Exploratory characterisation of recreational fishing for skipjack tuna Katsuwonus pelamis and eastern little tuna Euthynnus affinis in South Africa

Abstract

Despite being important to artisanal and industrial fisheries, little is known about the role of skipjack tuna Katsuwonus pelamis and the eastern little tuna (or kawakawa) Euthynnus affinis in recreational fisheries. This study used a banner-recruited, online questionnaire of recreational tuna anglers in South Africa to characterise the role of these two species in this fishery and those that participate. Respondents (n = 108) were generally well-equipped with high-capacity skiboats and were highly specialised (high levels of fishing avidity and centrality-to-life). Many indicated that they actively targeted skipjack and eastern little tuna, suggesting that these species are not only bycatch. Both species had little food value to the respondents, who were more motivated to catch/target them for sport or for use as bait for more desirable species. Half the respondents perceived poor compliance in the tuna recreational fishery, and most felt that efforts at monitoring, control and surveillance were poorly implemented. However, many were willing to engage in mandatory reporting of tuna catches, and the majority supported a harvest moratorium for tuna if required. Perceptions of catch seasonality and trends generally aligned with the available data, suggesting that fishers’ ecological knowledge may be valuable for management of heterogenous subsectors of the recreational fishery.