Dorado

Scientific name

Coryphaena hippurus

Others names

Dorado, Mahi mahi, Dolphinfish

Fishing method

Pelagic longline

Area of capture

South Africa

SASSI colour

Green

Summary

Dorado (Coryphaena hippurus), also known as mahi-mahi or dolphinfish, are surface-dwelling fish found in off-shore temperate, tropical and subtropical waters worldwide. They are members of the Coryphaenidae family and are very closely related to the Marlin species. Little is known about the Dorado stocks as there have been no assessments of the stock and thus no information is available on its status. Dorado is not targeted directly – it is caught as bycatch in the tuna and swordfish directed longline fishery. This may imply a low fishing pressure.

As a coastal state that has ratified the United Nations Fish Stocks Agreement, South Africa is obliged to develop and manage a fishery for large pelagic species in cooperation with the relevant Regional Fisheries Management Organisations (RFMOs) and in accordance with their existing management and control measures. The large pelagic fishery is thus managed by RFMOs (such as the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tuna (ICCAT), the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC) and the Commission for the Conservation of Southern Bluefin Tuna (CCSBT). South Africa is a member of ICCAT and a co-operating non-member of IOTC and CCSBT. Although RFMO’s manage high seas fisheries, management recommendations and resolutions are implemented by South Africa through national legislation and permit conditions.

In South Africa, this fishery uses pelagic longline fishing gear which has a negligible habitat effect since they are not used near the bottom. However, a number of vulnerable species are caught as bycatch: Eleven species of seabird, four species of turtle and 20 species of shark have been confirmed incidentally caught by this fishery, many (8, all and 7 respectively) of which are considered threatened and fishing has been identified as the predominant cause for recent population declines. The FAO estimates that approximately 28% of the catch is discarded. Local studies indicate that discards comprise approximately 22% of the catch. Many of the world’s large predatory fish are considered over-fished and evidence from elsewhere suggests that decreases in top predator populations can have ramifications for the functioning of pelagic ecosystems. South Africa has a relatively good management system in place that addresses most relevant concerns. However, the management of vulnerable bycatch species especially sharks requires further attention. There is also a lack of strong management from RFMOs which is of concern given that this fishery relies on high seas stocks.

For more information, email us at sassi@wwf.org.za.