Population monitoring of Holothuria scabra (sandfish) on Warrior Reef, Torres Strait 2000

The sandfish on Warrior Reef were surveyed at 167 sites from 19 to 26 January 2000 including a resurvey of sites examined in 1995/6 and 1998. The Holothuria scabra (sandfish) population on Warrior Reef is still severely depleted. It is 53% to 81% (95% CI) smaller than the 1995/96 population, which was also considered as over-exploited. There was an average increase of about 36% in abundance since the extremely low abundance recorded in January 1998, however, this estimated recovery rate had a high uncertainty. The heavily depleted nature of the population is also confirmed by estimates of standing stock which indicate that it is unlikely that there is more than 100 tonnes of 2+ year old H. scabra on Warrior Reef. This stock size estimate is very low compared to estimates of the catch in 1995 of 1200 to 1400 tonnes, and estimates of virgin biomass of over 1600 tonnes.