Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • Letter
  • Published:

Interannual variability in climate and fisheries in Tasmania

Nature volume 333, pages 754–757 (1988)Cite this article

Abstract

Whereas the interannual variability of the climate and fisheries of the Northern Hemisphere has been extensively documented1, very little is known about the interannual variability in the fisheries of the Southern Pacific Region. Recent work in the Northern Hemisphere has demonstrated the close relations between interan-nual variability in climate, the timing of events in the water column, the structure of food chains and recruitment to both marine and freshwater fisheries2,3. Forty years (1945–85) of observations at a coastal station (Maria Island, 42°36′S, 148° 16′E) in Tasmania showed strong interannual variability in sea-surface temperatures. Maria Island is close to the region of convergence of the surface currents, on the equatorial side of the Subtropical Convergence (STC) water mass boundary4. The spring bloom was often extended by as much as three months in some years. Previous work4 has not offered any explanation for the observed interannual variability and does not show any links with commercial fisheries. Here we explain the reason for the interannual climatic and oceanic vari-ability in Tasmania and show the links between climate and the fisheries.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Buy this article

  • Purchase on Springer Link
  • Instant access to full article PDF
Buy now

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Cushing, D. H. Climate and Fisheries (Academic Press, London, 1982).

    Google Scholar 

  2. George, D. G. & Harris, G. P. Nature 316, 536–539 (1985).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  3. Harris, G. P. Phytoplankton ecology (Chapman and Hall, London, 1986).

    Book  Google Scholar 

  4. Harris, G. P., Nilsson, C., Clementson, L. A. & Thomas, D. P. Aust. J. mar. Freshwat. Res. 38, 569–590 (1987).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Williams, M. BMRC Res. Rep. 6. (Bureau Met. Res. Centre, Melbourne, 1987).

  6. van Loon, H. & Shea, D. J. Mon. Weath. Rev. 113, 2063–2074 (1985).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  7. Sverdrup, H. U. J. Cons. perm. int. Explos. Mer. 18, 287–295 (1953).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Wyrtki, K. CSIRO Div. Fish. Oceanogr. Tech. paper 8, Hobart (1960).

  9. Edwards, R. J. CSIRO Div. Fish. Oceanogr. Rep. 88, Cronulla (1979).

  10. Smith, P. J., McKoy, J. L. & Machin, P. J. N.Z. J. mar. Freshwat. Res. 14, 55–63 (1980).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Booth, J. D. Can. J. Fish. Aq. Sci. 43, 2212–2220 (1986).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Phillips, B. F. & McWilliam, P. S. Can. J. Fish. aq. Sci. 43, 2153–2163 (1986).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Lutjeharms, J. R. E. & Heydorn, A. E. F. Deep Sea Res. 28, 631– (81).

  14. Pearce, A. F. & Phillips, B. F. J. Cons. perm. int. Explor. Mer. 45(1) (in the press).

  15. Harrison, A. J. Aust. Fish. News lett. 9–13, June 1965.

  16. Rochford, D. J. CSIRO Div. Fish. Oceanogr. Rep. 114, Hobart, (1981).

  17. Rounsevell, D. & Eberhard, I. Aust. J. Wildl. Res. 7, 403–415 (1980).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. Paul, L. J. Proc. Pelagic. Fish. Conf. N.Z. MAFF Fish. Res. Div. Occ. Publ. 15, 70–74 (1978).

    Google Scholar 

  19. Davies, P. E. & Sioane, R. D. J. Fish. Biol. 31, 353–373 (1987).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. Box, G. E. P. & Jenkins, G. M. Time Series Analysis (Holden-Day, San Francisco, 1976).

    MATH  Google Scholar 

  21. Harris, G. P. & Trimbee, A. M. J. Plank. Res. 8, 1011–1025 (1986).

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Fisheries, CSIRO Marine Laboratories, GPO Box 1538, Hobart, Tasmania, 7001, Australia

    G. P. Harris

  2. Inland Fisheries Commission, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia

    P. Davies

  3. Department of Geography, The University of Tasmania, Tasmania, Australia

    M. Nunez

  4. Division of Oceanography, CSIRO Marine Laboratories, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia

    G. Meyers

Authors
  1. G. P. Harris
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. P. Davies
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. M. Nunez
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. G. Meyers
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Harris, G., Davies, P., Nunez, M. et al. Interannual variability in climate and fisheries in Tasmania. Nature 333, 754–757 (1988). https://doi.org/10.1038/333754a0

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/333754a0

This article is cited by

Comments

By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.

Search

Advanced search

Quick links

Nature Briefing

Sign up for the Nature Briefing newsletter — what matters in science, free to your inbox daily.

Get the most important science stories of the day, free in your inbox. Sign up for Nature Briefing