NO LONGER PLENTY OF FISH IN THE SEA

APLAINTIVE cry for help has been heard from across our north-eastern border. It’s a cry that a number of South African anglers in the Mpumalanga area have taken up very seriously because of their interest in what’s happening virtually in their back yard. Of course it’s also their closest access to offshore fishing around Inhaca Island and on the southern Moçambique coast.

In simple term the local sportfishing fraternity and some Moçambique government departments are taking a stand against the destructive and often illegal commercial fishing practices that are employed off southern Moçambique. In a Mozambique News Agency report, a prominent Moçambican minister is reported as stating, “We should take on individual and collective responsibility for defending the noble interests of our peoples and nations.” He said that the most effective way to fight illegal and unreported fishing would be through unified efforts from African countries along the Indian Ocean to help gain food security for the development of the affected countries.

The fight against illegal fishing has been ongoing, as it also contributes largely towards overfishing. Also of concern is the fact that a lot of fish and other marine animals have been placed on the “threatened species list”. In 2014 WWF Global applauded the ratification of the FAO Port State Measures Agreement (PSA) by Moçambique, saying that it was a “huge step in the global fight to eliminate illegal fishing”.

This is extremely concerning to all of us in the South African offshore angling community because resource degredation in southern Moçambique could well affect the seeding of the main pelagic species that travel down the eastern seaboard into South African waters. It will also have a negative effect on the thousands of offshore anglers who go to Moçambique to experience the wonderful light tackle gamefishing the entire coast has to offer.

There’s mounting evidence that the numbers of illegal international trawlers is steadily increasing, and that they are catching anything and everything by means of massive trawl nets in addition to longlines and gillnets. This has to have a vast impact on fish stocks in the medium to long term.

I believe, therefore, that we should all support the petition started by Anton van Niekerk of the Nelspruit and Districts Angling Club and Overberg Deep Sea Club. We trust that this effort will go some way to supporting not only the Moçambique offshore anglers, but also the South African anglers who fish Moçambique waters.

Over and above our support for our northern neighbour and their recreational and subsistence anglers, we need to ensure by any means possible that this scourge does not have a knock on effect and migrate south into our waters.

With this in mind, please would you support the petition mentioned above to help to save the ocean and the people of Moçambique. Send an email to Anton van Niekerk at <anuska@ccv.co.za> stating the following:

“I support the petition to stop illegal fishing in Moçambique.” Please include your name, signature, phone number, email address and date. Till the next tide.

Erwin Bursik, Publisher