Red List of South African Species

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Least Concern (LC)
Assessors: Bruce Mann Colin Buxton David Pollard Kent Carpenter Yvonne Sadovy
Facilitators: Claire Gorman
Reviewers: Mia Comeros-Raynal

Rationale

Although little is known about the biology and population status of Polyamblyodon gibbosum, it is reasonably common in the warmer waters of northern KwaZulu-Natal and southern Mozambique. This species is not targeted to any great extent, there are no major threats, and it is found in MPAs. It is therefore listed as Least Concern.

Distribution

Polyamblyodon gibbosum is known from Beira, Mozambique to Port Edward, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa and off southern Madagascar (Fischer and Bianchi 1984, Smith and Heemstra 1986). The depth range for this species is two to 25 m (King and Fraser 2002).

Population trend

Trend

Little known about the abundance and population status of Polyamblyodon gibbosum but it is particularly common in the Aliwal Shoal and St Lucia and Maputaland MPAs (King and Fraser 2002). Polyamblyodon gibbosum is reasonably common in the warmer waters of northern KwaZulu-Natal and southern Mozambique (B. Mann pers. obs.)

Threats

There are no major threats identified for Polyamblyodon gibbosum.

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Uses and trade

Polyamblyodon gibbosum is seldom caught by rod and line due to its preference for feeding on zooplankton (King and Fraser 2002). It occasionally forms small shoals and will aggregate in mid-water under vessels where they can be targeted using small hooks (B. Mann pers. obs.).

Conservation

There are no species specific conservation measures for P. gibbosum but it is included in the daily bag limit of ten fish per person per day for recreational anglers in South Africa (Department of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries 2012). It is likely that P. gibbosum also receives some protection in the Aliwal Shoal, St Lucia and Maputaland no-take MPAs (Chater et al. 1993, King and Fraser 2002).

References 

[@techreport{12137,
 address = {Staatskoerant},
 author = {Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries},
 title = {Marine Living Resources Act, 1998 (Act No. 18 of 1998) and relevant government gazettes and notices},
 year = {2012}
}
,@book{170164,
 author = {Fischer, W. and Bianchi, G.},
 title = {FAO species identification sheets for fishery purposes. Western Indian Ocean (Fishing Area 51)},
 year = {1984}
}
,@book{170173,
 address = {Grahamstown},
 author = {Smith, M.M. and Heemstra, P.C},
 publisher = {Springer-Verlag},
 title = {Smith's Sea Fishes},
 year = {1986}
}
,@book{170195,
 address = {Cape Town},
 author = {King, D. and Fraser, V.},
 publisher = {Struik Publishers},
 title = {More reef fishes and nudibranchs of the east and south coast of southern Africa},
 year = {2002}
}
,]
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