Anglers balk at fishing proposals
It is proposed night fishing be prohibited and from Widenham River and Black Rocks River becomes a 'no take zone'.
Local fishermen oppose the proposed new fishing laws that prohibits night fishing within a network of marine protected areas (MPAs) which include a well-used stretch of South Coast coastline and between 5pm and 6am at other spots under a penalty of a R5-million fine or five years in jail.
Tempers flared at a public meeting held last month at the Italian Club in Umkomaas and the fishermen staged a walk-out before they were placated and returned.
The meeting was called by the Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA) and presented by Operation Phakisa and chaired by the director of marine protected areas for the DEA, Xola Mkefe.
Mkefe reassured fishermen that the suggestions made by locals would be taken into consideration when they put forward their final proposal to environment minister, Edna Molewa.
Lawbreakers could face a penalty of a R5-million fine or five years in jail
Local resident Norman Maurice requested the venue for the meeting be changed to the Italian Club as it affected the community of Umkomaas and surrounding areas. This did not go down well with the fishermen who said there was no official notice of the meeting in the local media. “Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife only notified Clansthal Conservancy, some recognised clubs and people who complained about fishermen,” said the fishermen’s representative, Abel Chetty.
At the meeting Mkefe outlined Phakisa’s proposals in terms of the proposed MPAs, while Kerry Sink of Phakisa explained their reasons for the MPAs and showed Aliwal Shoal, which was the area that affected fishermen in the area.
The points of the proposal which received the most reaction from those assembled were:
- Night fishing be prohibited from 5pm to 6am. The shoreline concerned at night will be between the Illovo River in the north and Amzimai River in the south.
- The shoreline between Widenham River in the north and Black Rocks River in the south is a ‘no take zone’ meaning no fishing of any kind is to take place along this shoreline.
“These are the two proposals that extremely angered the rock and surf fisherman who walked out of the meeting in resentment,” said Chetty.
We, the fisherman of Umkomaas and surrounding areas, have formed the Aliwal Shoal Rock and Surf Fisherman Forum to strongly object to the proposals and to address other matters. Phakisa has been notified of the newly formed forum to represent the fishermen and the notification was acknowledged.
The forum requests all fishermen who object to these proposals and who have access to e-mail to send in their comments to Phakisa, marked for attention to either Xola Mkefe or Kerry Sink at mparegs@enviroment.gov.za.”
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