Merluccius capensis
Encyclopedia
The Shallow-water Cape hake (Merluccius capensis) is a merluccid hake of the genus Merluccius, found in the south-eastern Atlantic Ocean
, along the coast of South Africa
. Its range extends southwards around the coast and into the Indian Ocean
. On the east coast it is less abundant and Merluccius capensis is rarely found in significant numbers north of KwaZulu-Natal
. On the west coast, Merluccius capensis occurs as far north as Benguela
in Angola
, where its distribution overlaps that of Merluccius polli, the Benguela hake.
In South Africa, Merluccius capensis is one of the most important commercial food fishes and locally is generally known as stockfish
(this English name being derived from the Afrikaans
stokvis).
Very similar to Merluccius merluccius (European hake) and Merluccius paradoxus
(the deep-water Cape hake), Merluccius capensis has an average length of about 50 cm, up to a maximum of about 120 cm (47 in). It lives close to the bottom on the continental shelf and upper slope at depths from 50 to 500 m, usually not below 400m. Its preferred depth partly overlaps that of Merluccius paradoxus between depths of 200-400m.
Merluccius capensis might be classified as a euryphagous carnivore; immature specimens feed on small, deep-sea fishes and crustaceans. Large hake feed on squid and fishes as well; smaller hake and jack mackerel are major components of their diet.
Merluccius capensis migrates vertically on a daily programme, being demersal by day and nekton
ic by night. On a seasonal basis, it migrates southwards in spring and northwards in autumn. Spawning is variably reported either to be year-round, or to occur mainly from mid-spring to early summer.
The Cape hake is often fished together with the species Merluccius paradoxus
, which generally lives at greater depths. Most reported catches combine both species, but the range of Merluccius capensis continues towards the north-west coast of southern Africa, in the region of Angola, where, for practical purposes, Merluccius paradoxus does not occur.
Atlantic Ocean
The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's oceanic divisions. With a total area of about , it covers approximately 20% of the Earth's surface and about 26% of its water surface area...
, along the coast of South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
. Its range extends southwards around the coast and into the Indian Ocean
Indian Ocean
The Indian Ocean is the third largest of the world's oceanic divisions, covering approximately 20% of the water on the Earth's surface. It is bounded on the north by the Indian Subcontinent and Arabian Peninsula ; on the west by eastern Africa; on the east by Indochina, the Sunda Islands, and...
. On the east coast it is less abundant and Merluccius capensis is rarely found in significant numbers north of KwaZulu-Natal
KwaZulu-Natal
KwaZulu-Natal is a province of South Africa. Prior to 1994, the territory now known as KwaZulu-Natal was made up of the province of Natal and the homeland of KwaZulu....
. On the west coast, Merluccius capensis occurs as far north as Benguela
Benguela
Benguela is a city in western Angola, south of Luanda, and capital of Benguela Province. It lies on a bay of the same name, in 12° 33’ S., 13° 25’ E...
in Angola
Angola
Angola, officially the Republic of Angola , is a country in south-central Africa bordered by Namibia on the south, the Democratic Republic of the Congo on the north, and Zambia on the east; its west coast is on the Atlantic Ocean with Luanda as its capital city...
, where its distribution overlaps that of Merluccius polli, the Benguela hake.
In South Africa, Merluccius capensis is one of the most important commercial food fishes and locally is generally known as stockfish
Stockfish
Stockfish is unsalted fish, especially cod, dried by cold air and wind on wooden racks on the foreshore, called "hjell". The drying of food is the world's oldest known preservation method, and dried fish has a storage life of several years...
(this English name being derived from the Afrikaans
Afrikaans
Afrikaans is a West Germanic language, spoken natively in South Africa and Namibia. It is a daughter language of Dutch, originating in its 17th century dialects, collectively referred to as Cape Dutch .Afrikaans is a daughter language of Dutch; see , , , , , .Afrikaans was historically called Cape...
stokvis).
Very similar to Merluccius merluccius (European hake) and Merluccius paradoxus
Merluccius paradoxus
The Deep-water Cape hake is a merluccid hake of the genus Merluccius, found in the south-eastern Atlantic Ocean, along the coast of Southern Africa, south of Angola...
(the deep-water Cape hake), Merluccius capensis has an average length of about 50 cm, up to a maximum of about 120 cm (47 in). It lives close to the bottom on the continental shelf and upper slope at depths from 50 to 500 m, usually not below 400m. Its preferred depth partly overlaps that of Merluccius paradoxus between depths of 200-400m.
Merluccius capensis might be classified as a euryphagous carnivore; immature specimens feed on small, deep-sea fishes and crustaceans. Large hake feed on squid and fishes as well; smaller hake and jack mackerel are major components of their diet.
Merluccius capensis migrates vertically on a daily programme, being demersal by day and nekton
Nekton
Nekton refers to the aggregate of actively swimming aquatic organisms in a body of water able to move independently of water currents....
ic by night. On a seasonal basis, it migrates southwards in spring and northwards in autumn. Spawning is variably reported either to be year-round, or to occur mainly from mid-spring to early summer.
The Cape hake is often fished together with the species Merluccius paradoxus
Merluccius paradoxus
The Deep-water Cape hake is a merluccid hake of the genus Merluccius, found in the south-eastern Atlantic Ocean, along the coast of Southern Africa, south of Angola...
, which generally lives at greater depths. Most reported catches combine both species, but the range of Merluccius capensis continues towards the north-west coast of southern Africa, in the region of Angola, where, for practical purposes, Merluccius paradoxus does not occur.