White steenbras
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Spariformes
Family: Sparidae
Genus: Lithognathus
Species:
L. lithognathus
Binomial name
Lithognathus lithognathus
(Cuvier, 1829)
Map
White steenbras distribution
  Extant (resident)
Synonyms
  • Lithognathus capensis Swainson, 1839
  • Pagellus lithognathus (Cuvier, 1829)
  • Pagrus lithognathus Cuvier, 1829

The white steenbras (Lithognathus lithognathus) is a species of fish in the family Sparidae[2] endemic to South Africa.[1] Due to overfishing, primarily by seine netting operations in False Bay, the white steenbras is now endangered and is about to become a 'no keep' species in South Africa. Massive breeding shoals are illegally wiped out by beach seine netters each year,[3] with the authorities doing little to prevent this.[4] The species was identified as a priority for research, management and conservation in a National Linefish Status Report.[5]

References

  1. ^ a b Mann, B.Q.; Buxton, C.D.; Pollard, D.; Carpenter, K.E. & Iwatsuki, Y. (2014). "Lithognathus lithognathus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2014: e.T12137A505458. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2014-3.RLTS.T12137A505458.en. Retrieved 19 November 2021.
  2. ^ Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.) (2006). "Lithognathus lithognathus" in FishBase. April 2006 version.
  3. ^ [1] Link to illegal hauls of white steenbras
  4. ^ [2] Public vow to stop illegal white steenbras hauls being made by beach seine netters
  5. ^ Bennett, Rhett Hamilton (2012). Movement patterns, stock delineation and conservation of an overexploited fishery species, Lithognathus lithognathus (Pisces: Sparidae) (PhD). Grahamstown: Rhodes University.
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