Sharks caught in the protective gill nets off Natal, South Africa. 5. The Java shark Carcharhinus amboinensis (müller & Henle)

Abstract

Between 1978 and 1990, 209 Java sharks Carcharhinus amboinensis were caught in the shark nets that protect the swimming beaches of Natal, thereby constituting 0,5 per cent of the total shark catch. The catch rate was relatively constant at about 0,4 sharks·km net⁻¹·year⁻¹. Catches were highest at the northernmost beaches in summer and autumn and they consisted mostly of juvenile, but not newborn, and adolescent sharks. Specimens ranged from 99 to 176 cm PCL, with a mode of 131–135 cm for males and 131–145 cm for females. Males matured at 150 cm and females at 160 cm. Of the eight mature females caught, five were pregnant. Mating takes place in late summer and gestation is thought to last approximately 12 months. The largest embryo found was 53 cm. Teleosts were identified in 62,1 per cent of the 103 stomachs that contained food. Elasmobranchs (44,7%), crustaceans (12,6%) and cephalopods (11,6%) were the other major prey groups. Most of the fish prey were demersal, associated with soft bottoms.