© 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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Western Foxfish

(c) R. Stuart-Smith, Reef Life Survey

Family Name:	Labridae
Scientific Name:	Bodianus frenchii (Klunzinger, 1880)
Recommended Status in S.A:	Data Deficient
Rationale:  Included here because (i) Western Foxfish is a long-lived, late-maturing, 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 species has a limited distribution in South Australia (i.e. mainly west coast, with isolated records from central S.A.), and possibly a small depth range; (iii) B. frenchii is fished by commercial and recreational fishers, particularly in W.A., and to a lesser extent in S.A., with currently inadequate catch regulations in both States; (iv) there appears to be no information on population sizes or population dynamics of this species in southern Australian waters, nor any data on the potential impact of fishing (or collecting) this site-associated reef fish. The status of the species in S.A. cannot easily be determined due to lack of data on distribution, depth range and populations sizes around the State; and lack of data of the extent (and potential effects) of threatening processes, including commercial and recreational fishing.

Page Contents

Current Conservation Status

No listings known

Distribution

Australia

The Western Foxfish is known from temperate marine waters of south-western Western Australia to South Australia (Hutchins and Swainston, 1986, 2001; Australian Museum, 2000h).

South Australia

Based on fishing and survey records, it is probable that Western Foxfish populations in South Australia are considerably smaller than those in W.A.
In South Australia, the species has been recorded from various areas off the west and central coasts, such as the Investigator group of islands (Kuiter, 1983; D. Muirhead, unpubl. data, 1990); Southern Eyre Peninsula (Wyschnja, 2000, cited by Baker, 2004); lower Spencer Gulf (e.g. Port Lincoln area) (Hutchins and Swainston, 2001); Moonta Bay, in mid Spencer Gulf (S.A. Museum record, 1996); southern Yorke Peninsula (Gomon and Russell, in Gomon et al., 1994), including the Clan Ranald wreck at the “heel” of Yorke Peninsula (K. Smith, unpubl. data, 2001), and a cave at “The Gap”, off Innes National Park (J. Brook, unpubl., 2005); northern and north-western Kangaroo Island (Muirhead, 1999b; D. Muirhead, pers. comm., 2005; Australian Anglers Association, 2003, and recreational divers’ reports).

Habitat

Western Foxfish is usually seen under ledges and in the vicinity of caves (e.g. Kuiter, 1993; Australian Museum, 2002h; and recreational diving reports from W.A.), and often inhabits exposed reef areas. The species is usually recorded in waters between 10m - 40m deep (Kuiter, 1993; Edgar, 2000), and its presence in waters deeper than diveable depths is likely. B. frenchii is considered common on deeper coastal reefs in WA, but less common in S.A., and rarely found in shallow water (Hutchins and Swainston, 1986; Department of Fisheries, Western Australia; 2006d). Juveniles are considered to be more prevalent in caves, whilst adults are reported to prefer more open habitat (Hutchins and Swainston, 1986, 2001).
During sampling of nearshore fish habitats in south-western W.A., B. frenchii were recorded on reefs with dense and medium-dense cover of Ecklonia and other large brown macroalgae (Harvey et al., 2004).

Notes on the Biology

Age and Growth

B. frenchii grows to at least 48cm / 49cm (Hutchins and Swainston, 1986; Gomon and Russell, in Gomon et al., 1994). During a recent study in W.A., the maximum length was estimated to be about 45 - 50cm (research by S. Cossington, cited by Murdoch University, 2006; Department of Fisheries, Western Australia, 2006d).
Recent studies at the Centre for Fisheries Research in W.A. aged Bodianus frenchii to more than 60 years, using otolith annulus counts, and measures have been undertaken for age validation (research by S. Cossington, cited by Murdoch University, 2006; Cossington, 2008 and Cossington et al., 2008).
During a recent study in W.A., the maximum weight was estimated to be at least 1.7kg (research by S. Cossington, cited by Murdoch University, 2006). The maximum size recorded by the Australian Anglers Association Records Authority is 2kg (Hutchins and Swainston, 1986, 2001; Australian Anglers Association, 2003).

Diet

Western Foxfish is a carnivore that feeds on echinoderms, crustacean and molluscs (Cossington, 2006, cited by Murdoch University, 2006).

Reproduction

Western Foxfish is a protogynous hermaphrodite (i.e. individuals mature first as females and later change sex to become males (Fairclough, 2004). Females first mature at about 230 mm (about 10 years of age) and many individuals change sex at about 330 mm and 25-29 years of age (research by S. Cossington, cited by Murdoch University, 2006; Cossington et al., 2008).
The species spawns during spring (October) and summer (February) (research by S. Cossington, cited by Murdoch University, 2006; Cossington et al., 2008). Females spawn every day during a spawning period, and large foxfish can spawn 8 million eggs per year (Cossington et al., 2007).

Fisheries Information

The species is considered to be “good eating” (Hutchins and Swainston, 1986), with “excellent quality” flesh (Gomon and Russell, in Gomon et al., 1994). All Bodianus species are considered “good eating”, and would rarely be discarded when caught (J. Pogonoski, pers. comm., 2003).

Commercial

The species is caught in minor (but increasing) quantities by commercial fisheries in Western Australia.  Combined catch of Western Foxfish from all commercial fisheries in W.A. is provided below, according to fishers’ statutory monthly returns. Commercial catches, although low, have increased two orders of magnitude since the mid 1990s, and the most recent catch for which statistics are available for this report (i.e. 2002/2003) was around 1t per annum (Table 16).

Table 16 Reported catches of Western Foxfish from W.A. waters, 1995-96 to 2003-04
Year	Live weight (kg)	Landed weight (kg)
1995/96	9	9
1996/97	-	-
1997/98	13	13
1998/99	78	78
1999/00	538	538
2000/01	931	931
2001/02	1,037	1,022
2002/03	982	970
2003/04	-	-
(W.A. Fisheries Research Services Division statistics 1994-2002, extracted from W.A. Fisheries website, 2003, and W.A. State of the Fisheries reports, 2000-01, 2001-02, 2002-03, 2003-04, 2004-05)

There are records in the American Museum of Natural History, of Bodianus frenchii specimens that were caught in Bass Strait, by commercial fishing (Anon., 2002b).
The species is also sold in the aquarium trade, with about 70 specimens per annum taken in W.A., between 2000 and 2003 (Department of Fisheries, W.A., 2004b). In 2005, specimens from Australia were being sold for export, for US$28.50 - US$35 (Ryan and Clarke, 2005).

Recreational

The species is taken by recreational fishers in some areas, and there are examples of record sizes, held by angling clubs (e.g. Australian Anglers Association, 2003). Western Foxfish is considered to be a recreationally important fish in W.A. (Fairclough, 2004, and is being increasingly targeted by recreational anglers and spear fishers (research by S. Cossington, cited by Murdoch University, 2006). A W.A. Fisheries Department survey conducted in 1996-1997 between Augusta and Kalbarri, reported that up to 1,780 (SE 431) B. frenchii fish were caught and kept by recreational boat fishers during that period, and only 17 were released (Sumner and Williamson, 1999). Angling clubs in W.A. also keep records of maximum sizes of B. frenchii caught in various parts of that State.  The species is taken in fishing competitions (e.g. 2003 State Boat Angling Championships at Lancelin, W.A.).
The National Recreational and Indigenous Fishing Survey (Henry and Lyle, 2003) estimated that 8,261 Western Foxfish were caught and kept by recreational fishers during the survey time period (May 2000 to April 2001), comprising 8,150 specimens from W.A., and 110 from South Australia.
B. frenchii is also captured in southern Australian States by spear fishers. The Australian record size taken by a spear fisher is reported to be 1.87kg, being a specimen taken in W.A., in 1957 (Australian Underwater Federation Inc., 2003). In S.A., the species is recorded as having been taken in shore-based and boat-based spearfishing competitions (e.g. see Johnson, 1985a, 1985b). More recently, Western Foxfish (specimens over 0.4kg) was listed as one of the targets in the 54^th Australian Spearfishing Titles 2006, held on northern Kangaroo Island (AUF, 2006).

Vulnerable Characteristics of the Species

Western Foxfish is a site-associated fish, and members of the Labridae family such as Western Foxfish are intrinsically vulnerable to decline due to their reef association, and demography / life history characteristics (e.g. slow growth, large size, long life span, delayed maturity, protogynous hermaphroditism, and haremic population structure).
The species apparently has a limited distribution in S.A. (i.e. mainly west coast, with isolated records from central S.A.). Kangaroo I. / Investigator Strait area may be the eastern edge of the range. Given the infrequent nature of sightings, and the much lower numbers observed (and taken by fishers) in S.A. compared with W.A., it is likely that populations in S.A. may be much smaller than in the western part of the geographic range.

Threatening Processes

As is the case with other site-associated, edible members of the Labridae, fishing is likely to be the main threatening process. The species is taken by commercial fishers (both line fishers and collectors for the aquarium trade) and by recreational fishers (including anglers and spear fishers) across the accessible parts of the range. There is no specific information on the population impacts of fishing; however it is noted that fishing effort upon this species appears to be increasing in W.A., and is of unknown status in S.A. (where the species occurs in lower abundance than in W.A.). It is noted that the northern coast of Kangaroo Island (where a national spearfishing trail was held in 2006, and this species was permitted to be captured if found) may be the eastern extent of the range in South Australia.
The species occurs in nearshore habitats, in the vicinity of Ecklonia kelp and other macroalgae. In some parts of its range, such nearshore habitats are subject to damaging processes, such as eutrophication from sewage and wastewater discharges, sedimentation, and physical damage from dredging and near-shore developments. It is noted that in S.A., the species is found mainly in the western part of the State, where the habitats are in better condition (and are less degraded), compared to the gulfs region.

Research Requirements / Notes

There is a lack of data on (i) distribution, depth range and relative abundance / populations sizes of Western Foxfish in S.A. (ii) biology and life history characteristics of populations in S.A.; and (iii) potential population effects of commercial and recreational fishing; and (iv) potential impacts of nearshore habitat degradation on this species.
In 2004-05, data on the age, grwoth and reproductive biology of B. frenchii were collected to provide lengths and ages at sexual maturity, and thus information on the generation time of this species (Murdoch University data, cited by Fairclough, 2004; Cossington, 2006).

Management Requirements

Commercial catches of wrasses in State waters should be separated by species, and catch statistics should be monitored over space and time. Given the vulnerability of large, site-associated Labrids to population decline, restrictions are recommended on commercial catch and bycatch and on recreational fishing by anglers, spear fishers and charter boat companies.
The catch of this species for the aquarium trade should be monitored, to assess whether or not localised population impacts could occur.
Given that S.A. is at the edge of the range of this species, plans for marine protected areas in S.A. should give due consideration to the declaration of sanctuary zones in a number of reef habitats, that include such site-associated species as Western Foxfish. It is noted that in N.Z., there is some evidence that populations of the related species, Bodianus unimaculatus, respond positively to the protection offered by no-take marine reserves (e.g. Shears and Usmar, 2006).