© 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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Reef Ocean Perch / Red Gurnard Perch / Red Perch / Ocean Perch / Sea Perch / Coral Cod

Family Name:	Sebastidae
Scientific Name:	Helicolenus percoides (Richardson and Solander, 1842)
Recommended Status:	South Australia: Data Deficient; Commonwealth-managed waters of SE Australia: Near Threatened
Rationale:  Although Reef Ocean Perch is widely distributed across southern Australia, and has a broad depth range across the continental shelf and upper slope, it is included here because (i) it is a relatively long-lived, site-associated, viviparous species of relatively low fecundity and low reproductive output, and therefore has low biological productivity; (ii) this species is reported to have a low resilience to exploitation, and high to very high vulnerability to fishing-induced population decline; (iii) Reef Ocean Perch is a commercial species with high catchability, and significant quantities of smaller fish (> 80% of the catch by weight, in some areas) are discarded because they are below marketable size, and this practice may threaten long-term population sustainability; (iv) although the official status of the commercial resource is currently listed as “uncertain”, Reef Ocean Perch was previously considered to be fully fished in south-eastern Australia; (v) no biomass estimates are available (including spawning stock biomass); quantitative assessments have not been made, and it is not known whether current catches are sustainable, yet this species continues to be fished (and discarded) in large quantities; (vi) there are indications that H. percoides is being over-exploited, with examples including (a) a reported decline in unstandardised catches rates of H. percoides since 1986, with the lowest catch rates ever recorded, during the past decade; (b) a total allowable catch (TAC) for H. percoides and H. barathri combined, that has remained consistently high during much of the past two decades; total catch levels have been maintained until the past few years, despite catch rates falling below the management trigger level over a long period (possibly an indication of serial depletion over space and time); and (c) a possible decrease in size and age structure of Reef Ocean Perch in recent years; (vii) there is concern that, because most of the Reef Ocean Perch commercial catch is discarded, the actual catch may reach or exceed the TAC every year, and high mortality rate may threaten populations, considering that most specimens are caught below the size at maturity, and this is a relatively long-lived species with a low reproductive output; (viii) there are documented fishing-induced declines in the population of the closely related species / form H. barathri, and, given the close taxonomic and biological relation between H. barathri and H. percoides, the latter could be similarly over-exploited in future, if not already. In the Commonwealth-managed South East fishery, various ongoing issues include (a) the difficulty of avoiding H. percoides in the catch (e.g. spines get caught in trawl gear); (b) the significant rise in total South East fishery fishing effort on the upper slope, shelf break and shelf over the past few years (which would be having a greater impact on the H. percoides population); and (c) inshore reefs, which may represent refuge areas from trawl fishing, can be fished by traps and lines. Other issues include the difficulty in interpreting catch rates and other data in the main commercial fishery, because data are confounded by the aggregation of both H. percoides and H. barathri in catch records. Therefore, assessments of ocean perches have been of poor quality due to lack of dedicated analysis of biological and fisheries data, and the problems with species/stock discrimination. In South Australia, apart from a seemingly sizeable bycatch in the rock lobster fishery (i.e. thousands of specimens per annum), other catches in South Australian State waters are likely to be low. Because population sizes across the range are unknown, it cannot be determined to what extent catch and bycatch in State waters threatens Reef Ocean Perch. However, given the currently available information on this species (cited in this synopsis), it appears that the main threatening process is fishing in Commonwealth-managed waters, and the measures to guard against over-exploitation are currently inadequate.

Page Contents

Current Conservation Status

There are no formal listings. At a Commonwealth level, the status of Reef Ocean Perch Helicolenus percoides is considered with the deeper water species (or form) Bigeye Ocean Perch H. barathri, for which the status is listed as uncertain (Caton and McLoughlin, 2005, 2006; Larcombe and Begg, 2008), yet stocks are considered to be fully fished in south-eastern Australia (AFFA, 2002b, 2004a). In 2009, Wilson et al. reported these species as being not overfished, based on low catches and maintenance of catch rates, but this opinion was made in the absence of knowledge of stock status.

In New South Wales, the status of Ocean Perch (all species) is considered to be uncertain (New South Wales DPI, 2008f).

It is noted that in New Zealand, H. percoides was rated in an ecological risk assessment of fisheries as a category “D” species. Key biological information is unknown (including age, age at recruitment, natural mortality, biological parameters etc), and the species may be very vulnerable to over-fishing due to factors such as late onset of sexual maturity, low fecundity, slow growing, aggregation and/or schooling behaviour, long-life span, and/or highly variable recruitment (Weeber and Szabo, 2005).

Distribution

General

The Reef Ocean Perch is found in Australia (Paxton et al., 1989; Poss, in Gomon et al., 1994) and throughout New Zealand (Francis, 1996; Brook, 2002; Roberts et al., 2005). This species has also been recorded in the vicinity of the Norfolk Ridge and Lord Howe Rise (Clark et al., 2003). H. percoides has been reported to occur around the Challenger Plateau and Chatham Rise, and mid-Tasman Sea islands (NABIS, undated).

The distribution and species identity of ocean perches in southern Australia and New Zealand has been the subject of considerable debate and research during the past two decades. In Australia, Park (1992, 1993) took 15 morphometric and 10 meristic measurements from ocean perches of inshore, offshore and seamount origin, and used pattern analysis techniques (including principal component analysis, multivariate analysis, and discriminant analysis) to indicate that there is strong morphological differentiation between the inshore and offshore forms of Ocean Perch. Some authorities consider the inshore and offshore populations to be two forms of the same species (Kailola et al., 1993; Poss, in Gomon et al., 1994; Park, 1994; Smith, 1998; Australian Museum, 2003p). In New Zealand, Francis et al. (2002) cited genetic evidence which showed that the two are conspecific. Although the genetics (based on protein fingerprints and allozyme tests) of “inshore” and “offshore” populations of this species are virtually identical, the minor variation in physical characteristics between the two has led some authorities to conclude that Ocean Perch might comprise two species. A guide published in 1997, on the quota species in the Commonwealth’s South East Fishery (Daley et al., 1998) divided Ocean Perch into the deep water H. barathri, occurring between 180m and 1015m (typically 350m – 550m) and the form from shallower waters, H. percoides, occurring between 10m and 250m, but typically found in waters less than 180m. It is noted that management agencies divide Ocean Perch into two species (e.g. AFMA, 2001h; AFFA, 2002c), as do fish marketing companies. In 2004, a guide to standard names of Australian fishes (CSIRO, FRDC and SSA) also separated Ocean Perch and Reef Ocean Perch into two species. In 2006, the Standard Names for Australian Fishes (Yearsley et al., 2006) reported the two as separate species: Big-eye Ocean Perch Helicolenus barathri (Hector, 1875) and Reef Ocean Perch Helicolenus percoides (Richardson and Solander, 1842). In a recent study which examined the phylogenetic relationships among populations of Helicolenus seaperches, Smith et al. (2009) also reported these two species from southern Australia. It is noted that in New Zealand, genetics research has indicated that there is probably only one species of sea perch in New Zealand waters, H. percoides (Smith, 1998), even though both species were previously recognised. A recent phylogenetic analysis also identified only one species in New Zealand, which occurs in the mid Tasman Sea on the Norfolk Ridge, and around Tasmania and Victoria (i.e. H. percoides) (Smith et al., 2009). Off New Zealand, Paulin et al. (undated) reported a second (unnamed) species, collected on the Kermadec and Louisville Ridges, Foundation Seamounts, and the eastern Chatham Rise, and recent phylogenetic analysis (Smith et al., 2009) divided this into two forms, which are separate evolutionary “clades”.

Southern Australia

Reef Ocean Perch occurs from northern New South Wales, around the south of Australia (including Tasmania and Bass Strait), to as far west as southern and south-central W.A. (Paxton et al, 1989; Poss, in Gomon et al., 1994; Daley et al., 1998; Smith and Wayte, 2001).

Data from the Commonwealth-managed South East fishery during the mid 1990s suggest that Ocean Perch abundance increases from north to south, between Sydney and Gabo Island (Bass Strait) (Smith and Wayte, 2004).

South Australia

Examples of locations in South Australia where H. percoides has been reported include the entire length of the S.A. portion of the Great Australian Bight; southern Eyre Peninsula; and the upper and lower south-east of South Australia (CSIRO Marine Research data; SARDI data, 2002, cited by R. Foster, S.A. Museum, pers. comm., 2006; South Australian Museum data, 2004 and 2005, cited by T. Bertozzi, S.A. Museum, 2005; Museum of Victoria records, cited in OZCAM database, 2009).

According to Higham et al. (2002) Reef Ocean Perch H. percoides has also been reported occasionally in the Murray Mouth area, as a “marine straggler”, but no records could be found for this report.

Habitat

Reef Ocean Perch occurs on the continental shelf and upper slope (May and Maxwell, 1986, cited in Froese and Pauly, 2009).

Ocean Perch inhabit various sea bottom types, including shelf reefs; deeper reef areas of hard, flat bottom; and also silt habitats. Juveniles sometimes occur on shallow reefs in Tasmania, adjacent to deep water (Edgar, 2000). A survey of fish habitat associations in continental shelf waters off south-eastern Australia indicated that more than 70% of the samples of Ocean Perch were recorded in reef habitat (Williams and Bax, 2001). During a survey of the fish biomass of the upper continental slope off eastern Tasmania, H. percoides was reported to be one of the most abundant species, by weight (May and Blaber, 1989).

Ocean Perch may also occur in the vicinity of sea mounts (NABIS, undated).

During a survey at the Great Barrier Island in New Zealand, H. percoides was recorded on reef habitats described as “silt free, high relief rock” at about 100m deep, and “scattered silt-covered boulders on muddy sediment bottom” at 120m (Sivaguru and Grace, 2002).

The two forms or species of Ocean Perch in southern Australia have overlapping distributions and depth ranges, and collectively span a broad depth range, between 50m and at least 750m (with some reports as wide as 10m to 800m) (Poss, in Gomon et al., 1994; Bruce et al., 2002; Australian Museum, 2003p; Sea-Ex Australia, 2004). H. percoides is dominant in depths less than 300m, and H. barathri is most common in deeper waters (Park, 1993, 1994; Sea-Ex Australia, 2004). CSIRO et al. (2001) reported the depth range for H. percoides to be 10m to 329m, but that the species is more commonly found within the range 80m – 180m. Daley et al. (1998) reported that deep water H. barathri occurs between 180m and 1015m (typically 350m – 550m), and the shallower H. percoides occurs between 10m and 250m, but typically found in waters less than 180m. New South Wales DPI (2008c) reported that H. percoides occurs between 80m and 350m.

Notes on the Biology and Behaviour

Age and Growth

Helicolenus percoides grows to at least 45 - 47cm (May and Maxwell, 1986; Poss, in Gomon et al., 1994; Australian Museum, 2003p), but is not often seen at a length greater than 40cm (Smith and Wayte, 2004), and usually at much smaller sizes. In New South Wales, H. percoides is commonly caught in the size range 20-25cm, and seldom exceeds 30cm (New South Wales DPI, 2008f). In New Zealand, maximum size is reported to be about 56cm (New Zealand Ministry of Fisheries, 2007). Based on a study of Reef Ocean Perch in eastern Bass Strait, Withell and Wankowski (1988) reported that the growth rate of males and females was statistically different. Length frequency distributions suggest females attain a larger size than males (Withell and Wankowski, 1988; Smith and Wayte, 2004). Recent work in New Zealand has indicated that after about age 5 years, males appear to grow slightly but significantly faster than females; however, there is some uncertainty due to small sample sizes (New Zealand Ministry of Fisheries, 2007; Paul and Horn, 2008).

H. percoides is reported to have a relatively slow growth rate throughout life (Sea-Ex Australia, 2004; New Zealand Ministry of Fisheries, 2007; Paul and Horn, 2008).

The maximum published weight is reported to be 1.4kg (Withell and Wankowski, 1988). One of the record sized specimens (1.4kg) was caught in 1980, at Broken Bay in New South Wales (Australian Anglers Association, 2009).

Reef Ocean Perch appears to be long-lived (at least 40 years) (AFMA, 2001h). Previously in Australia, the maximum reported age was 42 years (plus or minus 3 years), according to a study in eastern Bass Strait (Withell and Wankowski, 1988; Kailola et al., 1993). Recent estimates of maximum age for H. percoides are similar (around 40 years) (Smith and Wayte, 2004). In contrast, the offshore form / species H. barathri has been aged to more than 60 years, but there are few specimens over the age of 15 in landings east of Bass Strait (uncited reference, in AFMA, 2004a). In New Zealand, samples of H. percoides from the east coast of the South Island have been aged to 35 years. Fish from Chatham Rise (reported by Paul and Horn in 2008 to be H. percoides) have been aged to 59 years; however, these have different length frequency distributions, growth rates and natural mortality rates compared with other H. percoides around New Zealand, and Paulin et al. (undated) and Smith et al. (2009) reported the Chatham Rise fish to be a separate form or species.

To assist management in the Commonwealth-managed South East fishery (see below, on Fisheries Information), age structure of Reef Ocean Perch was examined (but not validated) by the Central Ageing Facility in Victoria during 1999 and 2000. Results indicated that H. percoides in the fishery ranged from 1 to 17 years old (10cm – 35cm), but most of the landed fish were between 4 and 7 years of age (Smith and Wayte, 2004). Discarded fish generally consisted of fish less than 5 years old. In contrast, offshore Ocean Perch (H. barathri) ranged between 3 years and 62 years of age (Smith and Wayte, 2004).

Diet and Feeding Behaviour

H. percoides is described as opportunistic, and there are seasonal changes in the diet, related to changes in abundance of particular prey species (Blaber and Bulman, 1987). Ocean Perch prey on a variety of animals, on or close to the seafloor (New Zealand Ministry of Fisheries, 2007).

Ocean Perch feed on Hector’s Lanternfish Lampanyctodes hectoris and other small fish species, squid, crabs, shrimps (e.g. Pontophilus), euphausiids, Royal Red Prawn Haliporoides sibogae, polychaete worms, and the tunicate Pyrosoma atlanticum (Thomson, 1912; Blaber and Bulman, 1987; Kailola et al., 1993; Sea-Ex Australia, 2004; Prince, 2001).

Kashkina (1986, cited by Prince, 2001) reported salps to be an important part of the diet of Ocean Perch.

In New Zealand, the seahorse Hippocampus abdominalis has been recorded as part of the diet (Graham, 1974, cited by Woods, 2007).

As Ocean Perch increase in size, the diet changes from mainly crustaceans to mainly fish (Blaber and Bulman, 1987).

Reproduction

In southern Australia, size at maturity of Ocean Perch may be about 30 – 31cm (Lyle and Ford, 1993, cited by Smith and Wayte, 2004). In New Zealand, it has been reported that males mature at 19 – 25cm, (about 5−7 years old), whereas females mature at between 15 and 20cm (around 5 years old) (Paul and Francis, 2002, cited by New Zealand Ministry of Fisheries, 2007).

H. percoides reproduces between July and November in south-eastern Australia (Kailola et al., 1993; Park, 1994; Smith and Wayte, 2004). In New South Wales, the beginning of the spawning season is reported to be as early as June (New South Wales DPI, 2008f). In Tasmania, broad-scale spawning of H. percoides has been recorded from mid-late winter to late summer, suggesting a protracted spawning period (Furlani, 1997; National Oceans Office, 2002). In New Zealand, Thompson (1912) reported ova to be ripe in September, with the young fish produced the same month.

Although fecundity is poorly documented in Australian specimens, H. percoides is reported to have low fecundity (AFMA, 2001h; Smith and Wayte, 2004). A New Zealand study by Mines (1975, cited by Bruce et al., 2002, and New South Wales DPI, 2008f) reported that 30cm female Ocean Perch produce between 150,000 and 200,000 eggs during a breeding season, of which 40,000 to 50,000 were fertilised and developing embryos.

Reproduction in Ocean Perch is distinctive, in that fertilization is internal (Wourms and Lombardi, 1992). Reproductive mode in Ocean Perches is described as lecithotrophic viviparous (New South Wales DPI, 2008f). All of the embryonic development takes place within the female reproductive system. Larvae stay within the female fish until they are approximately 1mm long, and then they are released into the water (Kailola et al., 1993, cited in Froese and Pauly, 2009; New South Wales DPI, 2008f). During parturition, females extrude a large, floating, gelatinous matrix that encloses 80,000 or more larvae, which leave the matrix within 20 minutes (Wourms and Lombardi, 1992; New Zealand Ministry of Fisheries, 2007).

Studies in New South Wales have shown that the inshore and offshore forms of Ocean Perch begin mating at different times, and there is a difference in the length of their larval development time prior to release (Park, 1994, cited in Froese and Pauly, 2009).

Larvae have been recorded in Tasmanian shelf waters from late winter (July) to late summer (January) (Marshall and Jordan, 1992; Furlani, 1997); off Sydney in New South Wales from May to December (Gray, 1995), and off the NSW south coast in August (CSIRO Marine Research data, cited by Bruce et al., 2002). Ocean Perch sampling from around Tasmania and up the east coast of Australia, showed that the highest concentrations of larvae (22.4 to 81.7 larvae per 1000m3) were sampled in Bass Straight and off the NSW coast (Hayes et al., 2003). Concentrations of larvae between 0 and 22.4 per 1000m3 were sampled in the shelf regions of locations described by the Commonwealth as Zeehan, Tasman Fracture, Huon, Banks Strait and East Gippsland (Hayes et al., 2003).

Other Information

Blue Grenadier Macruronus novaezelandiae prey upon juvenile Ocean Perch (Bulman and Blaber, 1986). Adult striped trumpeter Latris lineata, which are bentho-pelagic piscivores, prey on a variety of benthic and bentho-pelagic fish including Helicolenus percoides (uncited reference, in National Oceans Office, 2002).

H. percoides forms a minor part of the diet of Piked Spurdog (Squalus megalops) (Braccini et al., 2005), and Australian Fur Seal Arctocephalus pusillus doriferus (Goldsworthy et al, 2003; Kirkwood et al., 2008).

In New Zealand, Ocean Perch H. percoides have been recorded as a minor part of the diet of Tursiops sp. dolphin (Lusseau and Wing, 2006); New Zealand sea lion Phocarctos hookeri (Maynier, 2009); Yellow-eyed Penguin Megadyptes antipodes (Moore and Wakelin, 1997) and King Shag Leucocarbo carunculatus (Butler, 2003).

Fisheries Information

Commercial – Commonwealth Fisheries

Reef Ocean Perch is caught commercially in south-eastern Australia, all year round (Sea-Ex Australia, 2004). It is sold on domestic fresh fish markets, mainly in Sydney (Kailola et al., 1993; Park, 1994), and also listed as an export species. The official marketing name is “Ocean Perch” (CSIRO et al., 2005). Ocean Perch is considered to be “an excellent table fish” (Sea-Ex Australia, 2004).

It is possible that H. percoides has been fished since the early 20th century off New South Wales. Roughly (1916, cited by Klaer, undated) reported on trawler catches off NSW in 1915 and 1916 (total weight of the catch was 2,326,481 pounds), and listed “Red Gurnard Perch (Helicolenus percoides)” as the 12th species, in a list of the top 12 species caught, in terms of greatest abundance. Rowling (2003) reported that when modern diesel-powered trawlers entered the NSW fishery in the 1970’s, fishing was extended to deeper waters on the upper continental slope, and the ‘offshore’ ocean perch (H. barathri) was one of the 4 main species targetted, whereas the ‘inshore’ (Reef) Ocean Perch H. percoides) had been caught incidentally on continental shelf grounds since the commencement of the fishery.

Apart from early catches (see above), Ocean Perch was reported to be a minor commercial species prior to the mid 1970s, when the development of trawl fisheries commenced in deep waters off New South Wales and eastern Victoria. The offshore H. barathri (reported by some to be H. percoides) has been caught off the upper continental slope in New South Wales since the 1970s (Andrew et al., 1997). The present fishing area for Ocean Perch is mainly within the eastern sector of the South East fishery component of the Commonwealth-managed Southern and Eastern Scalefish and Shark Fisheries (SESSF), from Sydney, NSW to Lakes Entrance in Victoria. Ocean Perch have also been taken as far north as Coffs Harbour, although catches are greatest south of Forster. Demersal otter trawling is the main method used to catch Ocean Perch (Park, 1994; Sea-Ex Australia, 2004), although only 20% of the catch is caught by target fishing operations, and the bulk of “Ocean Perch” landings consists of H. barathri (deeper water species / form), taken by trawlers whilst targeting other fishes (Smith and Wayte, 2004). Ocean Perch are particularly common in catches of royal red prawns Haliporoides sibogae (Park, 1994). Juveniles of both the so-called “inshore” and “offshore” species / forms (i.e. H. percoides and H. barathri) are caught near the edge of the continental shelf by fishers targeting royal red prawns, but their full distribution is uncertain (Kailola et al., 1993). In 1993, over 300 tonnes of Helicolenus (both species / forms) were caught in 1993 by the South East Trawl fishery component of the SESSF (Neira et al., 1998). Previously, most of the catch was H. barathri, taken in depths from 350m to 550m, with little change in catch rates between seasons. In recent years, virtually all the Ocean Perch (H. percoides and H. barathri combined) catch is taken between depths of 100-650m. Although the precise depth distributions of H. percoides and H. barathri are unknown, some degree of overlap probably occurs around the shelf break region (Smith and Wayte, 2004). Currently, in catch reporting, the inshore and offshore species / forms are separated by the 200m depth contour. In the South East trawl sector of the SESSF, associated species include flathead, morwong, and redfish (Smith and Wayte, 2004).

In the South East fishery sector of the Commonwealth-managed SESSF, Reef Ocean Perch H. percoides is not targeted; most catch is discarded for market reasons, because individuals are too small (i.e. small fish are often landed because spines get caught in the gear) (Smith and Wayte, 2004). However, despite the high discard rate, the shallow species / form H. percoides is listed as one of the 18 major species taken in the South East trawl fishery (SETFIA, 2009). Since the 1990s, the majority of the H. percoides catch in the South East fishery is reported to have ranged between 15 and 26cm, with a mode of around 18cm TL, and much of this is discarded. Generally only those fish more than 23-25cm are retained. A greater proportion of fish have been retained in recent years (Smith and Wayte, 2004). During 1999-2000, an analysis of age frequency distribution indicated that most of the Reef Ocean Perch landed in the South East fishery were between 4 and 7 years of age. Discarded fish were generally less than 23-25cm, consisting of fish 4 years old or less (Smith and Wayte, 2004).

Ocean Perch is also a by-product catch of Danish seining and drop-lining. Minor catches are taken in the Gillnet, Hook and Trap (GHAT) fishery component, of which the former South East Non-Trawl Fishery was a part (Smith and Wayte, 2001; Bruce et al., 2002). Ocean Perch is a locally significant bycatch in the Blue-eye Trevalla drop-line fishery (part of the GHAT) (Kailola et al., 1993). Most of the catch is the deepwater species / form H. barathri, but both species / forms are reported and assessed together in the Commonwealth fisheries, and fishers do not log catches separately. During a pilot monitoring program for species caught in the South East Non-Trawl fishery (now a component of GHAT), Knuckey et al. (2001) reported that “Ocean Perch” was caught in low quantities (less than 200 specimens during the sampling period of 120 observer days) collectively by demersal long-lines operating off Tasmania and also the Gascoyne Plateau, and also by drop-lines and traps off Tasmania, and mesh net vessels working off Victoria.

Commercial catches of Ocean Perch are managed using Individual Transferable Quotas (ITQs) and a Total Allowable Catch (TAC). The TAC in the South East fishery sector of the SESSF includes both the inshore and offshore Helicolenus, and the offshore form / species dominates landings (Caton and McLoughlin, 2006). ITQ management arrangements also apply for this species in the ECDWZ (East Coast Deepwater Zone within the South East fishery component of SESSF, previously called the East Coast Deepwater Trawl Fishery); the CVIT (Commonwealth Victorian Inshore Trawl Fishery), and the GHAT (AFMA, 2003j). The Total Allowable Catch was raised from 300 tonnes in 1993 to 500 tonnes in 1994, and remained at the 500t – 600t level during the 1900s and much of the 2000s (see AFMA, 2001h; AFFA, 2004a; Caton and McLoughlin, 2005, 2006). The TAC is not taken in all years. For example, in 1996, the South East fishery recorded a catch of 356 tonnes (319 tonnes Commonwealth waters, 37 tonnes State waters), which was 59% of the allocated TAC of 601 tonnes (Tilzey, 1998a, cited by AFMA, 2001h). Much of the Ocean Perch catch is discarded, particularly that of the shallow water species / form H. percoides, hence the actual catch has probably exceeded the TAC in both the 1990s and 2000s (Tilzey, 1998a, cited by AFMA, 2001h; Smith and Wayte, 2004).

Annual TACs and actual catches in the South East Fishery during the past decade are shown in the table below (from AFFA, 2003b, 2004a; Caton and McLoughlin, 2005, 2006; Larcombe and Begg, 2008; Wilson et al., 2009). In general, 60% of the total trawl catch of Ocean Perch by weight and about 80% - 90% of the landed Ocean Perch catch consists of H. barathri (Smith and Wayte, 2004), which implies that about 10% to 20% of the landed catch is H. percoides. In the previous decade, trawl landings were considerably lower than the TAC, which increased in 1994. The TAC for Ocean Perch was increased from 300t in 1992 to 500t from 1994, well above historical catch levels, to accommodate the expected increased bycatch of Ocean Perch that would result from the large increase in the Blue Grenadier TAC (to 10,000t), and also the rise in TAC for Pink Ling (Smith and Wayte, 2004). Subsequently, Ocean Perch catches were only around 60% of the 500t TAC for the next few years. Since 2002, an increasing proportion of the Ocean Perch catch has been taken by the non-trawl sector, largely by auto long-lining (AFFA, 2003b, 2004a). Estimated total catches in the South East fishery (trawl and non-trawl combined) have ranged from 187t to 464t since 1977 (National Oceans Office, 2002). After rising during the early 1990s, annual total catches of Ocean Perch in the South East fishery remained reasonably stable at around 350 - 400t during the 1990s (Smith and Wayte, 2004), and 300 - 380t during the early 2000s. Catches began to decline below 300t per annum during the mid – late 2000s, yet the TAC was set at the same level (500t) each year during the 2000s. During the late 2000s, the annual catch was less than half of the set TAC.

Ocean Perch (Helicolenus spp.) catches in the South East fishery
	Total Allowable Catch (TAC)	Actual Catch
1999	Recommended TAC = 500t Allocated TAC = 593t	376t 265t discards
2000	Recommended TAC = 500t Allocated TAC = 599t	351t 399t discards
2001	Recommended TAC = 500t Allocated TAC = 598t (= 588t trawl; 10t non-trawl)	352t trawl Commonwealth + 9T State 9t non-trawl 135t discards
2002	Recommended TAC = 500t Allocated TAC = 591t (= 558t trawl, 33t non-trawl)	307t trawl Commonwealth + 7t State 24t non-trawl 167t discards
2003	Recommended TAC = 500t Allocated TAC = 555t (~ 512t trawl, ~ 43t non-trawl)	339t trawl 35t non-trawl 89t discards
2004	Recommended TAC = 500t Allocated TAC = 535t (~ 428t trawl, ~ 107t non-trawl)	298t trawl 85t non-trawl (= 22t H. percoides, 352t H. barathri) 235t discards (= trawl only, 194t H. percoides, 41t H. barathri)
2005	Recommended TAC: 500t Allocated TAC: 542t	(figures not available for this report)
2006	Recommended TAC: 500t Allocated TAC: 540t	199t trawl 56t non-trawl 21t discards
2007	Recommended TAC: 417t Allocated TAC: 438t	171t trawl 34t non-trawl
2008	Allocated TAC: 500t	178t trawl 43t non-trawl
(AFFA, 2002b, 2003b, 2004a; Smith & Wayte, 2004; Caton & McLoughlin, 2005, 2006; Larcombe & Begg, 2008; Wilson et al., 2009)

Both of the so-called “inshore” and “offshore” forms of Ocean Perch are caught as minor by-product in the Great Australian Bight (GAB) trawl sector of the SESSF. Reported catches in recent years are shown in the table below.

Ocean Perch: Reported Catch in GAB trawl sector
Year	Catch (t)
1995	-
1996	1
1997	2
1998	3
1999	5
2000	2
2001	5
2002	3
(from Lynch and Garvey, 2003)

Bycatch sampling in the GAB Trawl Fishery (during 2000 and 2001) showed that the “inshore form” (H. percoides) was caught in 32 of the 209 trawl shots over that period; the average quantity retained was 7.9kg per trawl shot, and the average quantity discarded was 1.7kg per trawl shot (Brown and Knuckey, 2002). For the “offshore form” (Helicolenus barathri), which was caught in 30 of the 209 trawl shots, the average quantity retained was 6.9kg per trawl shot, and the average quantity discarded was 3.0kg per trawl shot (Brown and Knuckey, 2002).

Commercial - State Fisheries

“Ocean Perch” is one of approximately 20 main scalefish species taken in the New South Wales Ocean Trawl fishery, and is classified as a “key secondary species” (New South Wales DPI, 2004), and both H. barathri and H. percoides are taken, the former mainly south of Sydney and both species / forms north of Sydney (New South Wales DPI, 2008f). Because Ocean Perches are Commonwealth-managed species, there is a trip limit for N.S.W. State finfish trawl operators, in order to abide by the OCS arrangements between the Commonwealth and NSW. The limit is 300kg whole weight per day, or per trip when the trip is longer than 1 day (AFMA, 2004e). AFMA has restricted Commonwealth Trawl Sector operators from trawling within 3NM of the coast of New South Wales south of 33°35’S, where the N.S.W. inshore Finfish Trawl Fishery operates (AFMA, 2004e). According to Smith and Wayte (2004), the State catch of Ocean Perch (both species / forms) from N.S.W. waters has ranged mainly between 20t and 50t between 1992 and 2002, including catches of 20 - 40t per annum from 1999 to 2002. New South Wales DPI (2008f) reported the Ocean Perch catch in N.S.W. to be in the range 15t to 30t per annum since 2000, but also that most of this is H. barathri, caught when Royal Red Prawns are being targeted. During the late 1990s, the combined catch of both species was greater than in the 2000s (e.g. ~ 60t per annum, in 1997/98 and 1999/2000), and prior to that, when the catches of Commonwealth- and State- licensed fishers were aggregated, catches were even higher (e.g. several hundred tonnes per annum, during the early 1980s and early-mid 1990s) (New South Wales DPI, 2008f).

In addition to the N.S.W. Ocean Trawl fishery (see above), Ocean Perch species are also significant in the N.S.W. Ocean Trap and Line Fishery (e.g. caught using drop-lines), but the majority of the catch is H. barathri (New South Wales DPI, 2008f). In New South Wales, Ocean Perch is also caught in the bycatch of the commercial trap fishery for Rock Lobster (New South Wales Fisheries, 2004c).

According to Smith and Wayte (2004), catches of Ocean Perch from Victorian State waters ranged between 5t and 10t per annum during the mid 1980s to mid 1990s, but were 1t per annum or less from the late 1990s to early 2000s. The landings from Victorian-endorsed vessels in the South East fishery in 2002 reportedly amounted to 1.2t (Smith and Wayte, 2004).

In Tasmania, Ocean Perch may be a bycatch of inshore gillnetting on reefs for Banded Morwong (Murphy and Lyle, 1999), but the validity of the species identification cannot be determined for this report. According to Smith and Wayte (2004), the catch from Tasmanian State waters was less than 5t per annum between 1998 and 2002 (with slightly higher catches in some previous years: e.g. 11t in 1996 and 9t in 1997). Smith and Wayte (2004) reported that landings from Tasmanian-endorsed vessels in the South East fishery in 2002 amounted to 2t.

Ocean Perch is a minor part of the bycatch in the Bass Strait Scallop dredging fishery. For example, in a bycatch survey in 2002, 4 specimens were collected in 59 random tows (Haddon and Semmens, 2002).

H. percoides is reportedly collected in Tasmania for the aquarium industry. The permitted annual catch limit is 300 individuals, with a fishing block limit (6 x 6 nautical miles) of 50 individuals (DPIWE Tasmania, 2005b; Australian Government DEH, 2005b).

The catch taken in W.A. waters is reported to be minimal (Park, 1994).

Commercial - South Australia

Although Ocean Perch inhabit South Australian waters, the catch taken is reported to be minimal (Park, 1994). In the S.A. Marine Scalefish Fishery, H. percoides catches may be reported with a species code that includes “gurnard perch”, “spiky gurnard” and “ocean perch”. Examples of annual catches include 1t in 1995/96 (three quarters of which were caught in the lower South East of S.A., between Beachport and the Victorian border), and 850kg in 1996/97 (also mainly from the lower South East). Fowler et al. (2009) reported Reef Ocean Perch to be a bycatch of long-lines used to catch Pink Snapper Chrysophrys (formerly Pagrus) auratus in the Marine Scalefish Fishery.

Ocean Perch is caught as a by-product in the South Australian Rock Lobster fishery (Sloan, 2003a). Most scalefish caught in lobster pots in South Australia are retained for used as bait (A. Linnane, pers. comm., 2009; D. Brock, pers. comm., 2009). Previously, bycatch sampling in 1991 – 92 showed that in the Northern Zone of the fishery, only 1 specimen of Helicolenus was caught in 1 pot (in a sample of 32, 028 pots); and in the Southern Zone of the fishery, at least 9 specimens were caught in 9 pots (in a sample of 21,108 pots) (Prescott and Xiao, 2001). A more recent bycatch monitoring program in the S.A. Rock Lobster Fishery indicated that higher numbers of H. percoides are caught, particularly in the Southern Zone (Brock et al., 2004, 2007). The catches in each zone are shown below, according to figures in Brock et al. (2004 and 2007). Based on the logbook results, the total annual catch of Ocean Perch may be in the vicinity of 300-350 individuals per annum in the Northern Zone, and 2,700-3,300 individuals in the Southern Zone. During a 1% sub-sample of the total number of pot lifts in 2002/03 and 2003/04, 26 and 3 H. percoides individuals respectively were caught in the Northern Zone, and 32 and 57 individuals in the Southern Zone (see Brock et al., 2004). If the sample is considered to be representative, then the total annual catch might be in the vicinity of 300 - 2,600 in the Northern Zone, and 3,000 – 4,000 individuals in the Southern Zone (Brock et al., 2007). That estimate assumes that the 1% sample is representative of catches in all areas of the fishery, which may not be the case.

Proportional Catch of Ocean Perch in S.A. Rock Lobster Fishery from Log Book Monitoring 2001-03 (Brock et al., 2004, 2007)
Northern Zone	No. Pot Lifts (& % of Total) (Brock et al., 2004)	No. H. percoides specimens caught (Brock et al., 2007)	Estimated Annual Total (Brock et al., 2007)
2001/02	320,003 (51%)	159	312
2002/03	265,843 (47%)	167	355
Southern Zone
2001/02	545,886 (60%)	1,989	3,315
2002/03	486,155 (57%)	1,549	2,718

Recreational

Ocean Perch are not targeted by recreational fishers, although they are occasionally caught by anglers fishing from boats in coastal waters.

Some fishing clubs and associations keep records of the maximum sizes caught (e.g. New South Wales Fishing Clubs Association has a record of a specimen of 1.4kg, caught in 1980).

In New South Wales, the annual recreational catch of Ocean Perch (mainly H. percoides) is reported to be probably less than 10t (New South Wales DPI, 2008f).

In a National Recreational and Indigenous Fishing Survey (Henry and Lyle, 2003), the species was listed as “Perch - ocean / red gurnard/ coral cod”, and insignificant catches were reported for South Australia. About 770 specimens were reported from fishers in Tasmania, but it is not known for this report whether all of those were H. percoides.

In Tasmania, Ocean Perch are mostly caught by recreational fishers in depths greater than 30m, when fishing for Striped Trumpeter (DPIWE Tasmania, 2004i). Ocean Perch is taken by recreational gillnet fishing over reefs and soft bottom habitats in both northern and south-eastern Tasmania (Lyle et al., 2000).

Vulnerable Characteristics of the Species

Reef Ocean Perch is a relatively long-lived, site-associated, viviparous species of relatively low fecundity and low reproductive output, and therefore has low biological productivity (AFMA, 2001h; National Oceans Office, 2002; Smith and Wayte, 2004). These life history characteristics make populations susceptible to over-exploitation.

The species is reported to have a low resilience to exploitation, in terms of minimum population doubling time (based on growth and reproductive parameters) (Froese and Pauly, 2009), and high to very high vulnerability to fishing-induced population decline (Cheung et al., 2005, cited in Froese and Pauly, 2009).

Based on the distribution and quantities of commercial fishery catches, Reef Ocean Perch are assumed to aggregate over reef and other areas, and their behaviour makes them susceptible to capture, as does their morphology (i.e. Ocean Perch get caught easily in trawl gear due to their spiny dorsal surfaces).

Threatening Processes

Commercial fishing is the main threatening process. Although the official status of Ocean Perch is reported to be uncertain (Tilzey, 1998a, cited by AFMA, 2001h; Bruce et al., 2002; AFFA, 2002b, 2004a; Smith and Wayte, 2004; Larcombe and Begg, 2008), stocks are probably fully fished in south-eastern Australia (AFFA, 2004a; Caton and McLoughlin, 2005, 2006). The report in 2009 that stocks are not overfished due to low catches being made (i.e. half of the TAC) and catch rates being maintained (see Wilson et al., 2009), is not based on any stock assessment.

No biomass estimates are available for Reef Ocean Perch (nor Big-eye Ocean Perch); quantitative assessments have not been made, and it is not known whether current catches are sustainable (AFFA, 2002b). Unstandardised catch rates of H. percoides have reportedly declined since 1986 and have been at historically low levels during the past decade. There is some evidence that catch rates and mean length of fish have decreased in the eastern sectors of the South East fishery since 1991 (Smith and Wayte, 2004). Also, various analyses of CPUE data have suggested a decline in abundance may have occurred, particularly during the mid to late 1990s, but the results were uncertain (Smith and Wayte, 2004). In 1995, low catch rates first triggered AFMA’s catch rate performance criterion, and this has occurred every year since then. Between the mid 1990s and the mid 2000s, the TAC remained consistently high, and catches were maintained, despite the catch per unit effort (CPUE) declining well below the reference point (a “management trigger”, equal to lowest annual average catch rate between 1986 and 1994) (AFFA, 2004a; Caton and McLoughlin, 2006). This may indicate a spatial shift in fishing effort to maintain catches (i.e. an example of serial depletion over space and time). For reef-associated species such as Helicolenus, maintaining high catches whilst catch rates are consistently falling, may be an indication that the resource is being over-exploited. More recently, catches in the South East fishery have declined during the mid-late 2000s, yet the TAC remained consistently high for most of that decade.

One of the management objectives for the South East fishery is to ensure that the spawning biomass does not significantly decline below the 1995 level (Smith and Wayte, 2004), yet the spawning biomass has not been adequately determined, and there are no quantitative assessments of Ocean Perch.

According to recent summaries of Ocean Perch in the South East fishery, total mortality estimates are high, and the high level of discarding is a concern, particularly that of H. percoides. Actual catches have reached or exceeded TACs over a long period. Discarding is reported to be mostly market driven, with smaller fish of H. percoides and H. barathri fetching low market prices. Between 1993 and 1995, onboard monitoring of trawl catches off NSW showed that an average of 85% of H. percoides (“inshore ocean perch”) catch by weight was discarded (Liggins, 1996), and this corresponded to 93% by number (Smith and Wayte, 2004). According to AFFA (2003b, 2004a), about 90% of H. percoides in catches are too small to market, and are therefore discarded. In 2000 and 2001 respectively, 66% - 89% and 75% of the South East fishery catch of H. percoides were discarded, and in 2002, 64% were discarded, the latter equating to around 145t (Smith and Wayte, 2002, 2004). In some recent years, there have been lower levels of discarding (e.g. about 10 - 20%) of the deeper water H. barathri, possibly due to increased retention of smaller fish for the surimi (ground fish) market. Generally, discard rates are lower in N.S.W. than in other more southern areas of the fishery (Smith and Wayte, 2004). Most of the discards are fish less than 23cm – 25cm (representing fish less than or equal to 4 years of age (Knuckey and Curtain, 2001, cited by Bruce et al., 2002). The high level of discarding of Ocean Perch, particularly H. percoides, is of continuing concern (AFFA, 2003b, 2004a; Smith and Wayte, 2004; Caton and McLoughlin, 2005, 2006). Considering that ocean perches are caught mostly at sizes below the suspected size at maturity, and it is a relatively long-lived species with a low brood size, the sustainability of the stocks under the current TAC level is uncertain (Smith and Wayte, 2004).

There is a concern that, because most of the Ocean Perch catch is discarded, the actual catch may have reached or exceeded TACs since the early 1990s (AFFA, 2002b; Smith and Wayte, 2004). Integrated Scientific Monitoring Program data separate H. barathri from H. percoides, and if it can be assumed that data on discarding in two main sectors of the South East fishery (Eastern Sectors A and B) are representative, the total annual catches of each species can be calculated from the annual landings recorded on the logbook database. Using this method, the estimated actual catch has been close to or exceeded the allocated TAC during the last five years (Smith and Wayte, 2004).

In a draft ecological risk assessment for the otter trawl sector of the South East trawl fishery (SETF) component of the SESSF, H. percoides was listed as being at “high risk” of population impacts from the operation of that fishery. In the Danish seine sub-fishery of the SETF, H. percoides is caught and retained (with records in daily logbooks), despite not being a target species. Risks to Ocean Perch populations from the operation of the Danish seine sub-fishery were not included in the assessment by Wayte et al. (2004). In another assessment of this species, based on trends in the South East fishery, a research advisory group considered that the continued decline in catch rates, the high levels of discarding, and the probable reduced age structure of fish from the eastern part of the fished area, warrants that Ocean Perch be considered at “medium risk” from operation of the fishery (Smith and Wayte, 2002, 2004). There are issues with the catch of Ocean Perch in this fishery that may increase in significance over time. For example, because Ocean Perch are largely taken as a bycatch of targeting other species, or as a targeted component of ‘scratch’ (i.e. mixed species) fishing, the significant rise in total South East fishery fishing effort on the upper slope, shelf break and shelf over the past few years would be having a greater impact on the populations (Smith and Wayte, 2004). If the rise in effort continues, the risks to catch sustainability also increase. This also applies to the increasing automatic long-line fishing effort during the past few years, because Ocean Perch are caught when Pink Ling is targetted, although this probably refers mainly to H. barathri, given the depth at which Pink Ling is fished. The amount of Ocean Perch landed by the non-trawl sector, although still lower than the trawl catch, is now 4 times or more greater than the catch during the early 2000s. Another issue is the fact that inshore reefs, which may represent refuge areas from trawl fishing, can be fished by traps and lines (Smith and Wayte, 2004).

It is noted that there are various examples of apparent fishing-induced reductions in biomass (and possibly also size structure) of the deep water H. barathri, which is reportedly long-lived (>60 years), but few fish older than 15 years are found east of Bass Strait (AFFA, 2003b, 2004a). In New South Wales, matched surveys of the upper continental slope in 1976-77 and 1996-97, showed that the abundance of H. barathri, which was one of the main species taken when commercial exploitation of fish on the slope began in the 1970s, was very much lower in 1996-97, compared with 1976-77 (Andrew et al., 1997). The authors concluded that there is a strong basis for inferring that sustained fishing over 20 years is the most likely and predominant cause of the marked decline in the relative abundance and size structure of H. barathri (Andrew et al., 1997). Another interpretation suggested that the decline in abundance was lower between 1979/81 and 1996/97, and the most significant decline occurred during the early years of the fishery, with abundance possibly becoming stabilised; however, a key issue to resolve is whether abundance is continuing to decline as a result of excessive fishing (Smith and Wayte, 2004). Comparison between length frequencies from the 1976/77 surveys and those for 1996/97 show a marked reduction in the proportion of fish > 30cm FL in the recent catches (Smith and Wayte, 2004). For Ocean Perch, there is little inter-annual fluctuation in abundance or catchability that could affect interpretation of the results, and the rigorous and spatially inclusive nature of sampling undertaken during the surveys indicates that the decline in catches probably does reflect decreased abundance (Smith and Wayte, 2004). A recent summary (Smith and Wayte, 2004) also indicated a long-term decline in catches and catch rates of H. barathri. During the NSW upper continental slope surveys cited above, H. percoides was caught only in very small numbers, in the 220 - 275m depth range, and the conclusions did not refer to that species / form. However, given the close taxonomic and biological relation between H. percoides and H. barathri, the long term decline in the stocks of the latter may serve as a warning that H. percoides could be similarly over-exploited.

Assessments of ocean perches have been of poor quality due to lack of dedicated analysis of biological and fisheries data, and the problems with species/stock discrimination (Smith and Wayte, 2004).

Research Notes

In south-eastern Australia, biomass estimates per square kilometre have been calculated for this species (Bulman et al. 2006; Forrest, 2008).

For the South East fishery, a detailed analysis of the size composition and catch rates of Ocean Perch was undertaken in 1997 (Smith and Wayte, 2002, 2004). During the 1990s and 2000s, research was undertaken on the size and age structure of Reef Ocean Perch in the catch of the Commonwealth’s South East fishery (Smith and Wayte, 2004).

Research Recommendations

The taxonomy and stock structure of Reef Ocean Perch (“H. percoides”) and Ocean Perch (“H. barathri”) need to be better defined. Although differences between the two species / forms off the NSW coast are well recognised by industry, further research may be required to identify morphological criteria which distinguish the two at more southern latitudes (Smith and Wayte, 2004). The relationship between Ocean Perch populations in eastern Australia and south-eastern Australia needs to be ascertained, to assist fishery management. For example, catches from north of the South East fishery could be from the same stocks, but are not currently restricted by the TAC used in the South East fishery (Smith and Wayte, 2004).

There are few data available for stock assessment, other than catch per unit effort, and limited age structure data. More information is required on habitat use of H. percoides over its life stages; and also on the biology, and population dynamics (e.g. growth, age structure of the population over space and time, reproduction, recruitment strength). To assist fisheries management, research needs include ongoing data collection; estimates of catch, catch rates, shifts in effort and changes in fishing practices, and monitoring of length distributions in commercial catches (Smith and Wayte, 2004).

Interpretation of catch rates is confounded by the inclusion of two species, and their high discard rates. Development of indicators of stock status is complicated by the fact that both H. percoides and H. barathri are grouped in catches, and this should be rectified as far as possible. Better means of separating catches of H. percoides and H. barathri should be developed, instead of relying on a single depth (200m) as a separator. Catch rates and length frequencies should continue to be examined by depth to distinguish between the two species. Also, size structure data need to differentiate between the species, and also include the size range of discarded fish as well as those that are retained (Smith and Wayte, 2004).

Analysis of species’ composition associated with Ocean Perch trawl catches is needed to understand how the temporal and spatial trends in fishing for other targeted species influence catches of Helicolenus species (Smith and Wayte, 2004).

Regarding assessment of age structure of Reef Ocean Perch taken in the main commercial fishery, more detailed spatial / temporal analyses and details of fishing practices (e.g. “scratch” versus high-lift nets) are needed (Smith and Wayte, 2004).

Survival rates of discarded bycatch should be assessed. Also, given the high level of discarding, it is important to continue to collect information on the size and species composition of discarded catches. It is important to consider discarding levels and possible changes in fishing practice if stock status continues to be assessed by analysing trends in CPUE (Smith and Wayte, 2004). The motives governing fishing and discarding practices, such as responses to market dynamics and quota holdings, must also be understood (Smith and Wayte, 2004).

Management Notes

In the Commonwealth-managed South East fishery component of the SESSF, the TAC includes the inshore Helicolenus percoides (also known as coral cod) and the offshore H. barathri. Therefore, since individual transferable quotas (ITQs) have been introduced, “Ocean Perch” has been considered as a single species for management purposes in the South East fishery (Smith and Wayte, 2004). Catch and effort data are analysed using depth (>200 m) to distinguish catches of the offshore species. Initial TACs were based on historic catches, and later increased to cover the probable bycatch of Ocean Perch when Blue Grenadier and Pink Ling are targetted, when the TACs for these two species were raised (Smith and Wayte, 2004). In the South East fishery, the allocated quota decreased to 438t in 2007, whereas almost 600t per annum was permitted during the early 2000s, despite catches never reaching quota in any year of that decade.

A major objective in the Commonwealth-managed fisheries is to ensure that the spawning biomass of Ocean Perch does not decline significantly below the 1995 level, and that catch per unit effort (CPUE) is maintained above its lowest annual average level from 1986 to 1994 (Smith and Wayte, 2001, cited by Bruce et al., 2002; Smith and Wayte, 2004). The spawning stock biomass target may be difficult to achieve, given that (i) there are no quantitative assessments of Ocean Perch (Bruce et al., 2002; Larcombe and Begg, 2008; Wilson et al., 2009), even though stock assessment reports are available for some years (e.g. Smith and Wayte, 2001, 2002, 2005); (ii) spawning biomass estimates for H. percoides are not available; (iii) catches of both H. percoides and H. barathri are reported and analysed together, and (iv) current jurisdictional boundaries and varying approaches to management by the Commonwealth and States have not been reconciled.

Although there has been no rigorous quantitative assessment of Helicolenus populations in southern Australia, stock assessment reports are available for the South East fishery for some years, when logbook data and scientific monitoring program data are examined and assessed. However, due to the large amount of discarding, logbook data underestimate the actual catches (Smith and Wayte, 2004). Integrated scientific monitoring programs (ISMP) have recorded landings and discard rates for H. percoides and H. barathri separately. By assuming that ISMP data on discarding in Eastern Sectors A and B of the South East fishery are representative for all catches in the area of the fishery, the total annual catches of each species have been calculated from the annual landings recorded on the logbook database. Using this method, the estimated actual catch has been close to or exceeded the allocated TAC during the last five years to 2004 (Smith and Wayte, 2004).

Ocean Perch has been one of the key species in gear selectivity trials conducted in the South East fishery. The trials have shown that certain mesh configurations reduce the bulk of Ocean Perch catch of discard size (e.g. less than 25cm) whilst still retaining the size range that is normally marketed. There are, however, losses of catches for some species that are valuable to the fishery (e.g. flathead) (Smith and Wayte 2002, Smith and Wayte, 2004).

In some parts of the range, there may be de facto “refuges”, where this species cannot be easily fished with trawls due to the roughness of the bottom terrain (New South Wales DPI, 2008f). However, such locations can still be fished with lines and traps (Smith and Wayte, 2004).

Management Recommendations

Industry has highlighted the management difficulties caused by having two species under the one TAC. The two forms of ocean perches are generally well known in the trawl sector and are marketed under different names (Smith and Wayte, 2004). Issues associated with the management of two depth-separated species / forms under a single quota need to be addressed.

Regardless of whether the Reef Ocean Perch and the Ocean Perch are separate species or two forms of the same species, catch and effort data should be separated for these two, because assessment of stock and fishing sustainability cannot be undertaken if catches are pooled. Reportedly, some confusion about the taxa included in the “Ocean Perch” quota has existed since the introduction of ITQs in the SEF. This has caused difficulties for compliance, although this has lessened since the publication of the CSIRO guide to SEF quota species (see Daley et al., 1997). The situation is further complicated by very high, but differential, discarding rates for each species, which also vary between ports (Smith and Wayte, 2004). Both industry and scientists have expressed ongoing concern that the two distinct species are included under a common TAC. However, because market prices are largely size-dependent, it is considered uncertain whether a separate TAC for each species would reduce the incidence of discarding (Smith and Wayte, 2004), and this issue must be addressed by other means.

The impacts of high levels of discarding of small fish need to be determined, and measures to reduce the practice should be instigated as a priority, including avoidance where possible, of locations where juveniles are likely to be caught, based on catch history. Other measures may include change to mesh configurations used in the South East fishery (see Management Notes).

In South Australia, where sampling has indicated that the bycatch of Reef Ocean Perch in the Rock Lobster fishery may be thousands per annum (especially in the Southern Zone), measures to reduce the bycatch should be undertaken wherever possible. Escape gaps have not been implemented on rock lobster pots in the Southern Zone, nor has there been any alternative modification to pot design to reduce bycatch (A. Linnane, pers. comm., 2009). Escape gaps should be mandatory on all pots, in both zones. There was a recommendation in 2003 (Australian Government DEH, 2003d) that two escape gaps per pot be fitted to reduce bycatch.

Other Information

In a draft ecological risk assessment for the GAB Trawl Fishery, H. percoides was listed as being at “low risk” of population impacts from the operation of that fishery (Daley et al., 2006).

Reef Ocean Perch occurs in a number of marine protected areas in Victoria, such as Wilsons Promontory Marine National Park (MNP), Point Hicks MNP and Bunurong MNP (Edmunds et al., 2003, 2005).

A recent project has examined the phylogenetic relationships among populations of Helicolenus seaperches in the south-west Pacific, using mitochondrial DNA markers (Smith et al., 2009).