Growth rate of speckled snapperLutjanus rivulatus(Teleostei: Lutjanidae) based on tag-recapture data from the iSimangaliso Wetland Park, South Africa

Speckled snapper (Lutjanus rivulatus) exhibits slow growth, with a maximum length (L∞) of 918 mm fork length and a growth coefficient (K) of 0.06, as determined by a long-term tag-recapture study in the iSimangaliso Wetland Park—Maputo National Park, South Africa. The study, conducted over multiple years, tagged 1,429 individuals, with 31.7% recaptured, allowing researchers to model growth rates using maximum-likelihood methods. Notably, the growth index (phi-prime) of 2.69 was lower than that of related species, suggesting vulnerability to exploitation due to slow growth and high site fidelity. The research also found no significant impact from deep-hooking or multiple captures on fish growth. These findings underscore the need for a precautionary approach in managing this species within the UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Mann, B., Lee, B., & Cowley, P. (2016). Growth rate of speckled snapperLutjanus rivulatus(Teleostei: Lutjanidae) based on tag-recapture data from the iSimangaliso Wetland Park, South Africa. African Journal of Marine Science, 38(1), 111–118. https://doi.org/10.2989/1814232x.2016.1162195