New Zealand Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research abstracts

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Direct estimation of natural mortality of the New Zealand abalone, Haliotis iris   (Note)

PAUL E. McSHANE*
J. REYN NAYLOR

National Institute of Water & Atmospheric
Research Ltd
P.O. Box 14-901, Kilbirnie
Wellington, New Zealand

*Present address: SARDI Aquatic Sciences, P.O. Box 120, Henley Beach, SA 5022, Australia

Abstract  Rates of natural mortality (M) of Haliotis iris were estimated by monitoring enclosed populations, and from the frequency of empty marked shells recovered from natural populations. Annual instantaneous rates were <= 0.1 in all instances. The major source of mortality was predation by the starfish Astrostole scabra. Predation by fishes was evidently low. The low rates of natural mortality suggest that fisheries for H. iris may be less productive than those of other species of abalone.

Keywords  abalone; Haliotis iris; natural mortality.

New Zealand Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research, 1997: Vol. 31: 135-137

0028-8330/97/3101-0135 $2.50/0 (c) The Royal Society of New Zealand

PDF file of entire paper: medium quality (253K); (scanned from paper original: notes about this process)

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