Permission to pump cracker in Durban harbour

[Ziggy]

This morning in the angling column in Durban's morning paper (the Mercury) it mentions the following


"Anglers in possession of a cracker shrimp licence must be aware that it is illegal to pump cracker shrimps in the Durban Bay unless you have permission from the Port Captain"


This is the first time I have heard this - anyone know what the situation is? How does one get this permission?

[dugong]

Whats the bet that this is another case of the left hand not knowing what the right hand is doing!!

[fishy1969]

With all due respect to our poor Port Captain, one wonders what knowledge he has of conservation requirements. Surely his responsibility extends only to keeping the public out of restricted areas and controlling the use of personal vessels within the confines of the harbour. Unless the sandbanks are restricted areas, i find it difficult to believe that he has a say in the when, who, what and how of cracker shrimp collection. If this is so, he will do well to start with stopping the illegal immigrants who pump on those banks whenever the tide allows for the purpose of resale. many of the older fishermen who fish from their boats have been threatened by these thugs who seem to think they own the sand banks. Just my 2c worth!

[fishy1969]

Ziggy maybe its a reference to the fact that only those with the new permit to fish in the harbour from the side may pump the cracker. us boat owners who have a Portnet disk in theory have his permission to use the facility which i would guess would include the cracker shrimp if you had the valid licence from Ezemvelo?

[CLS]

With all due respect to our poor Port Captain, one wonders what knowledge he has of conservation requirements. Surely his responsibility extends only to keeping the public out of restricted areas and controlling the use of personal vessels within the confines of the harbour. Unless the sandbanks are restricted areas, i find it difficult to believe that he has a say in the when, who, what and how of cracker shrimp collection. If this is so, he will do well to start with stopping the illegal immigrants who pump on those banks whenever the tide allows for the purpose of resale. many of the older fishermen who fish from their boats have been threatened by these thugs who seem to think they own the sand banks. Just my 2c worth!

[Ziggy]

Ziggy maybe its a reference to the fact that only those with the new permit to fish in the harbour from the side may pump the cracker. us boat owners who have a Portnet disk in theory have his permission to use the facility which i would guess would include the cracker shrimp if you had the valid licence from Ezemvelo?

This is what I think as well - will be down at the Rod and Reel tonight (monthly social) and will ask around