Red List of South African Species

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

Rationale

The zebra (Diplodus hottentotus) occurs from False Bay to southern Mozambique to depths of 120 m. There is an isolated subpopulation in Angola. Currently, no major threats or population declines have been identified for this species. However, D. hottentotus is a slow growing, and late maturing species that exhibits high residency which make it susceptible to possible overexploitation. This species is targeted by subsistence and recreational fishers but has been decommercialized (no sale). Diplodus hottentotus is also afforded some protection by the no-take MPAs along the South African coast. It is listed at Least Concern.

Distribution

Diplodus hottentotus is an endemic species occurring from False Bay, South Africa, to southern Mozambique and has a depth range from zero to 120 m (Pereira 2000, Heemstra and Heemstra 2004). There is an isolated subpopulation found in southern Angola (Winkler 2013).

Population trend

Trend

Although no formal stock assessments have been undertaken on Diplodus hottentotus, angler surveys conducted along the KwaZulu-Natal coast showed little change in CPUE between 1975–1977 (0.005 fish/angler/day), 1994-1996 (0.004 ffish/angler/day) and 2009–2010 (0.006 fish/angler/day) (Joubert 1981, Mann et al. 1997, Dunlop and Mann 2012). An increase in CPUE was recorded between 1985–1986 (3.03 g/person/hour) to 1994-1996 (6.0 g/person/hour) in the Eastern Cape (Clarke and Buxton 1989, Brouwer 1997). Long-term monitoring of shore angler catches from 1985 to 2008 in KwaZulu-Natal from the National Marine Linefish System (NMLS) also showed little change in CPUE (National Marine Linefish System unpublished data). Percent catch composition fluctuated from 0.04% in 1975-1977, 0.038% in 1994-1996 to 0.52% in 2009-2010 in KwaZulu-Natal (Joubert 1981, Mann et al. 1997, Dunlop and Mann 2012). A decrease was recorded from 1985–1986 (2.0%) to 1994–1996 (0.7%) in the Eastern Cape (Clarke and Buxton 1989, Brouwer 1997).

Threats

Currently, no major threats to D. hottentotus have been identified; however, this species exhibits slow growth, late maturation, longevity, and high residency, which make it more vulnerable to overexploitation (Mann and Dunlop 2012). Ongoing catch and effort monitoring and completion of a stock assessment are recommended.

Uses and trade

Diplodus hottentotus is primarily caught in the shore fishery and is of moderate importance throughout its distribution (Joubert 1981, Whibley and Garratt 1989, van der Elst 1993, Brouwer 1997, Brouwer et al. 1997, Mann et al. 2003, Dunlop and Mann 2012). Larger specimens are occasionally shot by spearfishers or caught by skiboat fishers (Mann et al. 1997, Mann and Attwood 2000, Dunlop and Mann 2013). This species is a no-sale recreational only species and may not be caught and sold in commercial fisheries (Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries 2012).

Conservation

Current regulations for D. hottentotus include a daily bag limit of five fish per person per day for recreational and subsistence fishers, a minimum landing size of 30 cm TL, and it has been decommercialized (no sale) (Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries 2012). This species is also afforded some protection in a number of no-take MPAs in southern Africa, inter alia De Hoop (Bennett and Attwood 1991, 1993), Still Bay, Tsitsikamma (Cowley et al. 2002), Bird Island, Dwesa-Cwebe (Venter and Mann 2012) Pondoland (Mann et al. 2006), Aliwal Shoal, St Lucia and Maputaland MPAs (World Database of Protected Areas, accessed March 2014).

References 

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 author = {Mann, B.Q., McDonald, A.M., Sauer, W.H.H. and Hecht, T},
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}
,@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}
}
,@electronic{12137,
 address = {http://www.iucnredlist.org/documents/RedListGuidelines.pdf},
 author = {IUCN Standards and Petitions Subcommittee},
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 year = {2013}
}
,@article{12137,
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}
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 author = {Bennett, B.A. and Attwood, C.G.},
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}
,@article{12137,
 author = {Venter, J.A. and Mann, B.Q.},
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 pages = {1--10},
 title = {Preliminary assessment of the surf-zone and estuarine linefish species ofthe Dwesa-Cwebe Marine Protected Area, Eastern Cape, South Africa},
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}
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 year = {1997}
}
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 pages = {1--16},
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}
,@article{170169,
 author = {Brouwer, S.L, Mann, B.Q., Lamberth, S.J., Sauer, W.H.H. and Erasmus, C.},
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}
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 author = {Mann, B.Q., Scott, G.M., Mann-Lang, J.M., Brouwer, S.L., Lamberth, S.J., Sauer, W.H.H. and C. Erasmus},
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}
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}
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}
,@article{170175,
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,@article{170175,
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 pages = {27--36},
 title = {Diets of <i>Diplodus sargus capensis</i> and <i>D. cervinus hottentotus</i>  (Pisces: Sparidae) on the Tsitsikamma coast, South Africa},
 volume = {35},
 year = {1992}
}
,@phdthesis{170175,
 author = {Mann, B.Q.},
 school = {M.Sc. thesis, Rhodes University},
 title = {Aspects of the biology of two inshore sparid fishes (Diplodus sargus capensis and Diplodus cervinus hottentotus) off the south-east coast of South Africa},
 year = {1992}
}
,@article{170175,
 author = {Mann, B.Q. and C.D. Buxton},
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 pages = {31--47},
 title = {The reproductive biology of <i>Diplodus sargus capensis</i> and <i>D. cervinus hottentotus</i> (Sparidae) off the south-east Cape coast, South Africa},
 volume = {22},
 year = {1998}
}
,@article{170175,
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,@article{170175,
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 volume = {19},
 year = {1987}
}
,@phdthesis{170175,
 author = {Watt-Pringle, P.A.},
 school = {Rhodes University},
 title = {Movement behaviour of three South African inshore sparid species in rocky intertidal and shallow subtidal habitats},
 year = {2009}
}
,@article{170175,
 author = {Dunlop, S.W. and Mann, B.Q.},
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 title = {An assessment of participation, catch and effort in the KwaZulu-Natal shore-based marine linefishery, with comments on managment effectiveness},
 volume = {34},
 year = {2012}
}
,@article{170184,
 author = {Mann, B.Q., Celliers, L., Fennessy, S.T., Bailey, S. and Wood, A.D.},
 journal = {African Journal of Marine Science},
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 author = {Dunlop, S.W. and Mann, B.Q.},
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 author = {Beckley, L.E. and Buxton, C.D.},
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 author = {Beckley, L.E.},
 journal = {S. Afr. J. Zool.},
 pages = {21--27},
 title = {The fish community of East Cape tidal pools and an assessment of nursery function of this habitat},
 volume = {20},
 year = {1985}
}
,@techreport{170272,
 author = {Mann, B.Q. and C.G. Attwood},
 institution = {Special Publication Oceanographic Research Institute 7},
 title = {<i>Diplodus cervinus hottentotus</i>},
 year = {2000}
}
,@article{170272,
 author = {Mann, B.Q. and C.D. Buxton},
 journal = {Cybium},
 number = {(2)},
 pages = {135--147},
 title = {Age and growth of Diplodus sargus capensis and D. cervinus hottentotus (Sparidae) on the Tsitsikamma coast, South Africa},
 volume = {21},
 year = {1997}
}
,@techreport{170272,
 address = {Maputo},
 author = {Pereira, M.A.M.},
 institution = {Ministry for the Coordination of Environmental Affairs (MICOA)},
 title = {Preliminary checklist of reef-associated fishes of Mozambique},
 year = {2000}
}
,@book{170272,
 address = {Cape Town},
 author = {Whibley, I. and Garratt, P.A.},
 publisher = {Struik Timmins},
 title = {The South African Fisherman - An angler's guide to bait, tackle, fish species, first aid, conservation and more than 100 coastal fishing resorts},
 year = {1989}
}
,@inbook{170272,
 address = {Durban},
 author = {},
 booktitle = {<i>Diplodus hottentotus</i>},
 editor = {Mann, B. Q. and Dunlop, S.W.},
 pages = {245--246},
 publisher = {Oceanographic Research Institute},
 title = {Southern African Marine Linefish Species Profile},
 year = {2013}
}
,@phdthesis{170272,
 author = {Winkler, A.C.},
 school = {Rhodes University, South Africa},
 title = {Taxonomy and life history of the zebra seabream, <i>Diplodus cervinus</i> (Perciformes: sparidae), in southern Angola},
 year = {2013}
}
,@article{170272,
 author = {Bauchot, M.L. and Bianchi, G.},
 journal = {Cybium},
 number = {103},
 pages = {105},
 title = {<i>Diplodus cervinus omanensis</i>, Nouvele sous-espece de <i>Diplodus cervinus</i> (Lowe, 1941), capturée en mer d’Arabie (Pices Perciformes, Sparidae)},
 volume = {8},
 year = {1984}
}
,]
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