Distribution, biomass and community structure of demersal fishes of the Gulf of Carpentaria, Australia

• Published in: Australian journal of marine and freshwater research Vol. 45; no. 3
• Main Authors: Blaber, S.J.M, Brewer, D.T, Harris, A.N. (Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, Cleveland (Australia). Div. of Fisheries)
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 1994
• Subjects: DISTRIBUCION DE LA POBLACION; DISTRIBUTION DES POPULATIONS; ECOLOGIA; ECOLOGIE; PECES MARINOS; POISSON DE MER; QUEENSLAND; RECURSOS PESQUEROS; RESSOURCE HALIEUTIQUE; TERRITOIRE DU NORD; TERRITORIO DEL NORTE
• ISSN: 0067-1940

In a survey during November and December 1990, over 300 species from 85 families were caught by trawling a systematic grid of 107 stations. The absolute mean biomass was 124.8 kg per ha for day trawls and 53.7 kg per ha for night trawls. The overall mean catch rates were 421.3 kg per h for day trawls and 198.6 kg per h for night trawls. Biomasses were twice as high in the prawn-trawling grounds of Albatross Bay, the south-eastern gulf and Groote Eylandt as they were elsewhere in the gulf. Twenty-five species made up 75 percent of the biomass; the dominant families were Haemulidae, Carangidae, Leiognathidae and Nemipteridae. Community-structure and distribution patterns were analysed by numerical classification techniques and principal-coordinates analysis. These indicated 6 main site groups and 15 fish community groups, based on fish species occurrences and biomasses. There was a relationship between fish distribution patterns and depth of water but not other abiotic factors recorded (sediment type, salinity, temperature and turbidity).