© 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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Brown-Spotted Wrasse / Brownspotted Wrasse / Orange-Spotted Wrasse

Family Name:	Labridae
Scientific Name:	Notolabrus parilus (Richardson, 1850)
Recommended Status in S.A:	Data Deficient, possibly Near Threatened
Rationale:  Included here because (i) Brown-spotted Wrasse is a site-associated Labrid, and such fishes are intrinsically vulnerable to decline due to their strong association with nearshore reefs, and their demography / life history characteristics; (ii) fishing data indicate that the species may be less abundant in S.A. than in W.A.; (iii) the species is taken commercially in S.A. ( is also a bycatch of both State- and Commonwealth-based fisheries), and is also taken by anglers and spear fishers, with very little data recorded, and few controls on the numbers taken, for any of these fisheries; and (iv) the species occurs mainly in shallow waters, hence may be vulnerable to habitat impacts in some areas. The status of the species cannot easily be determined due to lack of data on populations sizes, biology and life history characteristics of the species; and lack of specific data of the extent (and specific effects) of commercial and recreational fishing. However, given that nearshore wrasses are vulnerable to depletion by over-fishing due to their life history characteristics, fishing could be assumed to be a significant threatening process to Brown-spotted Wrasse populations in both Western Australia and South Australia. There are currently inadequate controls over the capture of this species, particularly in S.A., where there are no size limits, bag limits / boat limits / possession limits for wrasses. Bycatch mortality in rock lobster fisheries may also be a threatening process. In some parts of the range, and particularly over the longer term, changes to reef habitat quality in the nearshore area may be a concern, given the reef-specificity and narrow depth range of this species.

Distribution

Southern Australia

The recorded distribution is from Shark Bay (W.A.) around the southern coastline, to Queenscliff in Victoria (Gomon and Russell, in Gomon et al., 1994).
Brown-spotted Wrasse is considered abundant in Western Australia (Gomon and Russell, in Gomon et al., 1994), particularly the south-west (Hutchins, 1994), less common and in smaller numbers in South Australia (Hutchins and Swainston, 1986; Edgar, 2000), and extremely rare in Victoria, which is the edge of the species range (Edgar, 2000). Port Phillip Heads is presumed to be the eastern limit of the species in Victoria (Plummer et al., 2003).
According to Warman and Bryan (2004, citing records from the Queen Victoria Museum in Launceston), N. parilus has also been recorded in northern Tasmania (e.g. at Low Head).

South Australia

The species has been recorded from most parts of the South Australian coast, from the Great Australian Bight through to the Victorian border.
Examples of locations in S.A. where the species has been recorded, usually in low numbers, include the central and southern metropolitan area (e.g. natural reefs and artificial reefs and wrecks in the Glenelg area, and reefs off Kingston Park, Marino / Hallett Cove – where the species is reported to be locally common, Christies Beach, and Port Noarlunga); Fleurieu Peninsula (e.g. Cape Jervis area, Second Valley, Rapid Bay, Rapid Head, the Hobart wreck, and reefs off Normanville, Carrickalinga, Myponga, Aldinga, and other areas); northern and north-western Kangaroo I.; north-eastern and eastern Kangaroo I. / Dudley Peninsula; Encounter Bay (including islands); Pages Islands; southern Yorke Peninsula (such as near the Clan Ranald wreck, also Edithburgh, where regular sightings have been made, Klein’s Point, and numerous other locations around southern Yorke Peninsula); western Eyre Peninsula (e.g. Point Drummond, Anxious Bay, Waterloo Bay, Venus Bay, Point Sinclair, Cape Bauer, Speeds Point), southern Eyre Peninsula (including the Port Lincoln area, Memory Cove, McLaren Point, Thistle I., Perforated I.); southern Spencer Gulf and the islands in Thorny Passage; the Sir Joseph Banks group of islands; western Eyre Peninsula; the Investigator group of islands; bays (e.g. Ceduna area), headlands and islands (including Nuyts Archipelago) of the eastern Great Australian Bight; the upper South-East (e.g. Robe), and the lower South-East, near the Victorian border (Kuiter, 1983; Savarton et al., 1987; K. Branden and S. Shepherd, unpublished data, 1987; ANSA sports fishing record, 1992; Branden et al., 1994; J. Baker, pers. obs. 1995-1997, 2002-2003; Marine Life Society of South Australia data, 1997; MLSSA, 1999; ANSA, 1999; Anonymous, 1996, 2001a; Muirhead, 2002b; Shepherd and Brook, 2003; photo by E. Schlögl, 2003, cited in Australian Museum, 2004h; S.A. Museum records; Australian Museum records; Reef Watch, 2003; S. Shepherd, pers. comm., 2004; J. Brook, unpublished data, 2005; K. Smith, unpublished data 2003-2005;  Edgar et al., 2006; Shepherd and Baker, in prep.).
Kuiter (1983) recorded specimens of Brown-spotted Wrasse of all sizes, at all sites sampled at the Investigator group of islands in the eastern Great Australian Bight. Kuiter stated that the species is less common than N. tetricus in that region, even though eastern Great Australian Bight is the western edge of the geographic range of N. tetricus. More recently, a survey by S. Shepherd (2004, pers. comm.) on the west coast of South Australia, showed that N. parilus was as abundant as N. tetricus at Point Sinclair, in the Great Australian Bight, and that Brown-spotted Wrasse was found in less numbers down the Eyre Peninsula coast, including Anxious Bay and Elliston.
During surveys of about 125 nearshore reef locations across the central and western coasts of South Australia, N. parilus was recorded at approximately 30 sites, and in greatest abundance at Rapid Bay Jetty off the Fleurieu Peninsula (21 per 2000 m²), and off Point Sinclair off western Eyre Peninsula (53 per 2000 m² ) (data by S. Shepherd, 2003, 2005)

Habitat

The species inhabits shallow rocky reefs (moderately and sub-maximally exposed), from 1m to about 20m (Gomon and Russell, in Gomon et al., 1994; Edgar, 2000; Australian Museum, 2004h), although specimens may also be found on reefs at slightly lower depths (e.g. Harvey et al., 2004).
In South Australia, N. parilus has been recorded on reefs of various wave exposure, ranging from low energy reefs, such as Rocky Point in American River (USNM record, 1966, cited in Anonymous, 2001a) and Venus Bay (S. Shepherd and J. Brook, unpublished data, 2003), to exposed coastal reefs, such as Thistle I. and Perforated I. off southern Eyre Peninsula (K. Branden and S. Shepherd, unpublished data, 1987) and Speeds Point, off western Eyre peninsula (S. Shepherd, J. Brook and K. Brown, unpublished data, 2003).
In W.A., juveniles and females occur abundantly in macroalgae-covered rocky reef areas in coastal waters (Gomon and Russell, in Gomon et al., 1994; Edgar, 2000), and juveniles have also been recorded in seagrass beds (Hyndes et al., 2003; Valesini et al., 2004; Harvey et al., 2004).
During a recent study in Jurien Bay in W.A., Brown-spotted Wrasse was recorded abundantly at reef sites (N = 245), particularly at inshore, relatively sheltered reefs near the coast (SRFME Coastal Ecosystems and Biodiversity project, cited in Keesing and Heine, 2005).
During a study of reef fishes in south-western Australia (Harvey et al., 2004), N. parilus was recorded in 4 defined reef habitat types, and also seagrass beds. Of the reef habitats, the species was more abundant on high profile reefs and reefs with dense macroalgae (Ecklonia and other brown canopy-forming species), and less abundant on shallow, sand-inundated low profile reef; shallow reefs with sparse macroalgae; and granite reefs deeper than 30m, characterised by a sparse cover of macroalgae or sponges (Harvey et al., 2004). Of the seagrass habitats, higher numbers were recorded in dense seagrass compared with seagrass beds of medium density. N. parilus was also recorded in low abundance over vegetated sand, and even over bare sand (Harvey et al., 2004). According to that study, the species is vegetation-associated, with higher numbers in denser cover.

Notes on Biology and Behaviour

There is very little published information on the biology or population dynamics of this species.

Growth

The Brown-spotted Wrasse grows to around 49cm (Hutchins and Thompson, 1983, 2001; Edgar, 2000; Australian Museum, 2004h), although specimens of that size are uncommon.
One of the largest sizes recorded is 1.814kg, being a specimen taken from Kangaroo Island in 1965 (Hutchins and Swainston, 1986; Australian Anglers Association, 2003). Large specimens (e.g. 1.4 – 1.55kg) have been recorded in some parts of S.A., such as the Sir Joseph Banks group of islands, and the islands in Thorny Passage, and off the Pages Islands (Australian Anglers Association and Australian National Sportsfishing Association records). It is noted that a specimen of 1.814kg was taken by spearfishing at Gull Rock in S.A., in 1972 (Australian Underwater Federation Inc., 2003).

Reproduction

Jones (1999, cited by S. Shepherd, pers. comm., 2004), reported that some female Brown-spotted Wrasse change sex, but not colour, at a small size. According to S. Shepherd (pers. comm., 2004) this suggests that “sneaker males” occur in the species, which is unusual for southern wrasses. Sneaker males are smaller specimens whose appearance resembles females, and who successfully mate with the females without engaging in any of the displays or other courtship rituals used by larger, dominant males.

Fisheries Information

Commercial

Populations in deeper parts of the depth range are commercially fished. Brown-spotted Wrasse is a smaller component of commercial catch of 3 wrasse species in S.A. (Knight and Johnson, 1999; Knight et al., 2002). Commercial catches of wrasse in South Australia are detailed above, in the synopsis on Blue-throated wrasse, N. tetricus. Catches of wrasse have increased since the 1980s, and during the past 20 years to 2004/05, the highest annual catches were in 1997/98 and 1998/99, when 47t per annum were taken in both years. During the past 5 years to 2005, annual catch of all commercial wrasses has ranged between 20t and 27t per annum (see synopsis above for Blue-throated Wrasse). The major proportion of the annual wrasse catch in S.A. is likely to be Blue-throated Wrasse. Brown-spotted wrasse is a lesser component, and the quantities taken per annum cannot be determined from existing data.
In South Australia, wrasse species are also caught as bycatch in deeper water Commonwealth finfish and shark fisheries. Possession of wrasse bycatch is currently prohibited in the Southern Shark Fishery (AFMA, 2001b), because wrasses are State-managed species.
Brown-spotted Wrasse Notolabrus parilus is a bycatch species in the South Australian Rock Lobster fishery (Sloan, 2003a). Wrasses are also one of the two main groups of scalefish groups (along with leatherjackets) taken in rock lobster pots, that are retained for use as bait (Sloan, 2003a). The section above on Labridae provides examples of catches of wrasses (unspecified). A recent survey showed that Brown-spotted Wrasse is caught in the northern Zone of the S.A. Rock Lobster Fishery (Brock et al., 2004). Based on bycatch sampling in 2002/03 (in which 8 specimens of N. parilus were caught in 1% of the pot lifts, and in 1% of the fishing days), the annual catch of Brown-spotted Wrasse in the Northern Zone may be in the vicinity of 800 individuals. In an associated logbook monitoring program, Brown-spotted Wrasse was not recorded to species level (see Brock et al., 2004); however the catch of unspecified wrasses in both the Northern Zone and Southern Zone may include a proportion of N. parilus, particularly in the former. Catches of unspecified wrasses from the 2001 – 2004 monitoring program (Brock et al., 2004) are provided in the section on Labridae.
Walker et al. (2003) showed that the species is vulnerable to capture using 3-inch (especially), 4-inch and 5-inch gill nets.

Recreational

The species is taken by recreational fishers in various parts of S.A., and sports fishing associations (e.g. ANSA and AAA) keep records of the maximum sizes caught.
During the National Recreational and Indigenous Fishing Survey (NRIFS), 11,719 “Brown-spotted Wrasse / Rock Cod” were reported to be caught and kept by recreational fishers in Western Australia during the survey time period (May 2000 to April 2001) (Henry and Lyle, 2003). The NRIFS database specified the species N. parilus for the common name “Brown-spotted Wrasse / Rock Cod”, but it cannot be determined for this report whether the large catch from W.A. comprises more than one species, or whether all specimens were N. parilus.  A recent study of metropolitan recreational fishing in the Perth area has shown that reduced numbers of legal-sized target species, such as the West Australian Dhufish Glaucosoma hebraicum and probably also the Breaksea Cod Epinephelides armatus , have led to fishers retaining previously discarded species, such as Brown-spotted wrasse Notolabrus parilus (Harvey, 2004, cited by Fairclough, 2004).
During the NRIFS, recreational catches in N. parilus in S.A. were not recorded at species level; however during the survey period, a total of 64,199 wrasses were taken in S.A. (SARDI data, September, 2005), which would include species such as N. tetricus, N. parilus, A. gouldii, O. lineolatus, and P. laticlavius, amongst others.  The proportion of the wrasse catch that comprised N. parilus cannot be determined.
The species is also taken by spear fishers. Previously, Orange-spotted (= Brown-spotted) Wrasse was one of the targeted species in spear-fishing competitions in S.A. during the 1970s and 1980s (see Johnson, 1985a and 1985b, and tables in Ottaway, 1980). The recorded maximum size of Brown-spotted Wrasse taken by spear fishing was a specimen of 1.814kg, caught at Gull Rock in South Australia, in 1972 (Australian Underwater Federation Inc., 2003).

Vulnerable Characteristics of the Species

As is the case with other Labrids, Brown-spotted Wrasses have a number of characteristics that make them vulnerable to over-exploitation, and population decline. They are strongly site-associated within reef systems, particularly shallow, near-shore reef habitat, and they are most vulnerable to capture in such areas (as shown in recreational fishing statistics, particularly for W.A. – see above). The protogynous hermaphroditism - i.e. sex change - in this species may also increase population vulnerability, and heavily fished populations may suffer imbalances in population structure.

Threatening Processes

Brown-spotted Wrasses are caught by recreational spear fishers and anglers, and by commercial fishers (in State- and Commonwealth-managed waters). There appears to be little information available on the extent to which near-shore populations are fished (other than the likelihood that the recreational take of this species is increasing in W.A.), nor on the specific population impacts of fishing. However, given that wrasses (in general) are vulnerable to depletion by over-fishing due to their life history characteristics, fishing can be assumed to be the major threatening process to Brown-spotted Wrasse populations in both W.A. and S.A., and there are currently inadequate controls over the capture of this species, particularly in S.A., where there are no size limits, bag limits / boat limits / possession limits for this species.
The species occurs in nearshore habitats, in the vicinity of macroalgae-covered reefs, and juveniles have been recorded also in seagrass beds. In some parts of its range, such nearshore habitats are subject to damaging processes, such as eutrophication from sewage and wastewater discharges, sedimentation, physical damage from dredging and near-shore developments etc (e.g. for Gulf St Vincent in S.A., see Shepherd, 1970; Shepherd et al. 1989; Cheshire et al., 1998; Cheshire and Westphalen, 2000; Turner and Cheshire, 2002; Baker, 2004; Westphalen et al., 2005).

Research Requirements and Notes

There is a lack of biological information on this species, including age, growth, maximum size, and reproduction. Given the fact that Brown-spotted Wrasses are taken by commercial and recreational fishers by a variety of methods, basic knowledge of the life history would aid the management of the fisheries that yield N. parilus, and may assist the conservation of this species.
Studies of the biology of N. parilus are currently underway at Murdoch University in W.A. (cited in Fairclough, 2004).

Management Requirements

Commercial catches of wrasses in State waters should be separated by species, and catch statistics should be monitored over space and time.
Fishing regulations are required in areas where the species is taken, particularly in commercial quantities, and in nearshore areas where recreational fishing is intense. Measures for reducing bycatch should also be considered, where possible.
Measures to reduce the bycatch mortality of this species in rock lobster pots should be introduced, along with a prohibition on retention for bait when caught.
No-take marine protected areas can assist in the population replenishment and conservation of site-associated reef fish such as Brown-spotted Wrasse.

Other Information

Notolabrus parilus is one of the ten most abundant reef fish species in the Jurien Bay Marine Park (Hutchins, 1994, cited by CALM, 2005a).

Support for S.A. Listing:

Barry Hutchins (ex-Western Australian Museum) and Scoresby Shepherd (SARDI Aquatic Sciences)