Scotsman

1. What is it?

Scotsman (Polysteganus praeorbitalis) are endemic, slow growing, late maturing fish able to change sex from female to male. These factors make them highly vulnerable to overfishing. Spawning stocks have been severely depleted to 21% of their unexploited population. They are listed as Vulnerable on IUCN’s list for threatened species and stocks are overfished in South Africa.

2. How was it caught or farmed?

Scotsman are caught using traditional linefishing methods. Linefishery uses rod and reel or handlines. Linefishing is a relatively selective fishing method with few impacts on the marine environment and little accidental bycatch.

3. Where is it from?

Scotsman are caught mainly within the in-shore zone along most of the South African coastline. Management for the sector is considered partly effective. In South Africa this sector is principally managed through a total allowable effort (TAE) limitation and there are additional restrictions to protect overfished species such as daily bag (1 pp/pd) and minimum size (40 cm) limits for recreational fishers. There is some concern over the impact of the small-scale fishery rights allocation beyond the recommended TAE and the continuously growing recreational sector.