SEINE NETTERS AND CATCHERS

[RobinF]

Calculate how many recreational licenses there are X the rand value for the licenses. That far exceeds the tiny contribution that these Seine Netters contribute. Conservation is always an unpleasant task, it's easier to hit where the cash 'flows' freely. Be honest, we (Most of us) are less likely to:

1) Bribe
2) Keep undersized fish
3) Not pay a fine and rather go to court.

In short, we are easy meat.........

  to the Parkies for at least being there.
  to the Parkies for doing a half-hearted job.

It defies the object of being there if there is no genuine passion to be there.

[Ray Hall]

Here is my opinion about this, I will be honest!


*) We get so upset when they haul out a whole school of breeder cob or even shoals of small cob, yet we still buy mullet from them.
*) We quickly point our fingers on any wrong doing towards them yet some of us, even provincial A side anglers buy prawns / worms, sells fish, use illegal bait etc...
*) We dont stick to our limits
*) We dont stick to our regulations


We are all to blame and we are all guilty of something. We live in a dog-eat-dog society and yes africa is a tough country.  But we all need to have a common goal and common sense of respect.


Have seen poachers listen to DeLa Rey while they suip there Olof and drive their fancy cars..... while Gatiep sy gat afsukkel om net kos op sy kinders se bord te sit en gatiep is deel van die trekkers.... where is the justice in that?


WHO IS TO BLAME!!! WE ALL ARE !!!!

[Ray Hall]

and from a authority point of view --> one word --> corruption.

[Ray Hall]

ok i am going to think out loud now... and please understand i am not pointing fingers to anyone as I am also guilty...




We worry if our R45 000 + fishfinders will do the job... we worry about the colour of our bindings on our guides .... we only eat woolworths food.... we only buy the best and most expensive dog food...




while our fellow human is happy for just one meal in two days..... while they are happy with only one blanket.... while a R5 pepstore toy will make a child dream come true!!!

[Marthin]

Ray the last point is the most important one...

Untill you give the person a workable alternative to put food on his childrens plate, en klere aan hulle gat, he is going to keep doing what keeps them going to sleep with food in their stomache.

And he'll fight you to the death if you plan on taking that away from him... any father would.

[RobinF]

Not everyone can be blamed. There are those that limit their catch (Don't catch their limit). They return unused bait to the source it came from. They don't buy from 'poachers' and they do what they can by paying their licenses. Not everyone is to blame.

While many in our country live below the breadline, there is a line between making a living and choosing to break the law to survive. While Seine Netters misuse their 'privilege' or 'right', it is the same as stealing. Seine netting licenses should be revoked when they break the law (repeatedly). The fact is that we as a generation have a responsibility to protect our marine resources for future generations.

There are so many great charities that offer a chance to give back to the 'innocent victims' of the economic situation. One should consider getting involved and give back. If that is what you are passionate about, your efforts will always be welcomed there.     

[Marthin]

The Department of Fisheries has gazetted a plan to change the Marine Living Resources Act.
 
  This is the Act that controls fishing in South Africa.
 
  The suggested changes are far reaching and have some very bad implications for recreationals.
 
  Much of the bill is designed to give preference to small scale fishers.

This bill if accepted in this format will give small scale fishers (treknetters for example) the right to apply for exclusive use of an area/resource.

Kreef, etc.... dunno exactly how wide they will be able to "cast the net" so to speak to get themselves under the small scale fisher blanket.

small scale fishers will get preferance to any othe other entrants...
 
 

[Marthin]

in other words if the powers that be have decided the TAC for silwer kob in false bay is x amount of tonnes, the treknetters will have first cut of the pie and the recreational will have to wait to hear if there is left over....

[RobinF]

The Department of Fisheries has gazetted a plan to change the Marine Living Resources Act.
 
  This is the Act that controls fishing in South Africa.
 
  The suggested changes are far reaching and have some very bad implications for recreationals.
 
  Much of the bill is designed to give preference to small scale fishers.

This bill if accepted in this format will give small scale fishers (treknetters for example) the right to apply for exclusive use of an area/resource.

Kreef, etc.... dunno exactly how wide they will be able to "cast the net" so to speak to get themselves under the small scale fisher blanket.

small scale fishers will get preferance to any othe other entrants...
 
 

Not a very well thought through proposal. How will they police these 'allocated areas'? (They can't). Will the Seine Netters take the law into their own hands if they see a recreational fisherman in the area? (Yes). What if that fisherman is releasing all his catches? The questions are endless. The intent to empower is a good one, but in reality, it's another 'hair-brain' idea. Maybe one day these guys will match up good intentions with viable ideas. There are organisations in this country that just cannot match up the viability with good intentions and that makes them look rather silly. If they got it right, they would gain credibility, but they do things from the heart, not the head.

What will happen to the DAFF bottom line if all recreationals said 'ok, I'm not paying my license'. That is a massive amount of money lost. The above proposal is just going to cause endless issues if it is not thought through.

[SAfish]

This proposed new bill will only serve one purpose and that is to make everyone a skelm. 

[Marthin]

Yip don't agree with it at all.... either.... but said it was coming....

[RobinF]

This proposed new bill will only serve one purpose and that is to make everyone a skelm. 

Well said Hermann.

And if this bill is passed, what will happen at Vetch's Pier? Does that area then belong to the Seine Netter at Vetch's? So does the DSBC pack up and move? 

[jb2]

The Department of Fisheries has gazetted a plan to change the Marine Living Resources Act.
 
  This is the Act that controls fishing in South Africa.
 
  The suggested changes are far reaching and have some very bad implications for recreationals.
 
  Much of the bill is designed to give preference to small scale fishers.

This bill if accepted in this format will give small scale fishers (treknetters for example) the right to apply for exclusive use of an area/resource.

Kreef, etc.... dunno exactly how wide they will be able to "cast the net" so to speak to get themselves under the small scale fisher blanket.

small scale fishers will get preferance to any othe other entrants...
 
 

Not a very well thought through proposal. How will they police these 'allocated areas'? (They can't). Will the Seine Netters take the law into their own hands if they see a recreational fisherman in the area? (Yes). What if that fisherman is releasing all his catches? The questions are endless. The intent to empower is a good one, but in reality, it's another 'hair-brain' idea. Maybe one day these guys will match up good intentions with viable ideas. There are organisations in this country that just cannot match up the viability with good intentions and that makes them look rather silly. If they got it right, they would gain credibility, but they do things from the heart, not the head.

What will happen to the DAFF bottom line if all recreationals said 'ok, I'm not paying my license'. That is a massive amount of money lost. The above proposal is just going to cause endless issues if it is not thought through.

Hi Robin
The amended objectives are an extract from a proposed amendment to the Marine Living Resources Act.
 
It is important to compare the old objectives in section 2 of the MLRA with the new proposed objectives.
You mentioned that seine netters would take the law into their own hands in removing recreationals from an exclusive small scale area.
In the case of False Bay this would assume that the current operators would ask for the imposition of an exclusive use area.
At the moment the current False Bay net fishers would probably  not support a specially demarcated area for small scale fishers.
I have not asked them the question directly but I have a good idea by now.
You have suggested that you would like to see the current False Bay operators loose their fishing rights.
It is likely that any replacement fishers put in their stead would probably ask for an exclusive use area.
It is possible that your assumption is not well founded as regards the current rights holders but is well founded in respect of any replacement.

[Capt. Hook]

Ray, I have to agree with most of what you said.
Its a shame that so many people live below the bread line and that children go to bed hungry.

[RobinF]

Ray, I have to agree with most of what you said.
Its a shame that so many people live below the bread line and that children go to bed hungry.

Hey Mike,

Maybe Ray has started something......maybe we need to chat along these lines and get Ultimate Angling involved to see if we can do a fund raiser specifically aimed at putting food in tummies. Good exposure for UA and a chance for us to give back?

[jb2]

Ray, I have to agree with most of what you said.
Its a shame that so many people live below the bread line and that children go to bed hungry.

Hey Mike,

Maybe Ray has started something......maybe we need to chat along these lines and get Ultimate Angling involved to see if we can do a fund raiser specifically aimed at putting food in tummies. Good exposure for UA and a chance for us to give back?

Hi Robin
The beach seine fishery in the Cape lands mostly harders.
This fishery helps to give protein at about R5 to R10 per kg.
It is hard to actively campaign for the closure of a fishery that provides food security and also talk of putting food into tummies.
 

[RobinF]

Lots of undersized fish, courtesy of the Aarendse Seine Netters - Cape Town (False Bay)

[jb2]

Lots of undersized fish, courtesy of the Aarendse Seine Netters - Cape Town (False Bay)

Hi Robin
The images that you have shown were taken during an anomalous occurrence.
Fortunately (or otherwise) the main catch composition of False Bay and other treks remains harders.
I can't recall the percentage by mass or number offhand but maybe someone can give me a hand.
Robin, please let me know if you think that the photos that you have shown are representative of the usual, average, ,mean, or otherwise expected landings of a False Bay trek.
 

[RobinF]

Note how small the Cob on the top is?

[RobinF]

Separate incident.....same netter. Very sad to see such small fish, look to the right upper corner.