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Rationale

The white musselcracker (Sparodon durbanensis) is endemic to South Africa and occurs inshore to a maximum depth of 20 m. Juveniles of this species are resident inhabitants of shallow, subtidal reefs and intertidal rock pools, while adults are seasonally migratory. Sparodon durbanensis exhibits intrinsic characteristics that make this species more susceptible to overexploitation, including longevity, limited geographical range, and slow growth. This species can live to at least 31 years in age and has a generation length of about 13 years. Sparodon durbanensis also forms spawning aggregations which allow fishers to easily target the species. Although S. durbanensis is de-commercialized and additional management regulations have been implemented, this species experienced a major decline in CPUE from 1986 to 1996 from 30.3 g/person/hour to six g/person/hour(80% decline) and is a major component of the recreational shore fishery and spear-fishery. Sparodon durbanensis stocks are estimated to have been reduced to about 20% of their historical levels. However, National Marine Linefish System data from KwaZulu-Natal show a slight increasing trend in CPUE from 1985 to 2006, but this may be due to increased targeting of S. durbanensis in the winter. Population decline coupled with life history characteristics such as longevity and slow growth increase the risk of extinction for S. durbanensis. We infer over its entire range that population declines are likely to be in the order of close to 30% over three generations and it is therefore is listed as Near Threatened under A2bd. A comprehensive stock assessment is needed for this species.

Distribution

Sparodon durbanensis is endemic in South Africa and is distributed from Cape Point, Western Cape; to the Thukela River in KwaZulu-Natal (Fischer and Bianchi 1984, Smith and Heemstra 1991, Buxton and Clark 1991). This species has never been recorded further north than Thukela in fish catches and underwater fish visual census surveys of typical habitats (C. Buxton and B. Mann pers. comm. 2009). The main stock of this species is assumed to be between southern KwaZulu-Natal and False Bay (ORI Tagging Project unpublished data). Sparodon durbanensis occurs to a maximum depth of 20 m (Buxton and Clark 1991).

Records from Djibouti (unlikely) (Bouhlel 1988) and from Mozambique (Fischer et al. 1990) need to be verified.

Habitat View more ecological information

Population trend

Trend

A stock assessment has not been completed for S. durbanensis; however, it is estimated that the stocks of this species have declined to approximately 20% of their historical values (Griffiths and Lamberth 2002). Relative abundance, based on available CPUE values, is highest on the KwaZulu-Natal south coast during winter from June to July and on the South-eastern Cape coast during spring and summer from August to December (Booth and Attwood 2000). CPUE decreased sharply in the Port Elizabeth area from 30.3 g/person/hour in 1985–1986 (Clarke and Buxton 1989) to 6 g/person/hour in 1996 (Brouwer 1997). NMLS shore patrol data indicate a slight increasing trend in CPUE of S. durbanensis along the KwaZulu-Natal coast between 1985 and 2006; however, this may be due to improved targeting of this species in the winter (Pradervand 2007, B. Mann ORI pers. obs.).

Threats

Sparodon durbanensis is an extremely important trophy fish for both the recreational shore fishery and spear-fishery (Clarke 1988, Mann et al. 1997). The limited inshore distribution, large size, slow growth, late maturity and longevity exhibited by this species make it extremely susceptible to overexploitation (Booth and Attwood 2000, Potts and Mann 2012). It is estimated that this species has been reduced to <20% of its historical SBPR values (Griffiths and Lamberth 2002).

Uses and trade

Sparodon durbanensis is an important target species in the recreational shore fishery and spear-fishery, particularly in the Eastern and Western Capes (Clarke 1988, Mann et al. 1997). It is of little commercial importance and has therefore been de-commercialized (Buxton and Clarke 1991, B. Mann pers. comm. 2009). Recreational catch data from NMLS shore patrols in KwaZulu-Natal between 1985 and 2008 illustrate that this species is a minor component of the fishery in this region (NMLS unpublished data). Sparodon durbanensis is occasionally captured in the subsistence shore fishery but very seldom in the coastal skiboat fishery (Potts and Mann 2012).

Conservation

There is currently a daily bag limit of two fish per person per day and a minimum size limit of 60 cm TL for S. durbanensis and it has been de-commercialized (i.e. no sale allowed) since 1992 (Department of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries 2012). This species is effectively protected in a number of no-take MPAs over its entire distributional range including the De Hoop Marine Reserve, Goukamma, Tsitsikamma National Park, Sardinia Bay Reserve, Bird Island, Dwesa-Cwebe and Pondoland MPAs (B. Mann and C. Buxton pers. comm. 2009).

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,]

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