Temporal trends in fisher catch and effort, and the impact of Covid-19 on inland fisheries: a case study from Gariep Dam, South Africa

Abstract

Hook-and-line fishing is commonly used in South African inland fisheries; however, very little quantitative information on catch and effort  exists, even though it is essential to advise management of the sector. To provide information towards management of South  Africa’s largest impoundment, the Gariep Dam, roving creel surveys were conducted to quantify annual fish harvest and to identify  changes in fisher catch, effort and harvest data in comparison to historic data. The surveys were also conducted during the Covid-19 pandemic which presented an additional opportunity to describe fishery dynamics during the pandemic. Randomly stratified sampling  was conducted from November 2020 to October 2021, in which catch and effort data of hook-and-line fishers were collected. Two fishery  user groups were encountered: recreational and subsistence users were present, but the fishery was dominated by subsistence fishers.  There was a more skewed dominance between these fisher groups than what was found during similar surveys in 2007/2008. Catch per  unit effort was similar to previous estimates, at 0.51 kg·fisher-1·h-1 (95% CI:0.47-0.54). There was, however, a significant reduction in  fishing effort during the sampling period when compared to historic data, and estimated annual total harvest was only one third of what  was previously reported. It was also noted that recreational fishers avoided fishing during the Covid-19 pandemic, whereas the  subsistence fishers could not avoid fishing as it is their primary means of livelihood. The results of the study suggested that subsistence fisheries provide valuable livelihood support to communities, and serve as an example on what impacts a crisis such as a global  pandemic may have on inland fisheries.