Abstract
Gill net surveys were conducted in 2013 to determine species composition and fisheries potential of Flag Boshielo Dam. Species contributing the most towards total biomass were Labeo rosae (40%), Oreochromis mossambicus (15%), Schilbe intermedius (10%) and Labeobarbus marequensis (9.8%). Catch per unit effort for gill nets set at night (4.4 ± 0.6 kg·100 m-net −1 ·hr −1 ) was significantly higher ( P < 0.05) than for those set during the day (0.9 ± 0.1 kg·100 m-net −1 ·hr −1 ). Total fish biomass captured in 30, 50, 70, 90 and 110 mm mesh sized nets was 3.1, 31.5, 43.5, 23.5 and 16.1 kg, respectively. Catch in gillnets with mesh sizes ≥ 70 mm was dominated by L. rosae comprising 60% of the catch in the 70 mm mesh; L. rosae (40%) and O. mossambicus (36%) in the 90 mm mesh; and O. mossambicus (40%) and Clarias gariepinus (40%) in the 110 mm mesh. If a small-scale fishery were to be initiated, it is recommended that mesh sizes should exceed 70 mm and that further research on the biology and ecology of the main target species and of the current utilisation of the fishery be conducted to guide sustainable utilisation. Keywords: Arabie Dam, CPUE, fish composition, net selectivity, inland fisheries
Highlights
South Africa, which is essentially an arid country, has invested heavily in impoundments to store water for domestic, industrial and agricultural use
Species richness decreased with mesh size from 11 species in the 30 mm mesh to 5 species in mesh sizes ≥ 90 mm (Table 2)
The survey data show that Flag Boshielo Dam has fish fauna that includes species of potential commercial interest
Summary
South Africa, which is essentially an arid country, has invested heavily in impoundments to store water for domestic, industrial and agricultural use. Inland fisheries on these impoundments are considered to have the potential to support livelihoods and provide food security for rural populations (Britz et al, 2015). In order to guide such development, a recent baseline study used empirical approaches to identify impoundments in the warmer northern and coastal regions of South Africa as having high fish production potential (Britz et al, 2015). As a consequence, Britz et al (2015) recommend that the results of the regional assessment should only be used as an indication of fisheries potential and must be accompanied by finer scale analyses
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