SEINE NETTERS AND CATCHERS

[RobinF]

Hi travelmember,

The info you have provided and the advise that you have offered is most welcomed. Thank you. (I intend taking your advise and using it)

I do however stand by my comments regarding Ken Morty. He responded to an email that Bruce Mann from Ori sent him, so what is the problem with responding to us? Bruce sent Ken Morty's reply to us for comment. So we replied.....in December and never heard a thing. I am not sure how much more info I could possibly get other than to draw my own conclusions based on the information on hand. The situation at Vetches is reaching boiling point and not long from now the story will come to the forefront and I cannot condone a senior official ignoring concerned citizens when they take the time to voice their concerns. It cost nothing to atleast acknowledge the receipt of the emails. If you are going to occupy a senior chair, fill it properly, be professional and offer a common courtesy to your fellow citizens.

His high and mighty stance serves no one.

[RobinF]

And sure enough, Ken Morty responded to my email that I sent him. He was not happy with me, but suggested that we rather work in a positive light, which I agree with. He also has assured me that the 9 large Garrick that were seized last year will be investigated and he will let us know the outcome. (I call that progress) I have suggested that he organise a meeting with the relevant staff from his department and all concerned parties to meet each other and also to address concerns.

If he agrees to organise a meeting, all you KZN guys that have issues regarding poaching, Seinne netting etc, really need to try to be there. The purpose one hopes is to establish a face to face with them so you can see who is who and collect telephone numbers of who to call when you see whatever. I think it will help a lot. Trust is important and if you know the Parkies personally, it's going to make the world of difference.

I just hope he arranges such a meeting. I'll let you guy know. If anyone else picks it up before me, please post it.

[CLS]

RobinF well done, keep us informed as I would like to attend the meeting.

[RobinF]

Good for you CLS, I thought you'd be one of the first to say "I'm in". It has the potential to be one of the most productive meetings yet. Ken just needs to do his part....will he do it? I'm waiting to see. (I honestly hope so, the situation is actually worse than first thought)

[REEFMAN]

Robin... 
Big ups to you for pursuing this with such fervour and passion!
  is behind you all the way.

[RobinF]

Thank you Reefman, means a great deal to me. I get a lots of emails and PM's with messages of support and they are all appreciated.

[Capt. Hook]

RobinF well done, keep us informed as I would like to attend the meeting.

Me too

[jace]

Good for you CLS, I thought you'd be one of the first to say "I'm in". It has the potential to be one of the most productive meetings yet. Ken just needs to do his part....will he do it? I'm waiting to see. (I honestly hope so, the situation is actually worse than first thought)

There will definitively representative from KZN Fishing at this meeting .So we will be keeping an eye on this thread

[RobinF]

Ezemvelo has offered to meet with all that   are interested in voicing   their concern regarding the Vetches Seinne   netters and poaching   issues.

Guys, this is it, it's the first   step toward cleaning   things up. It MUST be well supported, if you have   concerns, please   attend it. If you want to understand what you can do if   you witness   anything, please attend.

This is so important, the   situation   is on the brink of exploding and this is a constructive way   forward.   Things will change if this is well attended. Please pass the   message,   I'll keep you guys updated when it is arranged.

Invitation from Ken Morty himself.

[Capt. Hook]

Ezemvelo has offered to meet with all that   are interested in voicing   their concern regarding the Vetches Seinne   netters and poaching   issues.

Guys, this is it, it's the first   step toward cleaning   things up. It MUST be well supported, if you have   concerns, please   attend it. If you want to understand what you can do if   you witness   anything, please attend.

This is so important, the   situation   is on the brink of exploding and this is a constructive way   forward.   Things will change if this is well attended. Please pass the   message,   I'll keep you guys updated when it is arranged.

Invitation from Ken Morty himself.

When and Where????? please let us know

[RobinF]

Will make sure I post it everywhere, for you guys to see.

[maganything]

 
iv just picked up on this thread... must have been dosing for the last few months!!
 
i would definately like to attend this meeting to take a stance against this practice!!

[super_daav]

Hi Robin,
Well done on this progress! When is the meeting and what do you expect when you say good support? 10, 20, 100 people? Nice to have a target so easier to mobilise...

[RobinF]

At this stage I am not certain of numbers, but I think we are well past 20 people. The biggest concern is that the meeting must be constructive and we must not have the Parks guys running out there with a mob after them. The idea behind the meeting a way forward, EKZNW is not to shut the netters down. Not yet atleast. The meeting will also establish guidelines and procedures to follow. No matter what we say, they are not going to touch any netter UNLESS he transgresses or unless we have proof.

By voicing our concerns and detailing previous things witnessed where these guys have broken the law, we will be putting EKZNW in the spotlight. They will have to commit to certain things regarding what actions they will take to what reports. We will be able to meet the responsible 'Parkies' for the relevant areas face to face. Ofcourse any proof regarding these illegal actions by these netters will be welcomed at this meeting.

Before anyone says "Aw Jeez, I thought this was going to finally be the time that we could do something and get it done", take a deep breath and look at this again. Frustration is built up when these netters get away with destruction on the resources. The fact is that EKZNW is going to be in the spotlight in this meeting. We all get pretty emotional when we don't know all the facts and it's time for us to ask our questions, to get educated and only through that knowledge will be be able to catch these guys doing something illegal and then put EKZNW in a position where they have to drop the hammer.  Ever heard the expression 'means to an end'? That is what this is. 

The biggest thing is the meeting is not us going to war with EKZNW, it's about establishing accountability. If we all know what to do when we see what, and if the EKZNW has committed to certain actions, we are then right on top of reaching what most want.

Ken Morty has issued a letter that I will summarise and post soon. It's important to post the nuts and bolts of it or else they can say that we are only being one sided and hiding the facts that they present. It basically states that the netters can haul as many fish as they want of species that they are allowed to catch.

That in itself is worrying. Talk about decimation. Anyway, the meeting will be very informative and I would welcome all to bring whatever concerns and questions you have and from there we will be able to move this cause in a much smarter and co-ordinated manner. (Let them tell us how to shut this down once and for all)



 

 

[RobinF]

The first meeting has taken place with just the major 'voices' for us   that want this operation ceased. EKZNW was not there as this meeting is   the precursor to that meeting. It was decided to keep it to a focus   group that allowed for co-ordination and organisation. It does not mean   that you cannot still have your input. The press asked Morgan for his   input and his response is nothing but ridiculous. It's interesting to   note that his only 'major' defense is that this is racial. Really? He   refers to himself as Indian...I thought he's South African, like me.   There's a difference? Anyway, I thought it was funny that he refers to   the new development and claims that that this is the major push for him   to be gone. Yet all stakeholders in the meeting were opposed to this   development in the first place.  I'll keep you guys up to date after the meeting with EKZNW takes place. Here's the press release:

    [size=0pt]A Durban seine netter has  vowed to stay put and resist attempts by recreational fishermen to have the  activity banned from the city’s coastline.[/size][size=0pt][/color][/size][/i][size=0pt][/color]The stand-off comes as the  fishermen were expected to hold talks with Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife officials on  Wednesday over the continued use of seine nets, which they say indiscriminately  plunder undersized and protected fish species. [/size][/i][size=0pt][/color]“The simple truth of the  matter is that we have been here fishing like this for over 150 years,” Morgan  Subramanian, the spokesman for Durban Seine Netters, said on Tuesday. [/size][/i][size=0pt][/color]“This whole campaign to get  rid of us is being driven by a small group of people who are polluting the air  with their backwards view. This is supposed to be the rainbow nation, but there  are still some people who feel that this area must be exclusive to them. My  grandfather fished like this, my father after him and now me,” he said. [/size][/i][size=0pt][/color]Subramanian claimed the  issue only arose when plans were afoot to develop the Vetch’s Beach area. [/size][/i][size=0pt][/color]“Now that big money is  being pumped here they want me gone. I am going nowhere.” [/size][/i][size=0pt][/color]Johnny Vassilaros, chairman  of the Durban Paddle Ski Club who has been at the forefront of the dispute with  seine netters, said the issue was about the “rape” of the sea. [/size][/i][size=0pt][/color]He said his club would  raise these issues on Wednesday and would call for a total ban on seine  netting. Vassilaros described the practice as antiquated, saying it was harmful  to South Africa’s dwindling fish stock. [/size][/i][size=0pt][/color]“Every fishery in South  Africa, whether it is commercial or recreational, has had restrictions placed  on them over the years to protect our marine stocks – except this industry. [/size][/i][size=0pt][/color]“This industry, however,  has been allowed to go on without restrictions for 150 years. It is the most  destructive and most indiscriminate form of fishing,” he said. “It seems as if  (Ezemvelo) is turning a blind eye. We are restricted to catch four shad per  person and they all have to be a certain size – which we are happy with. But  every day we see scores of shad and undersized fish getting dragged on the  beach. This cannot go unchallenged.” [/size][/i][size=0pt][/color]Durban Seine Netters have  been operating on a historic licence and can trace their business to when the  first indentured labourers arrived. [/size][/i][size=0pt][/color]According to their permits,  they are only allowed to fish from the South Pier to the uMngeni River mouth.  Last year, the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries closed  loopholes, forcing them to fish from 4.30am to 6pm in summer and from 6am to  6pm in winter. [/size][/i][size=0pt][/color]They were also prohibited  from catching 38 species of fish, such as shad, blacktail, garrick, kingfish  and grunter. The seine netters were also stopped from using motorboats or going  out at night. [/size][/i][size=0pt][/color]In a recent letter to the  recreational fishermen, Ken Morty, Ezemvelo’s biodiversity conservation  co-ordinator, said the seine netters’ permit allowed them to catch all the  species on the exploitable, protected and bait lists. He said while size limits  are applicable, there are no number limits. [/size][/i][size=0pt][/color]“The conditions include: no  night netting allowed, no use of motorised boat, any species which they are not  allowed to capture or sell must be released or declared to Ezemvelo; and  Ezemvelo staff have to be contacted prior to netting activities taking place,”  he said. [/size][/i][size=0pt][/color]Morty said the fishermen’s  claims of “wholesale slaughter” and that authorities were turning “a blind eye”  to these activities only stirred up the emotions of concerned people who do not  have a opportunity to be apprised of all the facts. [/size][/i][size=0pt][/color]Subramanian said he did not  buy the assertion that they plundered the sea. He [/size][/i][size=0pt][/color]claimed race was an issue.  “It seems to me that some people don’t like Indians to operate here.” [/size][/i][size=0pt][/color]Vassilaros denied that the  campaign against the seine netters was a racial one, saying there were many  Indian fishermen who wanted netting stopped. [/size][/i]
 

[CLS]

Thanks RF, its a start.

[Fritz]

Why is it that this oke has to throw the racial card every time he gets confronted about the netting on the beach ? This has got nothing to do with the colour of your skin. Its about the fish stocks that they are plundering the way they are. If the netting was done the correct way then their would never have been an issue. I wonder what he is going to say when his own people confront him about the matter.?

[jace]

Hi Fritz


Maybe a bit of semantics but WE will never be his people...Here is a reply to this on KZN Fishing I did a week ago





I just want to make a statement to the netters here in Durban and Capetown

I have heard and listened to so many stories but the thing that SICKENS me to the gut when the guys that ABUSE this netting license continue to bring race into the issue.

Guys , please grow up..you cannot use the excuse to destroy our marine resources under the misinformed gesture that we non whites support your greed. WE DO NOT.

[CLS]

Hi Fritz


Maybe a bit of semantics but WE will never be his people...Here is a reply to this on KZN Fishing I did a week ago





I just want to make a statement to the netters here in Durban and Capetown

I have heard and listened to so many stories but the thing that SICKENS me to the gut when the guys that ABUSE this netting license continue to bring race into the issue.

Guys , please grow up..you cannot use the excuse to destroy our marine resources under the misinformed gesture that we non whites support your greed. WE DO NOT.

Well done Jace 

[RobinF]

I may be wrong (Don't think I am), but the guys in Cape Town use this form of fishing as a sole means of living. That means that they rely on this business to feed their families. Now as for our 'friend' at Vetches, he cannot lay claim to this. He is a businessman, with other businesses and drives a decent car. So where the guys in Cape Town will almost certainly raise that as a defense, he cannot, so all he has is the (ridiculous) race card claim and now he has added the new development to his defense. That is why the Cape Town operations will be very difficult to shut down, but as for Mr. Racecar-d, he is not so immune.