Sampling the demersal fauna from a commercial penaeid prawn fishery off the central Queensland coast

Two hundred and eighty-one trawl samples (mean weight 35 kg) of benthic fish and invetebrates were gathered from an area of approximately 10,000 square km adjacent to the central Queensland coast, between January 1985 and June 1986. This area is presently subjected to seasonal fishing pressure by commercial prawn trawlers. Samples were taken from 24 fixed stations representing depths from 15 to 62 m, and a variety of bottom types. Of 477 taxa identified, 18 were commercially important. Despite the proximity of coral reefs, the fauna was dissimilar to the 'reef fauna' characteristic of the Great Barrier Reef. The results suggest a strong association between the demersal trawl faunas of north-eastern Australia and the southeast Asian regions.

Memoirs of the Queensland Museum

Memoirs of the Queensland Museum

25

0079-8835

N/A

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