Coral‐like bryozoan growths in Tasman Bay, and their protection to conserve commercial fish stocks

Abstract

Abstract Mounds of ‘coral’ off Separation Point, Tasman Bay, which have recently been protected to conserve ecologically associated commercial fish species, are predominantly growths of Bryozoa. Two species (Celleporaria agglutinans, Hip‐pomenella vellicata) make up the bulk of these structures. Trawling through the ‘coral’ grounds has affected the fish populations to the extent that an area has been closed to trawling to conserve stocks.