CHRISTIAN Bell, in arguing for maximum size limits and marine protected areas to control sea urchin numbers, attempts to portray a difference in opinion amongst IMAS scientists (Letters, October 4). This is not correct. The advice that we have given to the State Government was based on all of the available scientific information, including research on urchin predation by lobsters and analysis of fisheries management strategies. The research shows clearly that large lobsters eat urchins and can control urchin numbers and prevent extensive urchin barrens from forming, so we support the objective of building biomass of large lobsters. On the separate question of how best to rebuild numbers of large lobsters, our work shows that setting a maximum size limit for lobsters is unlikely to be effective. We stand by our advice that other options focussed on catching fewer lobsters, such as bag limits and quota reduction, will be more effective.

Item Type:	Newspaper Article
Research Division:	Agricultural, Veterinary and Food Sciences
Research Group:	Fisheries sciences
Research Field:	Fisheries sciences not elsewhere classified
Objective Division:	Environmental Management
Objective Group:	Marine systems and management
Objective Field:	Rehabilitation or conservation of marine environments
UTAS Author:	Buxton, CD (Professor Colin Buxton)
UTAS Author:	Johnson, C (Ms Constance Johnson)
UTAS Author:	Gardner, C (Professor Caleb Gardner)
ID Code:	75349
Year Published:	2011
Deposited By:	Sustainable Marine Research Collaboration
Deposited On:	2012-01-25
Last Modified:	2012-01-25
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