Gill netting in the greater St Lucia estuary

[Fishhard]

We recently visited Falsbay near by Hluluwe and came across a couple of very long gill nets on the water. Each net was cut by us to try and free it from a rock or pole under the water. It took us a hour and 45 min to get this thing out of the water and the amount of fish (dead rotten) in these nets was very disturbing to say the least!!
After inspection we cam across a little row boat on the Fanies eiland side . It was obviously used by the "poachers" to clear there nets at night....
We reported it to the guard at the gate but his answer was "our boat is out of order" so we can not go on the water!


We stayed in Mbazwane for the holiday and commuted in and out of Hluluwe to fish this stunning peace of water a few times in the December 2014' holidays and just to find these nets again and again.
There is a white manager in the Spar in Mbazwane that showed me a picture of a grunter of about 7 to 8kg and another one of about 5kg that a black lady was holding up for a picture. He asked her about the fish and she said that she lives next to the lake and have found , listen to this now, a channel in the lake with a grawel bottom and she is catchin them(grunter,stumpie etc etc) by the net full and selling them for big money was her words. She has her own gill net she said!!
We found two nets right oppisite the Lister point launch site on the other side close to the side. Also a couple on the right side of the launch site if you are facing the water and at paaltjies were the "krokodil gate" is on the fanies eiland side!
What are we going to do about this guys ?

[L Hooker]

Sickening, surely someone must know of someone high up in Ezemvelo that we can send a petition too or something!!

[sardinella]

Unfortunately this has been ongoing for years.
Definitely time for action.

[Fishhard]

The sad thing about it is that you are not allowed to keep n salmon if you catch it but they are allowed to gill net for all the salmon they can lay there hands on!!! How logic is that?


Also the fact that the system is now fishable by us for the first time in years gets spoiled by these poachers taking out anything that moves or they just let it rot in the net..

[Rory mundy]

the poachers stole the park board boat at maphelane when we launch in the morning you can see them putting up there nets in clear view of the parks board buckie but all they say is there boat was stolen nothing they can do

[Fishhard]

the poachers stole the park board boat at maphelane when we launch in the morning you can see them putting up there nets in clear view of the parks board buckie but all they say is there boat was stolen nothing they can do

Damn thats bad , what is going on with them . Can you not film it for us please so we can send it to Cart b lance or something?

[Moolla]

Guys,

we have to get involved.  The suggestion of filming may help create awareness. 

Does anyone have any other ideas/ suggestions?

Remember that estuary belongs to all of us, not only those that live nearby.  If we dont take a stand, who will??

[fishy1969]

Fact: Dont ever think that you (who buys an annual fishing permit) and a 'subsistence fisherman' will ever be viewed equally or have to abide by the same rules! This applies to any area that Ezemvelo has some form of control over. Before you shoot me down for my statement, let me provide you with a verifiable fact. On the beach at Bhanga Nek, at the point, there is an Ezemvelo sign proclaiming the area to the south of a marker beacon to be a marine sanctuary. As far as i am aware, the function of a marine sanctuary is to provide a no-take zone for the fish where they can breed safely without being disturbed/threatened by fishermen. The words on this sign read as follows:


Marine Sanctuary (Except for subsistence fishermen)


So.....you who pays an annual fees to fish may not fish in the area, but a local who does not own a licence can! You who fishes in the bay area north of the beacon will be asked to produce your licence while the rangers totally ignore a 'local' who fishes as well. Further more, one just needs to take a walk into the sanctuary area and look up along the vegetation line to see the piles of rock bait and mussel shells that have been removed using spades. You may not even bend down and take a sealice from the sand! There is a complete sense of entitlement when it come to locals.

[Moolla]

Hi Fishy1969

What can we do about this?

I think Petitions etc are of little value compared to action itself.



Any idea which regulatory body oversee's Ezemvelo? (Clearly we have a case.)

 

Any input will be greatly appreciated Gentz.

[MIKE PIKE]

  .... seen gill netting taking place in Kosi mouth , canoes being used on the Estuary which is prohibited as well .... subsistence fisherman  can do as they like regardless of what  the area has been designated .... trash the nets and the boat ...

[Fishhard]

.... seen gill netting taking place in Kosi mouth , canoes being used on the Estuary which is prohibited as well .... subsistence fisherman  can do as they like regardless of what  the area has been designated .... trash the nets and the boat ...

Yip thats true, spoke to a senior officer in December and he said that their boat is broken and they cant go out to patrol, sabotaged if you ask me and the one white officer was taken away there as he was getting death threats from the poachers(scum).
I agree lets go and look for them while on the water , maybe if the fishing is slow between 11h00 and 15h00 and trash the nets and take the canoes with you!!

[Fishhard]

We recently visited Falsbay near by Hluluwe and came across a couple of very long gill nets on the water. Each net was cut by us to try and free it from a rock or pole under the water. It took us a hour and 45 min to get this thing out of the water and the amount of fish (dead rotten) in these nets was very disturbing to say the least!!
After inspection we cam across a little row boat on the Fanies eiland side . It was obviously used by the "poachers" to clear there nets at night....
We reported it to the guard at the gate but his answer was "our boat is out of order" so we can not go on the water!


We stayed in Mbazwane for the holiday and commuted in and out of Hluluwe to fish this stunning peace of water a few times in the December 2014' holidays and just to find these nets again and again.
There is a white manager in the Spar in Mbazwane that showed me a picture of a grunter of about 7 to 8kg and another one of about 5kg that a black lady was holding up for a picture. He asked her about the fish and she said that she lives next to the lake and have found , listen to this now, a channel in the lake with a grawel bottom and she is catchin them(grunter,stumpie etc etc) by the net full and selling them for big money was her words. She has her own gill net she said!!
We found two nets right oppisite the Lister point launch site on the other side close to the side. Also a couple on the right side of the launch site if you are facing the water and at paaltjies were the "krokodil gate" is on the fanies eiland side!
What are we going to do about this guys ?


Here is a picture of two fish that I saw a picture of on another guys phone . These fish came out of the fals bay area and was caught in gill nets. see the clear red stripes under the gills of the top fish!

[Rory mundy]

just destroy the nets you come across but be warned some of them are armed

[colin]

Hi guys the poachers at Kosi have damaged boats left in the water in retaliation for their nets being damaged . You may not see them but there are eyes everywhere . Colin.

[Toppie]

Spoke to a ranger at Kosi Bay who advised that they are out gunned by the gill net poachers. They used to patrol Kosi Bay at night but stopped when it became too dangerous.

[Fishhard]

just destroy the nets you come across but be warned some of them are armed

I agree destroy them and I will be taking my shotgun along

[Moolla]

We can't let our emotions get the better of us. Usually direct confrontation is fatal. For some individuals, this is a way they earn their living.

We need to lobby against regulatory bodies.

I stand to be corrected but a gentleman by the name of Ian Player had a massive role in declaring the Wet Lands as a protected area. He faced stiff opposition, particularly from International Mining Houses.  This was the work of one man in collaboration with the necessary authorities.

If we can get in touch with a decision maker, half of the goal is achieved. 

We will need proper evidence i.e dates/ times/ areas and also a statistical info on local stock of fish. 

Does anyone know where we can get this from?

[Fishhard]

Hi guys just some feedback with regards to my complaint that I emailed to KZN Wildlife.
I am going to try and copy the mail here but what happened was that a MR DJ Rossouw(Conservation Manager)  gave me a complete list of what they have been doing and how many poacher(gil netter) and Km of gill nets they have destroyd last year etc etc
He is over the st Lucia wetland park as a howl concerning the poaching and illegal fishing etc

[sardinella]

Maybe we should invite Mr Rossouw onto UA and get the problems they are experiencing from the horses mouth. Maybe there are some ways in which UA/concernd UA members can assist.
If we leave it the problem will get worse.
Please PM me his contact details and I will invite him.