© 2006 International Council for the Exploration of the Sea
Habitat suitability modelling of economically important fish species with commercial fisheries data
Primary Industries Research Victoria – Marine and Freshwater Systems PO Box 114, Queenscliff, Victoria 3225, Australia
*Correspondence to L. Morris: tel: +61 3 5258 0111; fax: +61 3 5258 0270. e-mail: liz.morris{at}dpi.vic.gov.au.
In this study we used catch and effort data from a commercial fishery to generate habitat suitability models for Port Phillip Bay, Victoria, Australia. Species modelled were King George whiting (Sillaginodes punctata), greenback flounder (Rhombosolea tapirina), Australian salmon (Arripis trutta and A. truttaceus), and snapper (Pagrus auratus). Locations of commercial catches were reported through a grid system of fishing blocks. Spatial analyses in a Geographic Information System (GIS) were applied to describe each fishing block by its habitat area. A multivariate approach was adopted to group each fishing block by its dominant habitats. Standardized catch per unit effort values were overlaid on these groups to identify those that returned high or low catches for each species. A simple set of rules was then devised to predict the habitat suitability for each habitat combination in a fishing block. The spatial distribution of these habitats was presented in a GIS. These habitat suitability models were consistent with existing anecdotal information and expert opinion. While the models require testing, we have shown that in the absence of adequate fishery-independent data, commercial catch and effort data can be used to produce habitat suitability models at a bay-wide scale.
Keywords: catch and effort, fisheries habitat, Geographic Information Systems, multivariate analysis, Port Phillip Bay
Received 25 May 2005; accepted 26 June 2006.