An open letter to all sea anglers,
The government intends to open substantial sections of the Tsitsikamma National Park to recreational angling, exclusively to people who reside close to the National Park. In so doing it reveals a significant shift in policy that simultaneously undermines the protection of fish and introduces exclusivity in the allocation of recreational fishing rights for the first time.
As a group of fish scientists who study marine fish throughout South Africa’s coastal waters, we wish to offer our shared view on the state of fish stocks and current management of the recreational fishery.
We write this knowing that angling brings immense joy to hundreds of thousands of South Africans of every age and ethnic group, and right across the wealth spectrum. In so doing, it is a unique form of recreation.
South Africa offers the richest and most diverse marine angling opportunities of almost any country. Recreational anglers catch over 200 species of fish from beaches, rocks, estuaries and from small craft at sea. Many of these species are unique to South Africa.
Sadly, the ecological basis for this activity is threatened. There is no doubt that we have substantially reduced the number of fish of almost every type to the point where fishing in many places is no longer rewarding and, in the most severe cases, the persistence of some species is threatened. Comparisons between the catches of 150 years ago and now reveal a staggering loss of exploitable coastal fish. This downward trend has yet to reverse.
The reasons for the loss of fish are many, but the common and most significant explanation across all parts of our coast is that too many have been caught. Anglers and professional fishers have continuously improved their fishing gear, and exploited every beach and headland, every estuarine backwater and offshore reef. Fishing regulations are flouted with impunity. Above all, South Africans have become a lot more numerous. Fish reproduction and growth can no longer keep up with the rate of fishing. Some species are now so rare as to be Red-Listed by the IUCN as threatened with extinction (www.iucnredlist.org).
Over the past two decades we have strongly recommended the expansion of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) in South Africa, with a specific intention of protecting and recovering over-exploited fish stocks. Places such as Tsitsikamma, De Hoop, Langebaan and iSimangaliso, where large areas are protected from fishing, play a vitally important role in sustaining our fish resources. Based on the results of research in these and other areas, new MPAs were more recently proclaimed, such as Stilbaai and Pondoland. The selling point in each case is that fishers of all description need to sacrifice their claim to some parts of the ocean if we intend to keep our fish stocks healthy enough to offer sustainable fishing into the future. MPAs are the backbone of South Africa’s marine conservation strategy, and they need to remain inviolate. We know of no other effective means of protecting fish while still upholding everyone’s right to fish.
Fish scientists do not make regulations nor allocate fish resources. Our role is to assess the consequences of alternative management actions. Right now we feel that that our advice needs a wider audience - specifically the very people who enjoy the right to fish.
Our coastal fish need more, not less, protection. Attempts to selectively allocate protected fish resources for exploitation by a small minority will compromise fish stocks nationally. Such expedience needs as much public scrutiny as there would be in the case of fraudulent handling of pension funds, for example.
The public has been invited to comment on the proposal by 1st February 2016. Visit http://www.gov.za/sites/www.gov.za/files/39424_rg10525_gon1146.pdf to view the gazette.
Signed: Colin Attwood, Stuart Dunlop, Sean Fennessy, Jessica Greenstone, Larry Hutchings, Jade Maggs, Bruce Mann, Meaghen McCord, Denham Parker, Warren Potts, Malcolm Smale, Pierre de Villiers, Aidan Wood
The government intends to open substantial sections of the Tsitsikamma National Park to recreational angling, exclusively to people who reside close to the National Park. In so doing it reveals a significant shift in policy that simultaneously undermines the protection of fish and introduces exclusivity in the allocation of recreational fishing rights for the first time.
As a group of fish scientists who study marine fish throughout South Africa’s coastal waters, we wish to offer our shared view on the state of fish stocks and current management of the recreational fishery.
We write this knowing that angling brings immense joy to hundreds of thousands of South Africans of every age and ethnic group, and right across the wealth spectrum. In so doing, it is a unique form of recreation.
South Africa offers the richest and most diverse marine angling opportunities of almost any country. Recreational anglers catch over 200 species of fish from beaches, rocks, estuaries and from small craft at sea. Many of these species are unique to South Africa.
Sadly, the ecological basis for this activity is threatened. There is no doubt that we have substantially reduced the number of fish of almost every type to the point where fishing in many places is no longer rewarding and, in the most severe cases, the persistence of some species is threatened. Comparisons between the catches of 150 years ago and now reveal a staggering loss of exploitable coastal fish. This downward trend has yet to reverse.
The reasons for the loss of fish are many, but the common and most significant explanation across all parts of our coast is that too many have been caught. Anglers and professional fishers have continuously improved their fishing gear, and exploited every beach and headland, every estuarine backwater and offshore reef. Fishing regulations are flouted with impunity. Above all, South Africans have become a lot more numerous. Fish reproduction and growth can no longer keep up with the rate of fishing. Some species are now so rare as to be Red-Listed by the IUCN as threatened with extinction (www.iucnredlist.org).
Over the past two decades we have strongly recommended the expansion of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) in South Africa, with a specific intention of protecting and recovering over-exploited fish stocks. Places such as Tsitsikamma, De Hoop, Langebaan and iSimangaliso, where large areas are protected from fishing, play a vitally important role in sustaining our fish resources. Based on the results of research in these and other areas, new MPAs were more recently proclaimed, such as Stilbaai and Pondoland. The selling point in each case is that fishers of all description need to sacrifice their claim to some parts of the ocean if we intend to keep our fish stocks healthy enough to offer sustainable fishing into the future. MPAs are the backbone of South Africa’s marine conservation strategy, and they need to remain inviolate. We know of no other effective means of protecting fish while still upholding everyone’s right to fish.
Fish scientists do not make regulations nor allocate fish resources. Our role is to assess the consequences of alternative management actions. Right now we feel that that our advice needs a wider audience - specifically the very people who enjoy the right to fish.
Our coastal fish need more, not less, protection. Attempts to selectively allocate protected fish resources for exploitation by a small minority will compromise fish stocks nationally. Such expedience needs as much public scrutiny as there would be in the case of fraudulent handling of pension funds, for example.
The public has been invited to comment on the proposal by 1st February 2016. Visit http://www.gov.za/sites/www.gov.za/files/39424_rg10525_gon1146.pdf to view the gazette.
Signed: Colin Attwood, Stuart Dunlop, Sean Fennessy, Jessica Greenstone, Larry Hutchings, Jade Maggs, Bruce Mann, Meaghen McCord, Denham Parker, Warren Potts, Malcolm Smale, Pierre de Villiers, Aidan Wood