Download FAR 2019/73 Length and age composition of commercial snapper landings in SNA 8, 2018–19

The length frequency and age-length key sampling approach was employed during spring-summer 2018–19 to estimate catch-at-age for snapper caught by bottom trawl in SNA 8. The fishery was dominated by recently recruited 2016 to 2014 year classes occupying the 3 to 5 year age range, collectively contributing to one in every two fish landed. Mean age (6.6 years) was the second highest recorded estimate in 30 years suggesting further improvement to the status of the fishery, despite a continued slowing in growth rate. Spatio-temporal comparisons revealed adequate sample representativeness.