“Stop raping our tidal pools!”

Twelve suspected parrot fish poachers were caught in the act at Thompson’s Bay tidal pool on Wednesday, January 13, sparking outrage in the Dolphin community who demanded the raping of their tidal pools be stopped.

Santorini overlooks the Thompson’s Bay tidal pool and resident, John Edwards spotted the men at around 7.20pm, after the lifeguards had gone off duty. He immediately called Ballito resident, Kevin Murphy and they went to confront the men.

“The situation got very tense very quickly after we found one of the fishing cages that was being used. I called IPSS Security who sent two armed guards,” said Murphy.

With the situation diffused at around 8pm, the men left on their own accord in a white Mahindra bakkie (NT 28002) that was later traced to a Ballito resident who claims to have sold the bakkie.

“The driver who was part of the group was seen at the same tidal pool early the following morning, presumably to collect whatever was hidden in the area,” said Murphy.

He said that was the group’s second night time visit to the tidal pool in as many days and they have been reported to SAPS and vehicle details handed over.

Coastwatch committee member and Dolphin Coast conservancy chairman, Di Jones said she was appalled by the way people were stripping the area’s tidal pools of its rich fish, coral and invertebrate species.

She said parrot fish have been systematically disappearing from the tidal pools and some of the area’s once thriving tidal pools had became baron aquatic deserts, depleted of fish and live coral.

“This is no better than canned lion hunting – the poor fish do not stand a chance!” said Jones.

uShaka Seaworld spokesperson, Ann Kunz said parrot fish slept during the day and feed on live coral at night.

“They do not take bait and are easy to catch with a net at night when they feed,” said Kunz.

The KZN Conservation Act forbids any kind of fishing without a fishing permit and by municipal law, nobody, with or without a fishing permit, is allowed to catch or collect any form of marine life from any of Ballito, Chaka’s Rock and Salt Rock’s tidal pools.

Kunz said if a fish species was not listed anywhere (as is the case with parrot fish), a daily bag limit of ten individual fish per day applied, regardless of size and species (for fishing outside of the tidal pools).

She said parrot fish were not listed because it is not usually a heavily harvested species.

KDM beach manager, Steve Honeysett said the municipality was responsible for the construction, maintenance and cleaning of the tidal pools as well as for human safety in the pools but not for their marine life.

“It is Ezemvelo’s job to police fishing practices,” said Honeysett.

Ezemvelo conservation manager, Benedict Nene said they were not aware that parrot fish, and other species, were being illegally caught in the area’s tidal pools and found such poaching alarming.

“We rely on reports from the public when incidents such as this take place. We urge people to call our anti-poaching hotline (083-380-6298) if they suspect illegal activity is taking place so that we can send our officers to inspect,” said Nene.