Historical reconstruction and social context of recreational fisheries: The Australian East Coast Barramundi

Abstract

Recreational fishing in Australia makes important contributions to local economies and fisheries harvests. Historical evaluations of the cumulative effects of exploitation for most recreationally targeted Australian fish stocks remain unexplored, as do the social and cultural contexts of recreational fishing. Historical newspaper articles were used to derive quantitative and qualitative catch data on Queensland's east coast barramundi, Lates calcarifer (Bloch), a popular species targeted by recreational fishers. Decadal‐scale catch rates (1869–1952) were reconstructed, as was the development of the fishery since its earliest documentation. Models indicated a significant decline in catch rates, from an average of 5.20 kg /fishing trip (95% confidence interval, 3.82–7.09) in 1870–3.24 kg/fishing trip (95% CI 2.72–3.87) in 1952. Variability in catch rates was associated with a spatial and seasonal interaction effect, with average catch rates differing among regions and seasons. Qualitative analysis showed a northward expansion of the fishery along the east coast, coinciding with increasing number of locations fished, establishment of organised fishing clubs in the 1900s and concerns of overexploitation starting in 1909. Integration of quantitative and qualitative analysis revealed past socio‐cultural factors and trends in the barramundi fishery, while building confidence in the reliability of inferences made from archival data sets.

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