Dusky kob should be seen as white rhino of the sea

(Image source: www.sealine.co.za)

The Herald reports that fishermen along South Africa's coastline continue to catch the species, which live for many years and regularly grows to a size of about 40 kilograms.

The dusky kob fetches a retail price of about R60/kg at fish markets and as a result, fishermen often target the species and then sell their catch to wholesalers or retailers.

The minimum size of a dusky kob is regulated and all fish caught must be larger than 60cm. However, Cowley points out that the maximum size is not controlled and as a result anglers are trying to catch the huge fish. A dusky kob that weighs around 40kg is generally about 40 years old.

He says the practice of catching excessive numbers of dusky kob is a huge problem in the Eastern Cape where sham fishermen, in the guise of recreational anglers, are catching dusky kob and selling it commercially.

The limit is one dusky kob per angler per day but Cowley says fishermen ignore this limit and catch whatever they can and sell it at an enormous profit because it is so popular among restaurateurs.

Read the full article on www.peherald.com.
Read more on the South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity.