THE World Wide Fund for Nature – South Africa has issued a statement claiming that line fish stocks are beginning to bounce back after decades of exploitation and the subsequent imposition of control measures. WWF-SA’s Marine Programme senior manager, John Duncan, said that in 2000 South Africa’s commercial fishing industry was in a state of emergency, and important line fish stocks, including species such as kob, geelbek and red roman, had declined to less than 10 percent of their natural levels. He pointed out that Marine and Coastal Management, which is now part of the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, reacted by cutting fishing permits by 70 percent and a ban on beach driving was imposed at the same time. These measures, according WWF-SA, have led to some species showing signs of recovery.
Not everyone is that optimistic, however. Local fishermen say they don’t even expect to catch anything any more, they just go down to enjoy the idea of fishing, if they occasionally catch something it’s a real bonus. Many of them don’t even bother to go down to the beach at all.
The last of the fish counters in the supermarkets around us has closed, one of our regular fishmongers the last time we checked had just a few fresh fish and they were on the SASSI (Southern African Sustainable Seafood Initiative) Orange List and another very definitely had none. Makes one wonder if that special dinner we all look forward to at Christmas had better not be fish’n’chips.
Moving on, the Save the Elephants organisation has announced that Mac, one of the latest generation of big tuskers in the Kruger National Park, has died. Mac was about 60 years old and he died of natural causes. He was found by a section ranger in the Kruger and a careful examination of the old bull established that he had an abscess on one of his right molars, which meant that he could not chew on that side, so the left side molars were worn quite smooth. This means that being unable to chew his required daily food needs, he died of starvation, sadly, the fate of most old elephants in the natural state. He was one of a handful of real tuskers left in Africa. His tusks, once removed, weighed over 60 kilogrammes each and measured 2.47 metres and 1.94 metres respectively. How sad, go well, Mac.
Finally, we have just experienced one of the worst nights since we came down here nearly 10 years ago, a truly frightening wind and rain storm. We thought of our many holidaymakers, particularly those who are camping, and wondered just how they had coped. For your sake, we wish for a hot, dry few days ahead. Have a happy and a blessed Christmas, and may you be able to spend it on the beach. Cheers!
PS: Save the Elephants is an organisation established by Dr Iain Douglas-Hamilton in Kenya and if you want to contact them, their Southern Africa representative is Dr Michelle Henley who can be reached at 015 793 0369.
