Publication Abstract

Starfish damage as an indicator of trawling intensity

M.J. Kaiser

Two species of starfish, Asterias rubens and Astropecten irregularis, were collected from three locations that experience different intensities of commercial beam trawling. A side-scan sonar survey revealed that the observed abundance of trawl marks correlated with the reported levels of fishing at the sampling locations. The incidence of starfish, of both species, with damaged or regenerating arms increased with increasing fishing disturbance. The severity of damage, i.e. the number of regenerating arms, also increased with fishing intensity. The proportion of starfish with damaged or regenerating arms may provide a useful short-term (12 year) biological marker of local fishing disturbance.

Reference:

M.J. Kaiser, 1996. Starfish damage as an indicator of trawling intensity. Marine Ecology Progress Series, 134: 303-307.