An Ecosystem-level Status Report for Southern Benguela Fisheries

Aim:

Investigate what community-level fisheries indicators are telling us about the trends and status of the Southern Benguela ecosystem for the period 1988-2019.

Results:

Based on research survey and catch-based ecological indicators, it was found that Biomass, Catch and Inverse Fishing Pressure all increased (non-significantly), but Mean Lifespan of fish surveyed, and the Proportion of Predatory fish in the overall fish community (demersal and pelagic surveyed communities combined) both significantly declined. Also of concern are (non-significant) declines in Trophic Level and Mean Length of the surveyed fish community over time.

Project Implementer

Lynne Shannon – UCT