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31 Oktober 2018
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31 Oktober 2018
•50 YEARS AND STILL GOING STRONG
Two local fisheries commemorated
•Madi Pieterse Before 1968 the modern natural Berg River Mouth was the portal to the two fishing factories of Velddrif and Laaiplek during the late 1940’s, 1950’s. This mouth, however, was only 45cm deep during a spring low tide and at normal high tide between 1,83 and 2,14m deep. Sandbanks in front of the mouth were not insurmountable while the boats were still small, but as boat sizes increased the fish harvests had to be offloaded elsewhere. This was detrimental to the development of the fishing trade in Velddrif and Laaiplek. Access to the two fish factories had to be improved to ensure the continuation of the excellent prospects of the fishing industry in Velddrif and Laaiplek. Sea jetties - a possible solution In 1952 it was decided to build a sea jetty for off-loading fish in Laaiplek, east of the present-day mouth to the Berg River. Although the jetty was very dangerous during stormy winter weather, the project did achieve a certain amount of success, but still could not move apace with the procurement of bigger boats. The off-loading jetty was not a long-term solution and if better solutions were not found, it would surely have led to the end of the fishing industry in Velddrif. The New Harbour The solution to the problems of the inadequate natural mouth of the Berg River? In 1957 Gerrie van Zyl, pioneer Director of Marine Products, Laaiplek, encouraged the management of the factory and people of Velddrif to appeal to the highest authority for assistance in the opening-up of the Berg River mouth. The Berg River Action Committee was formed. Eventually in January 1958 the Action Committee met with the then Minister of Economic Affairs, Dr A.J.R. van Rhyn. He was sympathetic but suggested that an in-depth study of all possible solutions to the problem at the mouth of the Berg River should be launched. The study determined that it was impractical to open the existing mouth and that a permanent solution was a completely new mouth for the Berg River. To accomplish a successful solution a working model, that took all factors into account, that contributed towards the success of this enterprise, needed to be built. In February 1959 Gerrie van Zyl of Marine Products granted £6000 of the company funds for the building of the working model. The task of building a working model was allocated to the Faculty of Engineering of the Uni-
versity of Stellenbosch under Prof R Truter. After years of study, research and measurements, the final proposal was that a new canal and waterway to the sea east of the natural mouth to the Berg River be dug through the existing sandy peninsula between the river and the sea. The new canal would be approximately 300m long, 60 metres wide and a minimum of 3m deep. Two breakwaters measuring 365m were to be built from the channel into the sea. The entry from the sea had to be deepened too. The research project was completed by August 1963 and government approved the plan in 1964. The tender at the sum of £650 000 was awarded to the tenderer, Christiani & Nielsen (SA) Pty Ltd to begin construction on the new mouth to the Berg River and the building of a fishing harbour. Work started on 1 August 1964 and the new waterway and harbour were completed for a final sum of £900 000 and inaugurated on 25 October 1968. It was a festive event and the fishing trawler “Stormkop” (still afloat and fishing today), followed by a fleet of trawlers sporting colourful flags, had the honour to be the first boat to enter the new harbour through the man-made mouth to the Berg River. This harbour and entrance to the sea prevails up to the present and is one of the twelve fishing harbours of South Africa. Here the commercial
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fishing trawlers can be seen moored at the quayside. Trustworthy, and sturdy, they ply the seas along our coast for pelagic catches rich in omegas. The catches are canned or turned into fish meal. Fishermen in their bustling fishing trawlers still go to sea through this same man-made Berg River mouth to the Atlantic Ocean, providing economic prosperity in Velddrif. The fishermen of the time showed their heartfelt gratitude by painting the following on the longest breakwater entering the sea: “ ’n Beter Toekoms is vir Ons Geskep” loosely translated: A better future is created for us. This huge endeavour, a man-made mouth to the Berg River, celebrated 50 years of unwavering duty to the fishing industry on Thursday, 25 October. This entire venture is surely the most important single piece of history that, in all humbleness, binds the West Coast fishermen and inhabitants from the past and present together. The SA Fisheries Museum is planning to celebrate this historical event in various ways during the last quarter of 2018. On the menu is an evening event hosted by the SA Fisheries Museum on Thursday, 15 November at the Laaiplek hotel. To book for this interesting evening or to share your photographic artistry, please contact the SA Fisheries Museum Laaiplek. The contact person is Felicity Strohfeldt and she an be contacted on (022) 783 2531 / 082 849 9251 / email seaquiz@mweb.co.za.
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