Redbait....what is it?
- Thread starter ICTHYES
- Start date
REDBAIT (Pyura stolonifera)
- IDENTIFICATION
Redbait is a kind of sea squirt (ascidian). Some sea squirts are colonial but redbait is a large non-colonial ascidian found on rocky reefs, often occurring in dense beds. Sea squirt larvae have a primitive backbone and it is because of this feature that ascidians are considered as highly advanced animals, closely related to vertebrates. As adults, redbait are recognised as a relatively featureless organism covered in a thick dark brown wrinkled tunic (white beneath the skin) which encases the bright red to pink flesh. Typically redbait stand about 15 cm high but can grow as large as a rugby ball. They have a pair of tubular siphons and can be seen squirting water at low tide.
[/*] - DISTRIBUTION
In southern Africa, redbait extends from southern Mozambique on the east coast to Namibia on the west coast. Redbait live in the low shore of the intertidal zone and extend into the subtidal zone to depths of 10 metres.
[/*] - FEEDING
Like other filter feeders, redbait rely on waves and currents to deliver tiny particles of food that are sieved from the water. Plant plankton and small particles of organic matter derived from broken up seaweed and plant material are the main food items. Water is drawn in through an inhalant siphon, filtered through a sieve-like pharynx and discharged through an exhalant siphon. If anything distasteful is drawn into the pharynx, the redbait body contracts strongly, reverses the current and the offending item is forcefully squirted from the siphon.
[/*] - REPRODUCTION
Spawning occurs in late winter and spring. The larval stage is short-lived and juvenile redbait settle within 3 days (compare this with rock lobster whose larvae spend 5 months in the offshore currents). This means that the larvae cannot travel a great distance away from the adult stock. Therefore we cannot rely on distant redbait beds to replenish our stocks and need to ensure that healthy redbait populations are protected adjacent to exploited areas. Juvenile redbait, like mussels and oysters, prefer to settle amongst the adults of their own species so it is important not to scrape large clear areas within redbait habitat.
[/*] - GROWTH
This species is considered to be fast growing. Sexual maturity is reached after 6-10 months when the redbait is about 5 cm tall.
[/*] - FISHERY
As its name suggests, redbait is used extensively as bait by anglers in KwaZulu-Natal. Until 1998, a license was not needed to harvest redbait and catch statistics were not monitored. Redbait is an important protein source for subsistence fishers in Maputaland who gather 4000-7500 kg annually.
Stock estimates show that this harvest is less than 1% of the total redbait stock in that region.
[/*] - MANAGEMENT
Redbait is managed using closed areas, gear limits and bag limits. The law requires that the redbait be cut open, the inside removed and that the base be left in place. Subtidal redbait stocks are protected and these populations seed the inshore areas that are harvested. These deeper animals are important because redbait larvae are short-lived and cannot travel long distances. Deeper stocks sustain inshore fisheries.
[/*] - ECOLOGY
Redbait beds provide habitat for other organisms and scientists have recorded 83 other invertebrate species sheltering within redbait in KwaZulu-Natal. When harvesting, the redbait tunic must be left in place allowing mobile animals to relocate before the empty test decays. Redbait also plays an important role in the inshore ecosystem, converting plant plankton and detritus into food available for other species. Fish that favour redbait in KwaZulu-Natal include speckled snapper, blacktail, knifejaw and eagle rays.
[/*]
[color=#006600]Angus[/color] wrote:
lol jorrrrrrr :dohmaybe not a early version of fear factor Angus.....but i think i would try it just for intrest sake.......Got a plan ...my sis is a stirfry expert maybe we should have a trial run......Brendon you gona try out first bud then fred second:clowThe guys at 4 Recce in Langebaan used to make a Stir Fry with fresh red bait earlier years.
[color=#006600]dubzaddict[/color] wrote:
Lol im afraid on this one boys, you going to have to count me out, there just no ways i can eat the stuff, i struggle with just handling it[color=#006600]Angus[/color] wrote:lol jorrrrrrr :dohmaybe not a early version of fear factor Angus.....but i think i would try it just for intrest sake.......Got a plan ...my sis is a stirfry expert maybe we should have a trial run......Brendon you gona try out first bud then fred second:clowThe guys at 4 Recce in Langebaan used to make a Stir Fry with fresh red bait earlier years.