), seasonally driven changes in catch rates were apparent. As wild‐caught yellow‐eyed mullet retained in tanks have been observed to feed and grow continuously and linearly throughout the year (Flikac et al ., 2020), it is considered that environmental factors are influencing the behaviour of mullet ( e.g ., inducing trap shyness or reduced feeding motivation) and driving the seasonal reduction in CPUE.…”

“…Large variation was evident in the growth responses of individuals in all of the sampling and recapture sites. Within this variation there was evidence that some individuals recaptured around the feeding station were growing at rates 3–4 times greater than natural growth rates – and were comparable with the supra‐natural growth rates observed in controlled tank experiments when yellow‐eyed mullet are provided an excess food ration (Flikac et al ., 2020). At the Maitai site ( i.e., near the feed station) there was good agreement between the determinations of mean growth rate acquired from the two different sampling methods ( e.g ., tag‐recapture and passive acoustic surveys).…”

“…Summary of yellow-eyed mullet growth patterns in the current study and comparison studies a, b reporting on growth rates in the same geographical region Annual growth rate values derived from isometric growth equation for male and female yellow-eyed mullet described in Curtis and Shima (2005). b Laboratory-based growth experiments on captive yellow-eyed mullet provided with excess food for a 13-month period (Flikac et al, 2020). Values describe peak growth rates observed proceeding the initial month of unlimited food trials.…”

“…The attraction and supplementation of fish aggregations comprising larger and more numerous predatory species (e.g., snapper and kingfish) would arguably have been more appropriate in deeper coastal environments, potentially including location north-east of the Haven entrance (refer Figure 1). Although these two species in particular would likely only aggregate in warmer seasons, due to their migratory habits in the region, and seasonal growth dynamics (Flikac et al, 2020), this would serve as an interesting avenue to extend the present pilot study.…”