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State of the Coast: KZN
State of the Coast: KZN

State of the Coast: KwaZulu-Natal Chapter 1: Introduction & Background Chapter 2: Overarching Drivers Chapter 3: Climate Variability
Chapter 4: Coastal Environment Chapter 5: Estuarine Environment Chapter 6: Marine Environment Chapter 7: Human Environment Chapter 8: Economic Environment
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The Profile of the KZN Coast
The Profile of the KZN Coast

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Recreation
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Coastal risk and vulnerability

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20 Apr 2022

Tagged rockcod recaptured more than two years later on KZN South Coast

Shona Aylward (South Coast Herald) Picture: ORI/Facebook

The Oceanographic Research Institute’s Cooperative Fish (ORI-CFTP) Tagging Project celebrated its 737th yellowbelly rockcod being tagged and recaptured on March 17, 2022. This rockcod was originally tagged by Roger Davison at Southport on the KwaZulu-Natal South Coast on July 10, 2019, measuring 340 mm in total length.

Roger recaptured this fish again 981 days (2.7 years) later a bit further north at Hibberdene, now measuring 630 mm TL. This rockcod therefore grew a remarkable 290 mm during its time at liberty.

The ORI-CFTP team stated the following interesting facts about the rockcod:

Yellowbelly rockcod are wide-ranging and are found from western Africa (Angola) to Europe (Mediterranean Sea), on the east coast of South America, as well as off southern Madagascar.

In southern African waters this species is found from Inhambane in southern Mozambique, to Cape Point in the Western Cape (WC).

They are found on rocky reefs from the surf-zone down to depths of 200m.

They are a highly resident species based on previous tagging data and underwater observations.

Larger individuals move out to deeper reefs with an increase in size/age.

There is some evidence of a northward movement of sub-adults as no spawning has been observed south of KZN.

Generally smaller, reproductively inactive individuals are caught in the Eastern Cape and Western Cape.

Females mature at 62 cm TL and males at 80 cm TL (equivalent to an age of 6.5 and 9.5 years respectively) with this species changing sex from female to male.

Yellowbelly rockcod reach a maximum size of 113 cm TL, a weight of 27.5 kg and a maximum age of 16 years in South African waters.

A past stock assessment of this species indicated that the stock had been fished down to about 33 percent of their pristine spawner biomass, with recent catch data showing no sign of recovery. They have been evaluated as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List (2018) and have been listed as Orange (Think twice) on the SASSI list. There is a daily bag limit of one-per-person-per-day and a minimum size limit of 60 cm TL.

This highly resident species is well suited to protection within no-take Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) along the east coast of South Africa. For example, research from the Pondoland MPA has shown that there is a considerably greater abundance and larger mean size of yellowbelly rockcod in the no-take area compared to exploited areas outside the no-take zone.

The iSimangaliso and adjacent Ponto do Ouro MPAs are also likely to provide important protection for adult spawning populations. For more interesting information on linefish species, be sure to download the new ORI Fish App Marine Fish Guide for Southern Africa from Google Play (Android) or the App Store (iPhone).

ORI-CFTP thanked taggers and the members of the angling public for their ongoing support in reporting these exciting recaptures to them.

If you are interested in becoming a member of the ORI Tagging Project, email them at oritag@ori.org.za. Alternatively you can apply online at www.oritag.org.za. If you would like to report a recapture, please visit https://www.oritag.org.za/Recapture.

 

Online Article