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dc.contributor.authorSteyn, Erika
dc.contributor.authorGroeneveld, Johan C.
dc.contributor.authorSantos, Antonio Jorge Fonseca Antunes
dc.date.accessioned2023-12-29T10:16:19Z
dc.date.available2023-12-29T10:16:19Z
dc.date.issued2023-12-11
dc.description.abstractA commercial fishery for the Cape rock oyster Striostrea margaritacea along the north coast of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa (western Indian Ocean), follows a 4-year rotational cycle, with each harvest year followed by 3 fallow years across four harvest zones. We analysed reported harvesting effort and catch information, and fishery-independent oyster size composition data collected over 18 years (Feb 2003-Feb 2020), to investigate the sustainability of rotational harvesting. Total harvesting effort and catches declined over the study period, but on average, the number of oysters collected per outing increased. Fewer outings in recent years were attributed to incomplete reporting and a progressive loss of access to harvest sites. Generalised linear mixed models were used to estimate trends in oyster mean size in relation to fishing method (divers and intertidal collectors), harvest zone, 4-year rotational cycles, and months spent in a zone. Oyster mean size increased from north to south along the coast. Oysters caught by divers on newly exploited deeper reefs were initially larger than those caught by intertidal collectors. Mean oyster size decreased monthly during 1-year harvest periods but recovered to pre-harvest size over 3 fallow years. The results confirmed that the current rotational harvest strategy is well-suited to oyster biology and is sustainable at the present level of effort. Improved reporting on harvesting effort and catch are required to verify longer-term spatiotemporal trends in this fishery. More effective stakeholder communication is needed to resolve potential user conflict.en_US
dc.identifier.citationSteyn E, Groeneveld JC, Santos aj. Effect of rotational harvesting on the size composition of Cape rock oysters Striostrea margaritacea on the east coast of South Africa. African Journal of Marine Science. 2023en_US
dc.identifier.cristinIDFRIDAID 2213309
dc.identifier.doihttps://doi.org/10.2989/1814232X.2023.2258936
dc.identifier.issn1814-232X
dc.identifier.issn1814-2338
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/10037/32258
dc.language.isoengen_US
dc.publisherTaylor & Francisen_US
dc.relation.journalAfrican Journal of Marine Science
dc.rights.accessRightsopenAccessen_US
dc.rights.holderCopyright 2023 The Author(s)en_US
dc.titleEffect of rotational harvesting on the size composition of Cape rock oysters Striostrea margaritacea on the east coast of South Africaen_US
dc.type.versionacceptedVersionen_US
dc.typeJournal articleen_US
dc.typeTidsskriftartikkelen_US
dc.typePeer revieweden_US


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