MANAGEMENT OF THE PANGA PTEROGYMNUS-LANIARIUS (PISCES, SPARIDAE) ON THE AGULHAS BANK, SOUTH-AFRICA USING PER-REEMIT MODELS

Per-recruit models were applied to the panga, Pterogymnus laniarius (C uvier, 1830) an important endemic sparid bycatch resource on the Agulh as Bank, South Africa. Management advice based on predictions from yie ld-per-recruit, biomass-per-recruit and spawner biomass-per-recruit an alysis showed evidence for limited further exploitation with a F-SB50 fishing strategy considered the most appropriate as it did not reduce the spawner biomass-per-recruit to less than 50% of unexploited levels . The slow growth and longevity of this species are shown to have impo rtant consequences for management, with a rapid decline in survivors p ast the age-at-50%-selectivity. Effort control was considered the most effective management tool as age-at-50%-selectivity occurred after ag e-at-sexual maturity and releasing undersized fish was undesirable due to heavy mortalities resulting from severe barotrauma. (C) 1997 Elsev ier Science B.V.