Seasonal Abundance, Distribution and Catch per Unit Effort of Fishes in the Krom Estuary, South Africa

Abstract

Seasonal abundance, distribution and catch per unit effort were determined by means of gillnets for fishes in the Krom estuary. The leervis Lichia amia, which was more abundant during the summer than the winter months, predominated in the catches, followed by the sea-catfish Tachysurus feliceps, which breeds in the estuary. The mean catch per unit effort for the estuary was 17,5 kg which is more than in the Swartkops estuary (13,1 kg) but less than in the Sundays (20,5 kg) and Gamtoos (33,3 kg) estuaries. Catch composition in the marina canals was similar to that of the estuary proper. The estuarine water is well mixed with a high salinity throughout the estuary when floods do not occur.