A preliminary fish survey of the estuaries on the east coast of South Africa, Mpande to Mtentwana: a comparative study

A preliminary ichthyofaunal and physico-chemical survey of estuaries on the east coast South Africa from Mpande Estuary to Mtentwana was undertaken between November 1997 January 1998. Sixteen were surveyed along this stretch coastline these grouped into three estuary types: small (< 10 ha) predominantly closed estuaries, moderate large (> open estuaries. Multivariate analyses revealed significant differences groups in terms both their characteristics (small different estuaries) fish communities (all types significantly different). The study area fall within subtropical/warm-temperate transition-zone north biogeographic break; tropical species dominated all numbers biomass. This represents one few surveys little-studied section coastline.