Creel survey based estimation of recreational harvest of penaeid prawns in four southeastern Australian estuaries and comparison with commercial catches

Stratified, roving creel surveys done at night, provided estimates of the quantity caught, and information about species, sex and size composition of the catches of penaeids by recreational fishers in four New South Wales (NSW) estuaries during the spring-summer seasons of 1991-1992, 1992-1993 and 1993-1994. Overall, recreational catches were estimated to be 30% (±12%) of the total commercial catch of all prawn species from these estuaries over the 3 years of the study, but there was great variability between estuaries. Recreational catches represented 57% (±5%) of the commercial catch for Lake Illawarra, 36% (±4%) for Tuggerah Lakes, 17% (±3%) for Wallis Lake and 10% (±2%) for Coila Lake. The species composition of the recreational catch differed from the commercial catch, with the recreational fishery taking a larger proportion of eastern king prawns Penaeus plebejus than school prawns Metapeneaus macleayi and few greasyback prawns Metapenaeus bennettae. The size distributions of eastern king prawns were similar between recreational and commercial catches in three of the four estuaries. Mean catch rates (kg/h) of recreational prawners varied between estuaries and between harvest methods. Recreational prawning on the ebb-tide in the dark of the moon was strongly favoured by prawners, particularly in the areas of the estuaries affected by tides. Our results showed that the recreational fishery is a significant harvester of the prawn resources of NSW. The impact of the recreational fishery, therefore, needs to be incorporated into stock assessments of the prawn resources and it needs to be considered during any determinations about the optimal biological conditions for harvesting these resources. This study demonstrated that it is possible to do surveys at night using intercept techniques on fisheries where artificial lighting is used.