Migration ecology of fishes for
improved fisheries management in
South Africa
Presented by: Tor Næsje and Amber Childs
Norway
Principle inv.
Dr Tor Næsje
South Africa
Principle inv.
Dr Paul Cowley
Areas:
“Environment”
“Climate change impacts on society”
South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity
National Facility of the NRF (Grahamstown)
Norwegian Institute for Nature Research
Research foundation (Trondheim)
How did collaboration start?
2001 – Exchange visits (SA & Norway)
2002 – MOU & Drafted proposals
SA/Norway Programme on Research Cooperation
Phase I and Phase II
PHASE 1
MSc
SA/Norway Research
Collaboration Agreement
PHASE 2
PhD
+
PHASE 3
Researcher
Overall objectives and expected results of the
project
Understand fish movement behaviour and its relevance to
fisheries management
Four fishery species important to local subsistence and
recreational fisheries
Dusky kob
Collapsed
Leervis
Over-exploited
White steenbras
Collapsed
Spotted grunter
Over-exploited
Estuarine-dependent species
Adults
spawn at sea
Estuary = nursery area
Juveniles
1 – 3 years
Early juveniles
ACOUSTIC TELEMETRY TO STUDY MOVEMENT PATTERNS
TRANSMITTER
(Lifespan 5 years)
RECEIVER
Fish with
transmitter
Receivers
PHASE 3: Migration Ecology of fishes for improved
management in South Africa (2014 – 2016)
COASTAL MIGRATIONS, FOUR SPECIES, ADULT FISH
Receivers in marine environment (n=182)
Receivers in estuarine environment (n=20)
Acoustic Tracking
Array Platform (ATAP)
Environmental
monitoring
MIGRATION ECOLOGY OF FISHES FOR IMPROVED
FISHERIES MANAGEMENT IN SOUTH AFRICA
1) Describe the behavioural ecology, large-scale
movement and distribution patterns of four
overexploited fish species
2) Investigate the potential environmental and
biological drivers of migration
3) To provide important information for policymaking, improved management of these species,
and resource security for the fishers
4) Promote capacity building and gender equity
redress
Communication of results
Public Awareness – popular articles
Public awareness- interaction
Educational outreach
TV show & School group outings, Science festival
Fishers and competitions
Teaching & training
Rhodes University
BSc (hons) – lectures & projects
Fort Hare University
BSc (hons) – lectures, tutorials
& fieldtrips
Phuhlisa programme
Scientific articles 16 (Peer reviewed)
Attwood et al. 2007. African Journal of Marine Science 29: 147-151.
Bennett et al. 2011. African Journal of Zoology 46: 32-38.
Bennet et al. 2012. African Journal of marine science 34: 81-91.
Becker et al. 2011. Journal of Fi.sh Biology 79: 761-775.
Becker et al. 2011. Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology 406: 63-70.
Becker et al. 2013. Journal of Applied Ecology 50: 43–50.
Childs et al. 2008. Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science. 78: 227-236.
Childs et al. 2008. Fisheries Management and Ecology 15: 441-448.
Childs et al. 2008. African Journal of Marine Science 30(1): 123-132.
Childs et al. 2011. Marine and Freshwater Research 62: 432-438.
Cowley et al. 2008. African Journal of Marine Science 30(2): 247-253.
Kerwath et al. 2005. African Journal of Marine Science 27(2): 389 – 394.
Kerwath et al. 2009. Conservation Biology 23(3): 653 - 661.
Næsje et al. 2007. Hydrobiologia 582: 25-34.
Næsje et al. 2012. MEPS 460: 221–232.
Thorstad et al. 2009. Marine and Freshwater Research 60: 183-186.
Reports (3)
Conferences (15)
Policy makers - Estuarine and Coastal
Management Plans
Results available to policy
makers (via scientific
publications and meetings)
Integration of relevant
information into
estuarine/coastal management
plans
A legal requirement of the
Integrated Coastal Management
Act (2008)
How the project strengthens research capacity within
respective institutions
1 Female Researcher Norway
1 Female Researcher SA
1 Male postdoc SA (our muscle!)
1 Female PhD
1 Female Masters, 1 Male Masters
1 Black Female Honours
THANK YOU, TUSEN TAKK!
GOING TAGGING…<‘)))><