The distribution and production of anchovies in Papua New Guinea waters.

Abstract

There are 20 members of the family Engraulidae in Papua New Guinea waters. The distribution of these species is determined by environmental aspects of the various coastal habitats, with the greatest number of species found in the Gulf of Papua. The annual catch of anchovies in the Gulf of Papua is estimated to be between 60 1300 tonnes. A predictive model for catches of S. heterolobus and S. devisi in the inshore coralline waters was constructed where: Cjf. km2 = 0.394 — 0.64 x 10~4.f. The maximum annual sustainable yield of S. heterolobus and S. devisi is 0.61 t/km2. Expansion of anchovy fishing is unlikely in the Gulf of Papua but there may be potential for sun dried stolephorid anchovies from the inshore coralline areas as an export Products.