Evidence of recovery of the linefishery in the Berg River Estuary, Western Cape, South Africa, subsequent to closure of commercial gillnetting

• DOI: 10.2989/ajms.2008.30.3.6.640
• Publication Date: 2008-12-23T00:46:59Z
• Authors: K Hutchings; BM Clark; LJ Atkinson; CG Attwood
• Keywords: Cape; Sciaenidae

A total of 248 roving creel surveys along the length Berg River Estuary, in Western Cape, South Africa, recorded 626 shore-angler and 88 boat-angler outings over period December 2002–November 2005. Catch-and-effort information was obtained from catch inspections with 360 handline 246 rod-anglers. Average annual linefishing effort estimated at 449 ± 29 (mean SE) days, 1 299 118 recreational days 394 57 subsistence (handline) days. The shore-based linefish (excluding boat-based catches) estuary for years 2004 2005 37 231 326 fish 26 938 706 (approximately 8 t 7 t) respectively. Compared other estuaries African east coast where angler catches have been surveyed, species diversity cool-temperate Estuary low, only 15 caught, which three, elf Pomatomus saltatrix (56%), harder Liza richardsonii (31%) carp Cyprinius carpio (11%), dominated catch. per unit most increased significantly two subsequent to closure long-existing commercial gillnet fishery March 2003. Length frequency distributions revealed significant increases average size an contribution larger class monitoring period, suggesting a degree recovery estuarine icthyofauna after more than century intensive fishing.