New fish species found
Report and photo from Ovenstones Factory Manager Erik MacKenzie
Erik MacKenzie landed two previously unknown fish species when fishing from Calshot Harbour on 5th March 2017. Head of Fisheries James Glass has sent both specimens to South Africa for identification.
A crew member on the Geo-Searcher, Gary McFarlane, has provided a likely identification of the larger fish which he thinks is black ruff fish (Centrolophus niger). The black ruff (also commonly called rudderfdish or blackfish) is the only member of the genus Centrolophus and is found in many tropical and temperate oceans at depths between 50-1000 metres. This is probably the first confirmed record for Tristan da Cunha.
Erik has had no positive identification for the eel, but reports on 22nd March that similar eels are now seen regularly in the harbour at night. We hope to update this story as more is known.
Photo shows Erik MacKenzie holding the larger fish and Shannon Swain with the smaller eel-like fish
which are awaiting identification.