The influence of the La Ni帽a-El Ni帽o cycle on giant mud crab (Scylla serrata) catches in Northern Australia

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• 作者：Jan-Olaf Meynecke^a ; ^{j.meynecke@griffith.edu.au} ; Mark Grubert^b ; James Michael Arthur^a ; Ray Boston^c ; Shing Yip Lee^a
• 关键词：giant mud crab ; Scylla serrata ; climate variability ; multivariate analysis ; linear mixed models ; Australia
• 刊名：Estuarine ; Coastal and Shelf Science
• 出版年：2012
• 期刊代码：79_02727714
• 类别：env
• 出版时间：20 March, 2012
• 卷：100
• 期：Complete
• 页码：93-101
• 文件大小：788 K

摘要

Mud crabs (m>Scyllam> spp.) are a high value commodity harvested in the Indo-West Pacific. Scylla species support important artisanal fisheries in south-east Asia and intensive commercial fisheries in Australia where the market demand and catch has increased markedly over the last decade. Over-fishing of m>Scyllam> spp. has been observed at varying levels throughout its distribution. Fluctuations in catch rates and abundance are thought to be driven by climate parameters. Here we analyse monthly, seasonal and annual patterns in catch and effort data (from 1990 to 2008) for the commercial giant mud crab (m>Scylla serratam>) fishery in the Northern Territory, Australia, with corresponding climatic data (rainfall, freshwater runoff, sea surface temperature) and the Southern Oscillation Index (SOI) as an indicator of La Ni帽a/El Ni帽o events. Between 30 and 40%of the variation in catch per unit effort can be explained by rainfall and SOI alone. This result was supported by linear mixed models which identified SOI as the main contributor to the model. Spectral analyses showed that catch peaks coincided with a four year La Ni帽a cycle. One- and two-year time lags (consistent with m>S.聽Serrata鈥檚m> life cycle) were also significantly correlated to SOI values and rainfall. These outcomes may assist fishery managers in planning fishing exposure period and duration. Furthermore, findings of this study provide information on the vulnerability of m>S.聽serratam> to fluctuations in environmental conditions and can help to apply protective measures when and where necessary.