Fisheries - Enviro Dynamics Namibia

F I S H E R I E S , M A M M A L S A N D S E A B I R D S S P E C I A L I S T S T U D Y
Figure 4. Distribution of the two main hake species in the Benguela ecosystem
While temporal and spatial patterns in hake spawning are yet to be fully resolved (Smith and Japp
2009), spawning by M. capensis has been recorded along most of the Namibian coast from about
27°S to 18°S (Olivar and Shelton, 1993). While spawning occurs across a wide range, areas of
localised spawning appear to be focused off central Namibia (25°S to 20°S), although the exact
location varies between years (Assorov and Berenbeim 1983 cited in Sundby et al. 2001, Olivar et
al. 1988, Sundby et al. 2001) but these areas appear not to be permanent. It is, however, not
clear if M. paradoxus spawns along the Namibian coast at all (Kainge et al. 2007). It has been
suggested that both hake species are serial spawners with females spawning numerous times a
year (Osborne et al. 1999). Spawning appears to occur year round with peak spawning periods in
Namibian waters occurring from mid-July to mid-September (Roux pers comm.). During this time
M. capensis appear to move to waters