© Baker, J.L. (2009) Marine Species of Conservation Concern in South Australia Full citation Baker, J.L. (2009) Marine Species of Conservation Concern in South Australia: Volume 1 - Bony and Cartilaginous Fishes. Report for the South Australian Working Group for Marine Species of Conservation Concern. J. Baker (consultant); Science and Conservation Division, and Coast and Marine Conservation branches of S.A. Department for Environment and Heritage (DEH); Marine and Coastal Community Network of S.A. (MCCN), and Threatened Species Network (TSN). Web version published by Reef Watch, South Australia.

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Barber Perch

Family Name:	Serranidae
Scientific Name:	Caesioperca rasor (Richardson, 1839)
Recommended Status in S.A:	Data Deficient, possibly Least Concern
Rationale:  Barber Perch is included here because it (i) is an aggregating species that is strongly site-associated with reefs, and both characteristics can increase the vulnerability of the species to capture; (ii) is a member of the Serranidae, whose life history characteristics make them susceptible to over-exploitation and population decline; (iii) it is caught by commercial and recreational fishing in various parts of the range, with few controls over the numbers taken. There is inadequate information to assess the conservation status of this species in South Australia; however the Barber Perch may be of Least Concern, due to its broad geographic range and broad depth range, coupled with the likelihood that fishing (which may be the main threatening process) is heavier in other parts of the range, such as Tasmania, compared with South Australia.

Page Contents

Current Conservation Status

No listings known

Distribution

General

Barber Perch C. rasor is found in southern and western Victoria (i.e. west of Wilson’s Promontory), Tasmania and Bass Strait islands, South Australia and southern W.A. (Kuiter, in Gomon et al., 1994; Edgar, 2000; Australian Museum, 2004o; Parks Victoria, 2004).
Barber Perch are commonly recorded on nearshore reefs in Victoria (Edmunds and Hart, 2003). In Victoria, Caesioperca rasor is considered to be one of the fish species that characterise the nearshore marine ecological communities of the Central Victorian and Flinders bioregions, particularly the Wilsons Promontory area (Environment Conservation Council, 2000; Edmunds et al., 2000). 
Barber Perch are commonly observed on some reefs in Tasmania (Barrett and Wilcox, 2001; Barrett et al., 2002).

South Australia

Barber Perch occur throughout South Australian coastal waters. Examples of locations where the species has been recorded include the W.A. / S.A. border area; Great Australian Bight; islands in the Nuyts Archipelago (e.g. St Francis I.; Smooth I.; West I.); the Investigator Group islands in the eastern Great Australian Bight (where the species has been recorded as abundant, in large schools over reef); Anxious Bay on western Eyre Peninsula; south-eastern and south-western tip of Eyre Peninsula; the Neptune Islands (where the species has been caught in relatively shallow water, less than 20m); south-western Spencer Gulf (including Memory Cove, and the Jussieu Peninsula); mid-eastern Spencer Gulf (e.g. Tiparra Bay / Wallaroo Bay area); southern Yorke Peninsula, including both the “toes” and “heel” of the Peninsula; Investigator Strait (old records, from 1912); northern and north-western Kangaroo Island (e.g. Cape Torrens, Cape Forbin, Snug Cove and other locations); north-eastern Kangaroo Island / Dudley Peninsula (e.g. Hog Bay / Point, Snapper Point, Cable Bay, Penneshaw); metropolitan Gulf St Vincent (old records, from 1929 and 1936); Fleurieu Peninsula (e.g. Normanville, Second Valley, and further south, to the tip of the Peninsula); and the South-East (e.g. Robe to Beachport area, and Port MacDonnell area) (Kuiter, 1983; Branden et al., 1986; Paxton et al., 1989; Anonymous, 1993; S. Shepherd and J. Brook, unpubl. survey data, 2002; D. Muirhead, pers. comm., 2005; Australian Museum, 2004o; K. Smith, unpubl. data, 2002, 2004, 2005; J. Brook, unpubl. data, 2004; Edgar et al., 2006; South Australian Museum records, Museum of Victoria records, cited in OZCAM database, 2006).

Habitat

Barber Perch is demersal in moderately deep waters of the continental shelf (Kuiter, in Gomon et al., 1994; Froese and Pauly, 2004).
Barber Perch are found on hard bottom habitats in coastal waters, from several metres deep to at least 100m (Kuiter, in Gomon et al., 1994; Edgar, 2000). Froese and Pauly (2006, citing May and Maxwell, 1986) reported a lower depth limit of 180m. Adults tend to school above rocky reef outcrops, and juveniles tend to stay closer to the bottom near rock crevices, as solitary individuals (particularly when very young) or in small groups (Kuiter, in Gomon et al., 1994; Kuiter, 1996a; Hutchins and Swainston, 2001). Adults occur in offshore water, and also closer to the coast, including deep rocky estuaries (Kuiter, 1996a). Barber Perch have been recorded as an abundant schooling fish on nearshore and island reefs in northern and north-eastern Tasmania, including reefs with little macroalgae cover (Barrett and Wilcox, 2001). In the Kent Group islands in Tasmania, Barber Perch have been observed as highly abundant (e.g. 1700 individuals recorded at one site) on some shallow reefs that have been denuded of macroalgae cover by the sea urchin Centrostephanus rodgersii, and at which sponge cover is abundant (Resource Planning and Development Commission, 2002).
Barber Perch usually occurs in shallower waters than Butterfly Perch; however mixed schools of both species are occasionally seen off deep “drop-offs” (Kuiter, in Gomon et al., 1994). 
In Victoria, schools of Barber Perch are common around rocky outcroppings in some areas (Edmunds et al., 2000; Plummer et al., 2003), including reefs with Phyllospora cover, where large schools can occur (e.g. Parks Victoria, 2003). In Victoria, Barber Perch sometimes occurs with Butterfly Perch above deeper reefs (including “walls”, “bommies” and pinnacles) and sponge “gardens”. Such habitats are dominated by large sponges, gorgonian corals such as sea fans and sea whips, various coloured bryozoans, soft corals, hydroids, and solitary ascidians (sea tulips), amongst other sessile fauna. In these habitats, Butterfly Perch are more common in the deeper waters, and Barber Perch in shallower water (Parks Victoria, 2004).
Barber Perch have also been recorded around shipwrecks in coastal waters (e.g. the Nord Wreck in southern Tasmania, at 40+m deep – see Calgary Aquarium Society, 1999).
In W.A., Barber Perch are frequently observed in mid-water schools over offshore reefs on the south coast, particularly in the Esperance area (Hutchins and Thompson, 2001).  During a recent survey of fish habitats in shallow subtidal water in south-western W.A., C. rasor was recorded in several habitats types, including vegetated sand; shallow subtidal reefs covered with dense and medium dense macroalgae (Ecklonia and other large brown canopy-forming macroalgae); granite reefs deeper than 30m, characterised by a sparse cover of macroalgae or sponges, and rhodolith beds (Harvey et al., 2004).

Notes on the Biology

Growth

C. rasor grows to about 25cm or 26cm (Kuiter, in Gomon et al., 1994; Hutchins and Swainston, 2001; Australian Museum, 2004o). To date, the published maximum size of Barber Perch is 0.57kg, a specimen caught by spearfishing (Hutchins and Swainston, 2001).
The species is reported to be long-lived (Barrett et al., 2002).

Diet and Feeding Behaviour

Adult Barber Perch form “small to moderate-sized” schools above rocky outcrops, feeding on zooplankton in mid-water (Gomon et al., 1994; Kuiter, 1996a; Hutchins and Swainston, 2001). 

Reproduction

Most species in the Serranidae are protogynous hermaphrodites, as are most members of the sub-family Anthiinae (P. Heemstra, South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity, pers. comm., 2006), to which species in Caesioperca belong. Protogynous hermaphrodites first mature as females and, after spawning one or more times, they will then change sex, spawning thereafter as males (Heemstra and Randall, 1999).
A study of the population structure at Wilsons Promontory in Victoria showed that the sex ratio was highly variable between sites and times (Edmunds et al., 2003).

Fisheries Information

Commercial

Barber Perch is reported to be taken as by-product in the Commonwealth-managed SESSF (Southern and Eastern Scalefish and Shark Fisheries) (AFMA, 2002a). In the otter trawl sub-fishery of the South East Trawl Fishery, an Integrated Scientific Monitoring Program (ISMP) reported that in 9 trawl shots, about 42kg of C. rasor was retained and 2kg discarded (Wayte et al., 2004). In the Danish seine sub-fishery, about 12kg of C. rasor are discarded per 8 shots (Wayte et al., 2004).
Barber Perch are highly vulnerable to small mesh gill nets, such as those used for mullet fishing in Tasmania (Murphy and Lyle, 1999), but catch figures of Barber Perch from gill net fisheries in Tasmania are not available for this report.
Experiments have shown that Barber Perch are vulnerable to capture using 2-inch (and, to a lesser extent, 3-inch) gillnets (Walker et al., 2003); however it is noted that nets of these mesh sizes are not used in the shark fisheries in southern Australia. Barber Perch are also vulnerable to capture using 5/O hooks (for sharks); however experiments have shown that low numbers are caught (Walker et al., 2003). 
Barber Perch is a very minor part of the bycatch in the Bass Strait Central Zone Scallop Fishery (e.g. Haddon and Semmens, 2002).
Barber Perch C. rasor is part of the bycatch in the prawn trawl fishery on the west coast of S.A. (South Australian Museum records, cited in OZCAM database, 2004).
In South Australia, Barber Perch is also part of the bycatch in the Northern Zone and Southern Zone Rock Lobster fishery (Sloan, 2003a). In Tasmania, Barber Perch has been a common bycatch species in the rock lobster fishery. In a study of bycatch in the Tasmanian Rock Lobster fishery, 18,302 rock lobster pots (without escape gaps) were examined between 1992 and 1997. During that period, 1,980 Barber Perch were caught (i.e. an estimate of 9 pot-lifts required for the capture of 1 animal) (Frusher and Gibson, 1998, cited by Ford, 2001). The study also showed that lobster pots with escape gaps can significantly reduce the number of Barber Perch caught (Frusher and Gibson, 1998, cited by Ford, 2001).
In Tasmania, under the Tasmanian Fisheries (Scalefish) Rules 2004, Regulation 100, there is a commercial fishing possession limitation of a maximum of 3 Barber Perch per licence holder per day, due to the development of a separate aquarium trade (see below).
C. rasor is sold in the aquarium market, and collected in Tasmania for that purpose. The permitted total annual catch limit is 1000 individuals, with a fishing block limit (6 x 6 nautical miles) of 100 individuals (DPIWE Tasmania, 2005b; Australian Government DEH, 2005b).  In 2006, male and female specimens were being advertised for sale through a Tasmanian aquarium supply company.

Recreational

Barber Perch are taken by some recreational fishers, but are classed by others as an “undesirable” species. When schooling, smaller specimens are sometimes caught in large numbers, but not always retained. Some clubs and associations keep records of the maximum sizes caught (e.g. Australian Anglers Association Inc. - W.A. Division, 2002a; New South Wales Fishing Clubs Association, 2003; Australian Anglers Association Inc. – Victorian Division, 2003).
Barber Perch are also taken by spear fishers in southern Australia (e.g. see Australian Underwater Federation Inc., 2003), and the record-sized specimen was taken by this method (Hutchins and Swainston, 2001).
Some charter boats in southern Australia also take Barber Perch (e.g. in Port Phillip Bay, and other locations).
There are no specific size or bag limits for Barber Perch taken by recreational fishers, including South Australia.

Vulnerable Characteristics of the Species

Barber Perch is a schooling species, with adults aggregating over reefs, and this behaviour may increase the vulnerability of populations in some areas to over-exploitation.
Barber Perch is a member of the Serranidae, a family of fish that have life history characteristics that increase the vulnerability of populations to decline. For example, Serranids are generally slow moving, benthic, site-associated fish with distinct population structures, which makes them vulnerable to depletion by a number of fishing methods. However, it is noted that in a recent draft ecological risk assessment of the South East Trawl and Danish Seine Fishery (Wayte et al., 2004), which used 5 “productivity attributes” and 6 “attributes of susceptibility”, Barber Perch was classified as a “low risk” species in terms of population impacts from trawling.

Threatening Processes

Fishing and collecting are likely to be the main threatening processes. The species is taken as by-product in some fisheries and discarded as bycatch in others. It is also caught by recreational fishers, and collected for the aquarium trade.

Research Requirements

More data are required on the biology, demography and population dynamics of this species.
Assessment is required of the potential effects of fishing on Barber Perch population abundance and structure.

Management Requirements

Given the vulnerability of Serranids to population declines, restrictions on the commercial and recreational take of this species are recommended, particularly the targeting of aggregations. Currently, there are inadequate catch restrictions in all States.
Where possible, measures to reduce the bycatch of Barber Perch in commercial fisheries should be implemented, at both State and Commonwealth level.
The numbers taken for the aquarium trade should be monitored, and the potential for localised population impacts should be assessed.
Marine protected areas are beneficial for conserving populations of site-associated species such as Serranids, and due consideration should be given to the formal protection of some areas (in S.A.) in which this species occurs.

Other Information

Butterfly Perch and/or Barber Perch occur in a number of marine parks and reserves in Victoria, such as Wilsons Promontory (abundant), Bunurong, Port Phillip Heads (including Portsea Hole), Phillip Island and Point Hicks Marine National Parks, and Beware Reef Marine Sanctuary (Wilson et al, 1983; Turner and Norman, 1998; Edmunds et al., 2000, 2003; Plummer et al., 2003; Melbourne University Underwater Club web site, 2004; Parks Victoria, 2004).
Barber Perch are found in the Maria Island Marine reserve in Tasmania (Parks and Wildlife Service, 1998).
Barber Perch is of interest to divers for viewing and photography.