The highly sensitive Kosi Bay lake system in Zululand’s far north is being fished out at a rapid rate as brazen gill netters engage in commercial scale theft of edible species that have sustained local populations for generations.

The ongoing issue was revived last week when photos and videos emerged of what was reportedly the massacre of thousands of fish, either netted or speared by poachers who operate mainly at night but are also unafraid to strip the system during daylight hours.

However, Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife Kosi Bay honorary officers (HOs) immediately warned that the posts – shared widely on social media platforms – were misleading and ‘distracting from combatting true environmental threats’, and urged the public to verify first before sharing.

The HOs pointed out three distinct fishing activities across the lake system: legitimate local angling, legal fish kraals, and illegal gill netting.

“Large catches posted online are frequently the result of legal local angling or traditional kraal harvesting…not every large catch shared on social media is the result of illegal activity.”

The Anti-Poaching Unit (APU) actively patrols the water and this month arrested three suspects, in the process adding to the incredible number of nylon nets they have recovered and burnt.

In the 2025/26 financial year alone, APU officers removed 294 nets measuring nearly 23km.

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