TY - JOUR AU - LM Barkhuizen, AU - OLF Weyl, PY - 2020/01/30 Y2 - 2024/03/28 TI - Evaluating the suitability of fyke nets for small-scale fisheries in the Free State Province of South Africa JF - Water SA JA - WSA VL - 46 IS - 1 January SE - Research paper DO - 10.17159/wsa/2020.v46.i1.7895 UR - https://watersa.net/article/view/7895 SP - AB - <p>South Africa is under increasing pressure to develop small-scale fisheries in inland waters. To inform appropriate development of this sector in the Free State Province, the catch rate of double-ended fyke nets was evaluated using survey data from 20 impoundments sampled during the 2013/2014 summer season. Fyke nets were set over night and the total sample effort was 114 fyke net nights. Overall catch per unit effort (CPUE) was 16.8 ± 28.3 kg·net<sup>-1</sup>·night<sup>-1</sup> and catch composition was dependent on impoundment, but generally comprised of a mixture of common carp <em>Cyprinus carpio</em>, African sharptooth catfish <em>Clarias gariepinus,</em> smallmouth yellowfish <em>Labeobarbus aeneus</em>, Orange River mudfish <em>Labeo capensis </em>and moggel <em>Labeo umbratus</em>. The influence of temperature and the potential benefits of baiting the nets were subsequently evaluated through monthly sampling in the hyper-eutrophic Krugersdrift Dam and at the oligotrophic Gariep Dam. Baiting did not significantly influence CPUE, which was significantly higher at Krugersdrift Dam (19.97 ± 23.22 kg·net<sup>-1</sup>·night<sup>-1</sup>) than at Gariep Dam (5.02 ± 6.05 kg·net<sup>-1</sup>·night<sup>-1</sup>). Increasing temperature had a positive effect on CPUE at Krugersdrift Dam but not at Gariep Dam. Species composition also differed between impoundments and, as a result, we conclude that seasonal catch rates and species compositions will need to be evaluated prior to implementation of fyke net fisheries in specific localities.</p><p><strong>&nbsp;</strong></p> ER -