© 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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Maori Wrasse / Southern Maori Wrasse

Family Name:	Labridae
Scientific Name:	Ophthalmolepis lineolatus (Valenciennes, 1839) (= O. lineolata)
Recommended Status in S.A:	Data Deficient
Rationale:  Included here because (i) Maori Wrasse is a site-associated Labrid, and members of the family are intrinsically vulnerable to decline due to their reef association, and demography / life history characteristics; (ii) the Maori Wrasse is easily approached, which makes it vulnerable to capture; (iii) the species is taken by anglers and spear fishers, and also as bycatch in Commonwealth and State-based fisheries, with very little data recorded, particularly the recreational catches; (v) although there is little information on population sizes, the species appears to be less common in S.A. than most other species in the Labridae;  (iv) there is a paucity of data on the biology, life history characteristics and population dynamics of this species in southern Australian waters; and (vi) 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 relative abundance /  populations sizes; lack of data on the biology and life history characteristics of the species; and lack of data of the extent and specific impacts of commercial and recreational fishing, particularly in the South Australian part of the range.

Page Contents

Current Conservation Status

No listings known

Distribution

Southern Australia

The Maori Wrasse is found in south-eastern and south-western Australia, from southern Queensland / northern N.S.W., to the Kent Group Islands and northern Tasmania (as far south as Bicheno), Victoria and South Australia, to W.A. (Abrolhos Isles) (Edgar, 1984; Kuiter, 1993; Hutchins and Swainston, 1986; Gomon and Russell, in Gomon et al., 1994; Edgar, 2000; Resource Planning and Development Commission, 2002; G. Edgar, pers. comm., 2007).
Maori Wrasse was recorded as one of the 10 most abundant reef fish species in the Recherché Archipelago in W.A. (Hutchins 1994, cited by Kendrick et al., 2002).
The Kent group of islands represents the southern limit of distribution of the Maori Wrasse in Australia (Edgar 1984, cited by RPDC, 2002).
The species also occurs in New Zealand (e.g. Nelson Bay and other localities).

South Australia

In South Australia, Maori Wrasse is mainly known from the central and western regions, and is not commonly recorded in this State. Museum records, survey records, and diving records include the lower metropolitan area (e.g. off Christies Beach); Fleurieu Peninsula (e.g. Wirrina Reef); lower western Gulf St Vincent; southern Yorke Peninsula; Althorpe Is., northern Kangaroo Island (e.g. Western River Cove and Snug Cove); north-eastern Kangaroo Island (unverified record from Christmas Cove); south-western Spencer Gulf (e.g. Memory Cove), and the West Coast of S.A., including the Nuyts Archipelago, the Investigator group of islands (Pearson I.) and Waldegrave I. near Elliston (South Australian Museum records 1905 - 1984; South Australian recreational dive records; Kuiter 1983; Branden et al., 1986; Muirhead, 1998b, and pers. comm., 2005; S. Shepherd, unpublished data, 2002; Shepherd and Brook, 2003; S. Shepherd, J. Brook and S. Scott, unpublished data, 2004; Shepherd et al., 2005; Shepherd et al. 2008).
The species was recorded abundantly at some sites sampled in 2002 at the Nuyts Archipelago, in the eastern Great Australian Bight (Shepherd and Brook, 2003).
During a survey of the nearshore reef fish along south-western Spencer Gulf and southern Eyre Peninsula, a density of 19 Maori Wrasse per 2000m² was recorded at a 10m deep site off the southern shore of Memory Cove, in south-western Spencer Gulf (S. Shepherd and J. Brook, unpublished data, 2004). During surveys by S. Shepherd and colleagues, of about 125 nearshore reef locations across the central and western coasts of South Australia, Maori Wrasse was recorded at less than 5 sites, and the greatest density was recorded at the Memory Cove site.
During a survey of the Althorpe group of islands in 2004, Maori Wrasse was uncommonly recorded at the islands, with only a 2% occurrence across all sites (sampled between 2m and 20m) (Shepherd et al., 2005).

Habitat

Maori Wrasse occurs around sand and weed areas in coastal bays, and on coastal rocky reefs, extending to offshore reefs. Hutchins and Swainston (1986, 2001) reported the species as being common on coastal reefs of south-eastern and south-western Australia. Kuiter (1996a) considered Maori Wrasse to be “often abundant on submerged coastal reefs”. Kuiter (1996a) also reported that the species occurs in estuaries. Maori Wrasse are often seen resting near the bottom, and often occur in loose aggregations (Hutchins and Swainston, 1986; Kuiter, 1993).
The species occurs from shallow depths to around 60m. In warmer parts of its distribution, this species is often seen in shallow water. In cooler, more southerly areas, it is found at greater depths, sometimes down to 60m (Kuiter 1993; Australian Museum, 2002e). However, this generalisation does not apply across the range.
During a 2002 survey of subtidal habitats at islands in the Nuyts Archipelago in the eastern Great Australian Bight, Shepherd and Brook (2003) sampled areas between 5m and 20m, and recorded juvenile Maori Wrasse as being patchily distributed, mostly occurring between 10m – 20m at relatively wave- and swell-exposed locations, with post-juveniles abundant only at 20m depth (Shepherd and Brook, 2003). It is noted that there are records of the species at relatively shallow depths in S.A. waters (e.g. 5m – South Australian Museum record F 04923).
During a recent study at Jurien Bay in W.A., the species was recorded in higher abundance on more exposed reefs further offshore (surrounded by deeper waters), compared with inshore, shallow, sheltered reefs closer to the coast (SRFME Coastal Ecosystems and Biodiversity project, cited in Keesing and Heine, 2005). Watson et al. (2005) recorded O. lineolatus in abundance, on shallow reefs in Hamelin Bay, Western Australia.
Edmunds and Hart (2003) reported O. lineolatus to be common on shallow subtidal reefs in Victoria.
Maori Wrasse still appears to be a reasonably common species in N.S.W. and can be seen by divers on most coastal rocky reefs, including outer estuarine areas (J. Pogonoski, Australian Museum, pers. comm. 2003).
In a study of Labrid species composition on boulder reefs of varying wave exposure in N.S.W., Fulton and Bellwood (2004) reported that O. lineolatus was found at the exposed shallow site (to 6m), the exposed deeper site (to 14m) and sheltered shallow reef site (to 6m), but was most common at the very wave-exposed, shallow habitat on exposed reef fronts, a habitat in which few other Labrids occurred.

Notes on Biology and Behaviour

The species grows to around 40cm (Kuiter, 1993; Gomon and Russell, in Gomon et al., 1994) or 47cm (Australian Museum, 2002e).
The maximum weight recorded by the Australian Anglers Association Records Authority is 0.9kg (Hutchins and Swainston, 2001; Australian Anglers Association, 2003).
The species eats benthic invertebrates (Masuda and Allen, 1993, cited in Froese and Pauly, 2005).

Fisheries Information

Commercial

Maori Wrasse is also caught as bycatch in deeper water in the Commonwealth-managed Southern and Eastern Scalefish and Shark Fisheries (i.e. the SESSF, see AFMA 2002a), but possession of wrasse bycatch is currently prohibited in the Southern Shark Fishery component of the SESSF (AFMA, 2001b), because wrasses are State-managed species.
O. lineolatus was recorded during research surveys in the Commonwealth-managed South East fishery (Bulman et al., 2001), which may indicate that it is part of the bycatch in this fishery.
According to BRS (2004), the recorded commercial catch of Maori Wrasse O. lineolatus between 1990 and 1999 ranged between 3t and 17t per annum, with almost all of the reported catch coming from Queensland, other than 1t per year from N.S.W. during three years of that period.
O. lineolatus are sold in the aquarium trade. In 2005, specimens from Australia were being sold for export, for US$18 - US$25 (Ryan and Clarke, 2005).
Maori Wrasse is a by-product of the live Blue-throated Wrasse fishery in Victoria, although the catches are low compared with the target species, and a number of those caught are released live (e.g. small specimens) (Smith, 2003).
The species is probably caught and retained by commercial fishers in N.S.W. (J. Pogonoski, Australian Museum, pers. comm., 2003).
Maori Wrasse is a component of the bycatch in the South Australian Rock Lobster fishery (Sloan, 2003a). It is noted, however, that the species was not recorded in a recent bycatch monitoring program in that fishery (Brock et al., 2004). Wrasses are also one of the two main groups of scalefish species (along with leatherjackets) taken in rock lobster pots, that are retained for use as bait (Sloan, 2003a).

Recreational

Maori Wrasse is frequently caught by hook and line around rocky reefs in Western Australia, but is rarely encountered in Victoria (Gomon and Russell, in Gomon et al., 1994). Kuiter (1996a) reported that the species is caught by line fishing on coastal reefs where it is more abundant.
The species is caught and retained by recreational fishers in N.S.W. (J. Pogonoski, Australian Museum, pers. comm., 2003). According to fishing records, the species is taken by anglers and charter boats in New South Wales.
The species is also taken by spear fishers. The recorded maximum size of Maori Wrasse taken by spear fishing was a specimen of 0.879kg, caught at Eden in N.S.W., in 1969 (Hutchins and Swainston, 2001; Australian Underwater Federation Inc., 2003). Maori Wrasse was one of the species reported to have been caught in Australian and South Australian spear-fishing competitions during the early 1980s (see Johnson, 1985a, 1985b).
The recent National Recreational and Indigenous Fishing Survey (Henry and Lyle, 2003) reported that 3,834 Maori Wrasse were caught and kept by recreational fishers in Australia during the survey time period (May 2000 to April 2001), comprising 3,123 from N.S.W., and 711 from Queensland. However, it is possible that this record refers to more than one species (i.e. may also include Humphead Maori Wrasse Cheilinus undulatus, given that Queensland is not a major part of the distribution of O. lineolatus). No species-specific catches were recorded from Victoria, Tasmania, S.A. or W.A.
Maori Wrasse is frequently caught by hook and line around rocky reefs in South Australia (Gomon and Russell, in Gomon et al., 1994). In the National Recreational and Indigenous Fishing Survey (Henry and Lyle, 2003), Maori Wrasse catches from South Australia were not identified to species level. Catches of unspecified wrasses (64,199, an unknown portion of which would include Maori wrasse) are detailed in the section above, on Labridae.

Vulnerable Characteristics of the Species, and Threatening Processes

Maori Wrasse is a site-associated Labrid, and members of the family are potentially vulnerable to decline due to their strong association with shallow subtidal reefs, and their demography / life history characteristics.
As is the case with other site-associated Labrids on nearshore reefs, fishing may be the major threatening process. This site-associated coastal reef fish species is caught by recreational spear fishers and anglers, and by commercial fishers (the latter in both State and Commonwealth waters), but there appears to be little information on the extent to which near-shore populations are fished, nor on the specific impacts of fishing upon populations of this species. The Maori Wrasse is very inquisitive and will approach and follow divers (Edgar, 2000; J. Pogonoski, pers. comm., 2003), a characteristic that may make it vulnerable to exploitation, particularly to spear-fishing (J. Pogonoski, pers. comm., 2003).

Research Requirements

There is a lack of data on the (i) relative abundance / populations sizes within the range (including South Australia); (ii) the biology, life history characteristics and population dynamics of the species; and (iii) the extent (and potential effects) of commercial and recreational fishing on populations of this species.
The South Australian Reef Watch program could assist in monitoring the relative abundance of this species in a number of fished and unfished areas.

Management Requirements

Commercial catches of wrasses in State waters should be separated by species, and catch statistics should be monitored over space and time.
Restrictions on the catch of this species by recreational fishers are required.
In eastern Australia, monitoring of the catches of this species for the aquarium market is required, to prevent localised population impacts.
Plans for marine protected areas in S.A. should give due consideration to the declaration of nearshore sanctuary zones that include such site-associated species as Maori Wrasse.
If suitable protection of various reefs across the S.A. part of the distribution is not provided within the coming decade, consideration should be given to prohibiting fishing of this species, under a regulation of the Fisheries Act.

Other Information

Maori Wrasse occurs in a number of the Marine National Parks (MNP) and Sanctuaries in Victoria (e.g. Bunurong, Wilsons Promontory, Phillip I. and Gabo I.) (Edmunds et al., 2003; Norman and Marshall survey data, University of Melbourne, 2000, cited by Plummer et al., 2003), and possibly also in parks and sanctuaries of the Twofold Shelf bioregion (e.g. Ninety Mile Beach MNP, Point Hicks MNP, Cape Howe MNP and Beware Reef Marine Sanctuary) (Parks Victoria, 2003).
Maori Wrasse is likely to occur in a number of small Aquatic Reserves in S.A. (e.g. Troubridge Hill).

Support for S.A. Listing:

Barry Hutchins (ex-Western Australian Museum)