Halaelurus lineatus

Taxonomy

Assessment Information

Geographic Range

Population

Habitat and Ecology

Threats

Conservation Actions

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Taxonomy [top]

Kingdom	Phylum	Class	Order	Family
ANIMALIA	CHORDATA	CHONDRICHTHYES	CARCHARHINIFORMES	SCYLIORHINIDAE

Scientific Name:

Halaelurus lineatus

Species Authority:

Bass, D’Aubrey & Kistnasamy, 1975

Common Name/s:

English	–	Banded Catshark, Lined Catshark
French	–	Holbiche Des Plages
Spanish	–	Pejegato Playero

Assessment Information [top]

Red List Category & Criteria:	Data Deficient ver 3.1
Year Published:	2004
Assessor/s:	Cliff, G.
Reviewer/s:	Cavanagh, R.D., Kyne, P.M. & Fowler, S.L. (Shark Red List Authority)
Justification: A small catshark of the continental shelf and upper slope (to 290 m) endemic to South Africa and Mozambique. This species is taken as a bycatch in the prawn trawl fishery on the Tugela Banks, on the inshore shelf off northern KwaZulu-Natal (KZN), South Africa. It was found in 18% of the trawls examined, with a 19% mortality rate, thus fishers should be encouraged to return the live sharks to the sea, especially as they are little utilised given their small size. The bycatch may constitute a threat, particularly as it includes large numbers of mature specimens with many of the females possibly being pregnant. Catch rates over a longer time period are needed to assess the status of this species, particularly to compare with the 1994 study in terms of catch trends and fishing pressure. No details are available of catches in the Mozambique prawn trawl fishery where it may also be caught as bycatch. Until further study it is not possible to assess this species beyond Data Deficient.

Geographic Range [top]

Range Description:	Primarily Western Indian Ocean: confined to South Africa (East London northwards: Heemstra and Smith 1991) and Mozambique (Beira southwards: Bass et al. 1975).
Countries:	Native: Mozambique; South Africa
FAO Marine Fishing Areas:	Native: Atlantic – southeast; Indian Ocean – western
Range Map:	Click here to open the map viewer and explore range.

Population [top]

Population Trend:	Unknown

Population Trend:

Unknown

Habitat and Ecology [top]

Habitat and Ecology:	Found on the continental shelf and upper slope from the surfline to depths of at least 290 m. The type specimen was caught by a shore angler. Males mature at 32 to 38 cm total length (TL), reaching at least 56 cm TL. Mature females range from 40 cm TL to at least 56 cm TL (Bass et al. 1975). Possibly oviparous, with the females carrying up to eight capsules in each uterus simultaneously. Size at birth approximately 8 cm TL. Pregnant females are caught along the KZN coast in late winter (July to September) (Bass et al. 1975). In the Tugela Banks prawn trawl fishery, the catch ranged from 30 to 60 cm TL, with a mean of 40 cm TL and a mode of 30 to 50 cm TL (Fennessey 1994). It would appear that mature animals represent a large percentage of the catch. This species feeds mainly on crustaceans, teleosts and cephalopods.
Systems:	Marine

Habitat and Ecology:

Found on the continental shelf and upper slope from the surfline to depths of at least 290 m. The type specimen was caught by a shore angler.

Males mature at 32 to 38 cm total length (TL), reaching at least 56 cm TL. Mature females range from 40 cm TL to at least 56 cm TL (Bass et al. 1975). Possibly oviparous, with the females carrying up to eight capsules in each uterus simultaneously. Size at birth approximately 8 cm TL. Pregnant females are caught along the KZN coast in late winter (July to September) (Bass et al. 1975).

In the Tugela Banks prawn trawl fishery, the catch ranged from 30 to 60 cm TL, with a mean of 40 cm TL and a mode of 30 to 50 cm TL (Fennessey 1994). It would appear that mature animals represent a large percentage of the catch.

This species feeds mainly on crustaceans, teleosts and cephalopods.

Systems:

Marine

Threats [top]

Major Threat(s):	The bycatch in the KZN prawn trawl fishery may constitute a threat, particularly as the catch includes large numbers of mature specimens, with many of the females possibly being pregnant. The estimated annual catch for the period 1989?1992 was 1,071?2,021 at a mean catch rate of 0.16 individuals per hour. It was found in 18% of the trawls examined, with a 19% mortality rate (Fennessy 1994). Catch rates over a longer time period are needed to assess the status of this species. No details are available of catches in the Mozambique prawn trawl fishery where it may also be caught as bycatch. Given its small size (< 0.6 kg), it is unlikely to be utilised.

Major Threat(s):

The bycatch in the KZN prawn trawl fishery may constitute a threat, particularly as the catch includes large numbers of mature specimens, with many of the females possibly being pregnant. The estimated annual catch for the period 1989?1992 was 1,071?2,021 at a mean catch rate of 0.16 individuals per hour. It was found in 18% of the trawls examined, with a 19% mortality rate (Fennessy 1994). Catch rates over a longer time period are needed to assess the status of this species. No details are available of catches in the Mozambique prawn trawl fishery where it may also be caught as bycatch.

Given its small size (< 0.6 kg), it is unlikely to be utilised.

Conservation Actions [top]

Conservation Actions:	At this stage the KZN prawn trawl fishery should be encouraged to release those animals found alive, which represents 80% of the catch.

Conservation Actions:

At this stage the KZN prawn trawl fishery should be encouraged to release those animals found alive, which represents 80% of the catch.

Citation:	Cliff, G. 2004. Halaelurus lineatus. In: IUCN 2011. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2011.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 25 May 2012.
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