CHANGES IN THE FISH FAUNA OF THE BOT RIVER ESTUARY IN RELATION TO OPENING AND CLOSURE OF THE ESTUARY MOUTH

Abstract

SUMMARY The fish community of the Bot River estuary was sampled with seine and gill nets between April 1980 and July 1983. During part of this period the estuary, which is usually closed, was in contact with the sea via an artificially opened deep-water mouth as well as the natural spillway into the adjacent Kleinmond estuary. This paper describes changes in the species composition, abundance and size-structure of the fish community that occurred as a result of these connections with the sea, as well as seasonal and longer-term changes that occurred during the closed phase. The implications of opening the mouth, for the fish and the fishermen that utilize the lagoon, are outlined and management options discussed.