Sharks caught in the protective gill nets off KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. 11. The scalloped hammerhead shark Sphyrna lewini (Griffith and Smith)

Abstract

Between 1978 and 1998, a total of 3 385 scalloped hammerhead sharks Sphyrna lewini was caught in the protective nets off KwaZulu-Natal. The mean annual catch was 166 sharks (range 60–279). There was a significant decrease in catch rate with time, but the relationship with the population size in KwaZulu-Natal waters is unknown. Size and sex segregation is indicated. Sizes-at-50% maturity were 161.5cm (males) and 183.1cm (females). Most of the catch (91%) was immature, but neonates are poorly sampled by the 51-cm meshed nets. In small animals