Jacopever

Jacopever (Helicolenus dactylopterus) are slow-growing, long-lived deepwater benthic fish, with a complex reproduction cycle making them vulnerable to heavy fishing pressure. The species is caught as bycatch in the demersal longline and demersal trawl fishery (offshore and inshore) targeting hake and sole (Inshore only), and in the demersal trawl (Inshore comprising approximately less than 1% of the overall catches). Data on fishing intensity do not allow for assumptions on sustainability of the stock.

Demersal longline

Jacopever (Helicolenus dactylopterus) is caught as bycatch in the demersal longline fisheries targeting hake. Demersal longline hooks targeting hake are either deployed as single or double lines of 10 - 20km in length, each fitted with roughly 6 900 and 15 600 hooks respectively. There is empirical evidence supporting that the fishery affects Endangered, Threatened & Protected (ETP) populations such as sharks, skates & rays. Impacts on seabirds are minimal following implementation of mitigation measures. This fishery's impact on the benthic habitat is not fully understood.

Demersal trawl

Jacopever is the sixth most caught bycatch species in terms of weight, in the offshore demersal trawl fishery targeting hake. The species is also caught as bycatch in lesser quantities in the inshore trawl fishery. Demersal offshore trawls for hake are dragged along the seabed at depths typically ranging from 110m to 800m (known as “demersal trawl nets”). Trawling is not a very selective fishing method, and a few other species are often caught in the nets (fish, sharks and rays). Seabird interactions with trawl cables near the surface are also a major concern. Seabird mitigation have resulted in a dramatic reduction in seabird-fishery interactions through the introduction of tori lines (lines covered in coloured streamers making trawl attachment lines more visible to birds) and improved disposal of offal (discards that attract seabirds).

Demersal Longline

Jacopever is caught as bycatch in the demersal longline fisheries targeting hake in the in the southeast Atlantic ocean

Demersal Trawl

Jacopever are caught mainly on the Agulhas Bank off the South Coast for the inshore dermesal trawl. In the offshore demersal trawl jacopever are caught as bycatch on the continental shelf edge and upper slope along the West Coast from the Namibian border southwards and on the South Coast primarily around the Agulhas Bank. Management measures are considered to be largely effective and mainly focused on the target species (hake and sole) in the form of Total Allowable Catch (TAC) and permit limitations. Additional measures in place include precautionary catch limits and fishing only in historical fishing grounds. There are some ecosystem-based management measures in place such as precautionary catch limits on monkfish and kingklip, tori lines to reduce sea bird interactions, and limited fishing areas (i.e. fishing within a “footprint” to limit seabed disturbance). More effort is required to improve at-sea scientific observation of fishing activities to better understand ecosystem impacts.