Appearance and lifestyle:
The galjoen (Dichistius multifasciatus) is the national fish of South Africa. It is a distinct-looking fish, it belongs to a family of fish which are endemic to our coastline and so we’re proud of it! It is a grey to black fish that has a small mouth with small scales that cover the whole fish, they can grow up to 80cm long.
Habitat:
They inhabit rough waters on sandy and rocky shores, and the juveniles are usually seen in tidal pools and gullies. In winter and spring, they spawn off KwaZulu- Natal.
Diet:
They eat benthic invertebrates.
Threats:
Sadly, our national fish is fast disappearing – it has been overfished and is now listed as Red by SASSI (Southern African Sustainable Seafood Initiative). Recreational anglers may only catch two galjoen (minimum size = 35cm) per day between 1 March and 14 October each year. They are not allowed to sell their catch.