Coelacanth (Latimeria chalumnae Smith, 1939) discoveries and conservation in Tanzania
Loading...
Date
2006-09
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
South African Journal of Science
Abstract
Coelacanth (Latimeria
chalumnae Smith, 1939)
discoveries and conservation
in Tanzania
Beniah Bennoa, Eric Verheijb, James Stapleyc*,
Chikambi Rumishad, Benjamin Ngatungae,
Amin Abdallahd and Hassan Kalombof
Prior to September 2003, coelacanths had not been officially
recorded from waters off Tanzania. A sudden spate of coelacanth
catches has resulted in 21 confirmed and several unconfirmed
specimens being recorded. Nineteen specimens were caught in six
months off Tanga, including six in one night. Nowhere else in the
world have so many coelacanths been caught in such a short time.
The reason for this sudden increase in catches is uncertain. There
is concern that the impact of this fishing mortality might be threatening
the population. Morphological and meristic data from Tanga
specimens indicate that they are not notably different from those
examined elsewhere in the western Indian Ocean. Tanzanian
authorities plan to determine the size and conservation status of
coelacanth populations so that informed conservation decisions
might be made.
Description
Keywords
Tanzania, coelacanth