Age-based Growth Dynamics Analysis of Recreationally- vs Commercially-Caught Snapper (Chrysophrys auratus) in SNA1 Management Zone
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Informa UK Limited
Abstract
This study examines age and growth-based population dynamics of snapper (Chrysophrys auratus) in the SNA1 management area, comparing recreationally- and commercially-caught fish. Fishing gear selectivity influenced age and size distribution, with recreationally-caught snapper (Rod & Reel) displaying a broader range (3–28 years; 260–830 mm SL) than commercially caught snapper (Netting) (2–13 years; 240–439 mm SL). The modal age class was 6–7 years for recreational catches and 5 years for commercial catches, while modal size classes were 300–319 mm and 360–379 mm SL, respectively. Von Bertalanffy Growth Function (VBGF) parameters revealed a slightly higher asymptotic length (L∞) for recreationally-caught snapper (433.48 mm SL) compared to commercially-caught (406.51 mm SL), though both exhibited similar growth coefficients (K = 0.21 and 0.22). Likelihood Ratio Tests and 95% confidence ellipses confirmed significant growth differences between fisheries. However, these differences likely reflect disparities in age and size structures rather than intrinsic biological variation. Our findings emphasise the importance of considering fishery gear selectivity when evaluating growth dynamics and underscore the need for ongoing monitoring to support sustainable snapper management in SNA1.Description
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New Zealand Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research, ISSN: 0028-8330 (Print); 1175-8805 (Online), Informa UK Limited, 1-7. doi: 10.1080/00288330.2025.2503159
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© 2025 The Author(s). Published by Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group. This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives License(http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/), which permits non-commercial re-use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited, and is not altered, transformed, or built upon in any way. The terms on which this article has been published allow the posting of the Accepted Manuscript in a repository by the author(s) or with their consent.