I have been going to Ruimsig Dam for some time now and have seen the fish numbers declining on every visit.
I noticed the guys from an informal settlement close by fishing for food, catching all the baby fish that never get a chance to mature and spawn new babies. They were catching buckets full.
I have tried to teach some of them about sustainability, and about better fishing practices that will benefit them in the long run and ensure that they can feed their families on the abundance that this dam can yield.
I take some of my neighbours’ kids with me when I go there, to teach them how to fish and have a swim in the dam that so few kids get to do now.
We have been confronted by passersby a couple of times, and in one scenario it turned violent and I was forced to take drastic measures to ensure the safety of the kids and myself.
There are no representatives checking for fishing permits and monitoring the safety and cleanliness of the dam and the people.
I don’t fish there anymore as there is no more fish, and it has become too dangerous to take any children there.
I am a registered deep sea and fresh water fisherman and scuba diver, as well as an ambassador for sustainable living and fishing in South Africa and its waters.
My main concerns about the dam is the sustainability of the fish and fish species, as well as the safety of people who go there.
