Hapuku (2023)
Polyprion oxygeneios
Date Published: June 2023
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Summary
The stock structure of Hapuku in Australian waters is unknown. Hapuku stock status at the jurisdictional level is sustainable in WA, negligible in QLD and SA, and undefined in NSW and Commonwealth waters.
Stock Status Overview
Jurisdiction | Stock | Stock status | Indicators |
---|---|---|---|
Commonwealth | Commonwealth | Undefined | Catch |
Stock Structure
The stock structure of Hapuku throughout Australian waters is unknown. Life history characteristics similar to Bass Groper (Polyprion americanus) suggest mixing across broad geographic areas [Ball et al. 2000]. However, Beentjes and Francis [1999] inferred the likelihood of separate stocks within New Zealand based on tagging studies of Hapuku, despite recorded movements of up to about 1,400 km. Paul [2002] reported on the stock structure of Hapuku (and Bass Groper) in New Zealand, concluding that stock structure could not be described, and that there was insufficient data describing the life history characteristics to distinguish different stocks. Wakefield et al. [2010] described differences in aged-based demography and reproduction of Hapuku among regions of Western Australia, and likely pan-oceanic mixing of the broader Hapuku population (including Indian Ocean). No such investigations have been done on Hapuku throughout eastern and south-eastern Australian waters to develop our understanding of stock structure. It is likely Hapuku in eastern and south-eastern Australian waters constitute one or more stocks of a greater population and fisheries within this region access this stock or subset of stocks in support of their annual catches. Panmixia could be expected throughout the region, owing to the extended larval/juvenile phase (years) and large-scale genetic homogeneity of congener P. americanus which has similar life-history traits [Ball et al. 2000; Roberts 1996; Sedberry et al. 1999; Wakefield et al. 2010]. Evidence in support of a single biological stock, or stock structuring within broader Australian waters is limited.
Here, assessment of stock status is presented at the jurisdictional level—Commonwealth, Western Australia, Queensland, New South Wales and South Australia.
Stock Status
Commonwealth
Hapuku is captured in multiple sectors of the Southern and Eastern Scalefish and Shark Fishery (SESSF) within Australia's exclusive economic zone (EEZ), and by Australian-flagged vessels operating in the high seas. In general, most of the commercial catch in Commonwealth fisheries is taken within Australia's EEZ by the Gillnet Hook and Trap Sector (GHTS), Commonwealth Trawl Sector (CTS) and Great Australian Bight Trawl Sector (GABTS).
Over the past decade, total catches across all Commonwealth sectors increased from roughly 31 t in 2012–13 to a peak of more than 41 t in 2016–17, before falling to around 8.6 t in 2021–22. In 2021–22, 8.6 t was taken in the SESSF (5 t in the GHTS, 3 t in the CTS, and < 1 t in the GABTS) and no catch was taken in the high seas.
A number of different analyses have been undertaken on Hapuku in Commonwealth fisheries in recent years, however none have provided sufficiently robust information to reliably determine status.
In 2021, Sustainability Assessment for Fishing Effects analyses for the CTS and GABTS assessed Hapuku as low risk, which meant that estimated fishing mortality rates (F) within these sectors during 2012 to 2016 (the period assessed) were less than the F required to drive the stock below the maximum sustainable mortality level (FMSM) [Sporcic et al. 2021a, b]. In the same year, a Scale, Impact, Consequence Analysis for demersal longline in the SESSF, categorised the species as low risk for the period analysed (2015 to 2019) [Bulman et al. 2021]. However, none of these analyses are able to provide information on biomass status which is a product of historical (not just recent) catch levels.
In 2018, a model-assisted catch-only assessment (Catch-Maximum Sustainable Yield (MSY) method) [Martell and Froese 2013] was fitted to commercial catches of Hapuku across all sectors of the SESSF from 1986 to 2017 [Penney et al. 2018]. The Catch-MSY method uses population productivity (r) and carrying capacity (K) parameters of an underlying Schaefer production model to estimate the ranges in biomass and harvest rate that could have resulted in the annual catches. The assessment estimated biomass to have been above the biomass at MSY (BMSY) from 1986 to 2006 and between BMSY and 20% of unfished biomass since 2007. The mean estimate of biomass in 2017 was approximately 33% of the unfished level (95% confidence interval of 11–55%). Reported catch, mostly from the CTS, increased in 2017, but remained below the mean estimated MSY of 51 t. However, F in 2017 was estimated to be 0.15, above the FMSY level of 0.11. Five-year constant-catch projections at the 2017 catch level of 48 t predicted that biomass would decline slowly. However, there is a high degree of uncertainty in the estimates of biomass depletion, harvest rate and MSY derived using the Catch-MSY method due to the deterministic nature of the assessment method. There is also a high degree of uncertainty in stock structure.
There is insufficient information to confidently classify this stock and as a result, the stock is classified as an undefined stock.
Biology
Hapuku biology [Ball et al. 2000; Paxton et al. 1989; Wakefield et al. 2010]
Species | Longevity / Maximum Size | Maturity (50 per cent) |
---|---|---|
Hapuku | 52 years Females 1 114 mm TL Males 702 mm TL | Females 7.1 years, 760 mm TL Males 6.8 years, 702 mm TL |
Tables
Commonwealth | |
---|---|
Commercial | |
Demersal Longline | |
Dropline | |
Otter Trawl | |
Midwater Trawl |
Method | Commonwealth |
---|---|
Commercial | |
Gear restrictions | |
Licence | |
Spatial closures |
Commonwealth | |
---|---|
Commercial | 8.57t |
Commonwealth – Commercial (Management Methods/Catch). Data provided for the Commonwealth align with the Commonwealth Southern and Eastern Scalefish and Shark Fishery and the High Seas Fishery for the 2021–22 financial year.
Commonwealth – Recreational. The Australian Government does not manage recreational fishing in Commonwealth waters. Recreational fishing in Commonwealth waters is managed by the state or territory immediately adjacent to those waters, under its management regulations.
Commonwealth – Indigenous. The Australian Government does not manage non-commercial Indigenous fishing in Commonwealth waters, with the exception of the Torres Strait. In general, non-commercial Indigenous fishing in Commonwealth waters is managed by the state or territory immediately adjacent to those waters.
Western Australia – Recreational (Management Methods). Recreational Fishing from Boat Licence is required for use of a powered boat to fish or to transport catch or fishing gear to or from a land-based fishing location.
Queensland – Indigenous (Management Methods). For more information see: https://www.daf.qld.gov.au/business-priorities/fisheries/traditional-fishing
Queensland – Commercial (Catch). Queensland commercial and charter data has been sourced from the commercial fisheries logbook program. Further information available through the Queensland Fisheries Summary Report: https://www.daf.qld.gov.au/business-priorities/fisheries/monitoring-research/data/queensland-fisheries-summary-report
Queensland – Recreational Fishing (Catch). Data with high uncertainty (Residual Error > 50 %) have been excluded and listed as unknown. More information available at: https://www.daf.qld.gov.au/business-priorities/fisheries/monitoring-research/monitoring-reporting/statewide-recreational-fishing-surveys
New South Wales – Indigenous (Management Methods). - https://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/fishing/aboriginal-fishing
References
- Ball, AO, Sedberry, GR, Zatcoff, MS, Chapman, RW and Carlin, JL 2000, Population structure of the wreckfish Polyprion americanus determined with microsatellite genetic markers. Marine Biology, 137(5-6): 1077–1090.
- Beentjes, MP and Francis MP 1999, Movement of hapuku (Polyprion oxygeneios) determined from tagging studies. New Zealand Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research, 33(1): 1–12
- Bulman, CM, Sporcic, M and Fuller, M 2021, Ecological Risk Assessment for the Effects of Fishing. Report for Southern and Eastern Scalefish and Shark Fishery (Gillnet Hook and Trap Sector): Scalefish Automatic Longline Sub-Fishery 2015-2019, Report for the Australian Fisheries Management Authority, pp. 144.
- Chick, R.C. and A. M. Fowler. 2023. Stock assessment report 2022/23 – Ocean Trap and Line Fishery (Line Fishing – Eastern Zone) – Hapuku (Polyprion oxygeneios). NSW Department of Primary Industries, Fisheries. 28 pp.
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- Paxton, JR, Hoese, DF, Allen, GR, and Hanley, JE 1989, Pisces. Petromyzontidae to Carangidae Zoological Catalogue, 7. Australian Government Publishing Service, Canberra, Australia.
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- QFish, Department of Agriculture and Fisheries, www.qfish.gov.au
- Roberts, CD 1996, Hapuku and bass: the mystery of the missing juveniles. Seafood New Zealand, 4: 17–21.
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- Sporcic, M, Bulman, CM and Fuller, M 2021, Ecological Risk Assessment for the Effects of Fishing. Report for Southern and Eastern Scalefish and Shark Fishery (Commonwealth Trawl Sector): Otter trawl Sub-fishery 2012- 2016, Report for the Australian Fisheries Management Authority, pp. 277.
- Sporcic, M, Bulman, CM and Fuller, M 2021, Ecological Risk Assessment for the Effects of Fishing. Report for Southern and Eastern Scalefish and Shark Fishery, Great Australian Bight Sector: Otter trawl sub-fishery 2012- 2016, Report for the Australian Fisheries Management Authority, pp. 174.
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