As few as 3 in a 100 snapper survive fishing over the summer.
by
Russell Millar
Department of Statistics, University of Auckland
Coauthors: Trevor J Willis (Leigh Marine Lab, University of Auckland)

An additive Poisson count model was used to make estimates of local fishing mortality adjacent to marine reserves. A baited underwater video camera was deployed to obtain relative density data on an intensively fished sparid, snapper (Pagrus auratus), in areas adjacent to, and within, three coastal marine reserves. The snapper population consisted of two behavioural subsets: those exhibiting long term site fidelity, and those that undertake seasonal onshore/offshore migrations. Fishing mortality was estimated from the additive difference in seasonal density increases between reserve and adjacent fished areas. These comparisons indicate that at local scales, fishing mortality may be as high as 97%.

Date received: August 30, 2001