Abstract
Abstract—Fish samples and catch data were collected monthly from traditional basket fish traps set on reefs within the Dar es Salaam Marine Reserves (DMRs) to evaluate trap catch dynamics and reproductive biology of the rabbit fish Siganus sutor (Valenciennes 1835). Trap catch composition was 85% rabbitfishes by weight with a mean (± SE) catch per unit effort (CPUE) of 2.8 ± 0.1 kg trap-1 day-1 during a fishing season, which lasted between September 2004 and May 2005. CPUE did not differ significantly with lunar cycle, but exhibited a spatial variation, the highest being from Fungu Yasini Marine Reserve, which is further from shore. The spawning season of S. sutor is protracted, lasting between October and May, peaking in March. Size at first sexual maturity was 217.1 and 227.7 mm TL for male and female S. sutor , respectively. The species exhibits a size-dependent sex ratio, with a preponderance of females at larger sizes. The species shows high fecundity at a maximum of 1,300,400 oocytes for 396 mm TL female. Average (± SE) total fecundity was 627,052 ± 78,886 oocytes per female of 266 to 396 mm TL. It is proposed that beach seines be eliminated from the marine reserves and regulated trap fishery be allowed as a way to facilitate sustainable exploitation of the rabbitfishes and other reef fishes in the DMRs. Keywords: Trap fishery, rabbitfishes, Siganus, reproduction, marine reserves, Tanzania
Highlights
Traditional trap fishing is one of the main sources of income and animal protein for coastal people in East Africa (King, 2000)
It is widely recognised that fishing leads to changes in the abundance of target species manifested by decreases in sizes and catch per unit effort (CPUE) within the fishery (Koslow et al, 1988; Alcala & Russ, 1990; Kamukuru et al, 2005)
A total of 13,033.5 kg of fish was recorded from basket traps operating in Dar es Salaam Marine Reserves (DMRs) within 94 sampling days lasting between September 2004 and May 2005
Summary
Traditional trap fishing is one of the main sources of income and animal protein for coastal people in East Africa (King, 2000). Yields from the shallow reef fisheries have been declining mostly as a result of overfishing caused by poor fishing methods and increased effort (McClanahan & Mangi, 2001; Kamukuru et al, 2004, 2005). It is widely recognised that fishing leads to changes in the abundance of target species manifested by decreases in sizes and catch per unit effort (CPUE) within the fishery (Koslow et al, 1988; Alcala & Russ, 1990; Kamukuru et al, 2005). In East Africa, hexagonal basket fish traps (madema) woven from wood and split bamboo are commonly used by artisanal fishers. In order to maintain position and appear as a refuge
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