The Role of Estuaries in South African Fisheries: Economic Importance and Management Implications

Authors:
  • SLS. J. Lamberth
    S. J. Lamberth
  • JTJ. K. Turpie
    J. K. Turpie
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Abstract
Existing catch data for 129 of 255 functional estuaries on the South African coastline were reviewed and the relationships between fish catch and estuary size, type and biogeographical region analysed using simple and multivariate models. The best predictive models were obtained by analysing data separately for each biogeographical region. Estuary size alone explained >80% of the variation in catch in the warm temperate region and >90% of the variation in catch in the cool temperate and subtropical region. Further analysis of the two main estuary types, i.e.permanently open and temporarily open/closed estuaries revealed a steeper regression slope and therefore greater productivity for the permanently open systems. Estuary size (ha) and type (five) were used to explain catches within the warm temperate and subtropical regions using general linear models. The models were able to explain 82 and 98% of the variance in catches for the two regions respectively, and both were significant (p < 0.001). These model...