SANBI

Rationale

Polyamblyodon germanum ranges from Mozambique to Algoa Bay, South Africa to depths of 80 m. This species is relatively common in southern Kwaulu-Natal and the Pondoland region of the Eastern Cape. Polyamblyodon germanum is not a major component of the commercial or recreational linefisheries and no major threats have been identified. There is little information available on the biology and population of this species and requires further study. It is listed as Least Concern.

Distribution

Polyamblyodon germanum is endemic to southern Africa and is known from Maputo Bay, Mozambique to Algoa Bay, South Africa (Fischer and Bianchi 1984, Smith and Heemstra 1986, Heemstra and Heemstra 2004). The depth range for this species is 15 m to 80 m depth (Fischer and Bianchi 1984).

Habitat View more ecological information

Population trend

Trend

Little is known about the population status of Polyamblyodon germanum but it is fairly common on the northern coast of the Eastern Cape and on the southern KwaZulu-Natal coast (Mann et al. 2006, C. Buxton and B. Mann pers. comm. 2009). The total reported commercial catch for this species has remained fairly stable 0.5–1.5 tonnes/annum during the period 1985–2000 with a slight increase since then. However, it is frequently misidentified by fisherman and is often confused with Pachymetopon aeneum and P. grande (B. Mann, ORI pers. obs.). The increase in catches is not believed to represent an increase in abundance but rather it is probably due to increased incidental catches of P. germanum in the targeted P. aeneum linefishery which uses smaller hooks (C. Buxton and B. Mann, pers. comm. 2009). Commercial data show that since 2000 commercial fishing effort has declined dramatically in the South African linefishery from approximately 3,000 to 450 vessels in line with the long-term fisheries rights allocation process implemented in 2006 (Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries 2012).

Threats

There are no major threats that have been identified for Polyamblyodon germanum.

Uses and trade

Polyamblyodon germanum is primarily caught by rod and line from skiboats fishing in 15 m to 50 m on rocky reefs. This species is caught both in the commercial and recreational linefishery in KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern Cape where it comprises <1% of the catch (Mann et al. 1997, Fennessy et al. 2003, Dunlop and Mann 2013).

Conservation

There are no species-specific conservation measures for Polyamblyodon germanum but it is included in the overall 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. germanum also receives some protection in the Pondoland, Aliwal Shoal, St Lucia and Maputaland MPAs (Chater et al. 1993, King 1996, Mann et al. 2006).

References

[@book{12137,
 address = {Cape Town},
 author = {van der Elst, R.},
 publisher = {Struik Publishers},
 title = {A guide to the common sea fishes of Southern Africa (2nd edition)},
 year = {1988}
}
,@inbook{12137,
 address = {Berlin},
 author = {},
 booktitle = {Sparidae},
 editor = {Smith, J.L.B. and Smith, M.M.},
 pages = {580--594},
 publisher = {Springer-Verlag},
 title = {Smiths' Sea Fishes},
 year = {1986}
}
,@techreport{12137,
 author = {Mann, B.Q., Beckley, L.E. and R.P. van der Elst},
 institution = {Oceanographic Research Institute Unpublished Report 134},
 title = {Evaluation of linefishery participation and management along the KwaZulu-Natal coast},
 year = {1997}
}
,@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{170160,
 address = {Grahamstown, South Africa},
 author = {Heemstra, P.C. and Heemstra, E.},
 publisher = {South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity and National Inquiry Service Centre},
 title = {Coastal Fishes of southern Africa},
 year = {2004}
}
,@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}
}
,@article{170184,
 author = {Mann, B.Q., Celliers, L., Fennessy, S.T., Bailey, S. and Wood, A.D.},
 journal = {African Journal of Marine Science},
 pages = {535--551},
 title = {Towards the declaration of a large marine protected area: A subtidal ichthyofaunal survey of the Pondoland coast in the Eastern Cape, South Africa},
 volume = {28},
 year = {2006}
}
,@article{170184,
 author = {Fennessy, S.T., McDonald, A.M., Mann, B.Q. and Everett, B.I.},
 journal = {African Journal of Marine Science},
 pages = {61--78},
 title = {An assessment of the recreational and commercial skiboat fishery in the Transkei},
 volume = {25},
 year = {2003}
}
,@article{170184,
 author = {Dunlop, S.W. and Mann, B.Q.},
 journal = {African Journal of Marine Science},
 number = {1},
 pages = {79--97},
 title = {An assessment of the offshore boat-based linefishery in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa},
 volume = {35},
 year = {2013}
}
,@book{170248,
 address = {Cape Town},
 author = {King, D.},
 publisher = {Struik Publishers},
 title = {Reef fishes and corals of the east coat of southern Africa},
 year = {1996}
}
,@article{170248,
 author = {Chater, S.A., Beckley, L.E., Garratt, P.A., Ballard, J.A. and R.P. van der Elst},
 journal = {Lammergeyer},
 pages = {1--17},
 title = {Fishes from offshore reefs in the St Lucia and Maputaland Marine Reserves, South Africa},
 volume = {42},
 year = {1993}
}
,]

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