Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item:
https://hdl.handle.net/2440/73541
Citations | ||
Scopus | Web of Science® | Altmetric |
---|---|---|
?
|
?
|
Type: | Journal article |
Title: | Accuracy of species identification by fisheries observers in a north Australian shark fishery |
Author: | Tillett, B. Field, I. Bradshaw, C. Buckworth, R. Johnson, G. Meekan, M. Ovenden, J. |
Citation: | Fisheries Research, 2012; 127:109-115 |
Publisher: | Elsevier Science BV |
Issue Date: | 2012 |
ISSN: | 0165-7836 |
Statement of Responsibility: | Bree J. Tillett, Iain C. Field, Corey J.A. Bradshaw, Grant Johnson, Rik C. Buckworth, Mark G. Meekan and Jennifer R. Ovenden |
Abstract: | Despite the importance of observers to collect data for effective fisheries management worldwide, their species-identification abilities are rarely assessed. Misidentifications could compromise observer data particularly in diverse, multi-species fisheries such as those in the tropics where visual identification is challenging. Here, we provide the first estimates of the ability of scientific observers to identify five species of morphologically similar carcharhinid sharks (Carcharhinus leucas, C. amboinensis, C. tilstoni, C. sorrah and C. brevipinna) in a fishery in northern Australia. We compared observer field identifications of sharks with genetic validation (814. bp mtDNA NADH dehydrogenase subunit 4) to quantify species identification errors. We used binomial generalised linear models to determine the influences of species, gender, total length, and the observer's experience on identification error. We found that identification error (∼20%) depended predominately on the species in question (highest error for C. tilstoni). Male sharks were misidentified less frequently than females, and error decreased marginally with increasing total length. Surprisingly, we found no statistical evidence that observer experience influenced identification error. Our results provide the first benchmark of identification accuracy of observers for carcharhinid sharks in northern Australia and show that estimates of error in species identifications need to be incorporated into management strategies to ensure successful recovery of the many recently over-fished shark populations. © 2012 Elsevier B.V. |
Rights: | © 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. |
DOI: | 10.1016/j.fishres.2012.04.007 |
Grant ID: | http://purl.org/au-research/grants/arc/LP0667702 http://purl.org/au-research/grants/arc/LP0667702 |
Published version: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.fishres.2012.04.007 |
Appears in Collections: | Aurora harvest Earth and Environmental Sciences publications Environment Institute Leaders publications |
Files in This Item:
There are no files associated with this item.
Items in DSpace are protected by copyright, with all rights reserved, unless otherwise indicated.