As per the Responsible Angler Guidelines, responsible recreational fishers are requested to not retain but rather tag and release any species caught that are listed as Endangered, Threatened or Vulnerable on a local species list (E.g. National Biodiversity Assessment) or an international list (E.g. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species).

White musselcracker (Sparodon durbanensis ) are endemic, slow growing, late maturing fish found along the South African coastline from Cape Point to KwaZulu-Natal. White musselcrackers are listed as Near Threatened on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. This species is rated as a no-sale species within South Africa, only recreational fishers with a permit may catch them following a daily bag (2 pp/pd) and minimum size (60 cm) limits. Recreational fishers are not allowed to sell their catches.