Download FAR 2015/32 Fine-scale spatio-temporal catch trends of blue sharks in southern bluefin target sets in the surface longline fishery

Data from the surface long-line fishery were explored to determine whether catch rates of blue sharks declined in an area as vessels targeting southern bluefin tuna moved in and began fishing, and whether environmental factors (such as sea surface temperature) can be used as predictors of high blue shark catch rates. Examples of declining catch rates were observed for some vessel groupings. This preliminary work suggests further characterisation of these observations is required.