Overfishing ‘killing’ local shad population
Approximately 60 percent of all fish caught by shore anglers on the KZN coast are shad.
THE illegal overfishing of shad along Durban North and uMhlanga shoreline during the closed season is rapidly decreasing the numbers of the sought after fish. As a result individual fish are getting smaller, says Basil Pather, conservation manager at the Beachwood Mangroves Nature Reserve.
The shad season closed on the 1 October and ends on 30 November. However hundreds of fishermen have ignored the law and have been fined and arrested along KZN beaches. The most popular spots according to Pather are the Shipwreck Beach (La Lucia), Glenashley Beach and Peace Cottage (uMhlanga).
To ensure that future generations continue to catch and enjoy shad, catch restrictions were introduced in 1916, a bag limit was set in 1973, and the closed season was introduced in 1977. The species has a minimum size of 30cm, and anglers may only keep four fish each in season.
Shad more vulnerable during breeding season
“This is to allow the species to grow beyond the first breeding age,” explains Pather. “However, anglers are causing an endless problem by targeting the fish during closed season, because they are vulnerable when they breed offshore.
“At the moment we have a situation where there’s a dwindling number of shad catches during the open season and anglers are illegally catching more shad during the closed season which in turn affects the population. As a result we are compromising the breeding stock,” he said.
Pather added the environmental crime was ‘killing’ the shad population.
“Approximately 60 percent of all fish caught by shore anglers on the KZN coast are shad. We recently arrested an angler who was found in possession of 18 shad. He appeared in court and was released on bail.
“Most fishermen who are caught seem unperturbed by the fines and arrests. They are unaware that their actions are directly impacting the declining shad population,” he said.
Shad migrate from cool waters in the Western and Eastern Cape to KwaZulu-Natal each winter, following their main prey of sardines.
Hiding fish in sand
Pather added fishermen had taken to hiding their catches in the sand or burying them behind the dune vegetation to avoid fines.
“To avoid being caught some fishermen dig a hole in the sand and cover the shad up. We’ve also noticed some of them going as far as burying fish near the boundary walls of houses along the beachfront.
“We confiscate anything from 30 to 80 shad per patrol. We then hand over the catch to the Oceanographic Research Institute (ORI) for research purposes,” he said.
No shad left in years to come
La Lucia resident Howard (who would only give his first name) said he was disgusted at the number of fishermen breaking the law last week.
“I was taking my dogs for their daily walk and the beach near Lady Ellen Crescent had more than 40 fishermen all targeting shad. I approached some of them and reminded them it’s closed season.
“I also warned them that in years to come their grandchildren won’t know what shad are because of overfishing which they laughed off. These weren’t poor subsistence fishermen, all one had to do was look at the luxury cars parked near the shore to understand that. We are damaging the population of shad,” he said.
MARINE ANTI POACHING HOTLINE: 083 380 6298
