Assessing the spawning characteristics and reproductive biology of Pearl Perch (Glaucosoma scapulare) in Queensland

Abstract

Pearl Perch have a long history of exploitation and previous fishery-dependent sampling revealed a lack of spawning fish on the traditional fishing grounds in southern Queensland and northern New South Wales. A quantitative stock assessment published in 2017 indicated that the spawning biomass of Pearl Perch was below sustainable levels, and management intervention was required to rebuild the stock. One recommendation from the stock assessment was the need to understand the spawning dynamics and identify spawning locations.

To address this recommendation, researchers from the Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries (DAF) collected Pearl Perch to determine when and where Pearl Perch spawn. Samples were acquired by Fisheries Queensland’s (FQ) Fishery Monitoring (FM) group, as part of their routine monitoring program, and supplemented by fishery-independent sampling undertaken by staff from DAF’s Animal Science group. Biological samples were collected from Innisfail in the north, to Coffs Harbour in the south, between July 2018 and June 2022. Spawning fish were collected from deeper (>170 m) waters offshore from the Sunshine Coast and from areas adjacent to the Swain Reefs in Central Queensland.