Standardising English and Afrikaans common names for polychaetes harvested as bait in South Africa

Polychaete worms are used widely as bait in South Africa, but common names not consistently among fishers or the literature. This can have implications for conservation, since different polychaete species will be equally vulnerable to exploitation, and uncertainties about of make it difficult monitor harvests assess catch rates. study develops a consensus view English Afrikaans known species, building on already by The greatest (but complete) use literature was families Arenicolidae, Eunicidae Nereididae. However, most multiple names, some families, at least one name has changed. By applying principles like those develop scientific we propose binomial naming system that includes collective applies family genus, which, is fishers, well qualifying apply individual species. may refer morphological character observed field, its distribution, ecology specific name. Research needed isiXhosa.