TSITSIKAMMA NEWS - Tsitiskamma anglers expressed their disappointment this week after the controversial pilot fishing project in the area – less than a month after it was implemented – was brought to an end following a recent Pretoria High Court order.
This before many of the local fisherman even had the opportunity to wet their lines.
“I have my [fishing] permit in my car, but it is pretty much a souvenir now. I didn’t even get to use it,” Tsitsikamma angler and member of the Tsitsikamma Angling Forum Shane Cunningham said.
The pilot fishing project – which temporarily allowed registered local anglers to fish along 20% of the Tsitsikamma Marine Protected Area’s (MPA) coastline from December 15 – was ended on Friday, January 8 after a group of citizens and conservationists, Friends of Tsitsikamma Association, turned to the court to prevent continued fishing in the area.
The court ordered that the project be terminated with immediate effect and also ordered the respondents – including the SA National Parks (SANParks) and the Department of Environmental Affairs – to pay the costs of the application.
SANParks claims the project was introduced to “test the implementation” of new draft regulations published by the department on November 19 last year.
The draft regulations involve the rezoning of the MPA, following more than two decades of discussions with local anglers.
The fishermen have been campaigning for fishing rights in the MPA as they claim they were stripped of these rights when the MPA was declared more than 50 years ago – without having the opportunity to provide input on the decision.
The draft regulations are open for public comment until February 1.
Last week’s court bid was the group’s second attempt at stopping the project. In December they filed an urgent application, but the matter was dismissed as the court ruled it was not urgent.
“We are hugely disappointed about the latest development. It has been such a long journey to get to this point, so it is a massive blow,” Cunningham said.
He added that the anglers would soon start discussions to decide what their next move would be. “We need to decide if we are just going to accept it or take action.”
He said he desperately wanted to go fishing during the pilot phase, as some of his first memories as a young boy – like many other Tsitsikamma residents – was fishing with his family. “I unfortunately had to undergo an operation and was not able to go and fish.”
Garden Route National Park spokesperson Nandi Mgwadlamba said since the start of the pilot project more than 500 fishermen had registered, but less than half actually went angling. “We had about 200 fisherman making use of the opportunity within the first 20 days – about 10 a day,” Mgwadlamba said.
Cunningham added that for many Ttsitsikamma fishermen, angling was more than just a recreational activity, but a way of “putting food on the table”.
Another fisherman for whom time ran out before getting to fish is James Ellis, who grew up fishing in the area with his father and grandfather.
“Unfortunately due to work commitments, I never got to fish,” Ellis said.
He added that he too was very disappointed as fishing was deeply rooted in all who grew up in the area.
“People who grew up in the area love two things: the Tsitsikamma coast and fishing.”
Despite the plight of fishermen like Cunningham and Ellis, the move to allow fishing in the area has seen massive opposition with the biggest concerns being the impact on fish stocks.
But Cunningham said that with the pilot phase came “control” which in turn added to conservation. “During the pilot phase authorities knew exactly who was fishing where and how many fish each angler was bringing out. Poaching was at an all-time low. With poaching many more fish were being caught in the area before the project was introduced,” Cunningham said.
Mgwadlamba confirmed that they had seen a “significant drop in poaching incidents and general non-compliance” during the period.
In the meantime anti-Tsitsikamma fishing roleplayers celebrated their “victory” in court.
“We are very happy with this outcome which represents a victory for Section 24 of the Constitution [which deals with the environment], the rule of law and the environment. More importantly those administering environmental law now know that they will be held accountable by civil society groups such as the Friends of Tsitsikamma who act for this generation and future generations,” Mann said.
She added the order highlighted the importance of the Tsitsikamma section of the park as a national asset.
“The draft regulations, which propose to open 20% of the park to recreational angling, are still open for comment until the February 1.”
Mgwadlamba said moves towards the rezoning of the MPA were “in line with modern thinking on the design of MPAs” to allow a mix of “no take” and “limited use” zones, which would balance the requirement for sustainable resources use by poor communities and the conservation of biodiversity.
“SANParks has agreed to stop the pilot project but remains committed to ensuring conservation objectives and social equity goes hand in hand.”
In the meantime a petition by the Orca Foundation against the fishing in the MPA has garnered more than 6 500 signatures.
Click here for previous articles:
- Tsitsikamma fishing project stopped
- Fishermen thankful for fishing in Tsitsikamma
- Tsitsikamma fishing sparks controversy
- Fishing again in Tsitsikamma
- Possible fishing in protected area
Tsitsikamma angler Clive Elmo points out a stretch of coastline in the Tstisikamma Marine Protected Area registered fishermen were allowed to utilise for 25 days, before a court order ended continued fishing in the area on Friday January 8. Photos: Steve Benjamin
Tsitsikamma fishermen attend a ceremony on December 15 celebrating an agreement between SANParks and local anglers which allowed fishing along 20% of the Marine Protected Area. These celebrations were short-lived when the Pretoria High Court ordered an end to fishing in the area last week.
ARTICLE: YOLANDE STANDER, KNYSNA-PLETT HERALD, CORRESPONDENT
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