409
12 Species Case Studies
Yvonne Sadovy de Mitcheson, Fiji, unpublished data, www.SCRFA.org ). Spawning
aggregation sites are reported to occur at reef channels (passes), outer reef slopes
and drop offs (shelf edges). Aggregation sites of brown-marbled grouper are often
in the same general area as those of camoufl age grouper and other groupers, such
as the squaretail coralgrouper ( Plectropomus areolatus ) or marbled coralgrouper
( P. punctatus ). Recent research in Pohnpei, Micronesia, has confi rmed the use of
reproductive migratory corridors and sex-specifi c variation in residency, with
males arriving at the aggregation site earlier, frequenting the site for more months
of the season and remaining present 50% longer than females (Kevin L. Rhodes,
personal communication 2010). Males take on a distinctive courtship colouration
(Fig. 12.1b ).
12.2.3 Fishing History and Management
The history of fi shing and management of the species varies widely. Management
measures include spawning season sale bans, time/area closures, marine protected
areas, size and catch limits, gear restrictions and limited entry. Two contrasting
regions are presented, a well-managed fi shery and a remote emerging fi shery.
Relatively well managed fi shery on the east coast of Queensland, Australia –
Groupers are caught throughout the year as part of the multi-species Coral Reef
Finfi sh Fishery by commercial fi shers (using hook and line) and recreational fi shers
(using hook and line or spear). While the two primary target species in this fi shery
are the leopard coralgrouper ( P. leopardus ) and red throat emperor ( Lethrinus miniatus ), at least 40 species of groupers occur in the catches. Brown-marbled grouper
(known in Australia as fl owery rockcod) makes up about 1.2% of the total commercial catch by number of fi sh in fi shing operations for processed reef fi sh (Pears et al.
2007 ) . The estimated total recreational catch of reef fi shes was 2,600 tonnes in 2005
(DEEDI 2010 ) , a small proportion of which was brown-marbled grouper. Groupers
over 6 kg are diffi cult to sell due to concerns about ciguatera poisoning. Large groupers such as brown-marbled grouper are highly appreciated by divers in the GBR
tourism industry (Dean Miller, personal communication 2007).
A central Great Barrier Reef spawning aggregation site of this species and camoufl age grouper has sometimes been targeted resulting in large catches, e.g. 1,500 kg
per fi shing boat over 2.5 days (Pears 2005 ; Pears et al. 2007 ) . Numerous fi shers
were reported fi shing this aggregation on occasions, e.g. six mother boats with about
four fi shing dories each. The current status of this aggregation is unknown. Any
heavy fi shing of spawning aggregations appears to be opportunistic on the GBR,
and largely driven by market price. Australian fi shers generally do not put other
groupers in live holding tanks because they are considered to cause distress to leopard coralgrouper , the main target of the live fi shery.
In 2003–2004, revised management arrangements for the fi shery were introduced
by the fi sheries department in Queensland, Australia, in response to concerns about
12 Species Case Studies
Yvonne Sadovy de Mitcheson, Fiji, unpublished data, www.SCRFA.org ). Spawning
aggregation sites are reported to occur at reef channels (passes), outer reef slopes
and drop offs (shelf edges). Aggregation sites of brown-marbled grouper are often
in the same general area as those of camoufl age grouper and other groupers, such
as the squaretail coralgrouper ( Plectropomus areolatus ) or marbled coralgrouper
( P. punctatus ). Recent research in Pohnpei, Micronesia, has confi rmed the use of
reproductive migratory corridors and sex-specifi c variation in residency, with
males arriving at the aggregation site earlier, frequenting the site for more months
of the season and remaining present 50% longer than females (Kevin L. Rhodes,
personal communication 2010). Males take on a distinctive courtship colouration
(Fig. 12.1b ).
12.2.3 Fishing History and Management
The history of fi shing and management of the species varies widely. Management
measures include spawning season sale bans, time/area closures, marine protected
areas, size and catch limits, gear restrictions and limited entry. Two contrasting
regions are presented, a well-managed fi shery and a remote emerging fi shery.
Relatively well managed fi shery on the east coast of Queensland, Australia –
Groupers are caught throughout the year as part of the multi-species Coral Reef
Finfi sh Fishery by commercial fi shers (using hook and line) and recreational fi shers
(using hook and line or spear). While the two primary target species in this fi shery
are the leopard coralgrouper ( P. leopardus ) and red throat emperor ( Lethrinus miniatus ), at least 40 species of groupers occur in the catches. Brown-marbled grouper
(known in Australia as fl owery rockcod) makes up about 1.2% of the total commercial catch by number of fi sh in fi shing operations for processed reef fi sh (Pears et al.
2007 ) . The estimated total recreational catch of reef fi shes was 2,600 tonnes in 2005
(DEEDI 2010 ) , a small proportion of which was brown-marbled grouper. Groupers
over 6 kg are diffi cult to sell due to concerns about ciguatera poisoning. Large groupers such as brown-marbled grouper are highly appreciated by divers in the GBR
tourism industry (Dean Miller, personal communication 2007).
A central Great Barrier Reef spawning aggregation site of this species and camoufl age grouper has sometimes been targeted resulting in large catches, e.g. 1,500 kg
per fi shing boat over 2.5 days (Pears 2005 ; Pears et al. 2007 ) . Numerous fi shers
were reported fi shing this aggregation on occasions, e.g. six mother boats with about
four fi shing dories each. The current status of this aggregation is unknown. Any
heavy fi shing of spawning aggregations appears to be opportunistic on the GBR,
and largely driven by market price. Australian fi shers generally do not put other
groupers in live holding tanks because they are considered to cause distress to leopard coralgrouper , the main target of the live fi shery.
In 2003–2004, revised management arrangements for the fi shery were introduced
by the fi sheries department in Queensland, Australia, in response to concerns about