Trout fishing is a criminal activity

[Ziggy]

(extracted from "The Bobbin" http://www.durbanflytyers.co.za/Bobbin/The-Bobbin-August-2013.pdf)

The minister of environmental Affairs promulgated  regulations under the National Environment Management: Biodiversity Act NEM:BA  along with a list of prescribed invasive species on 19 July 2013.


Rainbow and brown trout are listed as invasive species under  category 1b. This means that trout must in be controlled in terms of invasive  species management programme.


It also means that it is a criminal offence punishable by a  fine of up to ten million rands and a prison sentence of up to ten years to  carry out a restricted activity concerning trout without a permit.


Restricted activities are very widely defined and include  fishing.

Fortunately these regulations are not yet in force so we are  not all criminals just yet. That will happen at some future date to be  announced by the minister.

We are told that is contemplated that this very harsh regime  will be relaxed in certain areas and for certain activities but whether this  will happen before the regulations are implemented or but quite what those will  be, no one can say at the moment.

MY NOTE: I am in contact with people in FOSAF who are in the know and who are dealing with this issue. As and when information becomes available, I will post it here. By the way, technically speaking in terms of the regulations - if you release trout into any water, it is a criminal offence!!!! Bang goes catch and release!!!! ......and trout fishing in the end,,,,

[Lichia amia]

I see a new TV series - The Fisherman in Cell Block H 

[Rory]

Wheres DiamnondDogs when we need him? He has the low down on this issue. Its not all doom, gloom, and dirty police cells!
 
Something I do know is "Category 1b" also includes: Carp, Grass Carp, Silver Carp, All Bass, Trout, Blue Gill and some others as well. But don't go selling your bass boat yet....

[Ziggy]

here is a link to the regulations


http://www.info.gov.za/view/DownloadFileAction?id=195017

[Ziggy]

Wheres DiamnondDogs when we need him? He has the low down on this issue. Its not all doom, gloom, and dirty police cells!
 
Something I do know is "Category 1b" also includes: Carp, Grass Carp, Silver Carp, All Bass, Trout, Blue Gill and some others as well. But don't go selling your bass boat yet....

Agreed - not all doom and gloom - but, trout water (and other species as you point out) will become less available....and dont forget the rotenone that is lurking in the background waiting to do a bit of piscicide!

[Ziggy]

From the facebook page of the editor of "The Bobbin"

This is an urgent alert to all trout bass and carp fisherman in South Africa so please pass it on. The minister of environmental affairs listed trout carp and bass as invasive species on Friday thereby making anyone who fishes, keeps, transports or in any way deals in trout, bass or carp, whether processed dead or alive criminals liable to a fine of up to ten million rands and a period of imprisonment of up to ten years.
So as matters stand today the freshwater fishing community in South Africa are criminals, so is anyone who runs a hatchery, owns a dam stocked with bass trout or carp, or sells or gives them away.

Ditto if you cook the stuff. It may sound to crazy to be true but this is the result of pushing through legislation without considering its effect.

[Marthin]

hook and cook... except if it's from the vaal tho...

[Toppie]

Its always been!
 
No invasive species was allowed in connected or flowing waterways, only in confined dams with no link to other waters.
 
You required a permit to breed, transport and stock other such "confined" water/dams.

[Rory]

Its always been!
 
No invasive species was allowed in connected or flowing waterways, only in confined dams with no link to other waters.
 
You required a permit to breed, transport and stock other such "confined" water/dams.

Spot on Clive.
 
"Category 1 b - invasive species are invasive species that require control by means of an invasive species management programme" The key words here being "Control" and "Invasive species management programme".

 
 

[Ziggy]

Its always been!
 
No invasive species was allowed in connected or flowing waterways, only in confined dams with no link to other waters.
 
You required a permit to breed, transport and stock other such "confined" water/dams.

Spot on Clive.
 
"Category 1 b - invasive species are invasive species that require control by means of an invasive species management programme" The key words here being "Control" and "Invasive species management programme".

The regulations now include fishing - thats how the lawyers who are dealing with the issues have interpreted the regulations

[Marthin]

I'll wait to see what happens... i've been watching this episode unfold since i first got wind of it...

I suspect fishing for them will not be an issue, releasing them again will be, unless you are fishing in an area that has the permits and fulfills the above criteria.

Or, you will even have to have a permit to fish for it? To try and stop things like people who catch fish and then take to other places?

[Big B]

These guys  making these rules are CRAZY! They should use their time and energy to clean up our dams and stop thinking of shitty legislation. Dit maak my sommer die bliks@m in! Really!

[isivuba]

Sorry Ziggy but is fishing is wrong I do not want to be right. How they going  to police this?

[Marthin]

Now that is a brilliant question.......

[Toppie]

Mike, quite easy.
 
By issuing an ID Card type "Permit to Fish Invasive Species", with your photograph, finger print and signature on it, yearly renewable costing R800-00 per year. Just because people who fish for Trout and Bass are supposed to have money.
 
Don't challenge these people, their ingenuity is as wide as their imagination, just like they are going to recycle the plastic shopping bags!!!!!!!

[Ziggy]

Ultimately, I assume, the responsibility will rest on riparian owners - so whoever owns the riverside or dam may be responsible  for policing, because they would have to have permits to allow the fish to be in designated places, and they would have to provide anglers with permission to fish their waters. However, as I mentioned, I am just assuming..


Dont forget, they will also eradicate fish form some areas, as they have been doing in the W Cape - using rotenone


I am sure that FOSAF (and other angling societies for bass and carp) will be working on these issues and negotiating with government.


A total ban and severe restrictions would have a significant effect on job creation and maintenance - just think, Machadodorp/Belfast areas where tourism is highly dependent on trout - as is (to a certain extent) places like Underberg/Nottingham road - and especially places like Rhodes.

[isivuba]

Ultimately, I assume, the responsibility will rest on riparian owners - so whoever owns the riverside or dam may be responsible  for policing, because they would have to have permits to allow the fish to be in designated places, and they would have to provide anglers with permission to fish their waters. However, as I mentioned, I am just assuming..


Dont forget, they will also eradicate fish form some areas, as they have been doing in the W Cape - using rotenone


I am sure that FOSAF (and other angling societies for bass and carp) will be working on these issues and negotiating with government.


A total ban and severe restrictions would have a significant effect on job creation and maintenance - just think, Machadodorp/Belfast areas where tourism is highly dependent on trout - as is (to a certain extent) places like Underberg/Nottingham road - and especially places like Rhodes.

See how stupid are they really then......have you ever heard of a person being convicted or ever given a fine for all the above.  Now I want to catch the biggest trout / bass I can find. Just like smoking weed......you ban it and boy do they take over. If I was the Goverment I would just keep quite and hope and pray not more people will hear about these laws and if they do God help the Nottingham/Underberg, Mchadodorp/Belfast areas as they will have an influx of "rough" fishermen just doing it because it's not allowed. Mmmmmm would like to catch me some trout but can you see these okes at the dam looking back and casting looking back and casting with the adrenalin pumping and in the back of there minds going " what I'm doing is ilegal" Hell yes what a rush....now this is not fishing.

[krissi]

I will be watching this thread with interest ... seems as if we are borderline criminals, having a hatchery    - does this mean I will lose my cred? 

[CLS]

I think Taxies are more invasive.

[Ziggy]

I will be watching this thread with interest ... seems as if we are borderline criminals, having a hatchery    - does this mean I will lose my cred? 

They take your trout and we take your credit!