Stock assessment of the Queensland east coast redthroat emperor (Lethrinus miniatus)

Abstract

Queensland’s redthroat emperor (Lethrinus miniatus) is a line caught fish forming a single population (stock) on the Queensland east coast. Redthroat emperor are protogynous hermaphrodites (born female, many later changing sex to male). They can grow to 3 kg and 20 years of age.

This assessment builds on a previous assessment that estimated the stock was at 70% of unfished biomass in 2004. This stock assessment includes updates to the input data and methods. This stock assessment used a age structured population model with a yearly time step and length based selectivity. The annual data inputs included total fish harvest, standardised catch rates, length structures and conditional age at length data. The model used data from the anticipated start of fishing in 1945 to 2019.

In 2019, the stock level was estimated to be 72% unfished biomass and at healthy levels.