SEVERAL gill nets were removed and seized by authorities last week in a crackdown on poaching on the uMngeni River. Metro Police Search and Rescue (SAR) along with Durban SAR recovered one of the illegal nets near the N2 bridge while KwaZulu-Natal Ezemevelo Wildlife officers recovered two nets inside the Beachwood Mangroves Nature Reserve.
The nets, often referred to as ‘floating curtains of death’ are set out stationary in the water and capture the fish by entanglement.
Basil Pather, conservation manager at the mangroves nature reserve said the nets could contain anything from 30 to 50 fish, including crabs, shrimp and some bird life. The illegal gill netters have been using the plethora of channels in the reserve to lay their traps.
He said of late there had been an influx of marine poachers trying to poach inside the reserve, particularly at night.
“We recovered two gill nets last week. The North Durban Honorary Officers were having their regular meeting at the education centre inside the reserve when they heard voices come from one of the creeks in the reserve. My wildlife officers then set out to investigate and found four suspects whose torch lights gave away their position. Once cornered the suspects fled on foot leaving behind the two gill nets measuring between 200 metres and 300 metres.
“The reason why they are called the ‘floating curtains of death’ is because they kill marine species in their deadly embrace. Most often fish are gilled. A fish swims into a net and passes only partly through the mesh. When it struggles to free itself, the twine slips behind the gill cover and prevents escape. This had an adverse effect on the fish because the mangroves play a significant role as hatcheries and nurseries for marine life. Luckily we were able to remove these nets before any fish were caught but we have seen an increase in nighttime poaching attempts within the reserve,” he explained.
While KZN Ezemvelo Wildlife officers at the reserve have removed gill nets on the boundary of, and within the reserve, residents of uMgeni Park have noticed illegal gill netters targeting marine life up river which is under the responsibility of DAFF.
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