Survey finds drop in snapper numbers

21 August 2015

Annual surveys by fisheries scientists have suggested snapper spawning success in Port Phillip Bay last summer was down on previous years.

Fisheries Victoria Executive Director, Travis Dowling, said this was nothing to be alarmed about because natural fluctuations in spawning success were perfectly normal in wild fish populations.

"We are fortunate that this lower spawning year follows two very successful spawning seasons for snapper, which will ensure the fishery remains productive for years to come," Mr Dowling said.

"Our scientists have undertaken these surveys of baby snapper in late March for 23 years and know to expect variation in spawning success depending on environmental conditions.

"Port Phillip Bay is the most important spawning area for snapper in central and western Victoria.

"The surveys indicate low spawning success is more common than high spawning success, but the snapper fishery can remain strong with only a few highly successful spawnings each decade.

"Three key factors appear to drive the number of baby snapper produced from spawning each year: the number of adults that produce eggs, water temperature and nutrient input.

"The latter two factors affect the survival rate of young snapper and are influenced by the timing and magnitude of spring/summer temperature increases and flows down the Yarra River.

Mr Dowling said Fisheries Victoria has the task of managing the fishery through these fluctuations .

"It's important that anglers abide by bag and size limits for snapper to ensure a high quality fishery that is robust to these variations in spawning success."

Watch Sustainably managing Victoria's snapper stocks and learn more about our snapper monitoring, which is funded by commercial fishing levies and recreational fishing licence fees.