Western King Prawn (2023)
Melicertus latisulcatus
Date Published: June 2023
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Summary
Western King Prawn is harvested in WA, SA and QLD. Stocks in all states are sustainable, except for the South Australian West Coast Prawn Fishery, which is depleting.
Stock Status Overview
Jurisdiction | Stock | Stock status | Indicators |
---|---|---|---|
Western Australia | North Coast Prawn Managed Fisheries | Sustainable | Catch |
Western Australia | Exmouth Gulf Prawn Managed Fishery | Sustainable | Survey catch rates, size composition, catch, catch rates |
Western Australia | Shark Bay Prawn Managed Fishery | Sustainable | Survey catch rates, size composition, catch, CPUE, Biomass dynamics model |
Western Australia | South West Trawl Managed Fishery | Sustainable | Catch |
Stock Structure
Western King Prawn is distributed throughout the Indo-West Pacific [Grey et al. 1983]. In South Australia, one study of the genetic structure of Western King Prawn found no differences between the three fisheries [Carrick 2003]; however, each fishery functions as an independent population at time scales relevant to management, with distinct adult and juvenile habitats and independent variations in recruitment and abundance. No research has been conducted into Western King Prawn biological stock structure in Western Australia or Queensland. Hence, status in each state is reported at the management unit level.
Here, assessment of stock status is presented at the management unit level—Exmouth Gulf Prawn Managed Fishery, North Coast Prawn Managed Fisheries, Shark Bay Prawn Managed Fishery, South West Trawl Managed Fishery (Western Australia); East Coast Otter Trawl Fishery (Queensland); Gulf St. Vincent Prawn Fishery, Spencer Gulf Prawn Fishery, and West Coast Prawn Fishery (South Australia).
Stock Status
Exmouth Gulf Prawn Managed Fishery
Assessments of Western King Prawns in Exmouth Gulf are based on a combination of fishery-independent and fishery-dependent catch rates, where fishery-independent surveys provide recruitment indices and fishery-dependent data provide spawning stock indices. Fishery-independent sampling during the spawning season has been undertaken since 2016 and will be used in combination with the fishery dependent data when a sufficient time series is available. Analysis of the recruitment and spawning stock indices from the 1970s to 1990s provide no clear evidence of a stock-recruitment relationship for Western King Prawns [Caputi et al. 1998], with no indication of reduced recruitment in relation to spawning stock sizes over this period. There is some evidence that elevated summer temperatures since 2011 are contributing to lower than average recruitment levels [Caputi et al. 2014b], in response to which conservative harvesting strategies have been introduced, resulting in reduced annual landings.
Fishery-independent recruitment surveys have been undertaken in March and April each year since 1985 to assess prawn abundance and size structure. They are also used to make annual catch predictions [Caputi et al. 2014a] and for management decisions such as the spatial-temporal opening of fishing areas [Kangas et al. 2015a; DPIRD 2021]. In 2022, the Western King Prawn fishery-independent survey mean recruitment index was 37.7 kg/hr, well above the target of ≥ 30 kg/hr [DPIRD 2021]. The commercial spawning stock catch rate index in August–September in key Western King Prawn fishing grounds provides a long-term dataset of spawning stock abundance. For 2022, the mean commercial catch rate was 34.3 kg/hr, above the target (≥ 25 kg/hr) [DPIRD 2021]. The fishery-independent spawning survey in 2022 indicated a mean catch rate of 34.7 kg/hr in August and 25.8 kg/hr in September, with an average over that period (30.2 kg/hr) similar to the commercial catch rate index.
Catch and catch rate levels from 2001 to 2016 are now used as the basis for calculating a catch tolerance range (100–450 t) and a mean catch rate range (8–16 kg/hr). This methodology has changed from that used in the past to account for likely negative impacts of increased water temperatures on Western King Prawn recruitment in recent years [Caputi et al. 2014 a, b], and also reduced effort from fleet reductions, and greater focus towards targeting of larger more valuable prawns (rather than maximising total overall catch). The commercial catch for 2022 of 218 t was within the target range, as was the mean commercial catch rate (9.5 kg/hr).
The above evidence indicates that the biomass of this stock is unlikely to be depleted and that recruitment is unlikely to be impaired. Furthermore, the above evidence indicates that the current level of fishing mortality is unlikely to cause the stock to become recruitment impaired.
On the basis of the evidence provided above, the Exmouth Gulf Prawn Managed Fishery (Western Australia) management unit is classified as a sustainable stock.
North Coast Prawn Managed Fisheries
The North Coast Prawn Managed Fisheries (Western Australia) management unit is made up of four separate multispecies prawn fisheries (the Onslow, Nickol Bay, Broome and Kimberley Prawn Managed Fisheries) but is reported as one unit due to minimal catches. Western King Prawn forms a very minor part of total prawn landings in these fisheries and in some years no Western King Prawns are landed in any of these four fisheries [Newman et al. 2023]. The total commercial catch for 2022 was less than 1 t. Only in the Broome Prawn Managed Fishery are Western King Prawns a key target species, but costs and logistics of fishing in this remote fishery have meant that only one or two out of the five licensed boats have fished since 2008. Prior to 2008, between 1,200 and 4,200 trawl hours were recorded annually with mean catch rates ranging from 14 to 43 kg/hr. Since 2008, 30–275 hours of trawling have been conducted annually for a similar mean catch rate range. In 2022, there was no recorded effort in Broome. Elevated water temperatures since 2011 in these North Coast Prawn Managed Fisheries may be contributing to lower than average recruitment levels [Caputi et al. 2014b].
The above evidence indicates that the biomass of this stock is unlikely to be depleted and that recruitment is unlikely to be impaired. Furthermore, the above evidence indicates that the current level of fishing mortality is unlikely to cause the stock to become recruitment impaired.
On the basis of the evidence provided above, the North Coast Prawn Managed Fisheries (Western Australia) management unit is classified as a sustainable stock.
Shark Bay Prawn Managed Fishery
The assessment approach for Western King Prawns in the Shark Bay Prawn Managed Fishery is primarily based on monitoring of fishery-independent survey indices of recruitment (March–April) and spawning stock levels (June–August) relative to reference points specified in terms of survey catch rates for these two periods [DPIRD 2022]. Additional data such as commercial catch, effort, grade categories, and environmental data are also incorporated into a weight-of-evidence assessment.
There is no significant correlation between spawning stock and recruitment indices derived from fishery-independent surveys for the Western King Prawn since 2000 [Kangas et al. 2015b; Caputi et al. 2021], however there is a positive relationship between water temperature and recruitment [Caputi et al. 2016]. Fishery-independent recruitment surveys have indicated that the mean size of recruiting Western King Prawns began declining in 2013 and has remained relatively low. The cause of this decline in size is being investigated as part of FRDC project 2019-015, with the possible impacts of the environmental changes post heatwave event (2010–11) and the long-term winter cooling trend being examined, as well as potential fishing effects. In 2022, the size composition of recruiting Western King Prawns increased slightly from the previous two years, but not to sizes observed prior to 2012.
There is no evidence of a declining trend in recruitment in fishery-independent survey indices since 2000, although in the last six years the higher peaks in recruitment have been absent. The annual recruitment target reference level was reviewed in 2022 and has increased from above 25 to greater than 70 kg/hr [DPIRD 2022]. In 2022, the annual recruitment index (46.5 kg/hr) fell below the revised target reference level but was well above the limit reference level (10 kg/hr). Most of the annual recruitment variability appears to be driven by environmental factors (e.g., water temperature, [Caputi et al. 2015, 2016]). The fishery-independent recruitment survey in 2022 provided a catch prediction [Caputi et al. 2014a] of between 570 and 855 t., with the 2022 catch of 503 t falling below the lower end of this range. The above evidence indicates that the biomass of this stock is unlikely to be depleted and that recruitment is unlikely to be impaired.
The introduction of seasonal, moon, and area-closures in the early 1990s has limited the overall fishing effort, providing protection for the breeding stock of Western King Prawns [Kangas et al. 2015b]. In 2022, the mean spawning stock survey index was 16.4 kg/hr, which is below the target reference level (25 kg/hr).
Historical catches from 1989–98, when recruitment was not affected by fishing effort, were used as the basis for calculating target total catch ranges for this stock of 950–1,450 t, and a target mean catch rate of 21 kg/hr (range of 16 to 29 kg/hr) [Newman et al. 2023]. The total commercial Western King Prawn landings in 2022 was 503 t, which is the lowest recorded in over 40 years, and below the target catch range. The overall mean commercial catch rate of 18.0 kg/hr was the third lowest reported in over 40 years, reflecting a decrease in recruitment abundance compared to 2021 [Newman et al. 2023; Kangas et al. 2015b].
As the 2022 recruitment and spawning indices were below the target level (but above the limit), various management strategies were implemented during the season following the guidelines of the harvest strategy. As the spawning index has been under the threshold for three consecutive years, further effort reductions and early spatial closures have been set for the 2023 season, including a reduction in the allowable headrope length. The management measures implemented in response to the decline in biomass have reduced effort and are expected to allow stock abundance to increase, with early evidence of this seen during the 2023 season. The above evidence indicates that the current level of fishing mortality is unlikely to cause the stock to become recruitment impaired.
On the basis of the evidence provided above, the stock of Western King Prawns in the Shark Bay Prawn Managed Fishery (Western Australia) management unit is classified as a sustainable stock.
South West Trawl Managed Fishery
The South West Trawl Managed Fishery (Western Australia) (SWTMF) management unit is a comparatively small, low-activity fishery, in which annual effort has been related to either the abundance of Western King Prawns or Ballot’s Saucer Scallops (Ylistrum balloti), the latter being highly variable in abundance due to sporadic recruitment. One to four vessels have operated in the fishery since 2005, and they have only covered approximately 1–3% of the allowable fishery area [Newman et al. 2023]. Between 2005 and 2013, an average of 168 boat days was recorded annually, with a catch range of Western King Prawn of 3–14 t, compared to 490 boat days and a catch range of 9–37 t on average over the previous 10 years (1995–2004). Effort since 2013 has been very low, and only one boat fished in the SWTMF in 2022 for a total of 12 boat days. No Western King Prawns were caught in this fishery in 2022. The level of fishing pressure is unlikely to adversely impact the spawning biomass of Western King Prawn.
The above evidence indicates that the biomass of this stock is unlikely to be depleted and that recruitment is unlikely to be impaired. Furthermore, the above evidence indicates that the current level of fishing mortality is unlikely to cause the stock to become recruitment impaired.
On the basis of the evidence provided above, the South West Trawl Managed Fishery (Western Australia) management unit is classified as a sustainable stock.
Biology
Western King Prawn biology [Kangas et al. 2015 a,b; Penn 1980; Noell and Hooper 2019]
Species | Longevity / Maximum Size | Maturity (50 per cent) |
---|---|---|
Western King Prawn | 2–3 years, maximum 4 years South Australia: males 46 mm CL, females 57 mm CL Western Australia: males 45 mm CL, females 60 mm CL | 6–7 months, 25 mm CL |
Tables
Western Australia | |
---|---|
Commercial | |
Otter Trawl | |
Recreational | |
Diving | |
Hand collection | |
Dip Net | |
Unspecified | |
Indigenous | |
Unspecified |
Method | Western Australia |
---|---|
Commercial | |
Effort limits | |
Limited entry | |
Spatial closures | |
Vessel restrictions | |
Recreational | |
Bag limits | |
Charter licensing | |
Gear restrictions | |
Limited entry | |
Passenger restrictions | |
Recreational fishing licence | |
Spatial zoning |
Western Australia | |
---|---|
Commercial | 744.68t |
Indigenous | Unknown |
Recreational | Unknown |
Queensland – Indigenous (management methods). For more information see: Traditional fishing | Department of Agriculture and Fisheries, Queensland (daf.qld.gov.au) https://www.daf.qld.gov.au/business-priorities/fisheries/traditional-fishing .
Queensland – Commercial (Catch). Queensland commercial and charter data are sourced from the commercial fisheries logbook program. Further information available through the Queensland Fisheries Summary Report: Queensland fisheries summary report | Department of Agriculture and Fisheries, Queensland (daf.qld.gov.au)
Queensland – Commercial (Management Methods). Harvest strategies are available at:
Harvest strategies | Department of Agriculture and Fisheries, Queensland (daf.qld.gov.au)
Catch Chart
References
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