Influences of fisheries management measures on biological characteristics of threadfin bream (Nemipterus virgatus) in the Beibu Gulf, South China Sea

Long-term variations in population structure, growth, mortality, length at median sexual maturity, and exploitation rate of threadfin bream (Nemipterus virgatus) are reported based on bottom trawl survey data collected during 1960–2012 in the Beibu Gulf, South China Sea. Laboratory-based analyses were conducted on 16 791 individuals collected quarterly in eight different sampling years. Average body length, estimated asymptotic length, and percentage of large individuals have decreased significantly with the growth of marine catch and fishing power, indicating individual miniaturization of this fish species. Estimated exploitation rates indicate that the N. virgatus stock in the Beibu Gulf was moderately exploited in 1960 and 1962 and overexploited after 1992. This stock was taking a good turn in status in 2012, with the lowest exploitation rate since 1992 and ceased downward trend in length indexes. These results suggest that management measures to reduce fishing pressure may have a positive influence on the biological characteristics of this commercial fish species. Biological characteristics of most commercial fish species have phenotypic plasticity and might change over years in response to fisheries management. Therefore, attentions should be paid on variations in fish biological characteristics, when evaluating the effectiveness of current measures to control the total catch for all fisheries.