The stock structure of grey mackerel Scomberomorus semifasciatus in Australia as inferred from its parasite fauna

• Published in: Fisheries Research
• Main Authors: Charters, Robbie A., Lester, Robert J. G., Buckworth, Rik C., Newman, Stephen J., Ovenden, Jennifer R., Broderick, Damien, Kravchuk, Olena, Ballagh, Aaron, Welch, David J.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier BV 2010
• Subjects: Scomberomorus; Stock discrimination; Parasite; Australia; C1; 830204 Wild Caught Fin Fish (excl. Tuna); 070402 Aquatic Ecosystem Studies and Stock Assessment; 070708 Veterinary Parasitology; Kramer; Terranova
• Online Access: https://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:191915

The scombrid Scomberomorus semifasciatus is an important component of inshore fisheries in tropical Australia. Data on the parasite fauna of 593 fish from areas off northern and eastern Australia were examined for evidence of discrete fish populations. The parasites used were juveniles of Pterobothrium pearsoni, Callitetrarhynchus gracilis, Anisakis simplex (sensu latu) and Terranova sp. Tukey Kramer pairwise comparisons gave significant differences in the abundances of two or more parasites between fish from the east coast, the eastern Gulf of Carpentaria and the remainder of northern Australia. Multivariate analysis gave further evidence of differences and the results suggest that at least 4 populations or stocks of grey mackerel occur along the northern and eastern coastline of Australia. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.