Fosaf News by Ilan Lax

Late October, and the rains should have been here by now. Things up country are very very dry. Our usually green lawn is still struggling to find its verdant summer groove. All told, it looks like we may well be heading into another drought-induced rain sparse summer.

Despite this, the fishing reports have not been half bad. This morning at a seminar I bumped into a well-known Durban fly-fisher and dresser. He intimated that despite the lack of rain and the unusually warm spring he and his fishing friends had enjoyed a good couple of outings on our Midlands still waters.

While we are in the throes of some peculiar weather (severe drought and damaging floods) we tend to forget that South Africa is a water scarce country and that droughts cycles are more the norm than the exception. Some of what we are experiencing appears to be compounded by climate change.

One thing is for certain, is unlikely that our weather patterns will return to the “past normalcy” our parents and grandparents took for granted.

Turning to other matters, you must be wondering what has happened to our court case against DEFF. I recently had reason to meet the new Minister in an unrelated context. It was notable how open and receptive the Minister was. This was a far cry from our long experience of some of her key officials. Our legal team are finalising the heads of argument to be used in the case. Once these have been filed at court, the department will have to do likewise. Thereafter, the case can be set down for a hearing. These preparations have been time consuming and onerous. I am indebted to our legal team and to Ian Cox in particular, for making sure that our case is well framed and will be well argued.

FOSAF recently lodged a submission on some aspects of the second draft of the National Freshwater (Inland) Wild Capture Fisheries Policy. I am indebted to Dr Leonard Flemming who undertook some useful research and drafted the bulk of the submission.

This policy will inform how recreational anglers and other user groups will be allowed to make use of South Africa’s public freshwater fisheries resources. It is vital for the future sustainability of this important national natural resource that all user groups work together to find equitable solutions to some of the problems we are experiencing. South Africa remains one of the most unequal countries in the world. Bearing in mind this inequality and the enormous needs of ordinary people, it is not surprising that our freshwater fisheries is seen as a possible source of livelihood and subsistence by those in need.

The difficulty we face is that this resource is vulnerable and subject to a variety of pressures which include, pollution from mining, industry, sewerage and solid waste, habitat destruction, water abstraction and many others. The lack of proper and accountable governance and compliance implementation have exacerbated this toxic mix. I have been increasingly alarmed by the levels of antagonism and lack of cooperation that exists in the sector. This is not helpful to finding workable solutions and alternatives or equitable outcomes.

These issues and the differing needs and interests require a very careful balancing act to ensure the sustainability of this resource. I would suggest that FOSAF collaborates with other stakeholders to ensure that these r e s o u rc e s r e m a i n v i a b l e f o r f u t u r e generations. We thus invite all anglers and other stakeholders to work together to achieve this end.

In a similar vein, the Aquaculture sector has experienced a difficult and arduous journey in its efforts to ensure a sustainable industry. This in the face of officials who appear unable or unwilling to accept the practical, workable and cost-effective alternatives being proposed instead of the unwelcome and misnamed Aquaculture Development Bill that is being forced upon the sector. Aquaculture is is a vital component of the trout value chain. This is what has motivated FOSAF to participate in Trout SA’s efforts to ensure our future supply of fish and through this, our flyfishing opportunities.

As you can see these are just a few of the many activities FOSAF is involved in, among the many different aspects affecting our flyfishing. If there are other areas you believe we should be helping with please let us know. We would really like to support you where possible.

Our membership renewals will be going out soon and we look forward to hearing from you.

I wish you a great summer season’s fishing.

Yours on the line

WINNERS

The winner of the Member’s Draw in August 2019 is Mr Timothy Elliott (HE0001) from St Francis Bay in the Eastern Cape whose prize is a 3-night self-catering stay for 4 people, inclusive of the rod fee at The Highland Lodge.

The winner of the Member's Draw for November 2019 is Mr Craig Ebersohn (EE0001) from Howick in KZN who has won a gift voucher for Rochester Tackle to the value of R250,00.