White steenbras
| White steenbras | |
|---|---|
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Perciformes |
| Family: | Sparidae |
| Genus: | Lithognathus |
| Species: | L. lithognathus |
| Binomial name | |
| Lithognathus lithognathus (Cuvier, 1829) | |
The white steenbras (Lithognathus lithognathus) is a species of fish in the Sparidae family. It is endemic to South Africa. Due to over fishing, primarily by the Seine Netting operations in False Bay, the White Steenbras is now critically endangered and is about to become a 'No Keep' specie in South Africa. Massive breeding shoals are illegally wiped out by the Beach Seine Netters each year with the Authorities doing little to prevent this. Since mid 2013, the authorities have started to look into making the fish a 'No Keep' specie. It is yet to be seen if the authorities will prevent the Beach Seine Netters from destroying this fish in its entirety. At this stage, it looks like they will reach CR status very soon.
Sources
- Skelton, P. 1996. Lithognathus lithognathus. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Downloaded on 4 August 2007.
Link to illegal hauls of White Steenbras - news Article Public Vow to stop Illegal White Steenbras hauls being made by Beach Seine Netters - New Article