Spatial variation in life history characteristics of snapper ( Pagrus auratus ) within Shark Bay, Western Australia

Research in Shark Bay, Western Australia, reveals significant spatial variation in the life history traits of snapper (Pagrus auratus) at scales smaller than tens of kilometers. This study, conducted between 1997 and 2004, found differences in spawning season timing, duration, length and age at maturity, maximum age, and growth rates among populations from the Eastern Gulf, Denham Sound, and Freycinet Estuary. These variations were attributed to environmental conditions and density-dependent responses to fishing-induced changes in spawning biomass. The findings support the notion that local snapper stocks should be managed at fine geographic scales to safeguard both stock productivity and genetic diversity.

Jackson, G., Norriss, J. V., Mackie, M. C., & Hall, N. G. (2010). Spatial variation in life history characteristics of snapper ( Pagrus auratus ) within Shark Bay, Western Australia. New Zealand Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research, 44(1), 1–15. Portico. https://doi.org/10.1080/00288331003641646