SANBI

Rationale

Acanthopagrus berda is widely distributed and may have suffered from local overfishing and/or habitat degradation in some areas but is still relatively abundant elsewhere. The distribution overlaps several marine protected areas where it is likely to receive some protection. Therefore, Acanthopagrus berda is listed as Least Concern.

Distribution

Acanthopagrus berda is restricted to the Indian Ocean, and has been collected from: South Africa, Mozambique, the Red Sea, India, Phuket, and Malaysia (Penang Island and Langkawi Island, near Singapore) (Iwatsuki and Heemstra 2010). This species enters freshwaters of Zimbabwe and South Africa (Lower Zambezi, Lucuara River) (Carpenter 2001). This species is not likely to actually occur in the Gulf, and previous reports are probably the result of misidentifications of A. randalli (Y. Iwatsuki pers. comm. 2013). This species occurs to 50 m depth.

Habitat View more ecological information

Population trend

Trend

FAO Regional Commission for Fisheries (RECOFI) Capture Production (2000-2011)
FAO RECOFI aggregate landings of Acanthopagrus berda show an overall increasing trend from 20 tonnes in 2000 to 63 tonnes in 2011. A peak of 72 tonnes was collected in 2008 in the RECOFI area of competence which is comprised of the Persian Gulf, the Gulf of Oman and the waters along the Omani coast.

FAO Global Capture Production (2000-2011)
FAO global aggregate landings of Acanthopagrus berda show an overall increasing trend from 28 tonnes in 2000 to 63 tonnes in 2011.

Threats

There are no major threats known for this species. There may be some localized threats by overfishing and habitat degradation (especially of estuaries and river mouths).

Uses and trade

A popular angling species often caught with hook and line. It is not intensively fished, but locally exploited by artisanal fisheries along the Indian coasts (Fischer and Bianchi 1984).

Conservation

In South Africa this species is subject to catch restrictions (five fish per person per day) and a minimum size limit of 25 cm (TL). There are no other known species-specific conservation measures in place for this species. It occurs in some marine protected areas within its range (World Database of Protected Areas, accessed 11 March 2014).

References

[@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}
}
,@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}
}
,@electronic{170160,
 address = {www.wdpa.org },
 author = {IUCN and UNEP},
 publisher = {UNEP-WCMC/ IUCN World Commission on Protected Areas (WCPA)},
 title = {The World Database on Protected Areas (WDPA)},
 year = {2014}
}
,@book{170164,
 author = {Fischer, W. and Bianchi, G.},
 title = {FAO species identification sheets for fishery purposes. Western Indian Ocean (Fishing Area 51)},
 year = {1984}
}
,@article{170173,
 author = {Garratt, P.A.},
 journal = {South African Journal of Zoology},
 number = {1},
 pages = {26--31},
 title = {Spawning of riverbream, <i>Acanthopagrus berda</i>, in Kosi estuary},
 volume = {28},
 year = {1993}
}
,@article{170173,
 author = {Iwatsuki, Y. and Heemstra, P.C.},
 journal = {Copeia},
 number = {1},
 pages = {123–136},
 title = {Taxonomic Review of the Western Indian Ocean Species of the Genus <i>Acanthopagrus</i> Peters, 1855 (Perciformes: Sparidae), with Description of a New Species from Oman},
 volume = {2010},
 year = {2010}
}
,@book{170213,
 address = {Rome},
 author = {Fischer, W., Sousa, I., Silva, C., de Freitas, A., Poutiers, J.M., Schneider, W., Borges, T.C., Feral, J.P. and Massinga, A.},
 publisher = {FAO},
 title = {Fichas FAO de identificaçao de espécies para actividades de pesca. Guia de campo das espécies comerciais marinhas e de águas salobras de Moçambique},
 year = {1990}
}
,@inbook{170266,
 address = {Rome},
 author = {},
 booktitle = {Sparidae. Porgies (seabreams)},
 editor = {Carpenter, K.E.},
 pages = {2990--3003},
 publisher = {FAO},
 title = {The living marine resources of the Western Central Pacific. Bony fishes part 3 (Menidae to Pomacentridae)},
 year = {2001}
}
,@article{170266,
 author = {Allsop, D.J. and West, S.A.},
 journal = {Journal of Evolutionary Biology},
 pages = {921--929},
 title = {Constant relative age and size at sex change for sequentially hermaphroditic fish},
 volume = {16},
 year = {2003}
}
,]

How to cite this assessment

See the partners page

Send feedback about this assessment to SANBI

Red List of South African Species